“There is no love greater than the love of food.” – George Bernard Shaw
No matter the occasion, it seems that more often than not everyone always ends up gathered in the kitchen. They say that your kitchen is the heart of your home, so to show it some love this Valentine’s season I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite kitchens to give you some inspiration and ideas in case you are looking for ways to spruce up your kitchen. Are you ready to be daring, jump out of the “norm” and hang from the ceiling?
Beth Whitlinger Interior Design via wayfair.com
Chandeliers in the kitchen? Yes please! If you’re on a budget and don’t want to dish out a lot of cash for new chandeliers, try going to your local thrift store, ReStore or check Craigslist for some used ones that are still in good shape. Most likely you can find some decent brass chandeliers that can easily be spray painted and fixed up.
This kitchen has a healthy mix of farm-style + French + shabby chic, and the result is stunning. It has an eclectic vibe, but still exudes feelings of being soft and romantic. Even if this exact look isn’t your style, one think to take away is how the homeowner added subtle touches of pink throughout (towels, appliances, chairs, flowers, etc), which really ties the whole room together.
Caesarstone International via houzz.com
If the pink countertops don’t make your heart skip a beat, then hopefully at least the chandelier or the amazing brick wall featured in this gorgeous kitchen give you some butterflies in your stomach. The pink is definitely out of the box, but is such a perfect and unique way to add just the right amount of color. If it is the brick wall you are pining over but don’t have brick walls in your own home, consider brick paneling to get the look for less. Most hardware stores carry faux brick panels that are a mix of red and brown; if you’re going for the lighter look, you can simply paint the darker panels. To get an even more realistic look, try distressing the panels a bit after you paint them.
hristine Dovey via clairebrodydesigns.com
I don’t know which to swoon over first – the amazing chandelier, the open shelving or the gorgeous marble island and backsplash! Marble isn’t for everyone (and not for everyone’s budgets), but regardless of surface, the design concept of carrying the material over and down the side of the island is so stunning. The open shelving idea is also a great way to make a small kitchen look a little bigger. If you like this look but are on a budget, consider painting your own cabinets to save money and spray paint the hardware you already have.
If you are looking for something that is more on the “sexy” side, try foregoing traditional backsplashes and opt for a mirrored subway tile. Not only will it give your kitchen a super luxe look, but as an added bonus, when the mirrors reflect light, they can give the illusion of a bigger space. What I like about the kitchen in the above photo is that they off-set the ultra-glitzy mirrored tiles with industrial lighting and simple counters and cabinets.
No matter your style, the kitchen should be a reflection of your personality and character – whether it is country-chic, glitz and glam or traditional, what is most important is that it makes you happy.
As Virginia Wolf said, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”.
