Sunday, April 4, 2010

Kitchens

The Kitchen is often called the "Heart of the Home." For most families, this is the place we do most of our living and our entertaining. This is the place that will sell a home, or keep the buyers away. Therefore it is very important to keep your kitchen "updated", know what the trends are for this space. Right now open shelves and baskets are popular.


Some are shying away from upper cabinets, letting more sunshine in with larger windows. I love the way this looks, but as I continue to grow older, getting things out from lower cabinets is harder everyday. I wonder if this trend will last . . .

Often you will find that the island is a different color from the rest of the cabinets . Yes, the kitchen of today's home is the star player in the entire house. No longer is the cook stuck in a corner by themselves. We now have open floor plans with the kitchen as a focal .


I have heard that the popular "white" kitchen is going out. . . I don't know about that, it seems everyone considers a white kitchen a " classic ," time will tell . . .



I have always favored a galley style kitchen for ease of use. I love this one with it's wood floors and simple design. What kind of kitchen do you prefer? Where do you think design is going for this most important space?



33 comments:

  1. I have a galley kitchen and love it with one exception....not enough natural light. Oh how I am admiring the top cabs being left out on some of these in place of big windows.

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  2. I would take any one of those gorgeous spaces. I think white kitchen are classic, your right time will tell. I had all white in my Florida home, it was fitting to the home. This home has more of a rustic feel....so white kitchen would not be good!!~ Happy Easter!

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  3. Happy Easter Vicky!! I am with you , I think the white kitchen will always be in afterall it has been around forever.I think kitchens are going to continue to go in two directions.Opposite sides of the spectrum. I think sleek with a modern edge and I think more homey and user friendly. What do you think? I have my kitchen posting tomorrow and I talk a little about how I decided to remove my over-hang cabs over my kitchen bar area. I have a U-shaped kitchen and it is rather small and I like it, very user friendly but only for one cook!! Love all the images, great looking kitchens!! Kathysue

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  4. I love a great kitchen! If I could have one or maybe two things in a kitchen I would have a double island. One to prepare on and a second to serve at! Oh, isn't daydreaming fun!! Love your post as always, Vicky.:-)

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  6. I am with you in your apprehension to give up your upper cabinets. While I do love the look, my back doesn't. I love the look of glass front cabinets as well, but with three growing boys, I have alot of different dishes that don't necessary display well. I am building a new house and while I may forgo omitting upper cabinets, I will not forgo putting in a calcutta gold marble island. I have lived in fear too long - I am going for it!

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  7. I think a kitchen should be somewhere you enjoy being in. I did not go with the norm with mine, but it brings a smile to me every time I go in it.I use to have white cabinets, and loved them, but when given a chance to change I went totally outside the box. I just saw a kitchen by Candice Olson, that had dark blue cabinets. It was lovely. I do not care for the color blue, but the dark blue was nice. Kathy

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  8. I do love the galley kitchen you show here, Vicky. I also like the large kitchens, though, with the islands. I don't have either in my present house, but I think I would go with an island in my next house. I like the idea of having company while cooking and preparing meals.

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  9. I agree...the heart of the home. My wood floors look just like that pic on the bottom. I have had all types of kitchens...right now I have dark mahogany with quartz...part of the cabinets are red...love that.
    Happy Easter to you my friend...have a great day! Come say hi :D

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  10. O my. I do think I like a bit of each. Can I mix the ingredients?

    Happy Happy Easter :)

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  11. I love every kind of kitchen as long as it's warm, efficient and well laid out. Rustic is my favorite with modern amenities like the Europeans do.

    15 years ago I tore off my upper cabinets and put up open shelves. Everyone said "you can't do that, you won't like it" I did it and I loved it and now everyone is doing it, ha!

    As we finish the remodel of our barn into our home I love how my kitchen is coming along. Waxed wooden floors that once again some said "you shouldn't do that, they'll be a job and you won't like it" I did it, they're not and I love 'em! The kitchen is my favorite room in the house.

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  12. Here's how I look at it, my kitchen is small, not a dream kitchen by any means, not even room for an island...but at least I have a kitchen and although it's not huge it's mine and it's cute!

    LeAnn:)

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  13. I like a kitchen that is open and light with lots of counter top space and easy to reach cabinets.
    I can't imagine not having upper cabinets but for some if might be ok. I'm with you, I find getting into the lower cabinets a little more difficult these days! LOL!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  14. Of these examples, I think I'm leaning toward the last photo. I'm also in agreement that kitchens without upper cabinets are not as user friendly, yes, it looks great but should you give up the storage and convienience of uppers? I don't know, I like the bigger windows...maybe a walk-in pantry or butlers pantry might sway me...Tami E.

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  15. Happy Easter Vicky,
    Great post on kitchens. You always get me thinking! I love all your images. My favorite kitchens are usually white and I love the look of commercial appliances. Someday, I would love a commercial Traulsen refrigerator with glass doors, a 60 inch commercial range, a big center island that looks like a giant table with pots and pans hanging over. Still loving subway tile, still loving carrera marble or black granite. Upper cabinets? I could forgo them too.
    Delores

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  16. I agree, the kitchen is the most important place in the home. I love windows, lots of them, sun streaming through at all hours. I love a working island to collect the necessities or to act as the cooking center.
    We'll need pull outs and pull down components to assist all ages.

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  17. I like any kitchen that is light and bright and has easy access to everything!!!

    Some of these images are my faorites too!

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  18. I like a kitchen that has a convenient work triangle, has lots of storage and is PRETTY! I also like one with a breakfast bar or island that people can sit at and eat or when visitors are over they can sit there and talk to me.
    I don't think white kitchens will ever go out, they are the one classic color for kitchen, well, I sure hope they never go out. I love white cabinets!
    I don't personally like galley kitchens, I am very territorial. If I am working in the kitchen then I want everybody else to stay out of my space. That's why I love the place for folks to sit, but aren't in my space. Not good, I know, but I'm too old to change now! I'm laughing now!!
    Hugs, Cindy S

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  19. Cindy, you make me laugh! For some reason, I can not get to your blog! I just wanted to let you know that I have tried... I hope you find this.

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  20. I just found your wonderful blog, how could that be?
    I too love a white kitchen and think it will be here to stay.

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  21. The white kitchen is a classic. I can't wait to paint mine white. I agree that the heart of a home is the kitchen. Most guests tend to gravitate towards the kitchen during entertaining. Food always brings my family together.

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  22. My kitchen cabinets need to be replaced ... they are over 20 years old and original to my town home. I want to change the color from creamy white to something else ~ not sure what just yet. There could be nothing better than an old wood plank floor in a kitchen!

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  23. Whenever I visit a home, I can't wait to see the kitchen. It's where, I think, people can have the most fun and really express themselves. I can usually tell immediately if the person really uses the kitchen or if it's for show only. I see sooooooo many white kitchens in my biz. I get really fired up when I don't...Nice post! best, -susan

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  24. My Mother-in-law can cook. I mean really cook and her kitchen is so simple. She always says a better kitchen will not make my cuisine taste better but as I am about to embark on a renovation (kitchen included) I think it is like falling in love. I want a handsome kitchen, one that will age well, and one that I can laugh with. My kitchen needs to be handsome, beautiful, clean cut, witty and like a fine work of art.
    pve

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  25. Noooo! White kitchens will never be "out", just maybe not so "hot" as they have been lately. I simply cannot imagine my kitchen in any other color. I'll just change the wall color and countertops and accessories and anything else that keeps it "current", but I'll always have white cabs. Even if it means I'm not "hot".

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  26. The second photo is one of my favorites. If I was mega rich with a huge house, I would have a kitchen without upper cabinets. It probably wouldn't work in most houses, though. So, when I was having my house built five years ago and chose white cabinets and a white countertop, the realtor told me that white kitchens weren't in style. Oh well, I'm a die hard white fan and don't care what's in style. The only change I would make would be to replace the countertop with white marble. P.S., when I saw Gerard Butler's loft in Architectural Digest this month I wondered what you and your readers would say about the picture with four different chandeliers in one shot. Have a great week.

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  27. All of these are fabulous - a very nice parade of images, but no 2 grabbed me the most. It has to do with the light and those steel framed windows.. Love that look.

    Generally I see two trends in kitchen designs. The city apartments tend to shrink their kitchen space as there is such a huge offer of eateries and take-away within reach. The whole metro-lifestyle calls for smaller dwellings with more time spent socializing on premise in clubs, restaurants or bars. Catering is also on the rise.

    Then there is the trend of de-centralization with a clear 'return to basics' twist. Families leaving the city to live a quieter and more eco-concious life.
    Family rooms, open plan and multi-function rooms are on the rise here with focus on comfort as well as practicality. Kitchens therefore tend to grow bigger to allow for seating and ample storage.

    I am for both these trends.

    xCharlotta

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  28. I agree about the galley kitchen in the last shot. and love those floors...

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  29. Image 1: Love the knives magnet and floors
    Image 2: Love the wood, wood trim, and open feel
    Image 3: Love the stone stove cubbie
    Image 4: Love the beams
    Image 5: LOVE the floor

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  30. Great post! I think kitchens are moving toward "family rooms". Some of the best kitchens I've seen recently are those that have cabinets that look more like pieces of furniture.

    Your photos in this post are amazing! I love the table in image 2 and I'm with you as to the galley kitchen in the last image, that floor is to die for! Fabulous!

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  31. The kitchen is lovely but it would look more beautiful with black granite.

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  32. Wow! Love all your post,Everything is just beautiful, Good job.

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  33. kitchens solihull

    I would take any one of those magnificent areas. I think bright cooking area are traditional, your best will tell. I had all bright in my California house, it was suitable to the property. This house has more of a traditional experience....so bright cooking area would not be good!!~ Satisfied Easter!

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