Myndu Interior Design

In our quest for the most efficient and cost-effective kitchen design, we sometimes forget the reason why we have kitchens in the first place — because we need a place in which to prepare and cook food and, for many like me, a place in which to eat the food prepared.

I agree that, for those of us who have small kitchens, maximizing our available space and streamlining our furniture is usual, but we must find, or make space for, a food display area no matter how small.

These may range from just table or counter space to a free-standing structure where space permits, but it should be the first to draw the eye when anyone approaches the kitchen.

Enjoyment of food is as much a visual experience as it is an aromatic and palatal one, so that to have attractively arranged food — no matter if it’s just a budget dessert or a modest salad – ready for the eyes and noses of our family members at all times is a good way to prime their appetites for the meals and snacks we have prepared.

What we have then is a food-centered kitchen and not an appliance-centered one; something food lovers would appreciate.

While old kitchens have a very special charm, some of them can be compared to Cinderella’s stepsisters: they are simply ugly. Lights and walls are too boring and very monotonous and not to mention, the blinds and cabinets are stagnant and seemed to be lacking something. Fortunately, these “ugly stepsisters” can be transformed into beautiful belles. How? Below are quick tips in updating your kitchen.

Designers say that cheap fluorescent lighting in kitchens is now a thing of the past. You can, however, replace them with updated lighting but requires a little work since it is a bit challenging to remove boxy fixtures from the ceiling, fill the holes, and paint the ceiling. Every homeowner can install almost any type of lighting fixtures in accordance with the existing equipment or any that will provide enough light for food preparation.

A kitchen island is a wonderful invention. This enables to provide more space for food preparation and often give more room for storage. And no need to be built-in either. There are now home depot stores that provide easy installation for ready-made kitchen islands.

If you have been to a beach and stayed in a beach cottage you will notice the big difference in the kitchen compared to your residential kitchen. A beach kitchen is minimalist in look but very functional in use. They give that fresh and crisp look and very distinguished features that you would just love to incorporate to your own home.

So, how exactly do you achieve that beach-themed kitchen? First of all, notice how the walls look in a beach-themed kitchen. Solid white, aren’t they? That’s because white gives this breezy feeling which is a great component of a relaxing beach. Hence, if you are to start painting the walls in your kitchen to achieve the beach look, go for solid white shade, not off white or anything. White can give the look of your kitchen area a good balance. You can still whip in another shade but make sure not to dominate the white one.

Another way to get the beach-themed kitchen is to infuse blue, and it’s not only about blue paints. You can get ocean blue rugs, whether small ones or one large piece, and place it in your kitchen for a more defined look. And of course, don’t forget to accessorize the walls. Hang in a straw hat as wall décor, or put in a vase filled with sand or pebbles or shells in one corner of your counter top.

Be creative, but never forget the basics of what a nice beach looks like because this will be your inspiration to bring the theme to your own home.

Decorating or redecorating your kitchen shouldn’t be about the easiest way out. Let yourself go wild, go the extra mile and make your kitchen everything you want it to be and everything it should be.

The hardest part of decorating your kitchen is sticking to the decision to make the changes—which we all know is hard enough in a time where we’ve been brainwashed to believe that we can always procrastinate and things will still manage to get done. But don’t think that just because you’ve made the decision to decorate your kitchen means that it will be smooth sailing from here on out. Do that and you’ll be in for an extremely unpleasant surprise that will make you wish you had never started.

What you really have to do is be ready to commit to your kitchen decorating project and make a goal of going above and beyond what you’d normally expect yourself to accomplish.

For instance, my brother recently purchased a slightly used but newer home. The previous owner had ghastly taste in decorating and my brother inherited a puce stone floor. However, rather than tear it up—stone is expensive!—he decided to take matters into his own hands. Armed with a can of sealant stripper and a bucket of bleach water, he was able to lighten the floor three shades and give it a more palatable appeal. Then, just for good measure, he went out and purchased a blue and beige woven bamboo area rug that turned the eyesore of a kitchen into a girlfriend’s paradise. The simplicity of adding an area rug to the kitchen not only gave his kitchen life but also helped to disguise some areas of the floor where he couldn’t quite get the floor to evenly shade.

He also purchased one beige area rug for the inside of his closet pantry and two blue area rugs—one to place in front of the stove and the other for in front of the sink. These three rugs are all cotton area rugs—they match well with the more expensive bamboo area rug under the kitchen table, but can be washed in the washing machine whenever they meet with heavy traffic or spaghetti sauce.

Take a lesson here and remember that you don’t always have to engage in a complete overhaul of your kitchen just to make it look appealing to yourself and to visitors. All it takes is a little ingenuity.

But don’t think it stops with a bucket of bleach and a bamboo area rug. Your kitchen requires a certain amount of life that comes from your décor including your kitchen towels, wash cloths, curtains (if you have windows) and various amounts of chachka that show off your personality.

Whenever you decorate or redecorate your kitchen, whether it’s a permanent change, a temporary change or a seasonal change, get ready to go overboard and let yourself go wild. There’s nothing better than a room that shows off every part of who you are and how you see yourself. Go the extra mile and be the change you wish to see in your kitchen.

Back in the day, kitchens could hardly be called stylish. It was a place to cook and eat, not to show off your sense of style. But that was ages ago—today’s kitchens are just as much about aesthetics as they are about function. Fortunately for homeowners, designers are rolling out new ideas all the time, so keeping with the trend is a breeze. If you think you can’t dress up your kitchen without slowing down, try these few simple ideas.

Modern Kitchen Countertops

Laminate is the popular choice for countertops, but it lacks the punch of modern materials such as granite, marble, or solid surface. Modern homes usually prefer granite for its high durability and attractive colors. You can find granite countertops in black, green, red, and even a mix of translucent colors. If you’re going for a sleek theme, look into solid surface countertops. The straight, simple lines make a nice complement to the natural curves of your kitchen layout.

Area rugs

Large kitchens are great, but all that space can be hard to manage. Kitchen area rugs help divide your floor area into manageable portions, so that your work is more organized. Bamboo area rugs work well if you’re going for an Asian theme, and jute and seagrass area rugs will suit a country or natural kitchen. They also work well for smaller rooms—look for kids area rugs that fit on your floor space and blend in with your kitchen décor.

Sleek cabinets

Storage is the most important element in the kitchen. You want everything within easy access, but that often means having big cabinets that get in the way of your décor. If you have a similar problem, consider getting modern wall-mounted cabinets to hold your commonly used items. An island bar can hold an open hanging shelf for goblets, wine bottles, or even kitchen utensils. If you have enough floor space, consider displaying your favorite items on a freestanding shelf—it makes for an interesting focal point.

Fancy patterns

Patterns can bring your colors to life and make your kitchen more interesting. Instead of plain tile, line your backsplash area with accent tiles that complement your color theme. Decorate a bare floor with oriental area rugs or colorful braided area rugs. Replace blinds with soft printed curtains. Use patterns where you can, but make sure not to go overboard or you’ll end up with a messy design. Combine solids and prints and keep a consistent color throughout the pattern.

Country Style Kitchens

For years, the trend has been towards edgy minimalist designs with lots of straight lines, sharp contrast, and bare space. Contemporary design is about bringing warmth and color back into the home—think country kitchens complete with hearths and chimneys. Try introducing more wood into your kitchen, whether in your cabinets, your countertop, or your island counter. If you can afford it, install some hardwood floors—it’s much homier than ceramic tile. Just add some wool area rugs to minimize the daily wear and make it last longer.