Ten Tips To Create A Cozy Kitchen

The fireplace, just 6' from my desk, has a beautiful fire going, I'm looking out the window at snow falling, AND it is the beginning of a big snowstorm set to unfold over the next 24 hours! I'm fully prepared, in "hunkering down" mode and ready to enjoy my home, most especially, its open plan kitchen/den.

...Which makes me think about "the cozy kitchen" and how we can make the winter kitchen comfortable, cozy, and warm - a pretty delightful combination!

Image from Skona Hem

1. Rugs - Do you have an unheated tile floor? Bring in rugs with a rubber pad to hold it in place or use rug tape. Rugs "do' cozy, really well!

Rugs from ScandinavianMade.com

2. Warmth - Bring in the candles...gather small stones, twigs and pine cones from the outdoors and make a lovely arrangement on a plate.

3. Lighting - When buying pendants or lighting fixtures, hang them low! The lower they are hung, the cozier the feeling.

4. Long Cooking - Cook dishes that require low, long, simmers, roasting, braising, etc. Crockpot dishes cooking all day enable the savory fragrance to flow throughout the home. 

5. Start a Fire - Do you have a fireplace in your open plan kitchen? Start the fire in the morning and keep it going - the act of fire tending is a cozy activity. The act of flipping a switch for a gas fireplace gives instant atmosphere. Either way, it's all good!

6. Pantry Party - Stock your pantry with specialty condiments, which add a touch of something special to every day foods - truffle salt, artisan cheese, good coffees, small batch balsamic vinegar and oils are some examples. You deserve the treats, and it adds to a pleasurable cooking and dining experience.

7. Cushion Comfort - Do your seat cushions need replacing? Replace them with super cushy cushions to encourage post-meal lingering and relaxing.

8. Bring in the living room artwork - definitely, a mantra I have repeated many times. Oil paintings, sculptures, in other words, the good stuff, has a place in the kitchen.

9. Kids Cooking - Create a small spot in the kitchen for kids' cooking equipment-just for them! A cozy kitchen accommodates whoever is inspired to cook.

10. Change - Change your decorative layer, change the use of tableware and serveware, remove things and equipment that are not useful and periodically update the kitchen for function and aesthetics for a refreshed kitchen overall, always in tune with your current needs!

The snow is really coming down now - everything is white...time to get cozy!!

westedge Design Fair, October 3-6, 2013

We are deep into design fair season, which takes place in the first half of each year (for many design fairs.) I'm going to go back and forth between the word "fair" and "show". In the kitchen industry, designers tend to use the word "show." We often say to colleagues we see at design shows "Have a good show." In Europe, they use the word "fair." But, I digress!

I attend a fair amount of design shows (no mixed use intended) during the year and love the hunt for new products....like, LOVE.

westedge (all lower case) is a NEW design fair that takes place in the fall, which I'm really excited about. High Point is in the fall, and I've been there a few times, but westedge will be different. I expect that it will be a showcase for innovative design, whether that innovation translates into modern, updated tradition, or other original design concepts. It will be special.

I know the directors of the westedge design fair, and together, Troy Hanson and Megan Reilly have managed some of the most renowned design fairs in the U.S. They are on top of every single detail to create the best experience for both the exhibitor and the attendee. I know this from both perspectives, having worked with Troy and Megan before. 

With this venue, this team, and this time of year (perfect to seek a fresh design perspective and linger a bit more in a summer vibe too) I know this will be a show of GOOD design. My guess is it will be curated. The website is very small and somewhat sparse right now, but it's also very early in the year. 

I'm compelled to write this post just because of my faith in this team and their vision. I'll be watching the site as it grows and can't wait to hear more as time goes on! 

Kitchen Trends at IMM LivingKitchen 2013 - Blues!

As I walked throughout the different sections of the IMM Cologne Living-Kitchen fair in Germany, one of the common threads I spotted was the use of blue. The blues ranged from dark teal to more cobalt in color. Most commonly, they were deeper shades of blue with a touch of warmth. 

I found this color range to be dramatic and fresh. I would not call it a strong, mainstream trend at the show, but if you are considering blue in your kitchen design, here are some ideas for incorporating this different color, in different ways.

Below: It is not often that a dark color is designed as wall cabinetry with white cabinetry below, usually the opposite, but in this case, the tall, dark, toekick section adds a solid foundation to balance the upper section. 

Below: A perfect example of less is more, allowing the faucet to be featured as a sculptural piece.

Below: A quiet deep blue backdrop ties in with blue accessories, allowing the white cabinetry to "pop".

Below: A gutsy move to design in a blue floor, the gloss and richness of the color adds style. I'm not sure I'm fully on board with the choice of table on this floor.

Below: Graffiti as art, perhaps inspired by plants, surrounded by blues and greens and coordinating blue floor. I'm ok with the cabinet color, but I would have chosen a different backsplash to work with the graffiti.

Below: Simple, straightforward cabinetry that's interesting and very attractive to look at. The wood planking above adds needed warmth.

Below: An active mix of texture and clean lines and finishes, it's a good looking area which doubles as storage.

Below: I can see this color could highlight many other colorful accessories and useful items - I really like the use of this blue in this context.

I'm wondering - since we are moving ever more toward the kitchen as a living area, and as we coordinate with surrounding rooms, perhaps it's a natural time to consider using blues in the kitchen? Hmmmm...I think that's an intriguing concept!