Chalkboard Paint In The Kitchen

Do you like chalkboard (also called blackboard) paint? Yes, we've seen it fairly frequently in kitchen design, but it's certainly not a mainstream trend, maybe something on the periphery in my opinion, so embrace it if you love it.

Here's a chalkboard look with a difference! I can see something like this in a kitchen on a big wall at the breakfast area. It's very artistic, don't you think? I shot this image at the kitchen design fair in Germany and every so often I look back at my images to refresh my memory on special discoveries. Just like we notice design in hotels and other public spaces, trade shows are where you always find innovation so I knew I had to share this example of chalkboard paint. With so very much to capture at a show, I like to bring out bits and pieces of cool design concepts throughout the year.

For those who are creative, or who know someone who is an artist, this could be a superb way to add multiple themes via the chalkboard to the kitchen as the mood or season changes. Create designs on the blackboard that are formal, modern, urban, country, or an eclectic design. Make it cool and cluttered as is shown, or the opposite - super simple with one strong motif. Tired of the blackboard? Paint over it!

Chalkboard paint is easy to use and easy to do away with once you tire of it. I LOVE change in the home. I think it's so important to build in the ability to change a mood into my designs. Why keep everything the same for years??? Maybe the way to set your version of the chalkboard apart is to use a colored paint for your wall. You can get any color paint you wish. It could be interesting to do a chalkboard look in a very light neutral such as a white, off white, a sophisticated khaki or very light and soft blue gray.

The best bet is to experiment on a large piece of 1/8" thick masonite or other smooth surface, put it in position and live with it awhile before you make the visual commitment. Play with colored chalk. Create a variety of designs to test them for design, scale, proportion and contrast and when you like something you have drawn take a picture of it for future reference because you will be most likely trying quite a few artistic concepts on the board! But, definitely do it your way!

Modern Kitchen Design - The Kitchen Furniture Look

Let's dissect this brown, modern kitchen design. I took these shots of a display, a very large one, similar to a furniture look, as large as a kitchen is if not quite a bit larger, at the LivingKitchen design fair in Germany this year. I attended the show with Blanco America and it showed the very latest in kitchen design from Europe.

Although it's a display, which is meant to instill excitement and show innovation in design, we can still learn quite a bit from a kitchen as large as this one, especially if we are interested in design concepts far away from the typical, which I'm always open to! So, let's get to it. Here's MY take and tell me yours:

Pros: 

• It's just an exciting design overall
• It's a unique color, one nor normally seen in a gloss door style
• Who wouldn't love the fireplace and skin effect?
• It looks like furniture
• The eye has room to REST, SO important IMO!
• I love the floating effect
• I love the ability to change out decorative/useful items in open/closed storage
• The horizontal lines are interesting, also the depths of cabinetry, etc.

Cons: 

• Everything happens at the island - ok if there is ample room on all sides
• The flooring is too sterile for me
• As is, regardless of the warm color, it's a bit cold-I need art

Overall, I think it's gorgeous. My assumption is that the refrigerator might be situated down toward the fireplace, in the tall cabinet section to the right or maybe unseen, at the other end closer to the sink section of the island. Likewise, the ovens might be situated in one of these areas, perhaps concealed. The ovens could also be built into the island. 

If a design similar to this one worked out for my own kitchen space, I'd definitely try something like this. I think it's modern, furniture-like, while still being utilitarian.

What do you think of this design? Is it warm, cold, something in between? What would you change?

Kitchen Backsplash Rail

What do you think of a backsplash rail? I've always liked them. When I first started in kitchen design in the late 80s, they were very common in European kitchen design - and still are. I would not call a backsplash rail a trend - it's really a classic way to store cooking equipment that is useful and intrinsically decorative too.

This is an image I shot at the Architectural Digest show at the fabulous La Cornue booth. I think it's a nice eclectic look - to have the, let's say, "less kitcheny" wood backsplash wall, which to me looks more formal juxtaposed with the useful items on the rails. 

The black and stainless add to the glam factor but the texture and tone on the wall is very understated and soothing. Of course, the pots are gorgeous with those brass handles!

Other options to add some warmth to backsplash rails are to add tea towels hung over the rail, place some herbs or flowers in utensil holders, put a small piece of artwork on a rail shelf or decorative crockery as a few ideas. The great thing about this kitchen design element is that it can change - just move useful items around the rail, add and subtract items, and create a whole new look for any reason or occasion. Change is good!

Following are other images of backsplash rails that I took while in Germany at the LivingKitchen fair. 

One of the best sources for a backsplash rail is the great collection of accessories and backsplash rail systems from Clever Storage. 

Would you use a backsplash rail in your kitchen?

Tile Trends 2013

There's more to share on my trip to Coverings, the tile design trade fair, showcasing tile trends, stone, artisans, processes and more.

Along with more insight on what I saw at Coverings is another collection of inspiring tile via the slide show I put together with images I took from the show floor. And there will be more, as the best is yet to come, but in the meantime, you'll love these tiles!

Often, when I am going home on the plane from a design event, rather than flip through a magazine (after all electronic devices need to be turned off) I take that time, from the gate up to 10,000 feet, to write in my Moleskine about what information stood out to me, for future reference. As I look at my little notebook, here's what I noted about trends (but first, take a look at some beautiful tile!)

Trends spotted:

• WOOD (tile), wood and more wood
• Wood tile that is super rustic and stunning!
• Wood tile that is incredibly realistic thanks to advanced technologies
• Wood in lighter tones as a peripheral trend
• Long planks of wood tile
• Wood, conrete and stone looks trending
• NEUTRALS BIGTIME!
• Very large format, even larger than I observed at last year's coverings show
• Large porcelain slabs by many manufacturers designed for paneled surfaces including kitchen countertops
• Very THIN tiles - definitely the new way to produce tile
• Fun patterns, geometrics, playing with shapes
• Microbial and recycled content
• Salvage, urban, metallics
• Vintage, inspired by nature
• Pop and subculture references
• Damask!

A few of these trends were noted in my previous post on tile trends, but there are quite a few more discoveries I have added here. 

Tile technology has been rapidly advancing and by that I mean tile is manufactured much lighter in weight which saves much energy especially for imported materials, in many cases the materials are much more green than ever before, and although there was an abundance of grays and wood design stories, there is also an enormous amount of real creativity and original design. Fresh vintage/retro is also still a story, but probably the biggest story is the microbial effect where the tile actually cleans the air! Learn more here from Crossville's latest introduction. 

I have more fabulous tile to show you - just wait - you'll be shocked at what's to come!

Tile Trends 2013 - Tile of Spain

A couple of months ago I traveled to the Coverings show to see 2013 tile trends first hand. Coverings is an American showcase for all things tile. The design fair was held in Atlanta. I attended at the invitation of the Coverings show officials, a great opportunity. 

While I have many, many images of tile from the trade show, some of which I will feature in the near future, I'd like to start my coverage (overdue!) with a few of the tile companies who are members of the Tile of Spain trade association. Here is a slideshow which features my images from the show floor!

Following are trends that I have identified at the show that are true for Tile of Spain as well as trends which were seen throughout the show.

• As travel is on the rise, homeowners want to replicate a travel experience with tile textures and patterns that bring back their favorite place
• Art Nouveau has surfaced as a trend many like due to its unique design elements, not quite traditional, not quite modern
• Mid Century Modern continues to gain interest in the marketplace
• Popular colors are mid range warm gray and neutrals (no surprise there!)
• Warm tones - cream, beige, camel, brown and red are rising. Emerald and blue are important in North America this year.
• Metallics with their warmth, patina, and age add personality
• Vintage design helps homeowners connect with a meaningful period
• Salvage such as brick, rustic wood and stone remains very popular
• Inspiration from nature and accompanying natural textures seen in stone and wood, particularly with more pronounced texture and grain is increasing in popularity
• Subculture motifs from graffiti, classic art forms, pop culture, industrial are a strong peripheral trend
• Tiles are very thin and are produced in ever larger sizes 

In addition to these trends, the refreshed traditional tiles such as Spanish and Moroccan looks continue their innovations, producing exciting new designs.

I have many more images which I will share with you in the days ahead!

A Dysfunctional Kitchen

This could be the most fabulously dysfunctional kitchen design that I have laid eyes on in recent memory - what a great find from my tumblr feed!

It's everything fabulous - the uber-serious moody overtones, the sense of haute kitchen fashion, the "this is my kitchen and did you notice the old iron lally column???" nuance. But, the best feature is the utter and ridiculous dysfunction.

First question - who in their right mind would actually spend the money to execute this "design"? It has to have been designed for some sort of set. I do see a table off to the left of the image - could this be a real home? Speaking of fabulous, here is a list of the fabulously dysfunctional elements to this kitchen design:

• Note the high sink edges and the faucet controls
• Where is the storage?
• See the location of the refrigerator-behind the sink
• Doesn't look to be much lighting
• How does the antique brass countertop hold up?
• How do you clean this kitchen?
• What is the significance of 6 pans on top of one another on a gas burner?
• A recirculating island type fan = ZERO FUNCTION
• Where are the dishes and glasses, not to mention food, stored?

If this set was not designed specifically to torture a professional kitchen designer, I'm not sure what other purpose it serves! 

To me, this image does provide one interesting lesson: Don't immediately be influenced by what appears to be esoteric, fashionably-original design, as being representative of GOOD design. Money thrown at high end products and materials (and designers) does not necessarily translate to good design. My work is done here ;)