HELP! Residence cooks, kitchen connoisseurs, gourmands: right this moment’s put up is a determined plea to your recommendation. You see, I’m at present working off the momentum of my latest lounge reveal – an object in movement stays in movement, as they are saying – and I’ve managed to seize a while with the dream crew (alternatively recognized by their actual names, Emily Bowser and Sara Tramp) for a kitchen shoot on Might thirtieth, however y’all…I’M NOT ACTUALLY DONE YET.
Okay. Perhaps that’s a little bit alarmist – it’s 90% of the way in which there, and I’ve 25 days to make a minor adorning choice. I’ll dwell! And whereas the kitchen has made leaps and bounds since I first moved in – I’ll catch you up on a number of the design progress under – there’s nonetheless a ludicrously capacious area above the range that’s in dire want of some ~pizzazz~. I need to make this spot practical, but when I’m being sincere…I’m not nice at cooking (but, she wrote, brimming with cautious optimism), and I don’t actually have the talent set to know what constitutes being practical.
To that finish, I’ve researched a ton of classic kitchens and have constantly come throughout the identical 5 adorning formulation for that awkward area above the range. They’re all stunning choices that may look superior in my residence, however I do need assistance deciding which is probably the most livable (i.e. I don’t need one thing that appears good in photographs however is a nightmare to keep up). So for those who get pleasure from cooking at residence (or you probably have robust emotions about shelving, sconces, pot racks, and the like), please learn on – I’d actually respect your opinion right here! However first…
The place We Began
HI, WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST GALLEY KITCHEN. (Joking, but in addition not joking.) She’s about 15′ lengthy, 8′ throughout, and by some means accommodates extra cupboards and drawers than anyone particular person ought to be allowed to have. You understand how Carrie Bradshaw needed to retailer sweaters in her range? I may retailer Carrie Bradshaw’s complete house in my kitchen cupboards with room left over. THERE IS SO MUCH STORAGE.
The flooring (linoleum, troublesome to scrub, impossibly noisy), home equipment (outdated, however it’s a rental, so c’est la vie), and 90-year-old tile counter tops (I imply, sufficient stated) all depart one thing to be desired…however truthfully, I’m simply nitpicking. Over the previous few years, I’ve realized that I really feel most snug once I’m designing round some immovable components – they really feel like built-in bumpers that maintain me on monitor. I don’t do effectively with a clean slate, so I’m grateful to have some parameters to work round. 🙂
The In-Progress Transformation
She’s been a piece in progress for a very long time, of us! Right here’s what’s been completed thus far:
- Wallpaper: It’s ‘Orange Blossom’ by Cole & Son and IT’S SO CHEERY. Hanging this wallpaper took the kitchen from “outdated and drained” to “classic and charming.”
- Glass Knobs: I wished to honor the 90-year-old authentic cupboards with one thing a little bit extra interval applicable – these had been splurge-y (a part of why this reveal has taken so lengthy, ha!), however they’re additionally timeless and so, so, SO fairly. I’ll be utilizing these for the remainder of my life, I believe.
- Window Therapies: Conversely, I didn’t splurge on these – grabbed two of my favourite low cost $40 wood roman shades in ‘Deer’ (a blonder, subtler wooden colour than the ‘Squirrel’ I utilized in my lounge).
- Fashionable Lighting: I LOVE a contemporary/classic mashup, particularly when it improves the performance of an area! I fell in love with the form of this fixture (impressed by leaves and petals, which feels becoming with the blossom motif), however I additionally love that it’s convertible – I’m utilizing it as a semi-flush in my kitchen, however I may use it as a chandelier in a future residence! (Extra manufacturers ought to make lighting like this! It’s genius for renters, IMO.)
- A New Runner: SO CUTE. It’s jute! It’s scalloped! It’s a ten′ runner that solely value $130! FYI, this Etsy is a treasure trove for tremendous candy, tremendous reasonably priced rugs – comparable items on Chairish and Primarily Baskets go for 3-5x the worth. Verify right here first!
- Up to date Switchplates: I’ll be masking the swap and outlet covers with wallpaper so that they mix into the wall. (What number of tears will probably be shed as I try to attain the right wallpaper lineup? You’ll discover out once we share the reveal in mid-June!)
Enter: My Downside Space
GET A LOAD OF THAT OPEN SPACE. In the event you’re additionally battling the design round a free-standing oven in an outdated residence, I SEE YOU. There’s no backsplash, no hood, NO NOTHING on this nook – only a huge expanse of wall in want of one thing. I like the way in which my wallpaper brightened up this nook (standing right here observing a clean wall felt like a punishment beforehand, TBH) however it’s undoubtedly fairly graphic and in dire want of some visible stability.
That is the place I flip to you, my wisened kitchen buddies, to ask a easy query: which of the next 5 decor layouts would you go for in your individual kitchen? I’m not an excellent residence chef but, however I’d love to decide on a setup for this space that’d be pleasurable to make use of as soon as I get higher at cooking! Choices are coming in scorching under…please advise. (However like, in a real approach, and never in a passive-aggressive e-mail approach.)
Choice 1: Two Cabinets
I’ve to confess that I do love how easy and clear this format is. It’s basic for a motive, ? A fairly gentle oak shelf like this one would carry a little bit heat to the ocean of white whereas talking to the lighter tones within the wallpaper. There’s additionally loads of flexibility with this kind of open shelving – I may retailer spices, dishes, cooking utensils, a tiny lamp, and so on. up there! – however however…do I actually need extra storage on this room? When you have an open shelf above your range, has it been a optimistic expertise for you?
Choice 2: Basic Pot Rack Or Peg Rail
Two extra tremendous basic configurations: the pot rack and the peg rail. I do fear {that a} pot rack could also be a little bit too visually busy with the wallpaper – there’d be loads of small bits in a single space! – however I like how sensible it’s, and I do additionally suppose that seeing my cookware encourages me to make use of it extra. I believe I’d be eyeing a brass rail like this, however I’m open to suggestions if anybody has a extra reasonably priced possibility that they love!
I additionally just like the peg rail as a candy, period-appropriate various to the pot rack. If I went that route, I’d do one thing in a lightweight wooden – a chunk that speaks to the blond window therapies and jute runner – and whereas I believe it’d be AWESOME aesthetically (working example: this Reath Design kitchen), I fear that it’d be much less practical long-term than a rack on this explicit area.
Choice 3: Joint Shelving And Pot Rack
As Hannah Montana as soon as stated: you get one of the best of each worlds! I beloved how Sara mounted a brass rail to her floating shelf in her kitchen reveal, and I believe it’d be good to do one thing related right here. The identical considerations nonetheless stand from earlier than, although – will it get too busy? Is it exhausting to scrub? Is it attainable to have too a lot storage in a kitchen? (No, proper?) GOOD COOKS, PLEASE HELP. I’M OVERTHINKING!
Choice 4: Mirror/Artwork + Sconce
I do have an outlet proper above my range (in case you haven’t seen, ha) and it could be an excellent candidate for a plug-in sconce. It’d be useful to have extra gentle whereas cooking, proper? (Critically, I’m asking!!!) A mirror could be a pleasant possibility right here too – I beloved the outdated federal mirror Jess hung close to the range in her outdated kitchen, and I don’t essentially want extra shelving…ideas?
Choice 5: Ceiling Rack + Decor
OH BABY, SAVED THE WILDEST FOR LAST! I noticed this precise format on oldhouseonline.com (are you able to inform I’m a child who grew up watching Antiques Roadshow with my mother???) and it’s AWESOME in particular person – click on via and take a look at the photograph! I do know there’s lots occurring within the graphic, however the concept is fairly easy: pop a ceiling-mounted pot rack up high, and provides myself some area to play and experiment with the styling down under. I do know this may look stunning and attention-grabbing, however am I setting myself up for a cleansing nightmare long-term?
That is the place I’ll open up the ground for dialogue, and I’ll fortunately welcome any and all constructive suggestions. Which possibility would you select? (And if the reply is “woman, none of them,” I’d love to listen to your options!) Will hanging one thing above the range make my life a nightmare? (Insert footage right here of my candy boyfriend Dennis, calmly explaining the physics of melting butter and grease to me in an try and dissuade me from inserting treasured artwork above the range.) Are some supplies, textures, or colours higher or simpler to keep up than others in relation to cleansing off kitchen grease? I can’t be the one one who’s struggling right here – let’s all assist one another out, yeah? HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND – I’ll be searching for your ideas within the feedback. xx
Opening Picture Credit: Photograph by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Caitlin’s Lengthy, Darkish Hallway Makeover