Add personality to your kitchen
Kitchens have often been considered the heart of the home. Whether this is due to it eating up a significant portion of your decor and design budget or because it’s such a multi-purpose space, tailoring a kitchen entails a well-thought-out design approach.
Tricks of the trade such as choosing the right colours, mixing textures, and contrasting shapes and finishes can add depth and timelessness to your space. We’ve broken it down into easy-to-follow strategies to help you add personality to your kitchen.
Colour choice
Choosing a colour — or colours — for your kitchen may seem straightforward, but many people are hesitant to include a non-neutral colour in their food prep and eating space. While you may feel safe to stick with the trends, you don’t have to be afraid to go for a bit of boldness.
A helpful rule is to consider what colour means, the emotions it evokes, and the atmosphere you want to create. Consider playing with natural colours for an easy transition from neutral tones. Natural colour palettes offer more range and make a statement without being too busy.
For example, in this kitchen, the bold teal cabinets complement the warm walnut wood of the island. The former is a nature-inspired hunter-green reminiscent of old cottages and the harvest. Combining this blue-tinged hue with the rest of the space provides a touch of traditional character in a modern design.
A good rule to follow when it comes to design is that if you go for a bold choice, such as these dark teal cabinets, soften it. Ensure pieces of the design call to each other and are cohesive. To ground the space and brighten it up, using white for the countertops, backsplash, and hood fan brighten the space to make it feel larger.
A combination of traditional and modern design marries the stainless-steel appliances with gold hardware and plumbing. Pops of black in the light fixtures and open shelving gently lead the eye and maintain a flow with the rest of the design.
Texture and tactile elements
Playing with texture is a surefire way to add depth and warmth to your kitchen. Envision how the materials will feel as you use them. Small details, such as the knurling on the faucet, bring character and depth to a space by utilizing a frequently neglected element: touch. Too often, designing a space relies solely on visual elements but adding texture in the right places does wonders to elevate a room.
Think of the repetition of scale and how to unite different elements across the space. The countertops and the shaker-style cabinets here are thinner than what is traditionally used, which results in a more modern look. Behind the open-storage sheves, a modern take on the subway tile corresponds with the quartz countertops. As a nod to classic cottage kitchens, the quartz countertop perfectly emulates the marble used at that time (without the price tag).
Shapes and patterns
Don’t be scared to use larger shapes in a small space to create a grounded focal point. The diagonally cut wood on the island draws the eye into this kitchen. While the angled lines are more modern, the natural colour and texture bring back those traditional elements. Playing off the softer wood grain by repeating curves softens the modern details in the kitchen. The tall cabinetry and arched open shelving reiterate the same curved detailing and contrast against the uniquely placed windows and Shaker cabinet doors.
These soft curves are echoed in the uniquely shaped tiles behind the open shelving and keep up the same textural elements seen in the kitchen. The open shelves also allow for all the varied textures and colours of jars and bottles to act as decor to add warmth and personality to the space.
An enduring appeal
A timeless kitchen design utilizes natural elements for colour inspiration and texture. Paying attention to colour, texture, scale, and shapes ensures a space filled with personality.