Surround Yourself
with Your Favorite Things
Planning a Collector-Friendly Kitchen
Between cooking, eating and entertaining, we certainly spend a lot of time in our kitchens. So shouldn't this "favorite room" incorporate our favorite things as well? At WINN Design+Build, we definitely think it should! That's why we like to plan kitchen remodeling projects that include not just beautiful and functional counters, cabinets and appliances, but beautiful and functional display space for your favorite things as well. The challenge is finding clever ways to integrate treasured artwork, mementos and collections without cluttering up counters or exposing those favorite pieces to damage from steam or spaghetti sauce. Here are tips to keep in mind as you plan your kitchen remodel.
“Collector-Friendly” Kitchen Remodeling Tips
Built-in Kitchen Display Shelves: With a little planning, even non-custom cabinets can be configured to provide plenty of space for displaying objects you love. A common add-on to kitchen islands, for example, is book shelves designed to hold a few prized pieces or a collection of favorite cookbooks. From a simple shelf added over the sink or refrigerator, to elegant wall niches, there are many creative ways to show off your treasures – and keep them away from countertop spills and splatters. If you'd like to have a collection of fresh herbs at hand, plan for the kitchen remodel to include wide windowsills (perhaps tiled to protect the surface from water) and windows with a sunny southern or eastern exposure.
Cabinet Tops as Gallery Space: Again, by planning ahead, you can vary the heights of cabinets to create beautiful spaces for your collections. Even functional items like colorful cookware can take on the status of art when displayed well! Careful design also eliminates the cluttered look that can come from some cabinet-top displays.
Kitchen Lighting: Good kitchen design always involves a plan for lighting. When designing the kitchen to be a home to artwork or collections, don't forget accent lighting. Examples can include fixtures designed to highlight an art print, light up a cabinet featuring beautiful china or glasses, or to shine down dramatically on a pottery collection.
Protecting Displays: Glass-front cabinet doors are a smart way to protect your treasures from kitchen moisture and spills. Painting the back of the cabinet a contrasting color can add extra drama to your display, as can the right in-cabinet lighting. Styles can range from modern frameless glass doors to paned doors perfect for providing individual "frames" for different objects in your collection. Ideally, objects on a kitchen wall should be framed with glass. Glass is far easier to clean than acrylic which can yellow and scratch in the kitchen environment. Unframed canvasses and tapestries are not the best choice for kitchens since they can absorb kitchen odors and their surfaces can be difficult to clean.
Remodeling Finishes Pull it all Together: Color, texture and style are key elements of every good kitchen design. By planning for your collection right from the start of the kitchen remodeling project, these elements can be selected to complement what you want to display. The backsplash, countertops, paint and floor, for example, all can be designed to coordinate with and highlight the colors from objects in your collection. Moldings are also important for pulling the look of the room together. For instance, the ornate feel of a large framed painting can be balanced with beautifully carved cabinet molding.
With a little advance kitchen remodeling planning, you truly can fill your dream kitchen with your favorite things – without cluttering up those beautiful new counters!
Maintenance Tip: Inspect Your Home's Exterior for Potential Problems
Autumn's a great time to check the exterior of your home. The ground around your foundation should be graded away from the house. Downspouts should be cleared of any debris and should carry runoff at least 3 to 4 feet from the foundation. Also make sure mulch or woodpiles don't come into contact with siding, as this invites termites and carpenter ants into your home.
Thank You for the Referrals!
We would like to thank The Melcher's of Oakton for referring us to The Campbell's, also from Oakton, for a future project.
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See you next month!
Michael Winn
and the WINN Design+Build team |
