A good kitchen will fit your lifestyle and the rest of your house design, so think about double island construction for more prep space or an open-concept dining room like this one from Desiree Burns Interiors.
Stunning veined marble counters and backsplashes are the rage now, so pair with white cabinetry to keep the design sophisticated.
1. White Farm Sinks
Country or traditional room is enhanced with farmhouse apron-front kitchen sinks. They’re porcelain or fireclay basins that double as prep sinks, if you need them, and often pairs well with antique faucets for added flair.
White farmhouse sinks are still in vogue, but you can also opt for stainless steel or marble, which provide other benefits to any kitchen.
Your kitchen should be the star of your house and it should have an interesting background. DesignWorks’ Kelsey McGregor applied zellige floor-to-ceiling tile to the kitchen of a client as texture and visual interest; she worked its dark color into the island counters and Shaker cabinets as visual boundaries between cooking areas.
2. Cordless Lamps
Minimal decor may still be popular, but there are more and more kitchen design concepts that seem lived-in. It’s a style that helps break up long blobs of cabinetry, says the designer Emily Henderson. For this room to not look stark and soft she suggests placing small table lamps in your counter space or dining room – just one small lamp from this list for a pop of color!
Make it a bit chic but not too utilitarian with a McGee & Co cordless accent lamp, like this naughty banker’s lamp with a wide base for easy cleaning. And it goes well with different styles of kitchen furniture!
A nice kitchen light is a pendant chandelier like McGee & Co’s woven wicker pendant, rustic meets sophisticated. Its three different ceramic glazes complement any kitchen color scheme; and it’s cordless, so homeowners don’t have to rewire the traditional pendant.
3. Picture Lights
Picture lights are a pretty way to bring any piece of art or bookcase with shelves into the spotlight. Available in various shapes, picture lights can also be installed with or without shades depending on your style and décor.
Pick a finish that matches the rest of the kitchen elements for a nice look. Brass fixtures are elegant and silver is a simple neutral that goes with any frame.
You need a statement piece? Maybe add a glimmer of crystal to this grand, open galley kitchen by Desiree Burns Interiors – the luxurious finishes feel majestic paired with carved moldings, deep veined marble countertops, custom cabinets, and farmhouse elements.
4. Woven Pendant Lights
Because open plan living has placed the kitchen in the centre of most houses, not only does it need to function well, it also needs to be appealing. Designers are looking at new aesthetics to take this space beyond bare cupboards and luxury appliances.
Lighting by Lara Ette Design adds dimension and visual interest to this bright kitchen, and is a nice fit in a recent trend of mixing modern and old kitchen design styles into a new, yet comfortable and homey style. Fabric pendant lights like these add texture without being too formal. Here, these pendants match this look with its synthesis of the clean lines of the new with the layered and curvy forms of the old for a soft-style change.
You can even combine wood finishes to get a hybrid look. To create this mix, Lydia Maskiel has matched dark oak cabinets in their kitchen (painted jungle green) with natural timber floors and a range hood with a complex black grid pattern added as a sharp form feature.