7.15.13

Designing Kitchens With Functionality In Mind

As I mentioned in a prior blog, kitchens have a great return on investment. Designing a kitchen with functionality should be at the top of your list. Consider what your cooking habits are and what your lifestyle demands. It is true that the decorative aspect is important, since you spend a good part of your life in the kitchen entertaining. However, it is in the finer details, such as faucets, storage and sinks that you need to put some thought into. These are only a few of the products that I will touch upon today.

 

Faucets: Consider what items you will be washing, filling up (as in pots), whether you want a separate sprayer or one included in the nozzle. Do you want a separate hot and cold handle or just a single? Will you want a soap dispenser to match?

Take a peak at these next few faucets. You may just find one and fall in love.

photo via Pinterest

Imagine walking into a kitchen and having this Vuelo Kitchen Faucet by Brizo be an amazing focal point. It boasts elegance and style along with it’s ease of function.

photo via www.Blancoamerica.com

This beautiful (Grace) faucet by Blanco is so beautiful and exudes traditional style at it’s best. The sprayer is included in the nozzle it minimizes what is going on around the sink.

photo via pinterest

If you are loving technology and something unique, this LED lighted faucet by (not sure on the manufacturer but will try to obtain that info) may just be what you long for.

Storage: It seems you can never have enough storage when it comes to a kitchen, am I right? Here are a few storage ideas that I found to be very helpful to my clients when designing a kitchen for them.

photo via link

I love this refrigerator drawer concept. If you have young children or even entertain often, this is a must. I have a little one at home, who constantly wants a snack… this functional appliance allows her to help herself. If you don’t have small children, it is great to use as a drink drawer. How genius is this concept? Your guests don’t have to see the mess behind the doors of your refrigerator.

photo via link

Above, Plain and Fancy cabinetry displays a refrigerator drawer that is is disguised as part of the cabinetry.

picture via Houzz

A cabinet just to store your daily appliances. I like that the appliance garage is hidden when not in use, accessible when needed with the slide back doors and drawers for coffee, tea, travelers mugs or whatever you need hidden away. This lucky couple in Bloomfield Hills had Main Street Design build this cabinet to serve their needs.

Photo via BHG

Don’t forget those small details. Spices that are often used should have a home of their own. Have your spices hidden away in a cool, dry, dark place that is easily accessible when needed.

photo via link

Your counter tops can easily get a cluttered look with a few appliances on top of them. Hide coffee machines away with an appliance garage or closing cabinet and hide mixers in a lower cabinet with an appliance lift.

photo via Bing

We’ve hit upon a few details in the kitchen that make it super functional as well as organized. Lastly, we’ll touch upon sinks…

Sinks: A sink should be extremely durable material that won’t show stains, scratches or nicks. You need to consider whether a double bowl or single suits your lifestyle. Size does matter if you plan on washing a lot of dishes by hand or need a larger bowl for bathing small dogs, babies or whatever.

photo via link

We are aware of the standard stainless steel bowl but have you been introduced to Silgranite? This sink is produced by Blanco and is “ultra-durable and cleanable with a surface made of 80% rock-hard granite. SILGRANIT II resists scratches, stains and heat.” Impressive durability and pretty, am I right? Did I mention it comes in 28 colors?

OK, I think we have hit on a few details of the functionality of a kitchen, including a brief introduction to a non-stainless steel sink.

I hope this blog gave you pause and some consideration in designing your own kitchen and it’s functionality. Should you need any assistance in finding materials, products, designing or remodeling your kitchen, contact Melanie Langford, Lead Interior Designer of All About Interiors.

Unfortunately, none of these lovely images you see here are mine. I do not take ownership of anything unless otherwise noted. This is an inspiration and informational blog for personal use only. Please see links below the image to take you to the source in which I found it and for credit. If you own any image you see on here and do not approve, please let me know and I will be happy to remove/accommodate. Enjoy & thank you.
Filed in: Fuctional Kitchen Details | Kitchen Designs that Really Cook – tile | Kitchens
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July 18, 2013 - 10:22 am

HP - Love the counter extender idea for a way to extend the counter yet keep it hidden when not in use.

July 25, 2013 - 5:07 pm

Michelle - I wish I had an appliance lift!! We definitely have a few too many things on the countertop!

July 25, 2013 - 6:19 pm

Melanie Langford - Michelle,
Yes, I find it is the small details in a kitchen that make such a huge impact. It makes cooking a meal, just so much easier!
Melanie

July 25, 2013 - 6:28 pm

Melanie Langford - Hi
Thanks! I agree, it is an extremely functional concept that doesn’t take up space when not in use. Thanks for checking in with our blog. For more great tips, we’d love you to become our fan on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-About-Interiors/389571254403435?ref=hl
Happy decorating,
Melanie

7.8.13

Decorating A Laundry Room

Decorating a laundry room is not an obvious space you would put thought into, but why not? Dirty laundry is inevitable. You might as well make the laundry space pretty and functional, since you will be spending some time in there. I have found some amazingly functional and gorgeous laundry rooms that should inspire and give you some great ideas for decorating your own.

A laundry room doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal to be gorgeous. Take a peek at this Schumacher wallpaper on the doors! What an elegant addition to simple bi-fold doors.

Martha Stewart Living September Issue

This laundry room is clean, functional and simple. The addition of a sink (if plumbing allows) is a great feature for doing hand washing. The cabinets with crown molding hide away the unsightly items you don’t want showing such as detergent, bleach and dryer sheets.

Photo: www.pinyourhome.com

One of my all time favorite laundry rooms is this grey and red one. By adding a pop of color, it makes the room interesting and adds a wow factor. I wouldn’t even mind doing laundry when in this room! What is not to love?

photo via www.brockdesigns.com

A very functional and useful addition to a laundry room is a drying rack. Here are two that caught my eye.

Picture via Houzz.com

picture via Pinterest

I will leave with one last one that made an impression on me. Okay, it’s not your usual laundry room but shoot, I would almost WANT to do laundry in here!

Picture from Pinterest via frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com

Hopefully you found something that inspired you to make your laundry room a place you don’t dread going into.

Until next week… happy decorating!

~Melanie

CT Interior Decorator, All About Interiors

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, none of these lovely images you see are mine. I do not take ownership of anything unless otherwise noted. This is an inspirational blog for personal use only. Please see links for credit and to give credit to the images and where they were found. If you own any image you see on here and don not approve, please let me know. I will be happy to remove/accommodate. Enjoy and thank you!
Filed in: Decorate a Laundry Room | Decorating
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July 15, 2013 - 5:20 am

Flamingo - To be honest, it’s not that easy to make a good interior… you really need to see the big picture, in small pictures. I tried, and I can’t say I done a good job :)

July 25, 2013 - 5:09 pm

Michelle - What an awesome drying rack! That beats draping things over the tub like I do now!

July 25, 2013 - 6:18 pm

Melanie Langford - Hi Michelle,
I agree, it is so very functional and looks so much better than tub drapery!~ lol
Thanks for taking the time to check in with us!
Happy decorating!
Melanie

July 25, 2013 - 6:31 pm

Melanie Langford - Hi
Thanks for sharing! I agree, although reality HGTV makes it look so easy, decorating has many components to it and takes a lot of work and thought. Everyone is good at something and if you are not trained at interior design, hire someone who is! You will appreciate the end result and the cost savings when you have the room you desire the first time with no costly mistakes.
Thanks for checking in with us! Check back often for lots of good tips!
Melanie

7.1.13

Patriotic Colors For The Home

Decorating Americana style includes the red, white and blue patriotic colors for the home. Red, white and blue is not just for the Fourth Of July holiday anymore. Here are some decorations for the home that sport the American patriotic colors that have a classic style.

source

Pinterest

Houzz

Pinterest

If you don’t want to commit to an entire room of red, white and blue you can add a few touches to give the space a bit of patriotism. Here are a few examples to inspire you.

www.yourcozyhome.com

Flickr.com

Source

What a lovely table setting from Kathryn Greeley!

I hope you got some great inspiration for your own rooms to either decorate for the holidays or beyond!

Houzz

I hope everyone has a fabulous Fourth Of July holiday and stays safe!

Enjoy! ~Melanie

Filed in: Color | Decorating | Patriotic colors For The Home
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6.24.13

Bold Color in Interior Design

Using a bold color in interior design can give your home a uniqueness and make a stylish statement. Don’t be afraid to go bold with color in interior design. It is true, that you don’t want to end up with a house that looks like a Crayola box. However, when done properly bold color can look extremely stylish and make an impressive statement. Here are some of my favorites to show you how it can be done tastefully.

http://47parkav.blogspot.com/

Black is back, baby! This room is gorgeous with an elegant but fun feel to it with boastful colors and textures.

In an all white room, don’t be afraid to add that splash of bright color that will give the space an element of surprise and break up the monotony.

bright-journey.com

You don’t often see purple used in homes. I don’t know why not… it is so zen-like and this room exudes a sophistication like none other.

http://www.simplydecorate.com/interior-design-blog.html

Somewhere between red and orange lies the color coral. This vibrant color will brighten your space and your spirits while mixing beautifully with other colors!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2807120442_0922072515_o.jpg

When used sparingly, red makes a strong statement without overpowering the room. You don’t want to dress an entire room in red, which would become overpowering and just too “in your face”.

If you live in the world of blah beige and not-so-exciting neutrals, think outside the box and don’t be afraid to add a splash of bright color somewhere, even if it’s just a throw pillow.

For a color consultation with All About Interiors’ interior designer, Melanie Langford, please contact us!

Filed in: Color | Cool Color Trends | Paint Color
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6.17.13

How To Choose a Paint Color

Choosing a paint color can be a daunting task for some people but this blog will show you how to choose a paint color without breaking into a sweat. The paint choosing process can be a little easier if you follow these steps:

 

Do your research: I recommend you do NOT immediately go into a paint store and choose the first color that you like. Go on line to sites like Houzz or Pinterest and take a look at paint colors in actual rooms and see what strikes your fancy. I happen to have an entire board on Pinterest dedicated only for Benjamin Moore paint colors shown in actual rooms. You can also go to your local supermarket and purchase a few decorating magazines and do the same. Once you have narrowed down what you like, look to see what color paint appeals to you. Have you chosen mostly rooms with earthy tones? Do you like dark walls? Do you like a lot of color? This will help you figure out the look you are going for.

Benjamin Moore: Wythe Blue

If you love a contrast of light walls and furniture paired with dark floors then the above design by Avenue B Development is the look you are going for. Start looking at light colors with similar tones to Wythe Blue.

Hooked on a feeling: What mood do you want to set when you walk into a room? Is it a fun room? A serious room? A warm room? An elegant room? Each color you consider will give the room an emotion. Decide on what you are wanting to accomplish and that will steer you in the right direction.

Inspiration piece: Is there a specific piece in your room that you love and want to pull color from? It could be a rug, artwork, vase, pillow or in this case, in the photo below, the fabric on the window treatments ties in nicely with the lavender wall color. An inspiration piece will give you a great starting point that makes it super easy to choose a paint color. Take that piece to the paint store and have them color match with a shade or two lighter or darker depending on the look you are going for.

pic via google

Take a walk on the wild side: Some people are afraid of color and tend to lean towards beige walls with brown accents. Don’t be afraid to add color with either an accent wall or accessories that give the room some interest. As mentioned above, find a room that you like and decide what you like about it. If you choose a paint color that you think is too bold, you can stay in the same family and palette by painting a few shades lighter on the same paint swatch. This is a good way to soften a bold look, while still adding a the color.

In this instance the decorator had opted for a barely blue wall paint, and has decided to enhance the furniture and drapery with sky blue accents.

Most importantly, remember, the commitment is small… it’s just paint! Have fun with it and know that adding color makes a big difference and changes the entire feeling of a home.

For color consultations contact interior designer, Melanie Langford of All About Interiors.

 

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, none of these lovely images you see here are mine. I do not take ownership of anything unless otherwise noted. This is an inspiration and informational blog for personal use only. Please see links on the images for credit and to take you to the source in which I found it. If you own any image you see here and do not approve, please let me know and I will be happy to remove/accommodate. Enjoy and thank you!
Filed in: Color | Paint Color
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