Spice up your kitchen.

The kitchen was the hub of my family's life; where my parents, my sisters and I cooked together in the kitchen, sharing family recipes and where secrets were passed from one generation to the next. The food we served was extremely important as was the ambience of the kitchen; colour played a vital role in achieving a setting that encouraged storytelling. To help you with your colour selection I will be giving you a few tips. 

Bright colours give you energy and dark tones are intimate and cosy. Neutral earthy tones are calming and soothing and will make your décor and appliances the central focus. Depending on the chosen colour your room will either be enhanced or appear smaller. 

Always buy a small tin of paint and experiment; paint a poster board in the chosen colour to see if you like it and can live with it before you buy gallons.

White - Well you know you can’t go wrong with white and, in fact, a white kitchen can be warm or it can be cool depending on the shade of white you have chosen and the lighting - the type of lights you use will impact the colour on your walls and cabinets. There is so much more to white then meets the eye; you have different hues, tones, tints, intensities and all will determine the outcome. Coupled with warm coloured accessories, soft furnishings, wooden surfaces and plants will soften the look.

Red – An energizing colour which will make people talk, eat more and stay longer. Red is the colour of confidence and passion. Reds come in all kinds of shades and tones, including Indian reds, spicy reds, burgundy, terra cotta, pure reds and so on. 

Pink - Go retro and break all the rules; apply a splash of hot pink on your kitchen walls or cabinets. You are sure to get comments, you are making a statement. If you can live with this colour then go ahead.

Orange – It is a great colour and known to stimulate the appetite so not a great choice if you’re trying to lose weight. The colour orange is frequently associated with food and makes people feel comfortable and at ease. 

Black and white – Great for a sleek and contemporary look and add some stainless steel appliances to finish the look. For some it might be too stark but for others that love the minimal style this is ideal.

Blue and white - Blue is a wonderful colour to use as an accent to white. Display porcelain such as Wedgewood blue or Delft for a great look. For a warmer look add red and green for a cooler look. 

   

Yellow - Yellow is always a great colour for a kitchen because it is sunny, cheerful and will make a small kitchen look bigger. However pick your shade carefully, consider how much natural light is in the kitchen and how this will impact the colour on your walls; this is something you need to consider regardless of the colour paint you choose. 

Grey - A good colour to use with stainless steel is grey; these appliances give your kitchen a contemporary look, although they can be incorporated successfully into any kitchen style. The colour grey looks elegant and chic, particularly when paired with shiny metals, copper and stainless steel. Again grey goes really well with warm colours such has burgundy. 

Neutrals - When you use neutral colours on your walls you will focus on other objects such as your countertops, cabinets and back splashes. Insert colour in your chair cushions and other accessories if you want to add some colour. Granite counter tops, porcelain or stainless steel sinks and dark or light wood cabinets will all look amazing in a neutral kitchen.

Statistics reveal we now spend more waking hours in our kitchens than any other room. You best start painting.

Pictures via beaufortkitchens.co.uk,  onhomedecoration.com, livebreathedecor.com and kitchensforliving.ne

Loft Swagger!

Loft apartments are spacious, stylish, distinctive, sleek, and absolutely stunning; they can be intimidating to decorate. I've always loved lofts and that is why I decided to share a bit of loft inspiration with you.

The original lofts were warehouses or industrial buildings converted to residential use and at times the conversions looked pretty unfinished like a set from Dragons Den; wires running everywhere, floorboards that creaked and brick walls exposed - but for city denizens squeezed into high rise apartments, loft living became the trend. Areas of London, Lisbon and New York were gentrified by turning former industrial facilities into desirable and highly sought after residences. 

A loft is usually seen as a modern area and so contemporary furnishings tend to be the most suitable, equally a more traditional or rustic style will work. Materials like wood, stone with glass and stainless steel enhance the solid effect and will give you a hip, modern and contemporary look.

As a loft is an open space (and hence a blank canvass) deciding what "room" should go where is vital. Before decorating it is important you determine the future layout - this will help you not having to move furniture around to see if it’s suitable for your loft. 

• Walk around your loft in order to find the best spot for the living area, sleeping space and dining room.
• Your decisions should be based on where the kitchen and bathroom are located and especially how the windows are arranged. 
• What’s the best configuration for entertaining, should the dining area or the bedroom double as an office space and so on.   
• You can also use a raised platform to set apart the bedroom from the rest of the space

The best colour scheme for decorating the walls of a loft is neutral; i.e. hues of beige, taupe and white throughout. Unlike in traditional homes it is best to use a single colour palette to keep the space coordinated and eye pleasing.

  Here are my top 10 tips on loft design ideas: 

1.  Use rugs to create a separation for themed areas or settings you want to create; they will improve the ambience and add to the warmth of a room, making it feel cosier.
2. Use screens to divide the room or to hide certain areas; i.e. to create privacy in your bedroom space. 
3. Use large furniture as walls enabling you to break and create boundaries for different living spaces; i.e. armoires, sofas, tables or bookcases. 
4. Use multipurpose furnishings in order to reduce storage space; coffee tables, ottomans or chests are great because these types of furnishings normally comes with hidden storage and can be used as extra seating when needed. 
5. Use decorative artwork; you will define the space as well as adding colour to your walls; use a large piece of decorative artwork or various shapes and sizes so it balances your open space while preventing the area to become lost. The high ceilings make it the perfect canvass for experimenting so, be adventurous. 
6. Use tall potted plants especially at the corners of your loft space; it will bring a natural element inside the room while visually making it much more pleasant giving it a homely and warm touch. 
7. Use cushions as additional decoration to your sofa and other furniture; they will provide the colour and texture you need to create a softer look. 
8.  Accessorise with bright coloured vases and a variety of decorative items; i.e. appliances like kettle, blender and coffee machine, displayed on the kitchen counter can double as accessories. 
9.  Hang funky chandeliers, track lighting or pendant lights to highlight specific parts of the loft and meet the lighting challenge of the high ceilings. In addition, add some lower lighting with table, floor lamps and wall fixtures; by layering your lighting scheme you will create a softer and more welcoming atmosphere. 
10. Use darker paint shades to camouflage the ceiling features and create an illusion of reduced height. Lofts ceilings tend to be high and usually feature exposed ductwork and metal beams the impact of which you can alter with the right choice of paints.  

 

Follow these tips and turn that huge space into a cosy living environment you will enjoy and love. 

www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via Brandon Barre's Loft and Trendland.com