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Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,505
Registered: ‎11-08-2014

WARMING UP A KITCHEN

[ Edited ]

Designer Mary Ann Pickett of 'classiccasualhome' wanted to warm up her white kitchen.  Of course, it's a beautiful kitchen, but not a "perfect" kitchen.   But she has the advantage of the fact that her paint is definitely a soft, off-white, not stark and sterile.  Ditto her tiles, which are variegated in shade.  And her island is natural wood.  The   casual mix of metals also helps.

 

Her added touches did enhance, I thought.  And she did it without making the room look unreasonably cluttered or crowded.  It's a working kitchen, with her husband being an enthusiastic chef for the family.

 

Screenshot 2024-10-06 at 8.35.55 AM.png

 

Her washable, striped Ruggable rug gives that "global travel" feeling, and protects her lustrous hardwood floors.

 

Screenshot 2024-10-06 at 8.51.16 AM.png

 

Her heavy, washed linen 'tea towels' ( that's a Canadianism of mine, ha) or 'dish towels', further the theme of sophisticated "rusticity" established by the rug.  Love their homespun look.  Turns out, she got them in Paris.  But on her site she gives some cute duplicates. 

 

Screenshot 2024-10-06 at 8.47.27 AM.png

 

To hold flowers, she likes something vintage or scrounged at a flea market, like her vase.  Good texture contrast with the sleeker kitchen elements--

 

 

vintage-pitcher-1-1152x2048.jpg

 

Same with her gorgeous walnut cutting board from Quince.  Love the deep color against the countertops.

 

Quince-walnut-cutting-board-1152x1536.jpg

 

The small art print is velcro'd with a few strips, to the backsplash.  A lit candle and the fruit bowl make a simple vignette.  A small vintage lamp could be swapped out for the candle, and give a similar homey glow.

 

 

scented-candle-in-kitchen.jpg

 

She didn't mention this, but I think her stored and stacked cookbooks add to the warmth-- books always do!

 

 

Screenshot 2024-10-06 at 9.08.52 AM.png

 

Later, edited to add--  Forgot that I have a tea towel recommendation of my own, that is also rustic.  I got these cotton jacquard oak leaf and acorn towels at Hobby Lobby.  Made in India.  

 

Screenshot 2024-10-06 at 10.26.23 AM.png

 

They also come in red, orange or brown, but thought that the rich green and ecru pattern would span the seasons best.  And they're not jarringly white on the back, so if they get twisted while hanging, they still look good.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,518
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

WOW----if only I had a kitchen like that!! Is lovely!!  I would use off white/cream/ecu --not the stark white anywhere --and would love to decorate with my kitchen stuff---

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,830
Registered: ‎06-14-2010

I like all the decor especially the addition of cook books and the lovely rug and dish towels.  Having touches of color enhances a white kitchen.  I am not a fan of islands , I prefer a table and chairs, more comfortable and inviting for me. I love that there is a lot of space to move around in also.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,128
Registered: ‎06-25-2012

Oh I'm different! I just gutted my kitchen (only 8 years old) and redid it in totally stark white! It's absolutely gorgeous. But I do bring colors in by doing what the OP posted. Flowers, towels, knick knacks. My coffee bar has a beautiful collection of colorful coffee mugs from our travels. My kitchen was actually entered in the Blue Star contest 2024, it didn't win but it was posted on their Facebook page! So exciting! Woman Happy

"Pure Michigan"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,947
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Almost my kitchen.  Cabinets are that not white white neutral warm color, no plate racks, but we have dark wood floor and dark island that is more traditional.  That countertop is our quartzite too--I can't remember the name of it right now, but it is a common one.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,784
Registered: ‎03-14-2010

I honestly thought the first picture was the "before" picture.  This kitchen doesn't look particularly warm to me.

~What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.~ William Shakespeare
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,704
Registered: ‎01-25-2023

Love this kitchen! We have quartz countertops but I complain about them often, the only way I can find anything dropped on them is to feel for it with my hands-everything disappears on it!, and they are so cold in winter, that we addes an under counter heating element.

 

Love the blue as the accent color for the room, really perks things up for me.

Lynn-Critter Lover!
(especially cats!)
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,459
Registered: ‎07-29-2012

Love this kitchen except for the dark island.  Too much contrast for my taste.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 68,108
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

A very nice kitchen, but given the huge expanse of white and stainless steel, I think it probably requires a bit more effort to warm it up. Smiley Wink


In my pantry with my cupcakes...
Valued Contributor
Posts: 975
Registered: ‎06-11-2024

Re: WARMING UP A KITCHEN

[ Edited ]

In the photo, that kitchen island looks to be fairly far from the cooktop or sink, and maybe from the refrigerator, too.   It's placement feels uncomfortable to me. 

 

I have a hard time trying to see the colors at play here, firstly because the room behind the kitchen seems to be a light green and that and the silvertone refrigerator are creating reflections that have some variable colors. 

 

I would not have put that blue rug in there.  I see warm undertones in the countertop and I like the idea of the sagey-greenish rug.