Would you put a bath in your bedroom?

Many of the cool new home interior trends stem from the plush decor and ideas experienced in posh hotels.
There was an interesting article in the Sunday Times yesterday looking at the issue of putting a bath in your bedroom. Not an en suite, which is separated from your bedroom by a door, but an actual bath.
The bath in a bedroom trend is something that has definitely stemmed from luxurious hotels with big rooms, where the bath is situated only a few footsteps away from the bed. A nice idea if you’re away on a relaxing weekend, but it’s a bit different thinking of having a bath in your bedroom at home.

The article did look at one person who has popped a freestanding bath in their bedroom. It seems to work, as the room is large enough to house it, and it does’t entirely out of place to have the bath situated there.

The general consensus, however, was that space is essential and it’s a trend that can only really work at the high end of the market, in a house where the bedroom is roomy enough to have a bath in, and where there are other conventional bathrooms in the house too.

For anyone with a standard semi, it probably won’t add value or excite future buyers if a bath was squashed into a normal sized bedroom.

Thankfully, the classic freestanding bath works very effectively in conventional bathrooms too, with none of the problems of accidentally splashing water on the carpet or bedding.

The slipper style bath pictured is made from double skinned acrylic and comes with beautiful ball and claw, or large claw feet, in a polished chrome. It’s available from True Shopping for only £298.97, so you can have the luxury of a freestanding bath, without too much of a hefty cost.

Italian Bathroom Design

Bathroom of Madame Caroline by Luigi Vanvitelli

Luxury Bathroom Design

The bathroom of the Ballroom Suite in the Emerson & Green Hotel. The hotel is a beautifully restored palace, once the home of one of the richest men in the Swahili Empire. The restored building recreates the grandeur of the past, with 10 guest rooms that exude a Sultan's extravagance.

Online Bathroom Design

Bathroom online design can help you create the bathroom that is just right for you. Online bathroom design means learning as much as you can about what designing the most functional and attractive bathroom really requires.

The bathroom can be more than a room for personal hygiene or grooming. For example, if you have the space, you can add home exercise equipment and a music system or TV in your bathroom. As you proceed with your bathroom online design, begin keeping a notebook with your ideas and magazine clippings of what you want your bathroom to be like.

Here are 5 bathroom online design tips that may apply to the bathroom that you're creating:

1. Bathroom Lighting - your bathroom lighting can be natural or artificial. Lighting is used to illuminate and brighten the space and lighting can affect how you feel inside your bathroom. Use a window, a wall skylight or roof skylight to bring in natural light or a nice outside view. And a skylight that opens is good because the moisture created by bathing or showering can be reduced. Artificial lighting can be an overhead general light, a light over the vanity mirror or wall sconces on each side of the mirror to provide sufficient light for grooming.

2. Bathroom Ventilation - bathroom online design should analyze bathroom moisture. Since a bathroom generates humidity and moisture, this airborne water can cause problems with the bathroom finishes. A properly-sized power ventilator can be installed that will pull moist air out of the bathroom to the outdoors. Ventilating fans sizes are indicated by how many cubic feet of air they can move each minute (cfm). Use a ventilating fan that will remove air from the bathroom to the outdoors about seven or eight times per hour. For example, a 6'x8'x8' bathroom equals 384 cubic feet, divide by 8 times per hour equals 48cfm size fan.

3. Bathroom Tile - if you are using bathroom tile and will have solid-color ceramic floor tile, use a different color tile to create a border around the bathroom floor. If you will use the same color tile for the floors and walls, select a different tile size for the walls or lay the wall tiles diagonally to create visual contrast. Use a different color grout between the tiles to make a more interesting look.

4. Bathroom Wall Decor - if your bathroom walls are soft or neutral colors, use colorful bath linens and bath mats to create a nice contrast. Good bathroom online design means the accessories such as towel rings and soap dishes should complement the materials, fixtures and colors used on the walls and floors. For example, do not use modern-looking chrome towel holders with antique brass faucets.

5. Bathroom Storage - plan how you'll use the bathroom wall space. Having shelves or cabinets over the toilet, using corner shelves and placing towel bars above one another increase your available storage space. A medicine cabinet with mirror can hold grooming supplies, medicine and toiletries. An attractive combination sink and vanity and a shower caddy in your shower can provide additional bathroom storage.

Doing bathroom online design means reading as much as possible, thinking and planning what you want and need in this important room. From materials used to the bathroom layout to the finished colors, having a successful bathroom project is about knowing what options you have, then choosing the best ones for your project. Learn as much as you can about online bathroom design before building begins so you can have the best bathroom possible.

Learn more bathroom decor ideas plus bathroom layout, lighting, storage, bathroom vanities, small bathrooms, childrens bathrooms and more online bathroom design.

Small Bathroom Design

Tips for a Small Bathroom Design

You could use a small bathroom design. You may have little choice if you actually have a small bathroom. It doesn't mean though that you automatically have very limited options with your small space. There are still a lot of tasteful designs you could consider. Here are some tips at designing small bathrooms.

Put Only What You Need

Ask yourself if you really want a bathroom that doubles as a living room. Chances are you will only really be spending a limited time in your bathroom. You are also not likely to be doing a lot of things in it. If you use your bathroom as it is meant to be used, then you don't need a lot of things in it. Get rid of extra fixtures and storage units. Keep only those that you can actually use for a little relaxation and for the essential functions of a bathroom.

Choose Small Items

If you live with average sized people, you really do not need big fixtures. Big toilets, tubs, faucets, showers and sinks would look terrible in a small bathroom. They will also eat much more space. The fixtures should be appropriate to your size but nothing more. You should choose the smallest size of all fixtures that will fit you and your needs. The visual impact and the actual effect would be a small bathroom that is roomy and unobstructed.

Move Up

You can be more creative with your use of space in a small bathroom design. Just remember that the floor is not the only area that your bathroom holds. You also probably have a lot of overhead space. Instead of letting that area go to waste, consider putting it to good use. Move your storage compartments up. Tastefully designed mini cabinets and tubular racks would look perfect there. Aside from overhead space, you could also get rid of such floor space consuming features as a pedestal for your sink. You can simply use a hanging sink.

Get Rid of Somber Colors

Aside from space restrictions, other features make your bathroom look even smaller. One of these would be your general color scheme. If you are oriented towards dark colors, your small bathroom is not one of the places where you should apply them. Instead of dark, heavy colors go for pastel or light color shades. Lighter shades make your bathroom more inviting. They also have the capacity to play with visual perception, making small areas seem more open and spacious.

Decorate with Small Things

Space restriction is not your only problem. You would also most likely want your bathroom to be ideal for relaxation too. You would probably be more comfortable in a bathroom that looks and smells nice. How can you improve on the appeal and appearance of your bathroom without adding unnecessary features? You can actually use small accents for it. Choose small appliqu designs for your tiles. A couple of scented candles and soap around strategic places can also help improve the general impact of your bathroom.

These are only some small bathroom design ideas. If you consider exploring a little more, you might realize that there is actually so much more that you can do with a small bathroom.

New Style White Kitchen - Scandinavian, Of Course!

Just when you thought there could be no more true innovations in kitchen cabinetry, I mean, you open a door and you close it. You open a drawer and you close it. What more could there be to that concept?

How about this combination of little recessed spaces set amongst the cabinetry? I spotted this on the teriffic blog, Emmas Designblogg. Whether the recessed nooks are used for decorative or useful items, I think this is a fun idea. While you're at it, check out this link from Emmas blog too. Images are from Skona Hem. What do you think of this style?

Small NYC Kitchen/Big Style

Here's a picture of my small New York City apartment kitchen, well, one side of it. The other side has the refrigerator and the range. Not being ready to redo the kitchen at this point, I wanted to make it appear larger (of course!) The floor was a busy terracotta lineoleum, so that was the first to go. In its place is another vinyl floor, as we did not want to do something major right now, but wanted something special. Here's what we used: Chilewich Plynyl in the wheat color, not as "green" a product as I had hoped, but they say they are close. It adds function and a big dose of light and calm.

Oddly, rather than using a light paint, which was what was in the kitchen, an ivory (ick), I thought I'd experiment with medium to dark shades of paint. The paint chosen is very close to the (granite grained) formica countertop, so there is a flow there. The upper ceiling section was painted this dark color too, with just the lower ceiling section being a near white. This way, there is a flow in the upper section.

We are keeping the cabinets right now. They are light, which is helpful to the space with a minimal design. Add lots of lights, colorful accents, and it looks larger than it is.

Lesson: Don't always think that you need only light paint to expand a space. If you have other elements of light, in this case, a light floor, lots of lights, and light cabinetry, then a darker background can tie it all in and look just as expansive, and more interesting. Lights below the wall cabinets would be a great addition.

Do you have a small kitchen? I'd love to hear about it.

Küche+Cucina - Kitchen Design Portfolio

Kitchen Design & Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for 2008

mini kitchens

Country Kitchen Design & Decorating - House of the Year 08

Ikea kitchen cabinet installation

Kitchen Design

Floor to Ceiling Kitchen Design

how to design a kitchen

Ikea kitchen cabinet installation

Kitchen Design Showrooms

Kitchen Appliances - Retro, Color, Cool

I've been wanting to show you the very cool appliances from Big Chill Retro Appliance, and now, seeing this post from Desire To Inspire, this is the moment to do it! As soon as I saw these Big Chill refrigerators, I knew they were done right.

I don't know what 50s or 60s vehicle the special logo comes from, but it's the kind of thing that you know you've seen before. And, the lines of these refrigerators, I feel like I've seen that style before too. It has personality, not just bulk. I'm wild about the lines of this refrigerator!


Very interesting too that the ranges are identical to Elmira's line of ranges, another great line of retro inspired appliances. Oftentimes, one manufacturer distributes the same item to multiple brands, I think that is common knowledge. That said, there could be some tweaks of differentiation on the inside of the appliance, tailored to a brand's specifications



Now, I know that Scrappy Girl over at Domino Magazine is interested in retro cool appliances for her future kitchen renovation, and I've been wanting to send this over to her, so here it is. Don't you just love the chrome trim? And those handles!

Of course, we know these appliances are also all about color! That's where a whole lot of fun comes into the pictures, yet, look at how wonderful these images of soft colors looks on these appliances.

The Big Chill's website has good information on it. The FAQ answers all your questions, I was impressed by how complete it is. The Big Chill is based in Boulder, Colorado. Cool, in more ways than one.

Retro Kitchens - Kitchen Fencing Ideas

Hi kitchen fans, the latest installment is here of 60s-70s kitchens, and the last entry of this type for a little while. I think I've made the point, to show examples of kitchens that we can't believe we really either lived in or were designed, in our recent history! I'll put one up every now and then for another laugh and "yikes!" I'll be replacing this feature with a regularly scheduled Saturday "New/Cool Product." It's important to be aware of what is in the marketplace, and so much is in the marketplace in the world of kitchens. And, having attended 3 design shows in May, I have lots of great material to go through, and I'm really picky too.


So, back to the kitchen of today. It sort of looks like iron fencing, doesn't it? And, the aquamarine? Hmmm, not sure I have an explanation for that! The curtains REALLY give away the time period here, don't you think? But, what really bugs me is the typical cabinetry to the left of the image. I think something there could have had a curve to it. Maybe just curved open shelves between the two tall items. It's just not working for me over there. Oh, and the floor, I can't even go there. Have fun!

Retro Kitchens - The Eagle Has Landed

It seems appropriate, as a tribute to Memorial Day, to showcase a 60s-70s kitchen which salutes our national symbol, the eagle! And, our second national symbol, the orange! Ah yes, the brown appliances, the laminate butcher block countertop, the brick veneer, and of course, we must have patterns which don't make sense and colonial style chairs. What more can I say?? Truly, a historically accurate kitchen....have fun!

Retro Kitchens - Shageriffic!

Here is a colorful AND modern kitchen! We have a fabulous built in radio along with a built in light off center above the cooktop. As usual, we have pattern, seen in the stripes, in multiple areas, but I hate to think of the cleaning issue over the cooktop. A wonderfully creative white laminate countertop, and the "piece de resistance" (insert your own accent marks) the shag rug! Love those "cathedral" upper door panels too, they were such a staple for elegant kitchens. Enjoy!

Retro Kitchens - Nostalgia or Shredder Material? #10

Last week, as part of our Saturday series of 60s-70s kitchens, you were lucky to get color...this week, "the quintessential 70s kitchen." We have

■soffits
■pattern on the soffits

■brown wood
■cathedral arched doors
■that little rail molding around the hood
■pale yellow formica countertops
■perfectly finished beams spread far apart
■a tightly patterned floor
■cabinets over the peninsula

How lovely. And, for extra pattern, we have the brick surfaced island. I must admit, I'm a little intimidated by the iron work on the end of the island. It freaks me out a little.

See where the dishwasher is on the angle? I hope that floor isn't a rug, because the dishes would be dripping from the sink to the corner. What is in between the sink and dishwasher, is a compactor, another favorite appliance from yesteryear. The whole thing looks pretty choppy to me. And, the hood looks out of proportion to the island, too big and boxy, the whole island thing.

But, even though I criticize, I'm sure many people would have loved this kitchen...hey, maybe even me? :-)

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material? #9

So, kitchen fans, today's kitchen is from the "Yellow Period". Or is it from the "Brick with Black Grout Period" or, as I said another week, from the "Lionel Richie Dancing on the Ceiling Period"!


Look, good for the homeowners. My guess is they were very happy, cheerful, optimistic people, don't you think? Good for them, that they had the guts to go for it! Linda from Surroundings, can we even go down this road, as a companion for the bachelorette pad??

It looks apparent to me that someone had the foresight to recess the, normally monolithic, refrigerator. My guess is this was done because they wanted to have much more space on the opposite side, although that area is not shown. I also guess that the emphasis for, and placement of, ample counter space was on the other side because of the radius cutouts on each side of the cooktop.


Which makes me wonder if the refrigerator could have been positioned where the desk is, thus allowing for much more space surrounding the cooktop. But, who knows?

I cannot see any connection between, or reason for, the combination of the brick and the ceiling pattern (but I think in the 70s brick was obligatory as was pattern of ANY type). And, of course, more pattern was needed in the white lattice doors, and let's not forget the floor!

But, you know what? The owners get lots of points just for the overall happy effect. And, do to two different countertop colors at that time? Come on, how haute couture was that!

Scrappy Girl from Domino...thanks for the mention, is this what you had in mind for your kitchen?

retro kitchens - Nostalgia or Shredder Material? #8

Today is a special day. At The Parrish Museum in Southampton, New York, there currently is running an exhibition on Raymond Loewy, the most prominent industrial designer of the 20th Century. Raymond Loewy designed everything from cars to silverware to broiler ovens during his five decades of work. The 1950s proved to be a period of great interest in the kitchen for Raymond Loewy as he designed many useful products for both efficiency and his new, modern, aesthetic. The "Raymond Loewy: Designs for a Consumer Culture" exhibition includes today's talk at the Museum, at which I, along with several other speakers, will speak on American kitchens today. My topic will be "Comfort in the Kitchen." The exhibition is ongoing through May 27.

I will also be talking about design blogs! If you were at this event, please add your comments to this post. Tell us about the exhibit, what you learned, how you feel about kitchens, your kitchen, etc. Whatever you'd like to add, I'd love to hear from you! And, if you are new to blogging, don't forget to visit the sidebar to your right where you will discover my favorite blogs you will surely want to visit.


So, for today's kitchens, rather than the typical 60s-70s kitchens I show, let's go to the 50s! And, take a look, once again, at these kitchens from the totally fab blog, Fabulon.

I will update this post after I know I have survived my talk and tell you about the day.

UPDATE: It was a great day...lots of interesting information from Alice Ross who talked about the history of cooking, bringing along lots of antique, amazing, equipment, including many antique cooking "gadgets" which was fun to see. I ended up not really following my notes and just talking away about how to create a comfortable kitchen, and how I see trends forming where the individual will become more confident in their kitchen design than ever before, with a professional to guide, thanks to having so many choices available and seeing the many different ways, online, that people are designing and decorating their kitchens. I see a renewed confidence coming down the road. It really was a privilege to be a part of this program, and I thank the Parrish Museum for inviting me. The Museum itself is a wonderful building...see image below.

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material #6

Welcome, once again, to "Kitchen Nostalgia or Shredder Material". Here is what I suppose is trying to be a rustic style kitchen. What really stands out is the lime green countertop. There is a wild and crazy piece of me, deep down somewhere, that LIKES this odd combination of green and very light wood, I'm not kidding. Not that I would design that today, not to worry!

That said, NOT with the large, stone backsplash. And not with plaid wallpaper! That's really an odd combination, isn't it? Also, during this time period, it seems so many kitchens had this railing that goes over the top of the cabinets. Here are a few other little observations:

■the hood - this is a hood design that I am not fond of...the hood projection but with the backer panel meant to tie into the surrounding cabinets. I say just do a whole separate hood and see the wall space around the hood, thus, accentuating/featuring the hood.

■The little triangular eating area. I think it's nearly non functional. Look how the chairs are situated, what if there were people there and they were seated properly, would there be room for dishes? Maybe just enough.

■The space surrounding the sink...there is hardly any to speak of.

■Notice the modern convenience of the electric can opener in the backsplash? Glad no one wants to show that off any longer!

It is a welcome departure from the dark oak cabinetry of its time, no doubt about that. Enjoy!

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material ? #5"

Hello, and welcome to our fifth installment of "Kitchen Nostalgia or Shredder Material". I understand that in some areas of the country, the winters are very long, and spring seems like it will never come. Thus, protection from the elements is taken very seriously, and a necessary consideration. There is some very serious cabin fever going on here, bringing it, um, to an entirely different level!

Well, I can say that the brown range is back in style! We're looking today at a resurgance in brown, now called "oil rubbed bronze". The Kitchen Designer says, however, that this new look is NO EXCUSE to revert back to this style of kitchen! The kitchen police will be out in force, dispatched from The Kitchen Desginer blog, should we have notice of infractions. Be very afraid!


Besides the interesting look of this kitchen, let's look at a few things going on here and have even more fun:

■See the small ceiling fixture and the two large pendant fixtures. The lighting is way off balance.
■Patterns and color! Brown, brick, and more brown. Geometry everywhere.

■I wonder if the wall cabinet has any use, the second cabinet to the left of the window. Can anyone even access its contents?
■I give 2 points to the gold cast iron sink. I actually like it!
■And one more point, ok 1/2 a point to choosing a light colored countertop to lighten this dark cabin up!
■And, I almost forgot, the roof material - what are those things crawling on top of the roof over the range?
This one was fun! What do you think?

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material? #4

Welcome to this Saturday's special vintage kitchen, aka, "Bauhaus meets Disco"! I don't know why, (hmmm) but this one just popped out at me, as I perused my collection of vintage kitchens from the 60s and 70s. I think this kitchen was ahead of its time (for the early 60s), or perhaps was at the cusp of the disco era? You KNOW we need this kitchen lighting in the center of the ceiling! Get out your platform shoes and start dancing!

Not a badly planned kitchen, really, although I'd love to understand what's going on with that second island up front, where and how that is positioned in the room. Otherwise, the wall cabinets to the right of the refrigerator should have been equal size sets of doors. I'm not sure I could concentrate on reading a recipe in this kitchen, and I'm also not sure I'd go stir crazy after 20 minutes! Other than that, enjoy!

Oh - almost forgot today's bonus feature that I mentioned yesterday! For another vintage treat, from the blog Fabulon, take a look at these Kitchens of Distinction

retro kitchens - "kitchen nostalgia or shredder material #3"

So, here we are with our third installment of "nostalgia or shredder material", ancient kitchens from the 60s and 70s. This kitchen is "Kansas-in-Oz (see the tilted electrical pole in the window-somehow it reminded me of it) meets the Jetsons". As much of the design (seen at decor8) blogosphere is tuning into the color green right now, (also as seen at desire to inspire) and at Design Sponge, plus Happy Mundane and, as we are 4 days away from spring (forgetting the ice storm we had last night) it seemed like a good idea (not to mention, it's St. Patrick's Day) to listen to the pulse and go back to a green kitchen, an entirely different definition of green than we live with now!

apart comment on this kitchen. Here's my take:

■The microwave seems unnecessarily high, look at all the white space between the oven and the microwave, they should be closer together, that looks awkward to me
■As was typical, such a small window over the sink, AND, does the cook not deserve to look out? What if the cook is 4'2" tall? (Maybe the builder was 6'6"!)
■Something to try to avoid in one's planning, if the dishwasher and oven opened together, they would surely collide
■The round, white knob and white framing behind the green doors......charming in a high tech way?
■The extra thick countertop - a bit much, but not so bad!
■The color.....I'll be right back, excuse me..
■Plants/cabinetry below the window - truly, a good way to disguise this unsightly heating, and we KNOW the long spider plant is screaming, EARLY 70s!
■Interesting shelving around the island, not half bad
How about you, what do you think?

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material? #2

The one thing this kitchen has going for it is that it was secretly made to coordinate with this web page (I swear it did before I removed the yellow from the page), a project begun 40 years ago in a remote hamlet of western Oklahoma, being planned to later emerge from the kitchen graveyard for the WORLD to enjoy see gape at in March, 2007. What is wrong with this kitchen, let me count the ways:

■the cooktop is crammed next to the ovens
■the dishwasher is way too far away from the sink (the sink is purposely recessed to have the DW next to it, which would function well, but not if it were not recessed, thus no need to be so far removed, a little, sure)

■the unbalanced left side as opposed to the right, not that asymmetry isn't a good thing, but this isn't even asymmetry

■I feel like I will enter a cave if I stand at the sink - maybe if I got lucky, I'd go through a time warp and arrive in the future with no memories of where I'd been, an apron having been replaced with live-in help!

■the, um, rug - doesn't it just call someone to do the dishes? And, we know it's a woman with a house dress on.

■the top heavy wallpaper
■the fabulous gold countertops!
■if those are custom dishwasher panels, give me the UN custom vintage DW!
■Last but not least, and probably not last, let's not forget the black toekicks!

Did I forget anything? The one good thing I have to say is that there is not a hodgepodge of different door sizes to cause chaos, that's a minor good thing. OK, I'll say it....there's a little piece of me that just says "awwwwwwwww" when I see this kitchen.

retro kitchens - kitchen nostalgia or shredder material? Kitchen #1

reintroducing a kitchen from years past, dredging up either a) memories which will thrust you into therapy anew assuming you are from that era, if not, you were thankfully born into a better kitchen era (except for the grays of the 80s) b) give you an urge to don an apron and find a rolling pin (this baby is $43) and probably other unpredictable reactions. Thus, I apologize in advance for the rude and (tasteless) reminders, but I couldn't resist! I've even made a category just for memorializing these kitchens. I mean, look, after all, orange is back in! Chant with me now (preferably with raised fist): NEVER AGAIN!!
Can you guess the year? AND, how many jokes can we make about this kitchen?

Retro Kitchens - Step Away From These!

I couldn't let this post go without showing it to you, especially since you know I have a "thing" for retro kitchens of the 60s and 70s. Do I love them? Um.....right now, I have that sort of pained half smile squinty-eyed look on my face. Sort of like greeting someone you really don't like. Let's be brave soldiers together and gaze at these wonders from kitchens past. My mother issues are coming up for me...


What a fabulous collection we have here from Desire to Inspire, ok, fabulous being an oxymoron. Nonetheless, we can talk about color, pattern, pattern (oh, sorry, I said that already) and color. I know there has to be one with a rug in there somewhere.

Retro Appliance - Chambers Copper Range

A blogging friend, Dean, from Calfinder, a free service connecting homeowners to contractors in the San Francisco bay area, sent me an image of this amazing range, which resides in his parents' home in Newport Beach, Caleefornia. Isn't it wild? Surrounded by the soft grays and whites, really makes this range the focal point, the star, the diva of the kitchen!


More about Calfinder. Calfinder is a very unusual type of contractor referral service. The people at Calfinder, well, here's a short description, which says it better than I can:

"Before we certify a contractor we perform a variety of checks. Below are just a few of those checks:

■In-depth check of current license and insurance coverage
■Personal interview with at least 10 previous clients ensuring customer satisfaction and business reliability
■Ongoing monitoring and customer satisfaction surveys
■Follow up with each homeowner we work with to ensure that our contractors are providing a great service"
They also have a blog, which is a GOOD blog on home improvement, lots of information on green remodeling, and an easy form to fill out for the services that you are looking for. I can't imagine how much more confidence one can get, beyond having someone personally check ten references before they will refer a contractor. Quite impressive. I've spoken with several people from Calfinder, and I can tell you that they are nice, and smart people to deal wtih. If I didn't feel that way, I would not write this. My previous thought was that these types of services are nameless, faceless, beauracracies. This one is not. I'd love to know what some of the questions are that they ask. Maybe Dean will stop by and share a bit more information.

Sleek Scandinavian Kitchens

After a 2 week absence due to the KBIS show and other things thrown into the mix, it's good to be back with Scandinavian kitchens on Mondays. Here we go!

Here are actually two kitchens, but one has a lot of images. I'd like to take a minute to review what makes them Scandinavian in nature and what is also not only cultural, but good design.

The first concept is lighting. Scandinavians love interesting lighting, and lots of it. So, the lighting fixtures must be well designed as well as highly functional. Task lighting is huge in Scandinavia. There are little light fixtures anywhere and everywhere. So, take note of the lighting.












Second concept is "shapes and forms". This is a more architectural concept, which can be seen, for example, in the mosaic tile wall behind the cooktop and elsewhere. Scandinavians do not fear blank walls, and in fact have used them as part of their design work for a very long time, long before this idea became popular elsewhere. It is the "less is more" effect. Always simplicity and elegance combined, as a functional artform, the essence of Scandinavian design.














Third concept today is something old or hand crafted. Notice the floors, or the wonderful pottery or other items. Some items are old and speak of texture, repetition, or pattern, as we see here as well. There is thought and whimsey both present in Scandinavian design. Nothing is taken too seriously. That seems to be an inherent truth. Enjoy, and I'd love your comments too...

Scandinavian Kitchens - Beamed Ceilings

There are many Scandinavian kitchens which have beamed ceilings. There are many old buildings, both apartments in the city and old farm homes, which have beams used as structural timbers in the home. Of course, as said before, Scandinavians beautifully mix their contemporary design aesthetic with these old beams, (or in this one case, contemporary styled beams) and they do it with style and confidence. Thus, a home with truly rustic elements does not have to continue this look of "country", even if the floors are old, the walls are textured stone, as well as the ceiling with ancient beams. Some old structures have low ceilings. In these homes we will see beams too, but they may be closer to the ceiling, more shallow, and perhaps painted a light color, looking into blend in, another great look. Enjoy these images, and please look through the previous images in this category in the sidebar to see other great beamed kitchens

Scandinavian Kitchens - vacation villas!

Well, I guess I took an unintended week of vacation from blogging...very busy week last week! But, more about that another time. After all, clients ARE #1!

I'm toying around with the idea of going to Denmark on vacation at the end of August. Which got me into the vacation villa, or "summerhus" as it's called, rental mode. A great place to look at REAL Scandinavian kitchens. I found some lovely kitchens that may actually make you want to COOK while on vacation, do you think? In any event, surely, the design, and openness of a kitchen plan is conducive to happy and casual living in a rental. Who wants to be isolated in an entirely separate room if you don't have to be. A perfect reason to search for an open kitchen plan. Please go to nice summer and take a look. Oh...click on "Luxury Cottages." Nice start.

Scandinavian Kitchens - Summer Fresh!

Since my last Scandinavian Kitchens post, summer has arrived! Summer, to me, is one of those extreme experiences in many ways. I wouldn't want it all year, I like it just long enough to really enjoy it fully. I happen to like the summer garden better than my huge spring rose flush with thousands of rose blooms. Likewise, eating any meal of the day al fresco enhances the dining experience and creates summertime memories.
As another summer solstice-inspired change, I lightened up the look of the blog a little bit...also more light filled and clean for the summer. I hope you like it.
Here are some fresh, summery, Scandinavian kitchens for you to dream on (ok, put wireless in the backyard and then bring your laptop, jump in the hammock, and dream that way!)

I'm especially excited this week because just this morning I found and booked an extremely (that word again) charming apartment in Copenhagen for our vacation this summer, for 2 weeks.
Made the plane reservations first and then began the search for as perfect a place as I could find. Think real brick floors and whitewashed stone walls. It's near the palace, a park, the harbor, and the street with the finest mid century furniture and art galleries.
You'll see pictures of that Scandinavian kitchen and others for sure. In fact, you'll get lots of beautiful images. I'm hoping to get a shot of my mother's cousin's kitchen in her tiny, hand built log home on a hill overlooking the water. That's a special kitchen!
There is truly nothing like Copenhagen in the summer. Unless it's in the winter!

Scandinavian Kitchens and Independence Day!

It turns out it's perfectly appropriate, and I even wish I had planned it this way, that I'm two days late for my weekly Monday Scandinavian Kitchens exhibit. Today, being, July 4, Independence Day, is the perfect tie-in to dedicate this post to my parents, who came from Copenhagen to the U.S., at that time, sailing past Lady Liberty, to pursue the American dream.

My parents, especially my mother, wanted to assimilate as seamlessly as possible into American life. She quickly found a church to become a member of, got involved in school and PTA activities, made lots of genuinely good friends and was happy to gain citizenship and to feel like an American. My father founded a business, made his fortune, later lost it all, blaming it on unions, also typically American! I lived the American dream growing up, and while assimilation was important to my parents, the wonderful Scandinavian cultural traditions remained intact. Food, the language (between my parents), the fantastic Danish modern furnishings, the special Danish sense of humor, and more, remained inside the home as I grew up. To think of the furnishings that were thrown out in later years, I can't go there! I was raised in two cultures with perfect balance and proportion.
So, hats off to my parents and those who dream of a better life in the U.S. I still cannot imagine the pain there must have been to leave one's home country, family, friends and all that is precious, but the promise and draw of the United States surely burned strongly then and burns ever stronger in so many people dreaming of living in the U.S. And, the dream of a better life became official on July 4, 1776!
It is with great pride as a Danish-American, that I share with you some simple, yet lovely, vignettes of Scandinavian kitchens, with a little bias toward dining together, on this July 4! Enjoy!

Here is my cousin Lis in her kitchen in her and her husband's summer house. A great memory:

Scandinavian Kitchen Design ROCKS!

I'm not kidding about this. It really rocks, trust me. Take a look, and turn up your speakers. A LOT. It doesn't always work for some reason. Refresh your browser if you don't see the video right away. It's short but unlike anything else I've seen!
Scandinavian Kitchens That Rock The House
Or try this link, but try it! (And then report back!)
My cousin, Lis, sent me some links for Scandinavian kitchen websites, many of which I already had, but some were new. I had asked her to send me some magazines, and she said links are easier. Nice! I'll be loading up on magazines when I go to Denmark in August. I usually spend at least $100 on magazines, and they add so much weight, but it's worth it (to me!)
Here are some thoroughly modern kitchens from the company, Trend. The wood really looks fantastic here, doesn't it?