Have you ever noticed that styles come in waves? New clothing fashions,
interior design styles, even film genres seem to roll in every once in a while,
inspiring a burst of frenzied production/imitation – and then suddenly,
everyone’s got one? A good idea that catches on so fast, inevitably burns
itself out. Everyone tries it, tires of it, and looks for whatever’s… NEXT.
Photo By Joel Bedford
In the world of
kitchen design, we’re not immune to this. The glossy pages of home magazines
are dog-eared, ripped out, and posted up – sometimes for many months – until
finally a client has found someone to fit and build what they’ve already seen,
loved, and dreamed of.
And after all of
those months of hard work to bring this emulation about – is it still what they
want? Is it still in fashion, still relevant?
Has it already begun
to date itself?
When I meet a client
for the first time, this is often one of their big worries. “How can we make a
beautiful space – no, a STUNNING space - but also make it timeless?” There’s a
lot of energy, and money, at stake in this – so hopefully, every designer is
asking and answering this question, for themselves and for their clients. For
me, the answer is twofold…
First -
Take some
direction from the surroundings.
This may seem
obvious, but somehow a lot of the kitchens being ripped out for new ones have
ignored this idea. People don’t usually remodel because their kitchens are
falling apart, but because they were designed in a passing style that is now out
of date. More and more these days, the kitchen is opened up to adjoining living
spaces, becoming a central piece of a home’s architecture, and the life of its
inhabitants. It’s not just a room anymore – it’s a centerpiece of a home. An
expensive one! So, whether you’re the client or the designer, you’d better get
it right. Not just right for today, but right for a long, long time.
So, how? Well, just
as you wouldn’t want your architect to plan an exterior addition that didn’t
complement the rest of the house, neither should you do so on the interior, with
your built-in architecture. The kitchen (or pantry, or bookcases) should feel
natural and at home in the house. The design should carefully balance elements
that are true to the surroundings, and yet also add a few new tricks and
twists.
That brings us to
trick number two…
Turn something on
its head.
Bring in something
unique and unexpected to give the design life, richness, and spontaneity. Blend
materials, colors, styles that you wouldn’t usually see together – that
“something” that makes your design a little different than everyone else’s. Put
something modern in a rustic design – put something bright against your
neutrals. If you can’t exactly typecast the design – if it doesn’t fit neatly
under a single label or passing trend – then chances are, you’ve got something
that will bridge passing styles, be truly special, and become
timeless.
The project below is
a beautiful example of this. In it, Jennifer Gilmer created a butler’s pantry
for her own home, inspired by the context of the Craftsman Bunglow
architecture. The design looks like it grew out of the house… and yet, not
exactly. What is it? Craftsman? Asian? Southwest Fusion? How’d she do that?!
She used materials
that were historically appropriate to the style, expertly blending wood, copper
and stone. She kept the design balanced, the lines simple and clean. The sink
area feels like it grew out of the house particularly, because she’s enclosed
the window and ceiling soffit in matching paneling. She used a sculpted stone
sink that reminds one of the Southwest, and set it out from the counter so that
it almost looks like a rock growing out of a hill. She cut sleek angles and
arcs into the copper countertop… an unexpected, lovely, and exciting detail.
On the opposite side,
Jennifer used the empty space under the stairs to create a custom hide-away
space. The angled cabinetry doors complement the lines of her house wonderfully
with their repeating rhythm. The translucent fern screens bring in a subtle
Asian influence, emanating a soft light, and offering another deft design
twist. Functionally – this area also serves a wonderful purpose – it opens to
reveal a hidden beverage station, perfect for entertaining.
When you’re embarking
on your next project, whether you’re a designer or a homeowner, try to balance
both of these principles in your plans. Remember the context – honor the
architecture and materials of the surroundings – but also be sure to add the
unexpected twist! This is where your creativity can really flow, and where the
design can truly sing. The results are sure to be stunning, and relevant, for
years to come.
Lauren
Gagnon, Kitchen & Bath Designer.
We would love to hear from you, please feel free to leave comments or email Lauren directly at lgagnon@gilmerkitchens.com with any questions.
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