I love this kitchen. It could be in a country manor, a cottage or right here in an urban home. Elements of old and new are successfully melded in this room, so it fits many lifestyle scenarios.
What's cool about this kitchen is the vintage ice chest-style island with its classic door hinges and plainly framed doors. The distressed finish on the off-white milk paint, whether authentic or manufactured, works well in this room. The ice chest may have been the seed that was the starting point for the overall design of this space. So, you've found an old (insert your item name here; in our case, a cool ice chest) and want to create a space around it. How do you go about doing something like that?
In this room, the ice chest was fitted with a very durable and modern stainless steel countertop, a white sink and Moen brushed nickel faucet. Voila! You have your main sink and countertop for the space. As might be the case with your found treasure, additional adjustments may need to be made. The ice chest is not big enough to provide necessary counter space, so a second working island is brought in to address this dilemma.
Anyone would be hard-pressed to find two fabulous antique ice chests, so of course the homeowner must find an adequate and beautiful alternative. You may need to do the same with your treasure. Maybe you got your hands on an antique oak church pew, for example.
You might use this at the dining table along one side of the table and flank the other side with dining chairs. In this instance, a modern, industrial-looking stainless steel island with open wire shelving creates a nice visual balance of and old and new in this awesome kitchen. Two sinks are the norm these days and another white sink (reminiscent of the porcelain sinks our grandmothers had) and another lovely, sleek Moen faucet make this kitchen very workable. Plank wood flooring with a natural finish, country-white window shutters and vintage ceiling tiles finish the look. Even the bowl of eggs matches the colour scheme. (Don't forget; food can sometimes be a great accessory.) Other touches that give authenticity to the vintage country look are the window muntins and vintage crockery.
Last week, I wrote about using small, formerly unused spaces to create mini-functional areas in the home. One of those unique spaces I mentioned was the built-in china cabinet cubby that many of us don't utilize to its full potential. This kitchen features a similar awkward feature but uses it in a creative and functional way. This is a great place to store and display platters and collectible crockery.
There are two reasons I chose this photograph. The idea of using a found treasure (or perhaps a family heirloom) in the decor can provide exciting possibilities. Even if you don't have a 'matching pair' of your item (like the one ice chest here) you can still make it work if you keep an open mind. The second reason stems from the first one in that by using a found treasure instead of a more common option, you create a space that is really unique. You don't see many kitchens like this one in kitchen show rooms and I like that about this space. Of course, there are probably a bank of cupboards and necessary appliances on the other side of this room but you certainly see how wonderful an off-the-wall idea can turn out.
It's especially difficult to think outside of the box in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. There are certain elements in these rooms that have to be included and this can limit the design options in these rooms. However, there are still opportunities to be unique and creative. The new look in appliances, the many styles and finishes of faucets and sinks and wonderful flooring options can all come together in a beautiful way. In these three items alone you have the option to choose a standard range or a vintage replica 1920s stove; a regular bathroom faucet or something like this Kohler Top Art Collection porcelain beauty, standard laminate flooring or something unique like Puzzle Floor (www.puzzlefloor.com). Even something as straightforward as a toilet doesn't have to be straightforward. This Kohler hatbox toilet is a stylish alternative to the traditional throne.
There are possibilities for every element, from paint finishes to a miniscule item like a switch-plate cover, to become distinctive facets in your home.
www.connieoliver@shaw.ca
