Sometimes our lives and subsequently our homes need to get back to basics. Usually when one of these is attended to the other follows suit. So, if you're in that headspace where your life is just a little too hectic and you want a little solace, home is a good place to begin the process of getting back to basics.
The photo of our feature kitchen, courtesy of Kohler, speaks volumes about the calming attributes of a monochromatic, simple space. There are no colours, patterns or accessories that jump out at you. The eye flows around the room effortlessly, which has a calming effect on the psyche.
All in the details
Just because a room doesn't have vivid focal points and dramatic vignettes doesn't necessarily mean that the space is without interest or character. This particular room has lovely subtle accents that are noticeable but not intrusive. The interesting chandelier is a great feature over the dining table and gives the room sparkle without flash. The highly decorative cabinet knobs provide interest and texture to the plain cabinets. The bead board cabinet fronts offer a cottage feel and subtle pattern while maintaining simple lines. The lovely Kohler sink is vintage in design but has a lovely scallop detail on the face that once again, adds pattern without being overpowering. Along with the sink a retro faucet in a sleek design is functional and pretty.
The lovely kitchen door is highly detailed and adds tons of personality to this country kitchen. If the cabinets had flat fronts, plain hardware and the door was a slab door the room would be quite boring. By adding these understated details the room maintains a calming presence but still offers visual interest.
The table and chairs have been stripped back to basically raw wood. I think this looks wonderful in this particular space. You can't get more basic than that. The caning on the chairs adds an earthy element as well as a delicate pattern. At the same time a lovely cake pedestal houses vintage espresso cups as an unusual centerpiece for the basic table. The open shelving is filled with simple white dishes which make a lovely monochromatic display. Having the dishes within simple reach makes life simpler in the kitchen. After all, it's not just about the esthetics but about a less complicated life. You'll notice that even the plain white dishes are stacked in a visually interesting display and the larger pieces have decorative scalloped edges. I recently decided to replace our colourful, patterned everyday dishware with a simple white set. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to find a decent set of white dishes. Everyone wants colour, which is great, but if you're one of the few who crave a serene décor it's not that easy finding items without colour and decoration. Be persistent though; there are items out there to suit your tastes and mine, I'm sure.
Be aware of shape
In a monochromatic room you want to pay attention to detail (as mentioned above) but also to shape. The cabinets, door and table are sharp squares and rectangles which can make a room look hard. Adding curvy vases, pitchers, the cylindrical chandelier cover, round-backed chairs and domed cake plate balances the hard edges of the square elements and provides visual interest. The subtle swirl in the marble countertop and backsplash offer a similar effect against the rigid lines of the bead board cabinet fronts. For example, if you chose to install square, white subway tiles instead of the marble you'd be adding to the square elements which are already overpowering. Keep these things in mind when planning your space.
No clutter
The high end marble countertop and backsplash is eye-catching but still subtle in design and colour. It's clutter free which makes the room easy on the eyes. No countertop appliances; no tea-towels or oven mitts hanging on hooks (I'm guilty of that myself); while we can't see the fridge I'm sure there are no magnets and notes cluttering its front. Clutter creeps up on you. You don't really notice it until you see a room like our feature kitchen and realize how serene a room could be without the visual chaos.
To help keep clutter out of sight consider gluing a sheet of cork on the inside of a cabinet door on which to pin notes. You could also paint the inside of a cupboard or pantry door with chalk paint where notes and reminders can be written and erased at will. This is a great idea if you're trying to go green in your home. Less paper and less waste.
A simple décor can be interesting and elegant. Just pay attention to the little things to keep the space from feeling dull.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
