Jill's Kitchen Part II

Today’s Post is a continuation of this post, on Jill’s kitchen.
Jill’s kitchen is a great example of a very nice room, good selections made, a good sense of scale and proportions used, and yet, you could say that something is still lacking

In my first post on her room, I suggested wallpaper- A good wallpaper would do several things:
1. Add pattern- that would act as a unifier in the room, to keep the room from being multiple separate groupings, to being a unified whole.
2. It will also add more color.
3. It will add texture.
4. It will create rhythm. Rhythm is one of the principles of design that is sometimes harder to explain. But essentially it is the flow of elements in a room. This is created in different ways- repetition and alternation, progression or gradation, or opposition and contrast are some examples. Notice in Jill’s room there is a nicely decorated console table, a beautiful hutch, lovely cabinets… But perhaps, what is lacking is rhythm that takes your eye from a focal point, and helps it to do a lovely dance around the room. In answer to where to have it start and stop- I don't see an area that would not benefit from wallpaper- and if it doesn't go throughout- it no longer acts as a unifier, or a source of rhythm. Put it throughout- in both the kitchen and dining area.

Today, I wanted to mention a few other items that will add to the finished product of the room.

1. Focal point
2. Lighting

3. Above cabinet décor

First of all- the focal point. Where is it? For those of you that have yet to have your cabinets made- I would say that the focal point should be the hood of the stove. A microwave hood would be a last resort. Put your money in your hood- that is the heart of the kitchen. For you, Jill, don’t worry about it- that advice was for people who haven’t had cabinets done yet.

Lighting. I can’t see much of your ceiling, so I don’t know the extent of the can lighting in the room, but from what I can see, I would add some pendants over the bar, and a swing arm sconce at the desk. Do you have under- cabinet lighting? How about rope lighting above your cabinets? Do you need the ceiling fan? Do you need the lighting in the ceiling fan? Ceiling fans are generally better looking without lights. A good lighting plan is an integral part of a kitchen design.

Above cabinet décor. You have a pretty small area there between ceiling and cabinets. I would say that you don’t have room to do what you are trying to do, with the groupings of accessories. I would simplify it more than that- with just one thing. By one thing, I mean, one idea.

1. You could have a collection of beautiful pitchers or perhaps cake plates or large vases, or tea pots or baskets- filling the area. Check out the cookie jar collection below- They are in glass cabinets- but it is the same idea.
2. You could hang plates on the wall- all along the area.
3. You could find some cool “grass”- today’s answer to the 1990 “ivy.” Put lots of it up there- again, all along the area.

4. Another option would be to have nothing at all up there.

These ideas are separate- I am suggesting that you take just one idea- and fill the area. Don’t do plates and vases and grass… No- just one thing- keep it simple- like the kitchen above with just plates.

Hey Jill,

Thanks for writing in, you have been doing a fantastic job on your room!

Photos from Great American Kitchens and Kitchen Trends.