Comments on: keeping it real (help!)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:44:00 +0000

behind the oven I would put different lavender shade tiles. I would rather avoid fabric and 3D things, with the steam they will be all dirty and you will have to clean all the time.
lavender and lime green is beautiful and fresh, perfect for a kitchen.

By: Christina

Christina — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 03:04:00 +0000

Why not a fabric covered bulletin board that is taller rather than wider, like cool framed art? Funny-I did this with that Amy Butler Lotus fabric in cherry that you posted here!!! I have been planning to send pix to you as this has been a huge DIY project in general (we painted our cabinets too). Then I would add some cool anthropologie hooks. I bought these great mini bowls on ebay that are brown transferware. As for above your stove what about a close-together cluster of plates/platters/shallow bowls that is a large circle, in green and white? You could do one black in white one in the center. If you do black in there you must incorporate some sort of monogram unless you hate that :)

By: susan

susan — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:07:00 +0000

I still haven't read all the comments (great feedback from what I read!) but the heart of the matter, aside from my two initial comments above is that in order to have some style in this room, the clutter must die! I think I would ditch the bench and seriously look at Room and Board's linear Custom Series 5 pieces, which have a shallow depth but will hide the clutter well and give a light look with the legs and light finishes. Of course, watching to work around that light switch. the black legs would be very nice on a piece.

I'd bring in the green in fresh, small, modern paintings found on Etsy and a few accessories in green, not too many. You could put wood shelves across, above the stove that are only 4" deep that will hold some useful things and the first shelf may be the same height as your wall cabinet bottom.

I'd definitely do the floor in the chilewich material and the backsplash, maybe painted white, again, with the artwork going across. Maybe a light textured white technique there. Less is more! This would allow a wonderful print to be used at the window which would not conflict with too many other colors or patterns. Too much time on my hands, recuperating, but I love this stuff!

By: susan

susan — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 07:16:00 +0000

About the backsplash, I’d keep it very simple and bring in at least one oil painting (small) to put behind the sink and maybe others into the room. It doesn’t have to be a valuable one, but I am a strong believer of being surrounded by “living room” artwork in the kitchen. It enhances one’s quality of life especially in a tiny NYC kitchen. The kitchen, even a super tiny one, doesn’t have to read totally utilitarian.

Re my previous comment, if you won’t install that Chilewich wall to wall, you could just get a rug of it. We put it in the kitchen and into the foyer, all one seamless piece.

By: susan

susan — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 07:05:00 +0000

Before I continue reading everything, I’m going to stop and suggest the following, as I hear it’s a big source of pain! I, too, have an apartment in NYC with very dated tiles, only mine are white with brown grout. Which one is worse?? There was sheet linoleum on top of the tile.

Long story short, I HAD to get a new floor (only because I hated it so), so we got the wheat color vinyl floor. It’s gorgeous and super durable. They have this stuff that can be brushed on the grout to raise up the grout so the floor is all one level to receive the Chilewich material as we didn’t want to remove the tile. It was so easy to cut and put into place, we did it ourselves and it looks great. The flooring changes everything about the kitchen.

By: Tyrick

Tyrick — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:05:00 +0000

I saw that someone suggested Cubits from DWR. Smart Furniture, based out of Chattanooga, TN, is now selling the same shelving under a different name. Maybe this helps?