Show Stopping Dining Tables: Vintage to Modern

Naturally, I focus a lot on the kitchen including cabinetry and all the other components but one way to really personalize your heart of the home and give it a fresh look is with your dining table.   More and more we are seeing open kitchens that incorporate dining rooms. If you are on a budget and are opting for stock cabinets which can be rather limited in materials and design the perfect dining table choice could be your answer.  Even if your styling is more contemporary a lovely vintage dining table can make for a unique focal point.Dining tables can and, in my opinion, should lend contrast to your kitchen in some way especially if you have an open floor plan. Let me share with you a few tips on how to select the right size, shape and style for your dining table or breakfast table.

dining table for ten modern natural wood table mid century modern dining chairs with upholstery in blue white wainscot panels on wall light gray faux finishes

Size Matters

First things first, it has to fit and you'll need enough space to move around your dining table with ease.  This means that if there is a wall behind a chair you'll need a minimum of  36" to move in and out comfortably.  42" clear on all sides is preferable. One seat requires about 24" in width so that will determine how many chairs you can fit.  How wide the chair itself also makes a difference and, of course, armless is best if you're looking to maximize seating.  Tight quarters nearly always work best with round tables and if you have a bar I suggest stools with an adjustable height option so they can double as extra dining table chairs if necessary.

round glass top dining table with natural wood base and woven rattan dining chairs natural wood console mid century modern style

The Look & Feel

Once you have the size just right you'll want to select a style that will take it from table to show stopper.  The trick is in contrast.  Dining tables should stand out from the surroundings but it's also lovely if there is at least one element that ties it to the room.  For example, in the photo above, the table base is a different color stain and the chairs are entirely different but its the beautiful wood grain that makes it work.  This room is all about the organic color palette, natural materials, and clean modern lines. All together this ensemble says Mid Century magic!

Farmhouse Charm

This modern farmhouse look is huge at the moment. Below the deep rich finish of the top contrasts and stands out but look how perfectly it works in the room. Note also how the beautiful glass globes on the light fixtures repeat the shape of the turned legs on the table and bench.  The bench look goes right along with the farmhouse style and is great for maximizing seating.

Baluster turned leg dining table by James + James white legs with dark wood top matching bench seat and dining chairs white shiplap on wall glass globe pendant lights

Elegant Coastal

This elegant coastal design by Amy Tyndale features a wood stained dining table. The contrasting white chairs tie the dining area to the kitchen and trim molding.  Also check out the repeating curvy X motif in the chairs, light fixtures and candle holders on the table.  It's the details that come together to create one amazing design statement.

amy tyndale design coastal dining room with natural wood dining table, white dining chairs, traditional cabinets with glass doors wine coolers built-in coffee maker large white pendant lights with chrome accents wood floor

Do you have a dining table dilemma? Please do share!! Email me at Gloria@ArtfulKitchens.net and I just might feature your question and share my ideas for you right here at Artful Kitchens.  Cheers!

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When Nakturnal offered to sponsor me to dish on dining rooms it was a natural fit! I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. All content and images reflect my own personal viewpoint.

The Big Move Part VI Collateral Damage

I am excited to be nominated once again for an  Amara Interior Design Blog Award in the category of Best Design Inspiration Blog.  I would be deeply appreciative if you would vote for me!  Here's the link   Wish me luck! 

We're back! Time for part VI.  It's been a long hard haul but it's really happening.  We're in deep.  This episode shows how stress can make you lose your sense of perspective, I certainly did.  Wait till you see.  Oy.  Anyway we are currently vacating the house and the next time you see me we'll be all in, without a kitchen, a sofa or a bed but we'll be all in.  So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy Part VI featuring my meltdown ;)

So there you have it!  Can't wait to see what Part VII has in store for us.  We still have the completed Master Bathroom, the Kitchen and the final walk-through to come. Thank you again for all your comments and encouragement.  Please subscribe to my blog (upper right-hand corner) so you don't miss a thing and do drop me a line below and let me know your thoughts, questions and recommendations.  xoxoGlo

Here are some of the stars of Part VI

Tear Sheet Tuesday: Summer recipes, NYC X Design & Furniture Porn

Welcome to another edition of the occasional series I call Tear Sheet Tuesday.  We launched last Tuesday.   If you want to catch up you can do that right here.  In a nutshell, I tear what strikes my fancy throughout the week and I share that with you here.  It could really be anything. It's all inspiration!

Perhaps today's tears will inspire you to cook, lounge by the pool or get busy creating an office you really want to work in!  Let's get started.  First off, my Cooking Light hit this week.  I wanted to be good and feature this...

However, THIS is what really looks yummy to me.  Both are super summer meal inspirations and can be found in the current May 2017 issue of Cooking Light.

In addition to recipe fantasies you can indulge in a little design dreaming this week if you happen to be in the Big Apple.  NYC X Design is going on right now and it's open and free to the public through May 24th.  This is the fifth year of this international event where you can attend talks, product launches, exhibitions and more all over NYC.  For more info click here. 

Needless to say I have plucked some coolness from the pages of The Official Guide to NYC X Design, from the Editors of Metropolis.

I guess I'm into the walnut wood  finishes with a little lounging mixed in these days.  Mark my words, beautiful stained wood grains will be the next big cabinet look, as soon as white Shaker runs its course (which could be never). 

Last but not least, I know you didn't forget the furniture porn I promised you ;).  I have been eyeing this incredibly beautiful burled wood console for a really long time.  This week's sale catalog from Williams Sonoma came in the mail and BAM!! There it is on sale.  Should I? I really love it.

So that's what I have for you this week.  Please send me YOUR tears so that I can see what's inspiring you and feature it right here. Also, don't forget to leave a comment.  I'm getting lots of emails and I'd love for you to share your kind words right here.

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Reinventing White Shaker Cabinets

There's a reason why white Shaker  cabinets are so hot; it's because they are so versatile, just like pasta, the final result depends on what you put with it.  Not only can you get this style in any price point but you can make it work with your own unique design style. Today I thought we'd take a look at some very different successful results all using garden- variety white Shaker cabinets.

First of all, in case you've been off somewhere living in a cave, Shaker cabinets feature what we call flat panel doors. There's a flat panel in the center surrounded by a frame.  That frame is typically 2 1/4" wide which will give you a traditional look or 3" wide which is a bit more contemporary.  A word of caution, if your kitchen will have small doors (less than 15" wide) and you're going to be using glass in the center, go with the 2 1/4" or the glass section will be too small.

The modern Shaker style gets its name from the original Shaker furniture.  "Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as Shakers, a religious sect that had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. Their beliefs were reflected in the well-made furniture of minimalist designs.- Wikipedia  American Shaker furniture originated in the 1700s and has changed little since then. Original Shaker doors typically had natural wood finishes but today white is all the rage.  Fast forward to the twenty-first century where all that white simplicity can get a bit  boring and generic.  With the big movement towards personalization and custom design you can rock that Shaker look and make it your own.  Here are just a few examples:

                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                  Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - Discover kitchen design ideas -Houzz

 

                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                    Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - Browse kitchen ideas - Houzz

21st Century Victorian

The kitchen above is situated in an 1892 Queen Anne Victorian home in California and features a totally different take on white Shaker.  Accents include a luscious blue color for the peninsula and gorgeous Mamounia tile from  the Martyn Lawrence Bullard Collection for Ann Sacks. I love the mixture of natural wood, white, the pattern of the tile and that perfect shade of blue.

                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                        Photo by Margot Hartford Photography - More kitchen ideas - Houzz

Since white Shaker cabinets are pretty much a blank canvas, they offer a great opportunity to showcase bold colorful art!  This painting installed in the kitchen/dining area is by Gordon Hopkins.

Mad for Mid-Century Mod

This new white Shaker kitchen is in a 1950's Mid-Century home in South Florida.  The homeowners wanted to retain certain elements such as this original planter and room divider to retain the fifties feel.  I always love to honor that concept when choosing finishing touches for the kitchen.  These handles complement the room divider perfectly and the Cambria quartz top emulates the original refurbished terrazzo floor in the main part of the home.   You don't have to retain all the original details but it can be very striking to tie a few elements together like we did here.

   

Cool Contemporary

If you have embraced the clean crisp appeal of contemporary design,  you can also have that with white Shaker cabinets.  The example below from Houzz shows achieves a chic contemporary effect through long sleek bar pulls on the cabinets, the clean look of no upper cabinets and stainless steel accents.  The rich wood floor lends warmth to the space.  

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                              Photo by Rockwood Cabinetry - Browse transitional kitchen ideas- Houzz

There you have it! I would love to help you "shake things up" with your own white Shaker cabinets. Email me at artfulkitchensbyglo@gmail.com  If you would like to have Artful Kitchen blog posts conveniently delivered to your inbox, please subscribe by entering your email in the sidebar.

                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                          

Be Cool with Big Chill Appliances

There is a fresh new concept on the scene when it comes to kitchen appliances. For years the challenge has been to make them go away, visually, that is.  Integrating your refrigerator and dishwasher using matching cabinet panels can be the perfect solution in some situations but let's take another look, shall we?What if you crave something different, you have yen for retro design and you LOVE color?  If this is you, Big Chill has you covered.  This Colorado based appliance maker was founded in 2001 by  Orion Creamer and Thom Vernon, two guys looking for vintage style with modern functionality.In the early days of the company Thom and Orion studied vintage styling from the 50s, particularly  automotive detailing as well as the materials that were used. Their wish was to replicate the quality of products from this bygone era and blend it  with the latest technology.  I am impressed with the wide variety of appliances offered by Big Chill!  Think the 48" pro range, induction cooking, large capacities as well as compact counter top microwaves. Also, if you're not a fifties fan they have two other lines, Classic with 1920s detailing and Pro offering the same bold color selection in twenty first century design.  Speaking of color, if none of their many options is just right for you, custom colors are available too.  You can find dealers throughout the US but if they're not in your neck of the woods you can purchase on line with free shipping in the month of August. For much more info check out their website and blog.PS. I have no affiliation with Big Chill.  This just came across my radar and I had to share!

The Best of KBIS 2016

Bam!  Another show is in the books and although it's been a busy week "back at the ranch", I've been dying to share my finds with you right here on Artful Kitchens.Las Vegas was host to three days of networking and education for the best of the Kitchen & Bath industry.  As a member of the Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine's Advisory Board,  I had the pleasure of appearing on the KBIS Next stage as a part of the panel discussion entitled Trials & Tribulations-Solutions to Your Biggest Kitchen & Bath Challenges. It was an exciting exchange of ideas between both the pros on the panel as well as a savvy and engaged audience. I also had the opportunity to spend some time in the Las Vegas I like best, off the strip! I hiked in the Red Rock Canyon and visited my friends at Retro Vegas on Main Street. My digs for this trip were with my dear pals Karen, Barry & Wink.  They live in a midcentury modern gem that, rumor has it, was briefly home to Lucille Ball!  They are avid Airbnb'ers and wonderful hosts.  Check it out if you find yourself in Vegas. This location is so convenient to the Convention center I could walk, which I did, once.  Mostly I Ubered. Enough walking happens on the show floor!  So without further ado, here's my recap of the biggest and most notable trends and products that caught my eye at KBIS2016. ColorWhite still reigns.  In fact paint giants Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have both selected shades of white as their color of the year.  You know I am a huge white fan. It is always the best backdrop for art and design. It also continues to be the favorite cabinet color in my area.  Remember white is not just white, there are an infinite number of varieties you can have fun with.  If you need more punch in your kitchen you could find some great options at the big show.  I saw bright saturated colors in several appliance brands including Bertonazzi, Viking and BlueStar which offers 750 colors!  Grey has not left the stage.  The newest versions are warm, venturing into taupe territory. Textured wood grains such as cerused oak are really popular. Wood-Mode showed both traditional and contemporary versions of ribbon Mahogany. The Perfect TouchTouch latch technology was EVERYWHERE!  If you prefer a sleek, uninterrupted look for your cabinets and appliances this is for you, a gentle nudge will open your cabinets. This is nothing new but it's taken off.  I also loved the button that allows you to close this cabinet when you're done without resorting to dangerous acrobatics (I'm short).Feeling BrassyActually brass, copper, bronze and myriad versions are hot for plumbing fixtures and hardware.  My favorites were the new BauHaus inspired Litze collection by Brizo Faucets. and Kallista's Vir Stil collection.Not Your Grandma's CorianIf you're like me Corian has been dead to you since about 1998.  That sentiment has now ended in my book.  I saw a 2"thick sleek contemporary version of Corian that was perfectly at home in The New American Home.  The other exciting thing I saw in counter tops was this quartz by Silestone.  Yes, it's GOLD!  I just wish the photo could capture it's sparkly beauty.Thrills from ThermadorAppliance brand Thermador held a press conference on the show floor to introduce a couple of impressive new products, the 60" pro range available with steam and a double oven featuring steam and convection.  These are firsts in the industry.Organize ItJust when I thought we had it all the category of organization it goes to the next level. There was a great representation of brands ranging from Hafele to Rev-A-Shelf to Hardware Resources but Glideware is taking the market by storm.  If you've got a mess lurking somewhere I guarantee there's a way to make it neat and accessibleTile StyleMy two tile favorites were Michael Berman's Collection from Walker Zanger and, of course, Ann Sacks who are featuring a new line by L.A. design maven Kelly Wearstler. Love!I can IKONIf you read my blog you know I love me my Silgranit sinks, meet IKON the apron front version which easily works in any style kitchen from Traditional to Contemporary. Their Artona  faucet perfectly complements the Silgranit sink.Stikwood Rocks!

Stikwood’s line of lightweight, real-wood planking offers designers and DIYers a peel-and-stick solution to achieve that perfect, sought-after blend of rustic and modern. It can be used on walls and ceilings and comes in tons of colors, even prints! I'm thinking this could be great on the back of a kitchen island.

Believe me, all this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.  There was so much more to see and learn about at KBIS 2016.  Check out this year's winners of Best of KBIS for more info and of course if you'd like any more info on what you see here email me at artfulkitchensbyglo@gmail.com