THE GREEN LIGHT ALTERNATIVE

I want to welcome guest blogger Marcia Exelrud, expert on lighting (see previous post).  In this post she enlightens us on one very good option for energy efficient lighting in the kitchen.

“Everyone talks about energy savings nowadays. If there is one area of the home that makes those electric meters whirl it's the kitchen. Today our  kitchens are not only for cooking but for entertaining. People like to gather in the kitchen, talk and drink while the host is preparing the meal.  Why not put together two very important things: energy savings and creative architectural lighting. LED lighting is the new source that allows you to save energy and create different effects and colors without producing more heat in the room. 

LED stands for "light-emitting diode." An LED is a semiconductor diode that emits a single wavelength of light when charged with an electric current. LEDs have many practical applications and are already used in many products we use everyday. LED lights are energy-efficient and produce almost no heat in comparison to incandescent and fluorescent lights. They usually have a lifetime of 50,000 hours and are available in a variety of styles and wattages. LEDs allow you to install lighting in any area allowing you to be creative with  your lighting design as shown in this kitchen from kutecat.com." 

LOOKING AT LIGHT

 

We can emulate the moods of natural light in our kitchen environments.

One of the most important components of  your kitchen design is lighting, both in terms of how you see the overall picture and how you will function within it. Today I would like to introduce and welcome Guest Blogger and lighting expert Marcia Excelrud.  I asked her how to begin when considering lighting for the heart of the home.

 “ Lighting is part of our every day life. It creates a mood and determines how we see the world around us.  The best way to begin thinking about lighting is by looking at nature. I took some pictures at the park near-by, showing how the position of the clouds and sun affect how we visualize the colors and shapes of our environment. Glare  and reflections play a big part. We can create the same effects at night or indoors depending on the lamps, fixtures and accessories we use as seen in the kitchen photo above. I will stop by Kitchens for Living now and again to share with you the best products and techniques to show your kitchen in the best light."

Marcia Exelrud is the founder and CEO for the company Bright Light Designs, Inc. Ms. Exelrud has 20 years of well-rounded experience in the architectural, lighting and interior design industries and is a memver of the International Association of Lighting Designers.  She can be contacted through her website http://www.brightlightdesigns.net

 

FIND YOUR KITCHEN MOJO

If your new kitchen is going to be an expression of who you are and how you live it's helpful to have a little inspiration. One of the things I frequently mention is the benefit of something I call "kitchen scrapbooking".   When you get your first inkling that a new kitchen may be in your future, begin collecting pictures and ideas.  Use magazines, the internet or your camera.  Then pay attention to that inner voice. That's your intuition and your cue to tear, print or click that shutter.  Look for everything from specific details to general feeling. Let's begin today.  I will share with you all kinds of interesting tidbits.  Keep a file (real or virtual) of your inspirational loot.  Before you know it you'll have all kinds of useful information and you will begin to see the patterns in your selections.  For example you may find that in 5 out of  7 pictures, you selected kitchens with white cabinets, or glass doors, or shiny finishes.  Oh, and remember it doesn't even have to be a kitchen!  Your heart-of-the-home can also be inspired by non-kitchen images such as art, architecture, nature and more.  Here are three images to start you off.  

I love the juxtaposition of modern and African tribal elements in this photo of a Nolte kitchen.

  This one, from luxury-ideas.com, is all about feeling natural, open and a little luxurious.  Notice the interesting open shelves, the open island design and the lovely use of texture.     

Lastly, I just love the feeling of this black and white kitchen.  It represents a comfortable easy British Colonial aesthetic to me.  How about you?

DO YOU WANT A DIRTY KITCHEN?

The advent of the internet has allowed us to trade influences with other cultures at lightening speed.  Many of today's western designs borrow aspects of the Zen aesthetic incorporating organic materials, clean lines and a natural color pallette.  The ancient practice of Feng Shui goes beyond aesthetics addressing the importance of function as well. 

Recently I  uncovered a little known Asian concept known as "the dirty kitchen".  How un-American, you may say.  Maybe not.  A dirty kitchen is basically a smaller kitchen separated from your main kitchen. It is usually behind closed doors.  Sometimes, in an older home, we call this a Butler's Pantry which essentially is the same thing and can be highly functional if you have a small space adjacent to your kitchen.  Or maybe not so small, as in this photo of the White House Butler's Kitchen circa 1920!  I guess it is American afterall.

A dirty kitchen can be used for food preparation, secondary storage and for staging when entertaining.  It’s also a good idea  to have a second sink and even a dishwasher (as in this photo by ABCDDesign.com) or extra refrigeration in your dirty kitchen.  During a party, this secondary space comes in handy if you have an open kitchen. Guests can socialize and eat hors d’oeuvres in and around the main kitchen while the real work goes on behind the scenes- in the dirty kitchen!

Thank you to my bright and beautiful daughter, Sabrina for researching this post!

BEGINNING THE INTUITIVE JOURNEY

Think back.  What are your earliest memories of the kitchen?  I can clearly remember ours but I think my emotional ties are to the kitchens of my grandmothers.  My paternal grandma grew up in New York City, hence her excellent renditions of both matzo ball soup AND spaghetti and meatballs.  Grandma's kitchen was just FUN!  I recall her always wearing an apron and her fearless attitude about letting me "help".  I remember my first experience preparing a "tossed salad".  We added all the ingredients to the bowl and then Grandma told me to toss the salad, so I did.  That is the hardest I ever saw her laugh.  My maternal grandmother was Louise and that's what we all called her.  Her kitchen produced a most amazing orange cake and a wonderful British Colonial style 4 o'clock tea.  Drinking tea on the veranda was very grown up and I tried it with the works including sugar, condensed milk and even lemon (although to my surprise the lemon didn't get along too well with the milk).  Step one on this journey to an intuitive kitchen is to think back and find the feeling.  We can't go back but perhaps this is one of the flavors we'd like to incorporate.    An area full of symbolism, the heart of the home is where we seek refuge after a hard day and solace in the wee hours of the morning.

INTRODUCING INTUITIVE KITCHEN DESIGN

So I'm writing another book.  Never thought I would go there but I have an idea whose time has come.

Make no mistake.  A new kitchen can be a daunting task, but the good news is it can also be an adventure in learning a little more about who you are and discovering a bit more efficiency and beauty in your home everyday.  You know they say it’s all about attitude and that is how this book is different.  I will show you how to consider, plan and implement  the creation of your new kitchen from a new perspective.  That’s right, your intuition.  As you may know, I have been a professional kitchen designer for 16 years but my whole life I have been drawn to what lies deep inside, that potential and ability we all have.  Some call it Spirit, some God and for some it is simply innate intuition.  It’s about carefully listening to your gut to make the right choices for you. When you are done you will know it’s right because it contains your heart and soul.  Whether you work with a professional, are a do-it-yourselfer or, like most of us, are somewhere in between you can apply these principles.  Over the next however-long-it-takes to produce this book I will be sharing tidbits and previews with you here.  There will be a tremendous amount of research going and I'm going to share that with you. You'll get a behind the scenes look at how this book comes together.  So stay tuned, come back often and for heaven's sake if you have anything to contribute, let's hear it!

This fab photo is by photographer/artist Martha Rosler.