“The way to a man’s heart is through the stomach”, so the saying goes. But in reality the man’s ‘heart’ is not the only ‘heart’ that is influenced by what goes to the stomach. The kids, all the adults and the guests are all so much happier when they are well fed. Little wonder that the kitchen is one of the main areas of consideration when planning a house or buying one.
In addition to being the room where food is prepared and stored, the kitchen often provides room for dinning and family bonding. In light of the significant role it plays in everyday living, it is paramount that your kitchen is both well planned and creatively decorated.
When planning and decorating the kitchen, both its fuctional and aesthetic facets come to play. You need to ask your self: apart from cooking, what else will my kitchen be used for? What appliances will it house? How much storage room do I require? While the answers to these functional questions and the kitchen solutions employed may vary form one individual to another, the following décor elements are neccesary for humanising the kitchen and giving it life.
Style: This is about the look and feel of your Kitchen. Function aside; there is a certain mood that you want to create here. The style may be inspired by the overal theme of the home or it may be limited to the kitchen. You need to settle on a style that you are comfortable with bearing in mind that you will be spending lots of hours in this room. What’s you inspiration? Is it nature or freedom or comfort? Whatever it is, determine it and infuse it in your kitchen style. Some common kitchen styles include classic, contemporary, retro, modern and country.
Colour: Your choice of colour should be consistent with your style. For example; dark colours like brown and maroon lend themselves to a classic style. Lighter clours like yellow, green and neutral colours like white and cream are better suited for a modern or contemporary look. Whatever style you choose, feel free to deviate from the norm if you so desire. A little experimenting with colour may just help you discover a unique look.
A word of caution; kitchens easily accumulate dirt and spillage hence the need for a wall finish that is easy to clean. High gloss paint will offer no trouble cleaning. Better still, a matt finish offered by a product like Matt Emulsion with Telfon Surface protector is beautiful and easy to clean too.
Floors: Durability is of prime importance where kitchens are concerned. If spills are common and there’s a lot of commotion in the kitchen, choose flooring that will stand up to it in your engineering projects. If there’s often someone on their feet working in the kitchen, consider bamboo, engineered wood, or cork, which are softer than stone, or concrete. Carpets are a No No! Once a material has been chosen, choose a colour and style that will either conform to the walls or compliment them.
Counters: Make sure that the countertop suits the needs of the household. For example, while a marble counter may create the desired look, there will be inevitable scratches. If this will bother you, don’t do it. Be realistic about what you can handle before making a final decision.
Lighting: Good lighting is a necessity in a kitchen. Areas where food preparation takes place should be properly lit. Eating areas can do with more ambient lighting. Generally kitchens don’t have the space for table lamps, so overhead lighting is the best option. Pot lights and pendant lights are common and also work well. Chandeliers are unconventional in the kitchen but can add some charm to the overal look.
Posted by Pambo Maridadi @ Crown Paints Kenya Ltd Email: info@crownpaints.co.ke
