Kitchen & Bathroom,Wardrobe & Closet Design Plans

The french are famous for their stylish food and it’s therefore no surprise that many people want a french-style kitchen in their own home.

For a rustic design with timeless style, go French.

French kitchens are a mixture of country style rustic and traditional kitchen design which can be a difficult image to get right if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Here are a few tips to keep you on track:

• The majority of french kitchens have a table which is used for both food preparation and sitting around to eat.

• Cupboards, tables, chairs and any other furniture should be wooden and very simple designs. A french kitchen has no place for metallic objects, other than pots and pans.

• A stone tiled floor immediately creates a french kitchen feel, but if you prefer something warmer there are alternatives. However, lino and similar products are not viable options if you want to remain authentic in your design.

• You might consider painting the walls a warm colour and using stencils to create a Fromagerie feel. If you’d prefer to remain more neutral, white walls are perfectly fine and will work well against the wooden furniture. However, to avoid your kitchen walls looking sparce, you can buy metallic french wall signs which look great and are normally inexpensive.

• Storage in a french kitchen is designed to be funcitional. Cooking utensils are normally on display and within easy reach for the convenience of the chef. Open shelving might be considered or hanging pots and pans overhead on carefully placed hooks.

Retro Kitchen Design Sets and Ideas

It is fun to once in a while look back and see what was considered cool and trendy during the past. In this post we take a look at the kitchens of yesteryear – those from 1920s to 1960s.

Kitchens then used bold colors like yellow, blue and jadeite green with checkerboard floors and vivid patterns. Also prominent were the painted cabinets, glass knobs, vintage linens and conspicuous electrical appliances that were meant to be used for long periods. In those days, the throwaway mentality was unheard of and people preferred to repair and re-use rather than replace.

Finding retro kitchens on the web is not an easy task. We could always use more help. If you come across any retro kitchen that you think need to be featured here, please mention them in the comments. Also we run a steady stream of cool posts like this at Home Designing and if you like to be notified when we have more such inspiring posts, please subscribe to our feed or newsletter!

Rare as they come, there are actually a few terrific websites out there that are dedicated to documenting and digitizing past kitchens. Antique Home Styles is one such website and we would highly recommend them if you are on the look out for such kitchens. Here are a few snaps from their collection:

23 (Very) Beautiful French Kitchens

Here are a set of very beautiful kitchens from French kitchen maker Perene. Perene’s portfolio is impressive with a set of luxury kitchens targeted at the high-end market and to those who do not mind giving an extra dollar for quality. Though majority of their designs can be classifed as ‘modern’, each kitchen is not without its own twist of style. Fancy decor, custom wall art and other curios lend each design its own flavour.

Hats off to the designer here…and yeah, the photographer too!

Choosing a style for your new kitchen and selecting from the endless options of materials available can be daunting. What materials suite your style? Are Vanilla Bean Glaze cabinets with Antique Copper hardware the perfect fit for your country kitchen? Searching for a streamlined stainless steel faucet to coordinate with your contemporary kitchen? Hoping to design a traditional kitchen around granite counter tops? Perhaps soft metallic blinds will blend with the sleek materials in your modern kitchen.

Choosing your style, as well as materials, is an important venture. On average, consumers who are remodeling their kitchen spend about 16 percent of their budget on labor; the remaining is spent on materials. Exciting advances in materials at every budget level are available which are beautiful, practical, durable, and environmentally responsible.

Traditional
Architectural details such as crown molding, raised wood paneling and rich, deep colors abound in the traditional kitchen.

Italian kitchen design involves creating a work friendly environment that’s equally as welcoming as it is effective. Italian kitchens therefore shouldn’t compromise on style or functionality. Whether you’re creating a modern kitchen design or a country kitchen design, the same set of rules apply for Italian kitchens.

Italian kitchens – style and functionality

A well crafted Italian kitchen design will be everything you’d expect from a nation synonymous with style – sleek surfaces and sharp features, built into a beautifully lit environment. Italian kitchen designs are immediately recognisable because of these features and it’s essential you stay true to them.

Contemporary Italian kitchens are primarily designed to be eye catching and ultra stylish, but that doesn’t mean they compromise on functionality and the basics of kitchen design. More traditional Italian kitchens have a rustic charm and are normally formed with warmer tones and materials but the same rules apply.

If you want a kitchen in your home based on the Italian principles of design, then it’s a good idea to start by thinking about what you use your kitchen for. By doing this you can determine the things you really need and start to eliminate the things you don’t.

Italian kitchen design is all about achieving tasteful lines so getting the right fittings is also essential. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consult with a number of companies to ensure you get the precise look you’re after.

By embracing these two simple ideas you can give yourself the best chance of achieving a bespoke, contemporary, Italian kitchen design.

We have more information on Italian kitchen design in the articles below and can also divert you to a number of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of Italian kitchens.

Jackson Kitchen Designs offers a wide variety of leading brands to accommodate the style and budget of our customers.

Jackson Kitchen Designs is a member of NKBA, the industry’s most respected organization.

Jackson Kitchen Designs provides service to Southern NH, the Merrimack Valley, Greater Lowell and North Shore Area including such towns as No. Andover, Andover, Methuen, Boxford,
Georgetown, Middleton, North Reading, Reading, Haverhill, Bradford, Topsfield, Ipswich, Newbury, Newburyport, Hamilton, Wenham, and Marblehead.

Kitchen Remodel Ideas That Will Achieve a Modern Look For Any Budget

Kitchen Remodel Ideas. You’ve finally decided that you have to update your kitchen before it drives you mad. You have been staring at the same four walls, dingy cupboards, and worn floor for way too long now. You are tired of squeezing past the counters when the fridge door is open, and throwing stuff into another room just to make room for food preparation on your counters when it’s time for a family dinner at your house. You will need some careful planning if you are going to attempt implementing some of your kitchen remodel ideas. The fundamental components of a kitchen remodel project undertaking are all the same whether it be a big job or a little one. You choose your style which could be modern, contemporary, grandma’s old country kitchen, or a wild and crazy look all your own. Certain color paints will look better with various appliances and cupboards. You would not want to choose a dark color on your walls if you already have dark oak cupboards or a deep dark marble floor. Choosing materials to work with can often be a stressful event. If you stick to your budget, you will not risk ending up short on cash if your original home decorating ideas do not work out

If you need to replace your cupboards, you can try looking in the local paper or in the online classifieds for deals. If you can get away with just a fresh coat of paint, new doors, or even glass panels for a modern look without the cost, then you may want to consider that option.

Flooring options no longer need to be a concern. You can get laminate flooring tiles for even a few dollars a tile. Counter tops can run you a pretty penny if you do not do some homework first. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on stone, marble, stainless steel, or solid surface choices when you can spend a third of the price for laminate or ceramic counter tops. These lower cost counter top surfaces are a great way to incorporate your kitchen remodel ideas into a newer more modern look everyone will enjoy. Other benefits to this type of counter top are the ease of cleaning, and the resistance to slashes,dents or scratches from food preparation.

Although brand new stainless steel appliances may be a desire in completing you kitchen remodel ideas these can be an unnecessary cost if the appliances you currently have are working well. If you find your current appliances seem crowded or make your kitchen appear smaller than you would like, wait until your favorite department store has a sale, or hunt down a wholesaler who may have a price you can afford.

Antique Kitchen Cabinets

The one thing about antique kitchen cabinets is that they have never gone out of style and likely never will, no matter what other types of décor move in and out of the current trends. 

Shaker Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re thinking of replacing the cabinetry in your home, then shaker kitchen cabinets offer you a unique style opportunity that you cannot obtain through other types of décor. 

Country Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to creating a certain style in your kitchen, country kitchen cabinets like these can make all the difference in the final result. 

The kitchen is, after all, one of the most important rooms of the house in which to create a pleasant and appealing atmosphere since it is where you and your family will be spending a great deal of your time throughout the day.  It should not only be attractive, but it should also work very practically to allow you to navigate around it easily, obtain what you need, and complete your tasks such as food preparation and service.