Help pulling this kitchen together

8 years ago

Hi all.

I got great advice here before, and I am now looking for creative and quirky ideas for my kitchen. I have to add first off, that I don't have a huge budget and to make it even more tricky I need to keep the couch and table in current position (and keep both).

All the pieces are a bit disconnected - the table I had re-vamped with decoupage of really old newspapers that we had in the family and although I like it I don't think it really suits the room since I now have very mix of styles. But for now I need to keep.

Id love some ideas for what you think would make the biggest difference to bring the room to together and make it flow better and be more cohesive.

I have thought about:

1. Repainting the kitchen units and replacing worktop. Colour ideas?

2. Adding light pendants over the table. I love copper as I think it would look great with the blue but it adds another dimension!

3. Wall art, cushions, throws - to bring colour scheme together. Red, yellow, Blue?

4. Removing curtains and adding simple blinds.

Thanks in advance for any ideas, tips and suggestions. I love geometric prints, blues and copper. Let me know if you think i am going in wrong direction.

Helen

(Cant seem to load last photo of patio door and curtains, curtain is yellow (see right of photo2)

Featured Answer

bookworm987

8 years ago

Repainting the kitchen units would make a huge difference- I'd go for a pale cream to match your other furniture. The dishwasher and washing machine aren't helping but I suppose this can't be changed on a tight budget.

The wall hung unit beside the couch looks a little at odds with the room but I think you could make it work by turning the wine rack around so that it is centred below it and getting rid of the enormous plant. Instead of that vase of flowers, display some small bright objects, maybe red?

The wall above the couch is crying out for a large bright piece of art. And I'd add some cushions in cream with blue or navy accents.

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Comments (14)

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MERRICK DESIGNS
Original Author
8 years ago
So I took your advice to see what the result would be .. it opens up the space better for sure. I removed the plant, it used be really nice but it has grown so big. For now I just put yellow plant on the wine cabinet.
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Feioi
8 years ago
Painting the cabinet doors will make a huge difference and it's the first thing I thought when looking at your pictures. You could paint the base units dark blue and the wall cabinets an off white and replace the handles with copper handles. The worktop would look good as a pale grey.

I don't think the blue on your dining chairs is working the with sofa. I think they need to be either a dark inky blue or a bright vibrant royal blue.

Some black and white or navy and white cushions with geometric patterns on the sofa would look great.

A pendant would look lovely but the problem with that is that it will look odd if it's not centered over the table so you can't move the table around. It looks like you have the it pushed up to the wall to allow more space but you may want to pull it out if you need to use all the chairs so it won't look right. Why not try adding some copper accessories like lamps, vases or candle votives?

Hope that helps!

Jennifer
MERRICK DESIGNS thanked Feioi
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Akiva Projects Ltd
8 years ago
Hello,

I like your kitchen! I think the cabinets would look nice in white, light cream, also in grey, or the same colour your other cabinet has by the sofa. Kitchen top would look nice in warm grey, duck egg, off white, cream.

I love the idea that your kitchen is so colourful! The throw also has nice shades that is on the sofa, so I think any shades of that would like nice in cushion covers, but you can definitely add blues, red, yellow or magenta.

When restyling your home you always have to think first which is your favourite style/styles you would like your kitchen to feature? With a bit of creativity and imagination a lot can be achieved.

Good luck with your Project!

StJames Design Interiors
MERRICK DESIGNS thanked Akiva Projects Ltd
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MERRICK DESIGNS
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank Feioi,,, great suggestions. Totally agree with your point on pendant. I had thought about that. Like the idea of two tone in cabinets.

StJames - I like your suggests. I also couldn't agree with you more about thinking ahead before you start. I inherited the sofa and table & chairs and wine cabinet from previous owner. I up cycled the table / chairs as an experiment. Then I used left over paint for the wine cabinet. So really there was no plan which is never a good thing. Now I am trying to think ahead more and what I really like. That is why I am slow to buy an art piece or paint until of kitchen until I am clearer about what I am doing.

Thanks everyone ! Any more thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

.
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Feioi
8 years ago
Love the blue in St James Design's second picture. Looks fantastic with red!
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Gill Wilkinson Interiors
8 years ago
Love the grey kitchen units with the red fridge posted by StJames. I would then paint the chairs to match the table legs or alternatively paint the units the same colour as the chairs. As suggested some artwork above the sofa would look great - this doesn't necessarily have to be one piece. Grouping smaller pieces together can create the same effect. I would also change the floor length curtains and add a mirror above the table to reflect light and increase the sense of space.

I would collect images of the things you like and how you want the kitchen to look as this will help in choosing colours and accessories. Good luck!
MERRICK DESIGNS thanked Gill Wilkinson Interiors
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Amber Jeavons Ltd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello comegetme, First of all yes to painting the cabinets... Find something chalky, creamy and light.. I want to ask if you are able to get more of those glass cabinets that you have at the end of the room... I could see at least 2 more of those along that wall.. Move the table into the room a bit more.. Do you need to have the sofa? I would say you could really open up the room more without this and you have a 2 colour scheme then for the room... You could have an old fashioned rocking chair painted blue or something with a nice cream cushion and then have some cream cushion pads on the blue wooden chairs... Encourage conversation round the table by making it accessible by being more central to the room... This way the room says kitchen, dining and conversation... : ))
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minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. I love the upcycling! I agree with feioi. I'd go for an inky blue on the bottom cabinets ( and the chairs) and a lighter neutral ( creamy greige) on top with an even lighter neutral on the walls. This kitchen by mowlem is in Farrow and ball railings and purbeck stone. I'd go for a white worktop, preferably a marble effect. I love the idea of copper handles but there don't seem to be that many around and could work out pretty expensive. I've found one stockist but ebay may be worth a try.http://allhandlesandpulls.co.uk/handlesandpulls/cabinet-pull-handle-7032-polished-copper-beslag-design.html if not, I'd look at chrome and nickle as they'd also look great against both an inky blue and the red. I've just changed all of mine for £150 and it makes a massive difference. I'd actually remove that ŵall hung unit. I'd also look at a floor lamp in the corner by the sofa with a Few prints over the sofa, maybe some typography, a newspaper art and then something modern with a splash of red to tie in with the table and sofa? and a large mirror above the table to bounce some light around. Add a navy geometric throw, this one is from John Lewis with some grey, navy, white cushions. Do you actually need curtains or blinds for privacy, security etc? I would be tempted to at least do away with the kitchen blind to let light in.
minnie101
8 years ago
Photos
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MERRICK DESIGNS
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you everyone, brilliant advice and things to consider.

I had one question to those who suggested changing colour of chairs to dark, inky blue. Is this because the intensity of the blue currently on the chairs is not strong enough for the red of couch? @Minnie101 I love both pics. I am in love with navy kitchens and geometric and I think both would work. Also love the suggestion of typography print.

The kitchen is really bright and airy (even if photos don't show it) so I am not too worried about making it more bright but understand the suggestion mirror.

I think I am leaning towards painting dark navy / cream combo for kitchen units at this point! Though I love grey/ cream combo too suggestion too... maybe because of exposed appliances. Not sure how navy will look against the steel.

Thanks!
cavgirl
8 years ago
You could go for a blue with a grey undertone. Some day I'm going to paint my lower cabinets Craig and rose's pale chalk blue for this very reason, because I think it'd work beautifully with greys and steel. I think that you need to keep your worktop light - so either a very soft pale grey or a creamy tone that goes with your existing cream stuff (love the decoupage, btw). I'd also look at getting typography based artwork to tie in with your decoupage. I wouldn't worry too much about the blues toning with your sofa- if you get the right combination of throws and cushions you can make it work. It's a bit discordant atm because there's no real link between them.
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Amber Jeavons Ltd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello comegetme, Navy is really in and you mention Navy and Steel... They work beautifully together and with a light colour worktop would be really gr8! Found a little pic to show dark bottom cabinets in a matt paint... Don't go for gloss! Top cabinets in a nice chalky light colour.. Also in keeping with the up-cycled theme... Did you realise you can create copper handles with copper piping and brackets...... Some more brassy numbers at the bottom! . : ))
MERRICK DESIGNS thanked Amber Jeavons Ltd
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Feioi
8 years ago
Hi comegetme
To answer your question about the chairs, the tone of blue just doesn't really work with the red at the moment as they're very different palettes. You could always make the other changes to the room and see how it goes but personally I think it needs to either be darker or more vibrant. It's a lovely colour but I wouldn't put it next to red.