kitchens
Dark or black countertops are good for you if:You have dark cabinets and want the counters to blend in with them.You have colorful, fun cabinets, and you want the hue to really shine.You have a smoky mirrored backsplash, a trendy favorite in condos and modern homes.You want to connect to other black elements in the space.You’re aiming to achieve a classic black-and-white scheme.
7. Hidden range hood. I was tempted to include a bold, show-stopper range hood in my perfect kitchen, but I also love one that disappears into custom cabinets, as shown here. Ultimately, I realized that there is no middle ground: The best hoods are either a commanding focal point or quietly hide away to allow other features to speak uninterrupted.
This creative corner in the kitchen is another showcase for Stuart’s artistic skills. Against a backdrop of Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, Stuart created a feature wall using aged wooden spoons to frame two vintage-style prints and a calendar. Besides creating an interesting visual feature in their own right, the spoons also give a fun nod to the culinary nature of the space.
This table offers a rough starting point for planning storage around the refrigerator. Mix and match ideas to adapt it to your lifestyle.Pantry and dry food storage. Allow at least 16 cubic feet for storing dry groceries. Pantry pullout cabinets begin at about 24 cubic feet, while dedicated closet pantries begin at about 72 cubic feet (a space that’s 3 feet square by 8 feet tall).Initial food prep equipment and tools. Start with wall and base cabinets of at least 24 inches in width. Bigger families and collectors need to begin with at least 42 inches in width.Refrigeration. The smallest fridge starts at about 10 cubic feet of food storage space. Top-of-the-line units start at about 25 cubic feet of refrigerated food storage space.Small appliances, occasional vases, bowls and trays. Minimalists begin with 12 inches in width of wall and base cabinets, while big families may want to start with 36 inches.
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