Tag: kitchen design

20May

Cozy Interior Corners: Built In Banquettes

Phillip Gorrivan design, blue and white striped banquette, louis xvı chair and Joan Miro art

Banquette seating used to be mostly for kitchens.  Nowadays we can find them in any corner inside the home.  A custom banquette is the best way to save space and add coziness to a space.  Regardless of what interior design you prefer, there is a style for everyone, from elegant ones, upholstered in sumptuous velvet to more casual ones covered in stripes.

A banquette in the kitchen adds functionality and a multi-use area where families can not only eat, but also do homework, play games, and enjoy a morning coffee.  Below, a few cozy options that will sure inspire you.

Phillip Gorrivan design, blue and white striped banquette, louis xvı chair and Joan Miro art

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05Sep

Design Trends For Fall 2018 Anyone Can Follow

design trends for Fall, neutral decor

Summer might be over, but that doesn’t mean fashion season has ended.  In fact, there are plenty of exciting fall trends to look forward to that will make a nice transition into cooler weather.  Fur accents, sophisticated neutral tones, dimensional art, and layers of white are some of the fall decorating trends you can embrace.  Read on to discover the design trends for Fall that anyone can follow.

Design Trends For Fall: Updated Neutrals

design trends for Fall, neutral decor

Decorating with neutral tones can create a bland look unless you add some visual interest. With a room that’s painted or wallpapered in a tan, beige, or another neutral tone, the key to design success is adding in shape and texture.  This year’s Fall trends call for texture without being excessively rustic.  Fur throws and pillows, three-dimensional fixtures placed on walls and used for decoration, and unique lighting fixtures are some creative design elements you can use in Autumn decor to improve the room’s appeal without using bold, loud color.

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20Aug

10 Elegant Tile Backsplash Behind The Stove Ideas

A beautiful tile backsplash behind the stove can instantly be the focal point of the kitchen.  Granted that the kitchen is the heart of the house, serve well to treat it like one.  A well-designed kitchen requires proper planning as well as good Interior Design.  The kitchen backsplash is more than just a pretty design element;  it serves the purpose of protecting the walls behind the stove and the sink from getting water or any other type of liquids.  The choice for backsplash, whether for behind the range or for the entire area, is quite overwhelming.

The final choice will depend on the style of your kitchen design, from traditional subway tiles for a classic interior design, glass tiles for contemporary design to stainless-steel tile backsplash found in modern interior design.  Keep the design understated and simple by continuing the same material as the countertop onto the backsplash behind the stove or go ahead and make a striking statement by using a different design behind your stove.  In the end, the main purpose of good Interior Design is to make your home a personal reflection of yourself.  Here I’m sharing with you 10 beautiful ideas for the perfect backsplash for the space right behind the stove.  Go ahead and get inspired.

White Marble Slab Backsplash

backsplash behind the stove, kitchen design, backsplash, tile

This kitchen has a very elegant and timeless white marble slab as backsplash behind the stove with a simple shelf that serves for easy reach for spices and condiments.  See the rest of this home here.

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22May

It’s Not A Trend: Encaustic And Patterned Cement Tiles

If you are considering using patterned cement tiles in your home, whether as a kitchen backsplash or as floor tiles, in your bathroom, and are doubting whether or not cement tiles will stand the test of time.  It’s good to remember that few other tiles have been around for so long and still keep coming back strong every now and then.  They are super popular right now, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.  They quickly transform any blah room into a wow one.  Another excellent characteristic of cement tiles is that because they are handmade no two tiles look exactly the same.  This characteristic makes them authentic and gives them a feeling of originality.

There are so many patterns available by different manufacturers that is almost overwhelming.  I’m sharing a few sources at the bottom of this post.  Whatever patterned tile you decide on,
one thing to keep in mind is that you should follow installation instructions to the T, especially when it comes to the final sealing step.  Cement tiles are incredibly tricky, and they can be damaged very easily.  They can get stained, not precisely a beautiful patina and these ugly
stains are very difficult to fix.  Manufacturers are usually not responsible for any stain developed after improper installation because they stand behind the fact that due to the nature of the cement tiles being made by hand they are prepared to look imperfect.  The truth is that a beautiful patina on a tile is not exactly a stain, that’s why it’s so important to make sure that your installer is doing the installation correctly.

cement tiles, encaustic tiles, bathroom with cement tiles

If you are installing them on the floor as in this beautiful bathroom above, make sure the floor is level; otherwise, the tiles can chip off with usage over time.  The chipping may be due to the way the tile is manufactured in sort of layering.   Another widespread use of encaustic tiles is on patio floors,  and they can look great in the right kind of architecture.

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20Feb

Get Me A Gray Kitchen: Beautiful And Functional Kitchen

We all agree that the kitchen is the most important room in a home… the heart of the home.  It’s the space where we cook our best and worst meals and where we create our best memories together.  It’s also the room where most of the money in a remodeling goes to.  So much to think about when remodeling this room, functionality, flow, durability and ultimately design.  A gray kitchen can greatly help or enhance the latter since gray is perhaps one of the most forgiving and sophisticated color options available.  Having a functional kitchen is the priority but taking time on deciding the color of your cabinets is paramount if you are deciding to live for a long time in your home.  Gray is warmer than the color white and easier to live with than dark bold hues.
gray kitchen functional kitchen with marble covered vent via belle vivir blog

A beautiful juxtaposition between the traditional light gray cabinets and the clean line of the carrara marble island and range hood.   The brass simple scones and reeded glass on the cabinets lend elegance to the design.

gray kitchen, functional kitchen with white subway tiles via belle vivir blog

A small gray kitchen with a more down to earth and approachable design.  Floor to ceiling traditional white subway tiles and brass flush mount ceiling lights give a more custom look to the overall design.

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16Oct

8 Colorful Kitchens to Brighten Up your Day

From bold color saturated kitchens to more subtle ones, these kitchens will certainly brighten anyone’s morning.  There is something welcoming and energizing about colorful kitchens that makes us cheerful.  Whether you decide to go full course and paint the kitchen cabinets in a bold color or just add a few colorful accessories, the sky is the limit… Small and clever moves such as painting the island, adding colorful stools or painting the floor are only but a few of the options there to bring color into our kitchen.  Of course you can always go the Kelly Wearstler‘s way and paint all the cabinets in one bright green, add a splash of brass or gilded backsplash…. or you can keep the color designated to the island and make it a focal point as Commune did in the kitchen below.

For more traditional kitchens, a bold printed upholstered chair or banquet will also add some jazz to the ambiance.   Breakfast nooks are great spaces to experiment with color.  As you can see small details can bring vibrancy to any kitchen.  Usually, the smaller the space the bolder you can go.  Take the small green kitchen designed by Miles Redd where he painted the entire kitchen in a high lacquered green.

Graphic tiles are also very handy to add a jolt of energy as you can see in the kitchen below by David Netto.  David added graphic tiles all the way to the ceiling for a pop of color.

Colorful kitchens, Green

Kelly Wearstler is no shy when it comes to color and bold statement.  The kitchen she designed for Cameron Diaz in Manhattan has brass accents that help to make the space brighter.

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