Hot or Cold?
traditional kitchen design by boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors
Is it just me, or do there seem to be two main schools of thought with kitchen design? On one end of the spectrum you have warm cozy traditional space. On the other end, homeowners find themselves immersed in cool, sleek moderne environments. Most of us (I know this to be true because math is our friend and averages don't lie) live somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.
To address this, designers have begun to master the balancing act of satisfying those of us on hump of the bell curve. Everywhere you look there are Top Chef grade appliances flanked by aged, hand-rubbed cabinets. The new look goes well beyond "transitional" in my opinion. These have a look of glamour to them that transcends the old ways of blending the two extremes.
Surfaces are sleek, integration is seamless and the overall look is more difficult to describe as any one type. In most cases, the only way to describe the look is...well..beautiful. And at the end of the day, that's what we all long for: a beautiful and welcoming home. Even if that does mean demanding a 48" Wolf rangetop AND our grandmother's antique butcher block table "must" go in the design.
It's nice to know we no longer have to choose hot or cold extremes. Those of us in between can feel relatively sure our blended designs will stand the test of time better than those of our predecessors. Our generation isn't going to populate the 'burbs with cookie-cutter homes serving up avocado green kitchens and Formica counter tops. Instead, we're outfitting these sprawling spaces with high grade granite as far as the eye can see, stainless steel appliances and 42" cabinets. Designs change and standards evolve, but I do feel we've broadened the middle ground enough that mainstream kitchens are an exercise in restraint and examples of good taste. But of course, I could we completely wrong. In 15 years we may very well find ourselves cringing at these photos and wondering why we thought paying $150 for a pair of shredded designer jeans was a good idea. Only time will tell!
***Note*** Interesting story about this post. I stumbled upon the images because of an email sent out by Houzz. The topic was where to place the microwave and linked to a post by The Kitchen Designer Susan Serra, CKD. Susan and I are connected via Twitter as well. Coincidence of all coincidences Susan was emailed me this morning to say hello... upon closer inspection I realized I'd already written the above post the evening before she emailed. I'm probably not telling the story very well. The point is, we were both thinking of one another at the same time and reaching out in different ways. Big world? Hardly. Feels more cozy and warm every day thanks to technology!If you're not already reading her blog, you'll soon discover she's an expert on all things to do with the culinary environment!
The rest of the story for me is that I've followed you for a long time and sometimes it's a good idea to reconnect!
About the middle ground...yes, I definitely see this. I'd put it as the traditional mainstream easing into two things...somewhat/slightly cleaner lines and more personal expression. It's more of a confidence that we're seeing I think, which is exactly what it should be, after all. Not entirely gone, but pushed aside are the days where homeowners are followers to a certain look dictated by magazines, brochures, and (some) designers. I see the same thing as you do. The middle ground is one's interpretation, and that's where the excitement can be found, I think. Good stuff!!
Posted by: Susan Serra | February 08, 2010 at 12:20 PM