Kitchen Party
I ATTENDED A HOUSE PARTY OVER THE WEEKEND AND BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, ABOUT 90% OF THE GUESTS were packed into the kitchen. Like ants on jam, we cannot resist its sweet appeal. It's warm, it's communal, it's full of food!
The Swedes know that a good party often culminates in the kitchen and have made sure that their kitchen interiors are sleek, durable and totally party-friendly.
Please press 'play':
The red kitchen is definitely my top pick. I love the clean straight lines, uncluttered surfaces, smooth cabinets and integrated appliances. It's modern and sleek without being cold. But I think my favourite feature would have to be the built-in DJ console. Just slide out the stainless steel drawer right below the oven and voila: kitchen dance party.
In a perfect world, all kitchens would come equipped with decks, a disco ball and a dance floor but even without these fun features, the kitchen is often the most expensive room in a home.
So how should you go about decorating this sacred space?
First off, never underestimate the importance of good lighting! As a film grad I'm especially sensitive to this and physically recoil from any unpleasant illumination (read: fluorescent bulbs). The right lighting can transform even the humblest space into something elegant and beautiful.
When planning your lighting scheme, keep it simple. Your lighting should never look elaborate (even if it took elaborate measures to install). Use task lighting to illuminate work areas, like a spotlight over the chopping block or pendant lights above the kitchen table. Embedding lights in the floor or ceiling creates a nice effect and helps to accentuate specific features of your kitchen.
In addition to good lighting, you can gussy up your kitchen with stylish elements such as large faucets, soft-closing drawers, under cabinet lighting, maybe even a wine fridge? It's your kitchen so do what you please, but have fun with it!
"And you will always find me in the kitchen at parties..."
The Swedes know that a good party often culminates in the kitchen and have made sure that their kitchen interiors are sleek, durable and totally party-friendly.
Please press 'play':
The red kitchen is definitely my top pick. I love the clean straight lines, uncluttered surfaces, smooth cabinets and integrated appliances. It's modern and sleek without being cold. But I think my favourite feature would have to be the built-in DJ console. Just slide out the stainless steel drawer right below the oven and voila: kitchen dance party.
In a perfect world, all kitchens would come equipped with decks, a disco ball and a dance floor but even without these fun features, the kitchen is often the most expensive room in a home.
So how should you go about decorating this sacred space?
First off, never underestimate the importance of good lighting! As a film grad I'm especially sensitive to this and physically recoil from any unpleasant illumination (read: fluorescent bulbs). The right lighting can transform even the humblest space into something elegant and beautiful.
When planning your lighting scheme, keep it simple. Your lighting should never look elaborate (even if it took elaborate measures to install). Use task lighting to illuminate work areas, like a spotlight over the chopping block or pendant lights above the kitchen table. Embedding lights in the floor or ceiling creates a nice effect and helps to accentuate specific features of your kitchen.
In addition to good lighting, you can gussy up your kitchen with stylish elements such as large faucets, soft-closing drawers, under cabinet lighting, maybe even a wine fridge? It's your kitchen so do what you please, but have fun with it!
"And you will always find me in the kitchen at parties..."