Let's be Honest

so many choices so little time

I like coffee to be coffee, non of that vanilla hazelnut with pumpkin pie twist, tea should be the strong black kind. Food needs to have a clean fresh taste, not overwhelmed with spices. I'm what people would describe as a "purist", I like things to be what they are, no smoke and mirrors.

"Keep It Simple Stupid" or Kiss-it, as I like to say, might sound like an easy thing to maintain, but the design material options out there make it hard thing to follow. Design is a very intricate process, which has many layers and facades to it. If you have ever lied in your life (we all have), you know how hard it is to stick to the made up facts. Design, the great mimicker of life, is like that. If you "lie" with your design, it will eventually catch up to you.

What does it mean to "lie" with your design choices? In my view it means using materials that imitate "real" things in the wrong way, best example I can think of is the use of formica (laminate) countertops to look like granite. The disappointment displayed by people, when they touch that fuax countertop that feels warm, plastic, and light weight , verses the cool, slick, heavy feel of real granite - is telling.

But what if we take that concept and twist it around? We need a countertop, and our budget is tight. Rather than trying to pass ourselves as something we can't afford to be, I'd suggest trying to a least pass off as thoughtful and creative. In recent years laminates have become one of my favorite materials to use, it's easy to clean, has a consistent look, and the variety of options seems endless. I've learned to embrace the 'faults' of laminate (such as obvious seam lines) and incorporate it in the design itself. Showing the world loud and proud - yes this is LAMINATE!

Laminate pride 

It's what I call remaining authentic to ones self (or material). Authentic design t's not about using "real" materials like wood, granite, marble - most of us can't afford these in our homes, let alone offices. It's about remaining true to the limits of your project (budget, structure, etc.), it's using materials the way they are intended to be used and not passing off mutton as lamb.

When you understand the qualities a certain material possess you will invoke honest and authentic design. People will be able to read the space as authentic and honest, which in return will make them more open to trust.

Heart of the Home

After buying a house, investing in replacing the roof, heating system and wiring most people turn into their kitchens.

Photo Credit // Emily Neuman

So many has been written about kitchens, and how to remodel on a shoe string budget, that you'll excuse me if I stop myself here. Kitchens like humans are one of the most complex spaces to work on. The concept of having fire and water along side electricity to play with is hard enough. Add to the mix political and emotional baggage kitchens evoke in us, and the picture gets murkier, (and you thought that getting the newest cabinet look is all you had to deal with).

The famous Swiss-French Architect Le Corbusier coined the term "A house is a machine for living in", these words ring especially true when it comes the kitchen.

Kitchens are live beings, they require so much thought and detail it can be exhausting, and like baking they require precise measurements (miss an inch on the counter height and you'll feel it in your neck and shoulders).

That is why when IKEA recently announced they were coming out with a new kitchen cabinet system I needed to go on a walk and get some air. Yes many contractors will try to stir you away from IKEA systems I'm not taking on that argument. But we can't ignore the fact that  IKEA marks the changing attitudes towards kitchen design, especially in the US. Gone are the days of Oak and Taupe let in some bright yellow hues, bold textures, graphics and clean lines.

Contemporary kitchen meets a house from the 1700's

To me a kitchen is the heart of the home, and I treat it as yet another member of the family.

It is where things get messy, then clean, where creativity is always present (yes even grilled cheese sandwiches need a little flair), it is the meeting point of all members of the household, it is how we get nourished.

My approach to kitchen design is done with the at most respect to the home in which it goes into. It requires understanding how you cook (if you cook), how you move around the kitchen as a family or individual, do you want your kitchen to be out of sight or an integral part of your home.

The main point is there are many trends out there, they tend to not only dictate the color and shape of the cabinet they also, in a way, change our attitudes in how we react and move in a space. I can't promise they will improve the cooking though.