Decorating and Designing Your Kitchen With a Theme

When decorating or renovating a space, specially a kitchen, many people find it helpful to choose a theme to guide their selection of materials, colors and fixtures. 

A theme shouldn't be a cheesy declaration, but rather a subtle statement that ties the look of the room together. 

Consider your personal style and preferences, and choose a theme that matches with your design taste.

Italian Theme

An Italian kitchen theme, particularly one that's Tuscan, should feature textured 

walls that mimic the look of stucco. Try a faux painting technique to recreate this look. 

Use a color palette of warm earth tones, like beige, terra cotta and sage green. Finish the 

floors with terra cotta tiles and use marble or granite on the countertops. Antique lighting 

and furnishings round out this Old World look.

Country Kitchen

A country kitchen is an inviting and practical space in which to cook and entertain. 

A classic country color scheme involves whitewashed surfaces with accents of blue or green. 

Add plenty of decorative items, such as ceramic chickens or pigs on top of your cabinets, and 

line your dining table with vintage tablecloths -- the more worn-looking, the better. Invest in a 

olid-wood china hutch in which to proudly display your family heirlooms and china.

Retro Kitchen Vibe

Create a kitchen with a retro feel. Start with authentic vintage appliances such a fridge, 

mixer or stove. Let their colors guide your selections for the rest of the room. Black and white 

linoleum tiles are always a classic choice. Paint your walls a bright and cheery shade, such as red, 

yellow or aqua. Add a few decorative vintage accessories like old frying pans, clocks or toasters to 

complete the look.

Minimal and Modern

If you prefer clean lines and uncluttered surfaces, a modern and minimal kitchen might be 

the right choice for you. Purchase sleek stainless steel appliances. Choose floor and counter 

finishes that match or complement each other. Popular counter options include solid-surface or 

marble or granite with little variation in color. Sleek lacquer or wood cabinets complete the minimal theme.

Which one is your style? Which one you like best and feel more comfortable around? Pick one or do a combination of two, add some personal touches...and enjoy !

Great Ideas for Cheap IKEA Mirrors

Have you been to IKEA and seen those very cheap square little mirrors ??

There are huge tall stacks of them, mostly unfinished.

And you think...what people do with those? They are so small and can't see myself !!

Guess what ? They are perfect as decorative pieces, with a little creativity and maybe some

acrylic paint and glue, you will have an art piece in no time.

And the best part? Is unique and it didn't cost a lot of money...another great point, It will look great !!

These mirrors come unfinished, but also in some basic colors, including black.

Measure the wall area you want to use as canvas and arrange the mirrors on the floor. 

Then glue them or attach them using small wood nails or screws.

Use only one color mirrors or combine for a more vivid look.

These mirrors can be easily finish with acrylic paints, you don't have to be an artist, just by painting them in a solid color would be enough.

Place them horizontally or vertically for a more stylish modern look, go a little wild and scatter them in different directions for a more casual and fun look.

Also, place them between a piece of art, to make a bigger statement.

See some examples of how they were used in different areas and styles of decor.

Nobody would think they cost less than $2.00 a piece !!

Have Fun !!

Designing In High Heels and Mac n' Cheese: Light It Up With Style...

Designing In High Heels and Mac n' Cheese: Light It Up With Style...: "The trend in home design is multipurpose rooms with energy-conscious, high performance lighting. The right lights complement the decor wi..."

Light It Up With Style...

The trend in home design is multipurpose rooms with energy-conscious, 

high performance lighting. 

The right lights complement the decor without being "in the way" and 

provide sufficient visibility for every task. 

With more homes relying on daylighting for daytime illumination, 

lights for cloudy days or after dark are even more important to get right.

Living and Family Rooms

Rooms that serve as gathering spots have the most functions to accommodate. 

A living room or mixed living room-family room will house the media center, conversation area, 

reading chairs, art collection, computer station, library and entertainment and game tables, etc... 

Use recessed downlights to draw attention to a fireplace without creating visual clutter. 

Take care of adjustable ambient lighting with a bar of small spotlights on dimmers that hit paintings and 

sculptures but can be lowered to accommodate computer screens and TVs. 

Task lighting in reading corners comes from freestanding (floor) lamps that are low enough to prevent glare.

The rule is the bottom of the lamp or shade should be at eye level. 

A chess or pool table is more inviting, and better lit, with pendant lamps 

that hang about 36 inches above the table to provide adequate headroom. 

If the pendants are dimmable, the game table becomes a standing sculpture in low light when it is not in use.

Kitchens

The kitchen is another room that gets heavy traffic and near constant use. 

Various stations are provided for a variety of activities and each one has its own lighting requirements. 

Under-cabinet counter lighting should be placed toward the front of the cabinet so it is less 

visible and illuminates the whole counter. 

A kitchen island stands out with an odd (1-3-5) number of matching pendant lamps over it. 

They should be 60 to 66 inches from the floor. 

Recessed downlight is ideal for over the sink and stove. It gives strong, focused light and is out of the way. 

A pendant on a dimmer over a breakfast nook provides bright or romantic dining. 

And light strips or LED downlights inside glass front cabinets highlight a collection of antique pieces or 

crystal as if it were in a gallery.

Bathrooms

The bathroom has become a spa, make-up station, peaceful reading retreat (LOL) and 

usually have separate spaces for tub, shower and toilet.  

Lighting for all these divisions and activities has to be coordinated or the bathroom will be anything 

but welcoming. 

A chandelier in the center of the room is a trend that shows up as "flea market chic", they can be crystal 

and ornate or sleek and contemporary, depending on the decor. 

Mirror lights might be a row of theatrical bulbs across the top but wall sconces next 

to the mirror are a new look. 

They should be bright enough for grooming but soft enough to avoid shadows. 

A separate shower stall needs a recessed ceiling light. 

A bathtub could use a small spotlight on a dimmer, in combination with a tray of pillar candles in different 

sizes but in the same color.

If you read in the bathroom, add task lighting to the toilet. 

A recessed downlight, correctly positioned, should make everything clear.

Hope all this information helps, next time we'll go through outdoor lighting for patios, terraces, balconies

and porches !!

Until the next time...Lights Up !!