When someone says rules are meant to be broken you can bet that they just broke one. I like to tell my clients that if you get an idea that seems a little out-of-the-box, stop and really analyze it for a while before dismissing it as too strange. Talk about it with others. Play the "what if" game with yourself; ask what would really happen if you thought of the room in a completely new manner, acknowledge positives and negatives honestly.
One of the only rules about interior design that I subscribe to is: don't do anything without a function. For people with limited space, whether it is your house or a particular room, you always need to use your space wisely.
So, the first rule is to give your brilliant idea the practicality test. When you've passed that hurdle, then you can get into specifics -- measuring traffic patterns, sizes and shapes of necessary objects and aesthetics. In this typical kitchen, we see a clever way to introduce in-room dining with a splash of panache!
The other normal countertops in this kitchen flank the 30 inch slide-in range. What's so nifty about using an independent pedestal style table is that the bar height works only because the kitchen designer lowered the section of counter that the table overlaps. This is such a simple detail yet makes the unique application work. As any kitchen designer knows well, inches really make all the difference in the world when planning for close quarters. You can see that if necessary, the table might be pulled even further over the granite slab.
Sometimes in a kitchen you run the risk of the plan being too expected and boring. This designer, Cheryl Kees Clendenon of Pensicola, Fla., took a standard kitchen and really spiced it up. She ran the mosaic tile from counter top to ceiling in a move that unites the counter top material to the backsplash. In addition, she framed the kitchen window over the sink in the same dark wood as the cabinetry. The light fixture over the sink, not shown, has a dark bronze finish and adds an unexpected pop to the room.
Some would say this designer broke a few perceived rules by selecting a dark light fixture. In some instances, it can make the lighting too obvious. In this case it was done with intent. The flooring material, mosaic tiles and countertops are all in the same friendly, warm range so they hang together.
The use of an authentic butcher-block top for the table is truly genius. Not only does this become a functional work space in a small kitchen, but it doubles as cozy dining for two with an awesome checkerboard top. I have observed that clients will often begin a kitchen remodel by pulling out their favorite photos that they've had stashed away for years. Generally these photos show things they honestly love but are unable to imagine I their own homes. Most of the time, the exact idea needs to be tweaked due to physical limitations and then people become instantly frustrated. They give up too easily and move on to another more expected solution.
Sometimes we have to keep analyzing to learn what makes a certain idea so attractive to rescue the heart of the scheme. It can then be appropriately reinterpreted in their space. The point is, most atypical design ideas take a lot of effort to execute. That is precisely why the results always garner such accolades.
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Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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