For the home: Kitchens that make you go hmmm

A clean and functional kitchen is many people's top priority; unless you happen to live in NYC, then the priority would be to be able to fit a bed in the bedroom.  It's well known that the kitchen is the place where families spend most time, often being a place for friends and guests gathering as well.  Being the busiest place in the house is a smart idea to have easy access to everyday comforts.  Enjoy!

Kitchen of the week: Completely open ones

Ever since kitchens became the center of the house, meaning that they are usually literally in the middle of the house.  More often in homes or apartments with an open floor plan, they are looking less and less like a kitchen.  Leaving upper walls empty of cabinets that could make the space feel cramped or closed in and instead making them a focal point by using beautiful stones or tiles, adding sconces, art and many other things that before were more commonly used in other rooms of the house.  I like this new recent trend, I like the idea of making the kitchen part of the decor of the house, if living in a place where the kitchen is open. Enjoy!

GLAM!

 A very minimalist and rustic kitchen.  Love the stove.

 This kitchen is too cute!

 Love the home school feel of this kitchen.

This kitchen is simple but it's very clean and organized.

images 1 via Carlotte Minty, 3 & 6 via Simply Grove, 4 Nuevo Estilo, 2 & 5 via Tumblr.

Kitchen of the week: Luis Bustamante

Before this kitchen it was hard to imagine a home kitchen that would look like a cozy country club restaurant.  Love love love the way the open leggy banquette makes everything look more open.  A fantastic way to lighten up the closed cabinets.  If it weren't for the two fridges in the back I would not think this was a kitchen, perhaps a bar area... or part of a family room?  I don't know... I'll take whatever was left over from it!
Designed by Luis Bustamante, spotted at VT.

Kitchen of the week: Kitchens with Floor to Ceiling Tiles

A kitchen with walls covered from floor to ceiling with tiles gives the impression of being well finished.  Regardless of what type of backsplash is covering the walls, the simple subway tiles, marble slabs or hand painted tiles, the whole effect gives the kitchen a feeling of grandeur and cleanness.  For an even more seamless appearance some people go with grout of the same color as the tiles while others who prefer a more contrasting effect decide on gray or black grout.  I prefer a darker grout especially if the kitchen is all white to give it depth.  There are many different shades of gray from darkest to lightest.  Enjoy!