Styling Your Windows: The Kitchen Edit

With the profusion of perks we listed on Roller Blinds Direct’s blog as to why roller blinds are the ideal furnishing for kitchens, you have, no doubt, by now rushed to our online store to order some for yourself.

However, having a new set of beautiful roller blinds hanging in a kitchen that isn’t up to scratch style-wise is a rather redundant fashion statement. Kitchens have been the heart of homes for hundreds of years, and it is imperative that they are fabulous as well as functional. That’s why we have referred you to this article on Roman Blinds Direct; featuring advice from yet more interior design experts, we are bestowing only the greatest room design ideas upon you for your very own kitchen: welcome to The Kitchen Edit.

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MODERN

As technology continues to advance in pretty much every aspect of our lives, right down to how we make a morning cup of coffee, keeping up with the Jones’s has never been harder. For this reason a modern kitchen is a must for many; fortunately, this motif is percolating with room design ideas.

Steel and chrome are essential inclusions in a modern kitchen. Chrome sinks and taps are shining beacons for a contemporary kitchen, as are silver kettles, toasters and microwaves – any mod-con that could come in chrome. Finishes like silver draw and cupboard handles, and chrome cooking utensils like pans and spoons act as subtle complements to the more prominent metallic objects. If you have the resources and space to hang your pans out in the open, such as from the ceiling, even better, this will provide easy accessibility and also enhance the modern edge.

Base colours should be cold, ideally whites and greys. This doesn’t mean that your kitchen will become a clinical and sterile environment, however – far from it. You can add warmth to your decor with seasonal accessories, as well as decorating your windows with a sultry-shaded roller blind. Our stylists recommend a warm contrast like Touched by Design Supreme Blackout Plum, which will provide a sumptuous and rich juxtaposition to the colder colours.

Marble is another must as far as modern is concerned. Marble flooring is a gorgeously chic long-term investment in your home, providing an artistic and clean aesthetic to the kitchen. Marble worktops in white or cream also add a contemporary gloss to an interior, not to mention a refined opulence that is hard to beat.

Jamie Hartford, Manager of IKS Interiors, adds: “It is important that the new design allows light from windows and doors to flood into the kitchen as much as possible. One thing we are careful not to do is cram as many wall units in as possible – not only does it affect the flow of light in from the windows into the rest of the room, it also brings the walls in and makes the room seem much narrower (especially in a gallery kitchen).

As with all new projects, it’s sometimes best to try two or even three different designs before you settle on a final plan. Just visualising the kitchen through the images will help you decide which works best for the way you want to prep, cook and live.”

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RUSTIC

We couldn’t agree more that when it comes to room inspiration, some experimentation is a great way forward; so on a completely contrasting note, another incredibly enduring look is that of a classic rustic kitchen. Rural yet refined, this aesthetic gives a hearty and homely feel to your decor,

and is very easy to create. Rattan accessories are ideally suited to this motif; embellishments such as utensil holders, rattan lightshades and wicker chairs will lend a rustic and natural air to your home. If your kitchen opens out to a patio or garden, then some outdoor furniture in the same style would be a tremendous complement. A neutral-coloured roller blind, like Sunlover Natural Choice Raffia, is the perfect coordination to your rattan kitchen accessories.

Wall tiles remain timeless additions to any kitchen. Long lasting and easy to wipe clean (much like our roller blinds), they are very viable options for homeowners who are looking for something practical and low-maintenance (again, like our roller blinds!). Wall tiles come available in every colour imaginable, not to mention the vast array of patterns that can also be incorporated onto their surfaces, giving a tremendous amount of scope for style. Morgan Molitor of construction2Style adds that wall tiles are coming back into vogue for 2016: “Wall tile is replacing paint and wallpaper for design trends in 2016. Whether it’s an accent wall in your bedroom, bathroom, office, or kitchen, they are the new must have. There are a lot of benefits from choosing a glass tile. They make your space instantly feel bigger as light bounces and reflects from the tiles. They are also very clean looking and easy to clean, as well as durable.”

The use of wood plays a pivotal role in any rustic kitchen. Dark, aged woods like oak or walnut lend a classic and warm charm to a decor; these can be incorporated by the inclusion of oak doors or wooden cabinets. Wooden floorboards and finishes such as real wood shelving will add to the country feel, lending some beautiful, natural earth tones to your kitchen.

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ENGLISH COUNTRY KITCHEN

Following on to another traditional theme, the ‘English country kitchen’ ambience is another homely and intimate option. Not dissimilar to the rustic style in many ways, creating an English country kitchen is a relatively simple process and is the epitome of the ‘less is more’ approach to room inspiration.

Natural wooden tones, including wooden floorboards, will assist you massively in fashioning a traditionally rural aesthetic. Open wooden shelving, where sacks of flour and jars of honey can be proudly displayed as the culinary accessories they are, will enhance the classic English ambience.

Similarly, using golden accents such as golden/brass pans and cooking pots, will bestow a vintage golden tone to the kitchen, especially if you have the capacity to have them hanging above a kitchen island or on one of the walls; this will also help to reflect light around the room to make the whole kitchen brighter.

Your colour scheme should feature a darker palette; rusty shades, like those of our Touched by Design Absolute Orange or Decorshade Colourwash Cherry roller blinds, should adorn your home. Marble, again, is a stylish feature to incorporate; we recommend marble work surfaces in a regal emerald green finish.

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MOROCCAN

To achieve a Moroccan-inspired motif, only bright colours will do. Geometric patterns abound within this theme; for the kitchen, we recommend incorporating these using patterned wall tiles, wallpaper and a patterned roller blind such as Prestigious Bromley Vintage Blue. This could then be complemented with some cushions in the same or similar pattern.

Gentle and light base colours act as soft parallels to the bolder patterns. Whites and greens provide chic, optimistic backdrops for you to build a mosaic theme around. If you would prefer a plain roller blind to a patterned one, our interior stylists recommend Sunlover Plain Lily Green to add a soothing, natural tone to your kitchen.

To create a classic Moroccan feel, incorporate a wooden kitchen table with wooden chairs, a wooden fruit bowl in the centre of the table would be a final, inspired touch. A mosaic patterned rug under the kitchen table adds an extra dimension of style to the room, and also enhances the vintage eastern feel.

The Kitchen Edit is the third instalment in our Styling Your Windows series. Make sure you return to our Inspiration page next month, when we show you the abundance of ways you can create an ultra-chic home office.

Have you been tempted to try any of these room design ideas for yourself? Why not tag us in a photograph of your revamped kitchen on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Don’t forget to use our unique hashtag, #igdtrends !