photos from House Beautiful, Jan. '09I am usually drawn to white kitchens with marble counters but I find I am tiring of the look due to its ubiquitousness. Don't get me wrong; I still love it. It's just that all of my favorite kitchen renos in the past few years have resulted in white kitchens with carrera marble counters and stainless appliances.
It looks like black is gaining ground, starting with the black beauty above. The cupboards are beautifully done in Benj. Moore's Midsummer Night. I like the difference in materials on the island versus the counters but I could do without the cordoned off appliance "garage." I'm also not sure of the necessity or utility of two sinks that close together, even though one is for prep. I love that the top cabinets go all the way up. I also like the counter stools from Crate & Barrel, even though they appear to be major butt coolers. The floor looks like mosaic tiles or something but I believe it's floor runners. The cow head is a nod to Country French kitchens but I'd love to see an unfitted cupboard on that wall (assuming it'd fit) or some art rather than the mirror, even a blackboard such as that in the photo below.
Industrial Strength kitchen, Mary Engelbreit Home Companion, Dec. '08/Jan. '09.I do not, however, like shiny black appliances. Except for Viking Ranges and this massive La Cornue (neither of which are shiny) which appears in Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) Paris apartment in the Nov. '08 issue of Town & Country. You really have to be a major kind of a cook to warrant it and it helps if you live in Paris, just because.
The floors are very good-looking trompe l'oeil wood painted to resemble limestone and tumbled marble. Again, perfect for Paris.I am loving the black but my absolute favorite kitchens are unfitted. I'll try to do a post on unfitted kitchens after the new year.
6 comments:
Oh my god, why can't I wave a magic wand and have one of those kitchens???! I like white kitchens, too, but they often feel sterile. The black really anchors the space, AND they look like kitchens people actually cook in.
What a terrific kitchen. We've been looking very casually for a house. Something to gut and make our own. This makes me want to do it even more.
I lurve Ina Garten so so much and that stove looks like the culinary equivalent of a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.
Erin - Yup. I agree on white. Although sterile = clean which is good in a kitchen. The black feels more like furniture. Although I can just see my flour-covered handprints all over it. :-)
David - This is the second time you've mentioned looking. I don't think I realized you were in an apt. It's a great time to buy. Bid very, very low.
Raina - Ina's my woman. And, oh, yes, that is one fine stove. Her apartment is UPstairs. Can you imagine? It took 5 guys to get that thing up to her place.
What a wondeful post! I absolutely love black kitchens and you compiled a great selection of photos! Thanks so much for stopping by Willow Decor. I will definitely be back.
-Gina
I really like this post, and I especially like it because you used one of my favorite words - ubiquitous. It is a great word when it comes to interior design, I think.
I have a great kitchen from a layout perspective, but I do have a fully functional but very ugly shiny black sub-zero fridge. The person who built my house in the late 80s put it in. It works great, so I can't justify getting rid of it!
I still love white kitchens the best...what one person sees as sterile, I see as fresh and clean. That is the feel I like to have in the kitchen (and the bathroom too).
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