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Faced with remodel sticker shock?
Consider an unfitted kitchen
by Roger Faris
Two major obstacles in creating a beautiful new kitchen are high cost and a long, messy and disruptive period of construction. Possible solutions to these problems may be found in the careful selection of the style of the room and its furnishings. Most of the "dream kitchens" presented in magazine articles show complicated cabinetry, work surfaces, fixtures and appliances. These are usually costly and require a lot of time and skill to install. With a little searching we can find examples of less expensive alternatives which serve the functional and aesthetic needs of the cook, family, and friends. The challenge is to discover sources of inspiration and then be bold about stealing good ideas.
An ideal answer is to travel through Italy and southern France with a supply of invitations to stay in rustic cottages, ancient homes, and historic villas. Bring a camera and notebook. A more economical approach may be to visit a good bookstore. In The Natural House Book, author David Pearson encourages us to consider kitchen design elements which promote frugal and healthy habits. He points the way to a lifestyle which doesn't include a lot of investment in gadgets and equipment. The photographs, drawings, and text illustrate how kitchen work, storage and eating areas can be simultaneously simple, functional, and attractive.
Other writers have also been offering examples of kitchens which are beautiful and economical. In Johnny Grey's The Art of Kitchen Design , and in Terence Conran's Kitchen Book, design schemes requiring a modest investment are interspersed with details and scenes of more elaborate and expensive spaces. In Chris Cassin Madden's Kitchens, a chapter is devoted to "Spare kitchens that elevate understatement to an art." These simple rooms often, but not always, have rustic, rural, or old-world themes. Common traits include a welcoming, yet functional appearance, and an absence of clutter. Instead of relying exclusively on built-in cabinets, they may include freestanding furniture, worktops, and tables. They are called "unfitted" kitchens because the pieces are not all fastened to the walls.
Unfitted kitchens are not necessarily inexpensive. Modern kitchens in European countries usually involve a large investment in beautiful and well constructed cabinetry and appliances. These are often transported along with other furnishings when it's time to move. Some cabinets are designed to hang on special tracks, making them easy to remove. Smallbone, an English company, offers several spectacularly beautiful freestanding kitchen workcenters. They are also remarkably costly. A talented do-it-yourself woodworker might be able to create similar pieces in the home workshop, bringing them up when a new kitchen project is at the stage to accept them. This approach can help limit the amount of time that a family is forced to endure the chaos of construction.
A practical approach to furnishing a kitchen can include creative reuse of shelves, benches, tables, dressers, cabinets and various used materials. A starting point could be an old Kitchen Queen food storage and preparation unit which might be rescued from Grandmom's basement or bought from an antique store. Many interior design books show examples of simple and attractive kitchens which include components that are intended to show their age. The scratches and scars are called patina, and are valued as part of the charm. Some companies artificially "distress" new pieces to make them appear old and worn. I've seen designer kitchen furnishings which look like they were rescued from the clubhouse of a motorcycle gang.
Special planning and skill are needed to make use of rustic elements in creating a room with warmth and comfort. If not done right, the overall effect can suggest ugliness and disrepair. You'll want to avoid any hint that the motorcycle gang is about to return from its daily ride. There is more to this than merely clearing away empty beer bottles, although neatness and proper recycling are important.
One of the techniques for achieving the desired appearance is to create places for storing foods and kitchenware. The practicality of sturdy shelving in a pantry is often mentioned as a good alternative to expensive built-in cabinetry. Healthy foods stored in bulk can be attractive and convenient with the use of appropriate bins and containers. Just the other day, though, I did some damage to my toe when it encountered a large ceramic crock full of flour in a friend's gorgeous country kitchen.
The real key to success in creating a beautiful space is to make the best use of colors and textures. For help with this I look to the experts. You'll see why when you turn the pages of Color - Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms, by Kaufman & Dahl. Borrow ideas which look right to your eye. Add accents of garlic, peppers and perhaps a still-life fruit composition. You'll want to live in your new kitchen. Life will be beautiful.
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