Design Dilemma: Fred’s Kitchen Part I

We’re back with another Design Dilemma. This one is a two-parter. I’ve been asked by Fred, a super-busy lawyer and father of three teens (two are in college), to bring some color into the kitchen of his new home.

Fred is not like most of us. He has no need for a dining table – even in the kitchen. “We eat at the counter.” He uses the dining room for a home office and the kids use the kitchen’s eat-in area as a family room. I say, “Bravo.” Why buy a dining table no one will ever use when a hang-out space is the real need?

Design Problem: Color & Scale

When I saw the photos, my first thought was the bland color palette – sort of a monochromatic flesh tone (but not in a good way). The walls are white, the counter and laminate floor are beige. Snooze. Fortunately, Fred’s favorite color is cobalt. I am all over that like a cheap suit.

The second problem is that the scale of the leather sofa and chair are too large for this space. They fit in the room – technically. But they don’t live in the room. No matter what I do here, they will always look wrong. Sorry, Fred. They look kind of new, but Craig’s List is a wonderful resource and selling them will allow us to increase the budget.

I’ve decided to divide this dilemma into two parts. First I’ll tackle the living space. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the actual kitchen.

Inspirational color

As I said, Fred loves cobalt. He sent me this image of some vintage bottles. Color is certainly what this room needs. A strong mid-tone will add contrast and depth to the room. Therefore, I’ve painted the main walls of the kitchen in Benjamin Moore’s Twilight Blue – a vibrant color for cold Michigan winters. The trim is White Dove. Fred should use BM’s Aura paint for this job. It’s a great new paint product.

A vibrant new hang out

After looking at how the room is used I decided to ‘enclose’ the room by eliminating the wide doorway between the kitchen and home office – it’s unnecessary because there is an entrance to the room around the corner. The new wall creates privacy for all concerned.

Here is my floor plan. Let’s take a tour of the new room.

Flooring and rugs

Fred mentioned that the flooring needed to be replaced. I’m recommending the he create a unified look throughout the house by continuing the hardwood into the kitchen. An easy way to add pattern and vibrancy to a room is to start with a rug. Because the sliding doors are the main entrance to the house, I chose carpeting that can hold up to traffic and one that can be washed.

The best solution is FLOR’s Shirt Stripe carpet squares. The color is Linear Effect. A benefit to this type of rug is that the squares are washable. In addition, by purchasing a few extra squares, you can extend the life of the rug in the event any particularly evil spill. These 19″ squares are easy to install.

A 10′ x 10′ rug is $4.09 a square foot and costs $538.

Furnishings

I chose some hip furnishings that make it fun to hang out and offer a solution for those boots. Now that we have a new wall, we’ve got extra space for furniture.

KRAMFORS CHAISE: The budget is tight. Ergo, IKEA is the place to go. I chose two Kramfors chaises ($570 each) in dark gray. Extra slip covers are available. Best of all, the scale is perfect for this room. Scoot the two together for extra fun.

IKEA PS: The best way to improve a room is to eliminate the clutter. The shoes have no place to go. Fred could add a walk-off rug with FLOR’s House Pet. Take up a few of the striped rug squares during the winter to create a walk-off mat that hugs the sliding door wall.

Then, put those shoes and boots away in these tall, metal cabinets, IKEA PS ($99 each). I’ve put three here. They create colorful (and useful) impact on this wall. They’re also a great place to store hats and gloves.

BAUHAUS FLOOR LAMP: Funky, ambient lighting creates a cozy feeling. I chose CB2′s Bauhaus Floor Lamp ($199). The color matches the carpet perfectly. It also comes in white.

LACK: To balance the red, I chose an end table to go between the chaises. I love Lack. This is the best table for only $12.99.

HABLE’s TOSS PILLOW: We need a final accent! It’s worth spending a bit of money here. (It’s also fairly difficult to find a decent pillow on the cheap – you really have to shop). I love Hable Construction’s Smoke Ball and Chain pillows ($(( each). The colors are great and the pattern adds some extra depth to the overall room.

WINDOWS AND ART: Fred can keep the windows just the way they are. Let the light in. The plain window keeps the look clean and modern. For art, I’d hang the existing child’s painting (with a red frame!) centered over the table between the chaises. Adding a couple of framed, enlarged photos over the chaises will create a pulled together look.

PART II: TOMORROW

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part II of this Design Dilemma: the kitchen. I’ll show you how I’ve tied the rooms together and changed the blah cabinets into a place Fred might actually enjoy cooking in.

In the meantime, please weigh in with your thoughts and ideas. Would you enclose this room? Could you live without a table?