STEP 14 – DECORATING YOUR KITCHEN
LINES, FORMS, PATTERNS, AND COLORS HAVE EMOTION:
LINES
Lines are the basic element of design. As simple as they are, they have emotional impact on our lives. Lines become the structures we see around us. As you explore why you make certain choices you will find that lines play an important part in your decisions. Check out the emotional values of lines below:
Kind of Line = Emotional Effect it Gives
1. Heavy lines = strength and masculinity
2. Fine lines = delicacy and refinement
3. Vertical lines = life and activity – if high, aspiration and ascendency
4. Horizontal lines = rest, quiet, and relaxation
5. Diagonal lines = movement and restlessness
6. Curved lines = grace and flexibility
7. Small curves = playfulness and mirth
8. Horizontal curves = gentleness and relaxation
FORMS
Lines become forms. Heavy lines translate into blocky forms. Fine lines become slender, delicate forms. Each projects a different emotion based on our past experiences. We associate heavy, rustic furnishings with the outdoors—a cabin in the woods. We equate spindly legs and delicate curves with a fairyland palace. These buried emotions play a part in our everyday choices of items we like and purchase.
PATTERNS and TEXTURES
We’ve come to associate certain patterns and textures with styles from past eras as with the following examples:
Spanish – large, heavy designs with ornate scrolled curves, lush heavy fabrics
Country – small flowers and checks, cotton and linen fabrics
Victorian – delicate flowers and designs, fine fabrics
Modern – plain or with geometric designs, functional fabrics (leather, vinyl)
COLORS
Light colors recede and give a feeling of spaciousness. Dark colors advance towards you and make a space seem smaller. Warm colors (colors that contain yellow) advance towards you. Cool colors (colors that contain blue) recede away from you. Intense colors advance, and muted/grayed colors recede. Keep this knowledge in mind when you are planning a color scheme for any room.
What do you want to achieve in your kitchen? If you want your kitchen to appear larger, you need to choose lighter colors everywhere—meaning the walls, cabinets, counter tops, appliances, and floors all need to be light in color. Any time you use a dark, contrasting color some where in the room, your eye stops, creating a boundary within the space, then, likewise, making the space seem smaller.
Consequently, be careful using dark cabinets, counter tops, furniture, or walls in a small kitchen.
KITCHEN STYLE
Lines, forms, patterns, and colors transform into styles which we label as “Spanish, Country, Traditional, Contemporary”, etc. What is your choice? What do you like? To help you with a decision, use the following basic guidelines for each style:
Contemporary – straight, clean lines, monochromatic or bolder colors and large patterns. The woods can be light or dark, and the cabinet hardware sleek.
Country (rustic) – straight lines, rougher (natural color) woods, grayed or bold colors and pat- terns, heavier furniture and accessories, rustic hardware.
Country (cottage) – more curved lines, ruffles, softer colors, smaller patterns. The lighter weight furniture is usually white, with medium weight hardware with or with out curves.
Spanish – heavy straight lines or curves. The woods are dark and rustic. The colors and patterns are bright and bold. The hardware is heavy with rough texture and pronounced curves.
Traditional – either classical with straight lines, or more elegant with soft, gentle curves. The woods are usually dark or antique white. The colors and patterns are muted. The hardware is heavier in the classical straight-line look and more delicate in the elegant look.
The above descriptions apply to your selection of wall color and decoration as well as the fabrics and accessories that you choose for your kitchen. Unless you are desperate for privacy, do not use coverings on your kitchen windows. Remember, you want the maximum amount of day light to reach every work center. If sun is a problem, have a tint (a topical film) applied to the glass. A valance can be used to give a more finished look to the windows without sacrificing light.
A KITCHEN STYLE is greatly determined by the doors on the kitchen cabinetry. There is an endless choice of woods, designs, and finishes which change/add to the final feeling you can attain in your kitchen. The handles and hinges (cabinet hardware), likewise, play an important part in the design. Re- view the comments above under “Kitchen Style” to determine what your choice should be for your style. Your local home improvement store is an excellent source for information.
Go to Worksheet 14—”Choose Your Kitchen Style” to further help you with making a decision.
Check out Lifestyle Systems complete line of drawer and shelf organizers for the home and office at www.lifestylessystems.com. If you want to be an active participant to change/plan your kitchen download the corresponding worksheet for the workshop by clicking on the worksheet below:
Worksheet 1 – Cooks Profile
Worksheet 2 – Draw Your Kitchen
Worksheet 3 – My Work Triangle
Worksheet 4 – Location Of My Work Centers
Worksheet 5 – Measure My Counterspace
Worksheet 6 – Measure Heights of Work Surfaces
Worksheet 7 – Part 1 – Kitchen Storage Test
Worksheet 7 – Part 2 – Measure Your Kitchen Storage
Worksheet 8 – Part 1 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 2 – Kitchen Equipment Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 3 – Tableware Storage Checklist
Worksheet 8 – Part 4 – Tableware Checklist Continued
Worksheet 8 – Part 5 – Supplies and Food Items Checklist
Worksheet 9 – Measure Points You Can Easily Reach In Your Kitchen
Worksheet 10 – How To Place Items In A Work Center
Worksheet 11 – Part 1 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 2 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space
Worksheet 11 – Part 3 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 11 – Part 4 – Suggestions For Maximizing Storage Space In My Kitchen
Worksheet 12 – A Shopping List For Kitchen Equipment And Tableware
Worksheet 13 – Survey The Lighting And Electrical Outlets In My Kitchen
Worksheet 14 – Decorating Your Kitchen
Worksheet 15 – Gather Samples For My Kitchen
Worksheet 16 – Part 1 – Sources And Appointments
Worksheet 16 – Page 2 – Budget and Priority Schedule For My Kitchen
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