Personal aesthetics should guide kitchen design
“I believe the future is only the past again, entered through another gate.” Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, English dramatist, “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray” (1893)
Q: We are going to remodel our kitchen and need some clarity on style. Our home is primarily contemporary and modern and we would like to retain that look in the kitchen. We have looked at many displays in home-improvement stores and kitchen specialty stores and cannot find kitchens that reflect our taste. The pieces we do see appear more modern or retro. Do truly contemporary kitchens exist? Thanks in advance.
A: The short answer is yes — absolutely.
I agree with you that true contemporary is not the easiest to find when outfitting kitchens. But, what you consider contemporary is probably akin to retro and modern. The lines are blurred, and everybody has an opinion.
According to the Web site www.repair-home.com, “the term contemporary kitchen is a bit of a misnomer. One should not confuse this with a modern kitchen design, which is something completely different. Contemporary actually refers more to the suburban ethos of the 1950s when people became obsessed with changing their design ideas as fast as the times were changing.”
The site goes on to suggest some guidelines for contemporary design. “Regarding floors, please no wood.” I have to disagree with this to some extent. A wonderful, rich-looking bamboo floor would be awesome in a contemporary kitchen. The site suggests black and white for the kitchen floor. Again, that resonates more retro to me and not necessarily contemporary.
For appliances, stainless steel would be appropriate, but the sink should not be stainless. Enamel or porcelain would be appropriate. The sink is one place you can use your creativity. Sink design has come a long way and the styles you will find in kitchen showrooms will offer many choices.
Another style resource, www.kitchen.com, reminds us that, “contemporary kitchens tend to be described as modern, minimalist and geometric. The characteristics include horizontal lines, asymmetry and a lack of molding and other ornamentation. Materials often are man-made rather than natural: stainless steel, laminate, frosted glass inserts, concrete, linoleum, chrome and lacquer. Contemporary encompasses styles from the 1940s to the present, with Europe — especially Italy, Germany and Scandinavia — leading the way.
“Contemporary kitchens are the most common kitchen in the country today. Contemporary kitchens are warm and often considered the ‘second family room.’ Many contemporary kitchens have Corian or laminate countertop and/or vinyl flooring as well as ample storage space with cabinets and a pantry. They are designed for the family-on-the-go and often times have a sizeable dining area right off of the cooking area.”
As you can see from the resources I have used here, as with most things, there are many opinions and views. You really have to rely on your own design aesthetic to find the pieces that are right for you.
To showcase true contemporary design, I have chosen ALNO, a German company with outlets in the U.S. It claims the best “quality, craftsmanship, practical functionality and precision engineering.”
The company is green as well, stating that all raw materials are toxin free, renewable and meet all EU standards; natural wood finishes and veneers are from renewable resources; and finishes are applied under environmentally controlled conditions. You can learn more at www.alnousa.com or call 818-981-8210 for more information.
Carolyn Muse Grant is the founding president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.
