We often get so comfortable with our favorite TV shows that we don’t really notice their surroundings (even if their kitchens are only partly surrounded). But there are kitchens on certain TV shows that have some great concepts that could be incorporated into your own kitchen (in reality). So look no further than reruns to get your next kitchen idea.
1. Seinfeld.
Jerry rarely cooks or eats anything but cereal, but he has to have a stocked kitchen for Kramer and, well, mainly just Kramer. The Seinfeld kitchen is spare, but effective: plenty of storage space for dozens of boxes of cereal. (Bet you didn’t even remember Honeycomb existed.) His work triangle (sink, stove, fridge) is darn near isosceles. While at first glance you might think this style would only fit a cereal-eating bachelor who never has dinner parties, and you are correct. (Your thin-slicing is remarkable). But if you remember the episode where Jerry has the kitchen remodeled to add more cabinets, it ruined the flow of the apartment and worse, the flow of the gang. It had to go. TV Advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.
Seinfelds new kitchen
2. That 70s Show.
While the basement is more the hangout than the kitchen in this show, there is some wisdom in Kitty’s Kitchen. First is that the style of the 70s is only to be made fun of. It was, and is, terrible. Second, this is a kitchen for the home that doesn’t like to entertain in the kitchen, and while weird, this is the way some people want it. If you’re one of those people, follow in Kitty’s steps and make this function in the way you want. Kitty doesn’t have many tall shelves that she can’t reach, a layout that isn’t very expansive. When people come into the kitchen, they get what they need and get out of your way. Don’t doubt Kitty’s wisdom. TV Advice: Get a kitchen that suits your everyday family needs. Not that elusive dinner party you might someday have.
That ’70s Show: Another Bacon Scene
3. Will & Grace.
This kitchen is the most modern of all the kitchen on this list, plus it’s the only galley kitchen. There are a few things that Will does well. First, his kitchen is a step up from the rest of the living space. No clue why this is smart, but it just seems to be. Next, he has a very modern, sleek style that fits his tight T-shirt wearing self. While apple pie might seem out of place in this kitchen, sushi, wine, and expensive desserts will feel right at home. TV Advice: Make sure that your design style matches the kind of food that you enjoy. This sounds crazy, but it’s true. So true.
Will and Grace
4. Friends.
Monica is a chef for crying out loud, of course this kitchen is perfect in every way. Sure, they spend most of their time in the kitchen hanging out around the table, but the room still seems large enough to function well. Monica does a great job of keeping everything nice and organized – barking orders at people along the way – but it makes their apartment kitchen bigger and sleeker than any apartment kitchen should be. Brightly painted shelves and trim add some character to an open-style kitchen and give it plenty of personality. Plus, it kept Joey fed for like 10 seasons. No easy feat. TV Advice: Organization is king. Also, don’t let Rachel cook. Ever.
FRIENDS (Rachel’s Trifle)
5. The Cosby Show.
This is the life we all want. Big family, great house, funny, and they put on a great musical show a lot of the time. But the kitchen is a place where they play cards, have big meals, and talk. There’s even a fireplace in there. What’s great about this kitchen is that it’s all self-contained. Podium stove, island bar counter, and a kitchen table. You could have big meals right there without being more than a few steps from the sink, stove, or fridge. This is a kitchen that is tailor made for a large family or even a smaller family that is a hub of activity. If you have lots of friends and have them over often, this is a kitchen to consider. TV Advice: Sandwiches are the best. Don’t take away my sandwiches.
Last year, black was the big colour for interiors. This year, the New Dark’s signal a bold move away from the hard, dull greys and blacks towards a softer, palette that is accented by bright, vibrant hues. Purples, blues and blacks take centre stage but texture is also a consideration. Patent and lacquered finishes contrast with smoky, matte metals and velvety fabrics. What is created is both dramatic and beautiful. Lots of texture and a more subtle scheme than from the above is used.
Living room
Choose a dominant piece of furniture, such as a sofa, in the dark, dramatic shade that encapsulates this look, but use lighter, toning shades for the walls. Not every home or room suits dark colors – and if you spend a lot of time in a room during the day, you might want to choose lighter colors for walls and floors to make the room feel bright and spacious. Ask yourself if you liked to be “hugged” by the room or feel as if you could see for miles???
Bedroom
This look is perfect for a posh bedroom. Rich colors and soft natural fabrics create a cushy feel and warmth to keep you warm at night. Do be careful to not go too dark, unless you have lots of natural light, to make sure the room does not create a “depressing” atmosphere.
In the end, when designing and decorating for your home, decide the overall feel and concept you would like to achieve and pull-out lots of pictures to show your Designer to make sure you are all on the same page.
We all have our own personal treasures that we want to display in our homes. They usually take the form of furniture, fabrics, paintings and objects that have been passed down through generations, as well as vintage clothes and objects found on holiday or when browsing in antique markets. These are the things that we want to preserve and admire. Intense, deep colours such as opulent gold, rich burgundy and bold teal; lavish and glittering, concealing our keepsakes and priceless pieces. It’s a colour palette that forms the backdrop to our own treasure and is guaranteed to bring out the inner magpie in all of us. Not ideal for every room in a home, but great in Living Rooms, Studies and Guest Bedrooms.
Living Room
Reminiscent of an old Country Manor. Alternates to the heavy wood paneling on the walls could be paint in a deep chocolate brown to make it cozy, or a pale yellow-green to make it feel brighter and more spacious.
Bedroom
Deep earthy shades are ideal for a bedroom due to the mood the room transcends. The result? A welcoming space that you’ll feel relaxed and cozy in.
Head out to your favorite flea-market or vintage store and rummage through to find pieces to compliment your design. Whether edgy, subtle, minimalist, cluttered or over the top, you are sure to find that… “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”.
Living Room
What’s good about this look? Essentially, its eclecticism and its eco-friendly attributes. What it’s telling you… get yourself down the local antiques/junk arcade and rummage…
Bedroom
So, rummaging isn’t your thing? The key… choose a dominating colour that has a faded look, furniture that isn’t the same style, and think out-of-the-box for placement. Take this room as a great example. The bed is upholstered in a dove grey, while the throw’s colour is a faded version of the bedside table. The bedside table itself doesn’t match the rest of the room, and is really a side table, yet it works within the room because it’s colour ties into the beds throw.
Kitchen
Ideal for a kitchen, simply choose units painted in faded shades, recycled worktops (like Cork/ Bamboo/ recycled stainless), rustic style tiles (mismatched/ hand-painted/ vintage) , match it with furniture that’s recycled rather than brand new and, finally, pick wall colours to complement, adding splashes of bolder shades in accessories.
This is a more dynamic trend, which includes pretty yet powerful colours, from their palest to most dramatic shades. Think of peonies that burst into colourful life and then slowly reduce in intensity as they fade. Imagine delicate whispers of texture from vintage lace and silk, offset by hard modern ceramics and metals. You could sum it up as femininity with a tough edge. While not ideal for every room in the home, this does work best in living rooms and bedrooms.
Paint Colours
It might be that you choose a white or pale green background colour for your walls, then add a touch of ‘wow!’ with stronger shades of the accent colour like, raspberry or periwinkle with accessories and soft furnishings. This scheme does not need to be dramatic, if you want something easier to live with, try something a little more understated.
Wallpaper
Just as choosing a paint color can be difficult and tiresome between a man and a woman…ditto for wallpaper! Go for soft, feminine shades as a base, add sharper (or more masculine) tones to pep up the scheme.
Living Room
This room, with all the tendencies of a more feminine room; also, sways toward the masculine with the finishes and shape. Find this look a little heavy? Keep the wallpaper, but swap it for a lighter colourway and change the flooring to a pale, soft carpet…
Bedroom
The idea of a pale lilac bedroom would turn most men’s stomachs, but this one is edging into grey, while the contrasting colour – mustard yellowy green is a fabulous foil for the walls soft tones. Add to that the contrast of white furnishings with a single high gloss black piece and you’ve got femininity, masculinity, light and dark all in one space. Brilliant.
What a relief for lovers of neutral color schemes – everyone agrees this year that understated room schemes inspired by nature will be one of the strong trends for 2009. Designer’s have been inspired this year by everything from rich ochre colors to the simple beachfront homes with bleached cream wooden shutters, weathered and worn woods, and stones in warm hues, punctuated by cooler tones of blues and greens to create a natural balance of colour and texture that is warm and embracing.
Elements of the natural world have also inspired Wallpaper palettes such as this colour palette and is combined with flame red for an injection of vibrancy. Combine the ever popular greens with fresh yellow’s and add a touch of raspberry and mint green for a unique combination.
Being “Eco-Conscious” or “Green” is a deciding factor for many when decorating. In 2009, the will be slightly more subtle. With people moving less frequently, look for fresh and bright to become increasingly more important. Expect to see “New-Neutrals” take root, as the year continues.
Natural tones will also be an enduring popular choice for furniture, with wall colours being chosen to echo the tones of the upholstery.
Living Room
Inspired by nature doesn’t have to mean “No” color in a living room ! You can choose anything from deep dark browns to rich ochres, mustard yellows, pale greens and blues. When incorporating patterns… using something light and airy as opposed to heavily patterned choices creates a visually pleasing environment.
Bedrooms Natural schemes doesn’t mean feminine and traditional – you can give a nod to the trend within a contemporary scheme too, as in this bedroom. Combine wood panelled wardrobes or walls with natural floor coverings and furniture in woody tones, and add texture with throws and cushions in deep earthy shades. Combine with a bold accent color to add a “Punch” to the area.
Kitchens
When making selections for your kitchen in the Natural trend, think sensibly and long term. Walls can always be painted and Accent your Kitchen with unique objects such as lighting, accessories, rugs, stools and window treatments to add flair….
Dining Room
This is a particularly good look to go for in your dining room. And, if your dining room is part of your kitchen area -like in an open plan – a Neutral scheme is a must to create a relaxed and cohesively calm space.
Kids’ Room
Design a neutral scheme for a kids’ room is easy and sustainable for the long-term (not having to change the scheme every few years is easy for the wallet as well). So, whether you’ve got a baby or a teenager, hit this trend in a big way…
Bathroom
Space is always a factor, but any bathroom can be given the natural touch easily. When looking for a new bathroom cabinet, choose one in real wood. Flooring, choose a natural stone. Wall tile, choose something light and airy with some visual texture. On a budget? Paint the walls a soft shade of green or blue.
