The kitchen is the heart of the home, where everything happens. It’s a bit like Mecca. We all gravitate towards it for our own reasons at various times of the day. The kids will be permanently hanging out of the fridge, the dinner at one sharp, the peaceful cuppa when you get a chance to read your favourite farming paper. So that’s why it’s so important to make it as comfortable as we possibly can.
Personally, I think it’s all about the table. If you’re lucky enough to have a lovely antique pine or oak table that has had years of stories told around it and the scratches to prove it, hang onto it for dear life. They’re a real find, so if you come across one, snap it up as fast as you can.
However, how we can bring an old table happily into this century? With good-quality seating. The mix of old and new when put together correctly can really work. A contemporary kitchen chair paired alongside a beautiful mahogany table can look stunning.
Similarly, a beautifully-restored antique chair paired with a modern table works equally as well. How you dress the table matters too. A linen runner, for example, with some garden flowers would suffice.
Adding one item that’s different from the rest, in terms of an overhead press or a dresser, will make your kitchen more interesting and homely too. If you’ve a lovely fitted kitchen, consider introducing a piece painted in a contrasting colour, positioned separate from the rest, such as a dresser, pantry unit or an island/butcher’s block unit.
How you dress the dresser (surely a joke in there somewhere) is important too. These tend to get filled with lots of bits and pieces and end up looking untidy, so stick to a few key pieces. Your favourite dishes and some napkins are probably enough to make it look beautiful and functional.
The pantry unit has changed a lot with time. Instead of a pull-out unit housing tins and jars, they’ve become more of a work station, baking area and somewhere to make and store snacks. If you are in a position to get one made to order, very often the carpenter will carve out the drawers to your own specification.
How you finish the kitchen and bring it all together is key to its success.
Accessorising is paramount. If you struggle with this, a good designer will point you in the right direction, whether it is selecting the right shade of paint, the gorgeous cushion on the chair beside the range, or that unusual lamp beside the chopping boards or kettle. CL
CONTACT DETAILS
Bernie Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick Interiors
Phone: 044-9391701
Mobile: 087-6336906
Web: berniefitzpatrickinteriors.ie
PHOTO CREDIT:
Kitchen photography courtesy of Yvonne Cole Dupuis Photography. www.coledupuisphotography.ie
A few years back, while on a family holiday to France, we took a detour to the amazing Marché aux Puces in north of Paris. While strolling around, I found this antique baker’s display cabinet that I knew would be perfect for this kitchen extension I was working on at the time. A bargain. The client loved the eclectic mix of styles I’d applied elsewhere in the home and when it came to their new kitchen extension, I applied that mix again. The baker’s cabinet acted as an island unit, housing the family’s fruit and vegetables and displaying their vintage shop finds and some crystal pieces. It was a terrific “old” addition to a new kitchen, instantly transforming it into a comfortable, lived in space.
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EXPERT ADVICE: The Orchard in Celbridge has just unveiled a new section stocking the beautiful Flamant Furniture. At the opening, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Flamant himself. It’s all about “homeliness” for Mr Flamant. He emphasized the beauty in imperfection and appreciating the little scratches and bumps that our homes receive throughout its life. These are the essential ingredients that turn a house into a “home”.
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