Mexican Kitchen Design Ideas

Mexican kitchens gesture people to come near with their humming activity, simmering aromas and colors. In Mexico, the kitchen is one of the busiest and most captivating rooms in the house. Basically, Mexican kitchens are rich with traditional elements, like a bright assortment of ceramic tiles, local crafts and handcrafted furniture.

If you want spice in your kitchen, the Mexican design is terrific. It does not matter if you have not decorated your kitchen before, a Mexican kitchen can be achieved by changing and adding minor accessories in your kitchen.

The Furniture and Accessories

Some accessories that you can apply minor changes to are dishware and tablecloths. Additionally, you can try adding colorful plants to the walls. An excellent remodeling of a kitchen would include modifications to the lighting fixtures, decorative items, flooring and wall color.

As for the furniture, it is not that important to look for a matching table and chair because a Mexican kitchen must have a variety of bright colors and probably rustic furniture. In fact, by trying to use items that have a painted distress finish, you can ultimately achieve the desired Mexican kitchen design.

Aside from the furniture, your window treatments are also important in order to achieve a Mexican kitchen. To achieve the desired style, you should consider trying a kitchen window with shutters or simple or wooden valance that is painted with distressed paint. There are several treatments available, which you can use for a Mexican design, especially if you go with fabrics as your window treatments. However, you should always remember to take extra care in order to avoid modern-looking treatments or heavy drapes.

Asian Kitchen Design Ideas

Asian kitchens are truly elegant and symmetrical in nature because of the fine attention to finish and detail. If you’re eyeing on getting the same clean and chic style, make sure you know the right colors to use, the decors and the materials. Consistency and symmetry are two of the most important qualities of an Asian kitchen. Here are a few guidelines for yours.

The Materials

Bamboo immediately creates a wonderful Asian feel to your kitchen. You can use bamboo independently as a plant decoration. However, other more creative ideas would be to split it then line your cupboards, one part of the wall or chairs. You can also line the lower areas of your island counter or sink. Smaller bamboo stalks with leaves can be glued on to cabinet doors and areas over the sink for a Japanese feel.

Silk is very versatile and adds some Chinese influence into your Asian kitchen. You can buy silk with beautiful prints and hang them on the wall. Other silks preferably dark red, orange and pink can be made into table cloths, mats and coasters. Install a wooden frame over the island counter and hang white silk on it together with pots, pans and utensils.

Chrome is very popular among Asians. Choose chrome silver or gold pans, pots and utensils. You can select your refrigerator, oven, stoves and sinks in this manner too. Accessorize drawer pulls and knobs with by choosing chrome ones. The gleam of this material will help add to the sleekness and symmetry that you are trying to create.

Along with chrome, wood is also great for Asian kitchens. Woks, wooden mortar and pestle as well as serving ware look excellent when displayed openly. Since black, onyx and dark marble are favorite materials when it comes to Asian countertops and sinks, the light color of natural wood is a wonderful compliment.

Spanish Kitchen Design

Spanish kitchens are very dramatic and convey a feeling of closeness especially if a lot of loved ones are around. There are several ways to explore your creativity when designing the Spanish way. You have the opportunity of working with different colors and materials so feel free to choose and do which fits your home and interest best.

Furniture, Countertops and More

A common Spanish design would place an island countertop in the middle of the kitchen. This primarily serves as a preparation area for slicing, dicing and marinating. You can also install the stoves on the countertop as well. There are designs wherein the island is separate from the breakfast counter, sinks and stoves. You can experiment dark wood, marble and copper in the design to create the right atmosphere.

Space is essential in Spanish kitchens so you may need to balance furniture properly so as not to overwhelm the area. The counters should have built-in drawers and cabinets where you can store kitchen utensils, big bowls and other pieces. One or two independent furniture would be enough to store all your kitchen items. It is recommended that you get furniture with French doors or tall slender legs which provides a Spanish feel because of the extra space.

Cabinets may also have French doors. Preferably, all furniture should be made of wood. The wood may be simply polished or painted with earth tones. Light is very important so allow a lot of it to come through windows with light and thin curtains. French patio doors are also ideal for added light. Installing a skylight at one end of the kitchen would be great as well.

Place wall panels over the sink and on one wall then fix fluorescent lights behind which will serve as night lights. Aside from these, install a beautiful antique hanging lamp over the island counter. The lamp may have around 3 to 5 bulbs creating a dramatic effect on the entire kitchen. Green, blue and cream tiles are excellent to work with. The floor may be made of hardwood or grainy tiles as well. It provides a rustic feel reminiscent of the Old World. You can make a pattern by adding tiles with floral designs particularly on breakfast counters and over the sinks.

Mediterranean Kitchen Design Ideas

A Mediterranean kitchen can be one of the most dramatic areas in your house. The whole family will truly appreciate the similar feeling of being close to tranquil shores and the warm sun. You need to know the basic materials and colors to create the perfect environment though. Here are some tips on how to design your rustic and elegant kitchen.

Choosing the Right Color

If you’re planning to have Greece’s captivating environment, blue and white are great combinations. These colors will create the soothing sense of being close to the Aegean Sea. Use lime whitewash on countertops, some parts of the floor or tabletops. Windows and doors usually have wooden borders so you may paint these blue or green. The main idea is to make a beautiful contrast with the solid light color.

If you want the African environment, stick to earth colors like brown, orange, brick red and beige. These evoke the similar feeling of being in the hot deserts of the Mediterranean. Terracotta tiles are perfect both on floors and walls. You can paint walls dark orange while giving a lighter hue to window and door borders. If you’re using beige, it is recommended to add another darker color like brown for a nice contrast.

French Kitchen Design Ideas

From France, the term of having the best food may seem a little too cliché, but there is no denying when it comes to style, especially when choosing a French kitchen design.

There are several changes for this type, but similarities can be found, especially from the Italians, where a chopping table is at the center of the kitchen area. As for the rest, like placement for the refrigerator, stove and oven, the French like to cook without any obstructions from the articles in the kitchen as well as people gathering to observe.

The main object for any French kitchen design is the visibility factor, added to the design of tables and chairs that would give an appearance of a café. Still, the work area for a French kitchen is set on having a long table where everything can be prepared, leaving the space from the wall to install shelves, cupboards and the usual appliances.

Floorings can be done using marble or seasoned mahogany, to give it a more rustic look, along with varnished shelves and cupboards for amore regal style. Hooks for pots, pans and other kitchen utensils are placed near the stove for easy accessibility, and most often using classic city tones that is similar to the old apartments found in Paris. Furnishings such as tables serve little purpose in a way, but it can add a touch of class for people who want to serve breakfast for a small family. This is mainly to their history in entertaining visitors for a drink or two while imbibing on cheese during the French Revolution.

Most modern designers have reshaped the way French kitchen designs have appeared. For most, using some of the more affordable and modular materials like plastics and synthetic woods would allow them to create a more modern French kitchen. Bar tables are also an integral part of the French design, allowing the cook to place everything within hand’s reach and can be installed with a sink to wash up the said ingredients.

Decoration has made a significant improvement, although some who still appreciate a more classical look would prefer placing a few empty wine bottles and champagne glasses on cover-less shelves that wouldn’t hide anything. This is a more important part of the French look, where nothing can be considered as an obstruction and anything can be within reach.

Country Kitchen Design Ideas

The kitchen is the heart of most homes. This is where family members are drawn together as they prepare dinner, or grab a quick bite before heading to school or work. That is why country kitchen designs are one of the more popular designs because of the warm, cozy feeling that this kind of kitchen gives. Aside from that, it is easy and less costly to do, as old pieces can still be used and matched with new ones.

A country kitchen is incomplete without wood. Cabinets, shelves, coffee tables, chairs, and flooring are usually made of wood. Whether distressed or not, wood must be natural-looking. Cabinets made of oak, maple, pine or knotty alder, in tones of tan and yellow, is the focal point of a country kitchen. There may also be open cupboards or shelves where pots and earthen ware can be stored. A hand painted shelf mounted on the wall can also be used to display antique plates and jars.

Another element of country design is the use of wrought iron pieces. Plant holders, fruit baskets, cabinet knobs and drawer pulls are usually made of wrought iron to give a rugged, rustic feel.

Countertops are usually made of marble or ceramic tiles, although some would still use granite countertops. Whatever the material is, the color must blend well with the color scheme of the entire kitchen. Interesting decorative tiles may also be used in some areas.

To give warmth, walls are usually painted with earth colors. Some prefer lighter shades like yellow and cream. Visualize the colors of a sunset. These are the colors that the walls usually have.

Tables and other kitchen furniture must contribute to the rustic feel. That is why it is common to see a small round table in dark brown or maroon shades. Wicker chairs may also be used. Tall counter stools, also made of wood, are also present in a country kitchen.

European Kitchen Design Ideas

European kitchen designs are taking the world by storm. After invading Europe, they’ve now found their way inside homes in US and Canada and even in Asia. So what makes these designs so popular?

Generally speaking, Europeans love to cook. Their day-to-day cooking experiences enable them to master kitchen mechanics. That is why European kitchen design is characterized by its functionality. Their kitchens are ergonomically-designed for people on the go. Since lives are now fast-paced, it is important that lesser time is spent for food preparation and cleaning. With this kitchen design, utensils are within reach, island counters and sinks are bigger, and floors are easy to clean.

This focus on functionality results in a clear, streamlined design. Amazingly, the aesthetic aspect of design is not taken for granted. Kitchens are therefore stunning as they are efficient.

To achieve that sleek linear design, stainless steel is the most common material that can be found in the kitchen. Since most modern appliances are made of stainless steel, matching them with the existing fixtures would not be difficult. That is why we see stainless steel table tops, cabinets and sink. Some even use stainless steel tiles for the floor.

Small Kitchen Design

Designing a kitchen can be difficult: there are pots to stow away, plates and utensils to place in convenient but neat positions, and appliances to be arranged so that they make the kitchen appear rich, but not cluttered. The problem is exacerbated by small floor spaces, which are common in high rise apartments, small condominium units, or compact houses. You will need small kitchen design ideas to help you make good use of your space.

You can find small kitchen design ideas everywhere. Your favorite fashion and design magazine may have tips on how you can maximize your floor without scrimping on style. There may even be small kitchen design ideas in your neighbors’ home: all you need to do is pay your friends a visit, grab some small kitchen design ideas from their own houses, and work these small kitchen design ideas on your own home.

Small kitchen design ideas should tackle how you can make your small kitchen look bigger. Small kitchen design ideas should also deal with how you can mix and match certain colors and design styles to come up with a kitchen with a well-ordered theme. Lastly, small kitchen design ideas should be able to allow you to create a kitchen with the right blend of colors and lighting so that it is not too glaring, nor too dim to work in.

Here are a few small kitchen design ideas that you might want to use as your guide in designing your small kitchen.

Light and whiteness can make a kitchen appear wider. You might be tempted to use a menagerie of bright colors when designing your kitchen. Strong lighting and modern colors, such as white, bone, or cream, can actually make your kitchen appear wider than it really is. When choosing colors, choose no more than two or three different ones; go for lighter, brighter colors which can reflect light.

When selecting a place for your kitchen, choose a corner with windows on both sides. Natural light will make your kitchen appear wider and brighter in the day. If you can, have a small kitchen island lighted from above by white light. An island can help you save cabinet space, and can give you a wider place to work.

Hang your pots and pans. Instead of storing your copper and aluminum in cabinets, save on cabinet space by providing pots a place to hang above your kitchen island. This can give you easier access to the pots, and can make your kitchen feel cozy, warm, and homey. If you still have space in your pot hangers, you can also place your ladles, wooden spoons, and even herbs there.

Kitchen Design Ideas

Kitchen Design Ideas >> get all design ideas here

Kitchen Design Ideas. Your kitchen can be the best place in your home to relax and unwind. The living room simply makes relaxing easier, with the TV and stereo to keep you company. The bedroom makes relaxing the order of the day, as the bed beckons and tells you to leave your world behind and do nothing but sleep. The kitchen, on the other hand, presents a challenge: it can make you hang up your dinner jacket, set aside that formal gown, take off those stylish shoes, and get down to cooking business as you let the day’s tensions go down the drain.

A well-designed kitchen, indeed, can turn even the most staid office worker into an enthusiastic chef. Kitchen design ideas are therefore always in demand. If you are searching for kitchen design ideas, you can find them in your local furniture and design store, where pre-fabricated set ups can show you how your dining set, kitchen island, and cabinets can all come together to create a great kitchen.

You can find great kitchen design ideas in your favorite fashion and interior decorating magazine too. These kitchen design ideas, however, can often be expensive, and can tax on your budget especially if you are looking to use your kitchen design ideas out on a limited amount of space. You can also pick up kitchen design ideas from the homes of your friends or family, and then use these as a starting point for kitchen design ideas of your own.

Here are a few basic kitchen design ideas that you might want to use to make your cooking area a wee bit prettier, and your cooking hours a little more exciting.

Kitchen design ideas are useless if they do not match your home. You may want a country kitchen, but this can stick out like a sore thumb in a modern home. You might want a minimalist kitchen, but this can look drab if you have a richly-designed apartment. Make sure that your kitchen matches the theme of your home before you pick out utensils, pots, cabinets, and appliances to decorate it.

The key to a good kitchen is neatness and wideness. A neat kitchen can make you want to cook (and, in effect, make a mess in the absence of chaos); a wide kitchen can keep you from feeling constricted or confined. Keep this in mind as you search for design ideas to fit your kitchen needs.

Do not go overboard on anything. Many cabinets can make your kitchen look orderly, but if most of these cabinets will go unused, then they will simply gather dust and give you allergies every time you work near them. Fewer cabinets can lessen the clutter, but if your pots and pans end up on the kitchen counter, you can have a messier kitchen at the end of your busy cooking day. Before having cabinets or drawers installed, calculate how many appliances, utensils, plates, and pots you need to store.

When in doubt, go white and bright. Lighter neutral colors, such as white, beige, off-white, or light gray, can make your kitchen appear wider and neater. When selecting a place in which to put your kitchen, find a corner with windows. Natural light can contribute to a wider, neater feel.

For more kitchen design ideas, visit online sites that feature pictures of different kitchens, and how you can use your floor space efficiently. The best kitchen design ideas should allow you to have the best kitchen for your budget, so make sure to scout for as many deals as you can before finally settling for the one theme that will make your kitchen the culinary universe of your dreams.

Small Kitchen Design Kitchen Cabinet Design Modern Kitchen Design Ideas Kitchen Wall Design Kitchen Tile Design Ideas Kitchen Lighting Design Ideas Luxury Kitchen Design Ideas Kitchen Interior Design Ideas Kitchen Backsplash Design Ideas Contemporary Kitchen Design Ideas New Kitchen Design Ideas Kitchen Floor Design Ideas European Kitchen Design Ideas Country Kitchen Design Ideas French Kitchen Design Ideas Mediterranean Kitchen Design Ideas Spanish Kitchen Design Asian Kitchen Design Ideas Mexican Kitchen Design Ideas

Country Style Flooring Ideas

Country Style Decorating – Flooring Ideas

Compliment wood flooring with the use of area rugs. We generally think of such coverings as small, brightly colored rugs that adds a splash of color and pattern.

Coverings can be any size, and they come in many different shapes and colors. They can be the focal point in the room and they help in dividing a room into such areas as reading corners or sitting areas.

It often helps to bind a color scheme together, tying together different elements in the room, such as window treatments, upholstery and walls.

Before buying, decide what purpose the covering will serve in your home, have certain colors, sizes, shapes and styles in mind.

Choose An Area Rug That Most Reflects Your Lifestyle

Oriental – Have been used in homes for many years, they easily pull a room together, while anchoring any floor type.

Persian – The most common rooms to use persian rugs is the living and dining rooms, due to the comfort and elegance they will add to these rooms.

Flokati – also known as shag, is a Greek creation which imitates voluptuousness, sensuality and infinity. Flokati’s natural color is off white, but you can buy them in a variety of colors. Best of all they can be easily cleaned, just by shaking them.

Kilim – are made by people in Iran, Russia, China, and Morocco, to name only a few. They are so beautiful you may not want to put them on your floor, you may want to use them as wall hangings, bedspreads, or tablecloths.

wooven rugs Braided, rag, hooked, and woven – were first made in Early America from saved scraps of fabric, yarn, and worn-out quilts. They range in color from pastel to earth tones to primary colors. Patterns include stripes, plaids, florals and folk. These area rugs have so many

benefits including how well they will blend into any room in your home, are also a healthy choice because they are so easy to clean.

Hemp – gets better with age because it softens with use. It doesn’t wear out, it wears “in” and lasts longer than other natural fibers. Hemp is resistant to mildew and rot.