5 of my Favorite Kitchen Style Secrets

It is something that seems to happen every year around this time. I look at our kitchen and decide it needs a little refresh. Maybe it is a deep clean of the range – that happened yesterday. Or a fresh coat of paint- on the to-do list. Or maybe it is something like a little bit of a decor tweak. I have learned over the years that while there are a lot of ways to update and change the look of your kitchen easily, timeless and classic are key to achieving that warm and welcoming feeling we crave in the heart of the home. Today, I am sharing 5 of my best go to kitchen style secrets I start from. From the foundation to the decor. And when I get the refreshes done in the next few weeks- I will share how the kitchen looks styled for spring this year.

Kitchen Style Secrets

There is a saying about starting at the beginning- and that is exactly where I am starting. If you are remodeling a kitchen or redesigning a space- you want to start with the foundation of the room. The layout of your cupboards and walk throughs dictate a big part of how you can style the kitchen of course. Maybe there is room for an island- or not.

Our kitchen is the original 1940’s layout- the cupboards are built directly into the walls unlike the box cupboards of today. I didn’t want to change the bones of the house- I loved those old cupboards the minute I walked through the door. I love them now- even with all the dings and near 100 year old cupboards issues. Yes the doors pop open all.the.time. and the drawers will drop if you pull them out just a wee bit far enough the get the utensils out. Honestly, that clang of the silverware when the drawer drops is part of the music of this old house and feels like one of the sounds of home. I do know that others would prefer those soft close drawers and all the fancy finishes that are smooth- and that is okay too.

So this isn’t really a secret I suppose- it is more a start at the beginning. It is about finding the starting point for your look. Whether that is working with existing cupboards and layout and flooring in place- or completely changing everything and starting with your perfect style and design. From there- you can add in or bring out the character and charm.

Add Old World Touches for lovely Kitchen Style

The first style tip: Add Old World Touches.

A favorite thing in my kitchen? The island. I knew when I saw it at the Eloquence showroom in High Point, North Carolina that I wanted to turn it into and island. Not only does it serve as a large workspace for cooking -especially in our kitchen that isn’t particularly large- but it also brings in a beautiful patina with the wood. The shelves underneath are perfect for extra storage- pots and pans, baskets, cutting boards, etc. can all be found stacked there. And the marble top brings another layer of patina. More about that next.

Embrace Imperfections and Patina

Kitchen Style Secret #2- Imperfections and patina are your friends.

Patina is a big thing for me. While I know that less than perfect finishes like chipping paint is considered to be more well worn than well loved to many- to me, that well loved patina adds a whole other layer of lovely. Our original kitchen had tile counters. They were fine but the grout was always collecting bits and staining and I frankly just plain wanted marble. We tried granite first because it was less expensive and also supposedly held up better. But that was a not love and we changed it pretty quickly after that.

Our marble is honed- which means it is not polished to a shine. It has a lovely matte patina as is and over the time of doing all the kitchen things, it has taken on a slightly darker patina as it has aged. There are occasional spots of imperfections or where olive oil spattered and I didn’t wipe it quick enough. Such is the way of life with marble counters. You need to be okay with imperfections if you decide to go with marble. I actually love the imperfections.

And I will let you in on a secret. The island marble is very perfectly imperfect. It has a spot where there was a piece that broke off on one side. The fabricator called and told me that he didn’t think we would want to use the marble slab because it had that rough area about 12″ long that was broken off and missing. I said ‘I know. When I measured, I knew that we would be using the rough spot instead of having it rounded and perfectly finished. It will bring a lovely ‘old’ patina to the piece.’ Pretty sure he thought I was nuts. I can’t argue that. You can see a little part of the rough edge in the bottom right corner of the island below.

The point is- value that imperfect patina when it comes to your kitchen. Imperfections can be perfect for telling stories.

Decorate with Metals

#3- Bring in the beauty of metals however you would like to enjoy them.

I love copper and brass but you can’t go wrong with any type of metal that speaks to you. I use pots as decor- sometimes on the island, sometimes behind the range- and love unlaquered brass fixtures & knobs.

Add a touch of ‘Living Room’ Decor

#4. Think ‘Living Room’ or ‘bedroom’ for decor.

Adding something to make the kitchen feel more like a living room is a great way to create warmth.

Something like artwork, a lovely lamp, curtains or throw pillows on the stools is such a charming way to decorate with a timeless classic look and also make the kitchen feel a little like a ‘living room’. I found a vintage brass lamp and old shade at the thrift store and popped it on the kitchen counter. Every morning when my husband gets up at dark thirty, he turns on the lamp and it glows all day long in winter illuminating that little corner.

On the open shelving, I set a tiny little oil painting- also a thrift store find. And you can see sweet vintage artwork in the cottage kitchen here too. I love how artwork instantly adds a warmth wherever you place it.

Add a little Drama

Kitchen Style tip #5. All about the drama in decor- so be a little dramatic.

I am a Leo so I tend to be a little dramatic in decor. Especially when it comes to whimsical touches. I remember the first time I told my husband I wanted to put a vintage chandelier in the kitchen. In place of the ceiling fan with the beer bottle pull no doubt. He thought I was nuts. Again, not debating it. But he agreed to dust off his army electrician skills and hook up that $20 chandelier for me. When it lit up- the whole room was illuminated in the most beautiful light and felt like a completely different kitchen. A bit later, we bumped into a near carbon copy of that first chandelier at a thrift store (there is definitely a thrift theme today!) and a second $20 chandelier went up in the kitchen.

Though they are far from perfect- some missing or broken pieces and dings. I have thought about updating those old 1960’s chandeliers – there is a certain vintage sweetness to them and they are part of the story of this kitchen.

Don’t be afraid to add a little drama with lighting or in another way with something unexpected or unusual. Your kitchen style is all about you and what you would like to see when you walk in the room everyday.

For more about our kitchen BEFORE- you can see that post HERE