Tag Archives: kitchen

How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets

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One very overlooked place to decorate in your home is just above the kitchen cabinets. Usually between the cupboards and the ceiling is a wonderful opportunity to be artistic. Your first chore would be to install some lighting. You can get lighting bars that are great at creating low lighting.

You can treat this like any shelf. It is a great place to showcase a collection. You can use items that have a particular theme or color. For instance rows of blue glass looks great here. You can also showcase old plates, floral plates or anything that you treasure.

A collection of flower vases or crystal looks nice in this area as does rows of interesting cake pans or candlestick holders. Cake decorations or cookie cutters can also make an intriguing display.

This type of area looks nice if decorated with some unexpected greenery. Try trailing ivy along the window for a beautiful effect. You can as add balls of twine, boxes of grass and charming wicker object.

Do not be afraid to play with color. You can use fresh colors like blue and white or olive and cream to add charm to that space. Keep in mind the appearance of your counter for a great effect. For instance if you have a green and white color scheme line up all of your white and green china with a cream vase with green plants, some ivy, some green glass and some green and white candles.

One way to make this are work is to group objects in different heights. You can line similar objects up all in a row and then play with the odd numbers to arrange objects in different heights. Do not be discouraged if it does not come together the first time. Keep arranging all the objects until they look right to you.

Remember too that although the cluttered look can be tempting it is not always appropriate. Sometimes less is more.

You have a taller ceiling and more space, you want to use items that are larger in scale so that it feels balanced. If you put smaller items in a large space it will just feel cluttered. If you have a smaller area and you try to fit in items that are too large it will feel off balance. However remember too that part of make this work might be using assymettry as well.

How to Decorate With a Touch of Black

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There is an old saying which is that every room can use a “touch of black.” This is true if the room is primarily white. The color black can add a focal point that grounds and adds a sophisticated look to a room. The best places to add a touch of black to aroma are in the trims of rugs or linens or curtains, in pillows, rugs or in a single black piece such as a black vase or black ottoman.

A bit of a black can give drama and sophistication to any color of décor but to get a really great effect make sure it is contrasted with a white room? This can lead to a very contemporary look if you are companioning black and white with a lot of metallic fixtures and furniture but originally this type of style was called Country French.

If you do not like the Tuxedo or Zebra effect that can come from using a lot of black and white décor then you can also accent areas that are yellow, cream, red or purple with swaths of black to create a striking looking interior. The darker the colors, such as navy or royal purple, the more elegant the effect will be. The lighter the colors are to contrast against the white, such as an aqua and black, the more whimsical it will be. Kitchens and bathrooms look best in the whimsical style as do fifties retro rooms. The darker colors contrasted with black are more associated with the eighties especially emerald green or crimson red combined with black. Deep purple and black is more of a Goth look from the mind nineties and pink and black is associate with the early part of the first decade of this century as well as the 1930s.

One way to gently incorporate touches of black into your décor is to install a black and white tiled floor. You do not have to go for the checkered look; an occasional strategically placed black tile is usually enough to do the trick. You can also add black to a kitchen or bathroom by installing black tiles on a backsplash or in the shower. Sometimes all you need to liven up a bathroom is black towels or a black shower curtain.

When adding black to a bedroom stick to pillows, curtains and maybe the bed spread or sham. The best black and white prints to use for a contemporary stylish effect are florals and plaids.