I have these awesome clients. (I know I say that a lot, but I LOVE my clients. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t work with them.)
So I have these awesome clients. We’re embarking on a major project: we’re moving them from their gorgeous Victorian red brick house into a gorgeous 1920s house, to which we are doing MAJOR work.
The new house requires a new kitchen. (Among other things, such as a world-class listening room in the basement, since the husband/dad frequently writes about stereo equipment.)
Despite the fact that we’re going to be preserving the 1920s vibe in other parts of the house, we’ve decided to do a super modern, super streamlined kitchen.
The wife/mom is an excellent cook and entertains often. Her kitchen must WORK. But as one of the most fashionable people you’ll ever meet, she’s also an appreciator of high style. And, lucky for me, color. She’s pretty firm about wanting a contemporary, “European style” kitchen.
This means that option one is to work with one of the originators of the “European style” kitchen: Poggenpohl, Snaidero, Poliform, Scavolini – watch your volume if you click on those last two links…Poggenpohl just felt like a good place to start. (It’s very scientific, this bossy color methodology :) )
The second option is to have the entire kitchen custom built.
As decadent as that sounds, this isn’t a GARGANTUAN kitchen, so maximizing every inch is critical. And we don’t want to be doing this again in 5 or 10 years, so quality is of primary concern. Therefore, our second estimate will come from an extremely talented, detail-oriented, precision-conscious cabinetmaker.
Which option ultimately will be the better fit? Which will be less expensive? Which will be faster?
To give you a glimpse of our latest thinking, picture this: various cabinets in shiny white lacquer, walnut, and sparkly light blue lacquer; whitish mottled Caesarstone countertops; bamboo floors similar in color and tone to the original floors elsewhere; and shots of color wherever we can grab them.
Either way, we really can’t lose. What do you think?
Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. She has been quoted in publications from The Washington Post to Real Simple and is considered an expert on color, residential space planning, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.