My husband and I just got married a month ago and are now moving into our first home together. It is one of those quaint, little ranch home plans that make the perfect starter home. It has an adorable covered front porch that I know we will enjoy spending time there. The two bedroom and one bath home design is perfect for us newlyweds. There is just one minor issue that I have with our new home. The kitchen is way too small.
Kitchens are usually one of the busiest spots of a home. When family members visit, the first place they seem to go is to the kitchen area. Now, my parent’s house features one of those amazing kitchen floor plans. It has a huge center island with a breakfast bar that provides casual seating for guests when they visit. Not to mention the built-in computer desk and nearby mudroom, my parent’s kitchen is the perfect spot for entertaining. Unfortunately, I will have to move on from mom and dad’s luxurious country kitchen to my small, cozy one. I suppose I cannot live at my parent’s house forever, especially now that I am married.
Not to worry though, because I am an excellent interior designer. Or at least, I like to think that I am. I have a lot of ideas that are going to spruce up our small kitchen. First things first, we needed to buy some new appliances. Since our newly purchased home came with none, this presented a grand opportunity to select our own to set the mood of the area. After a bit of shopping, we decided on stainless steel appliances with sleek black accents that were fairly small in size. We figured this would help save some space in the small area. My husband even found a stainless steel microwave that we can install about the stove to save space. I felt like we were off to a good start decorating the kitchen.
After our appliances were installed, the kitchen still seemed a bit too cramped for my tastes. I decided that the cabinets that were hung over the eating bar had to go. They were just too bulky and separated the open space. We installed two simple hanging light fixtures instead. I put a pair of frosted glass cabinet doors on one of the remaining cabinets. That will be perfect for displaying some new dishes that we received as gifts for the wedding. The real focal point of our tiny kitchen is the sleek black and gray marble counter. It was already installed when we bought the home, and I love how it compliments our new steel and black appliances.
As far as wall color, I am a big fan of neutral tones. I know a lot of people use a bright, vibrant color to accent their kitchen. Others will go with the cozy kitchen feel and paint it dark, rich colors to emphasize its sophistication. I decided to go with the bright white for the walls and cabinets. I figured that the countertop and appliances would stand out best against the absence of color. Additionally, we have these gorgeous hardwood floors that I wanted to showcase as well. Next week I plan on adding a mirrored backsplash against the wall above the counter. I think this will be an awesome element that will provide the illusion of more space and also reflect light. In the future, I may add splashes of color here and there. But until then, I think the white works perfect for my senses. Its clean, crisp and refreshing, just like the flooring and appliances.
All in all, I think removing some of the cabinets definitely did wonders to open up the small space. The bright white allows for the steel and dark counter to really pop out and looks impressively modern. Now, I am in love with my small, yet stylish kitchen and would not give it up for anything in the world.
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