Reincarnation of the Kitchen

Your home can never be completed without a kitchen and nothing is more important than a well-furnished, well-equipped and systematically designed kitchen.

We have come along way from when kitchens were tucked in the far back of the home. They were isolated and closed off rooms, completely separated from the dining area, but as our lifestyle started changing it became common to combine kitchen and eating area.
Kitchens have became larger and usually accommodate a nook for a table and chairs and the former dining rooms are now considered formal dining rooms used only when guests are coming over or on special occasions like holiday family dinners.

With today's lifestyle, the kitchen has become the hub of the home. They now serve as multi-purpose rooms; often designed with a desk or work station for paying bills/ doing homework, or as entertainment room. Most kitchens today are left open into the family room so that mom can monitor kids while cooking, or so that the cook can socialize with guests while preparing food.

With this trend, we also now have wider range of kitchen appliances to choose from. Some of them look like a piece of art, or can simply be hidden behind cabinet doors which are anything from elaborate to minimal panel like.
It also adds a nice touch when you decorate your kitchen with art and accessories as well as wallpaper and various textures on the wall.

Here are few kitchens and details that I really like:
[click on the images to enlarge them]

I really love this whimsical kitchen from Lago, the shape, the colors, fun little details. Perfect solution for an open space.When everything about your kitchen is fun, there is no need to hide it behind the walls or even raised counters.



....and another fun kitchen from Lago. Fun shape! It looks like part of it is floating in the air, because of the use of transparent material. Appliances are hidden behind the shiny, black cabinetry.


I love how in this kitchen, the counter top(s) against the wall looks like an art piece because of the shape and colors, and again appliances are smartly hidden behind the colorful panel doors. And the dining table looks like it's floating in the air.


Lighting is always important in a kitchen,not least for the safety reasons. It's always great if natural light is available, like in these beautiful kitchens...

...beautiful skylight...

...the perfect city view...

....With this kitchen, it's not just about the natural light, but how you can extend this kitchen to the outdoors...

...this kitchen has lots of fun things going on; the oversized dining table extended from the counter, photowall, oversized lighting fixtures, the unusual shape of the room with changes in height....

..another fun little kitchen with some color splash, and details..

...you can hide your appliances...

...or show them off...

...and you can play with different textures....




....I'm currently finding myself to be drawn to open shelving, wallpaper accent walls or wallpapers as backsplash, and accessorizing....








Links:
Coolors
Lago
a la carte keittiöt
Nelko

Create Denver Week

Create Denver is organized annually by Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) with the help of the numerous creative individuals and organizations in Denver. The purpose of Create Denver is to support the growth and development of the creative sector in or city and state.

Throughout April 10th – April 17th there will be special events, installations, exhibits, seminars and panels. Click here for schedule.

I attended the Create Denver Expo this past Saturday, April 10th.
Many creative businesses and organizations that offer services for businesses in creative field were present.
I volunteered with my Creative CoLab+ team member Karen at Indie Arsenal booth. Indie Arsenal offers resources for freelancers, students and independent creatives to collaborate, communicate, share expertise and showcase talent and both Karen and I are active members.
During the Expo, I met important industry partners and participated in a fantastic social media workshop “Get Creative with Social Media” by Eric Elkins – Widefoc.us , which was just one of the many workshops offered during the Expo.

As I just launched Creative CoLab+ with 5 other designers, I felt that this Expo was truly a great one-stop opportunity to learn about the various services and programs offered for creative businesses.

[click on the images to enlarge them]




Dan Kobler & Karen
Jeff Kent, Dan & Eric Nance


Art Director's Club of Denver & Fashion Denver

phenomenal local photographer, Steven Wallace - Optiks Photography/ Fine Art


...ever wonder what happens to those old disgarded office chairs?.....


Create Denver Commons: Paper Garden and Pop-Up Market

One of the fun installations during Create Denver Week is a pop-up store at 1600 Glenarm Place, Ste. 110.
This “economic garden” – installation ( all made from recycled paper)
is designed by local professional artists and seeks to engage the community by asking them to help contribute to the garden participating in flower making workshops. I was one of the people making the flowers week before the opening, and it was so much fun. This is how it all started:

...we even had an architect and financial expert onboard ;-)


....and opening day April 10th....





Samuel Schimek, creative mind behind 15 min., is in charge of this wonderful
Pop-Up Store that will feature 100% Denver designed goods; clothing, furniture, books, posters, art and jewelry.

during both the flower making sessions and the pop-up store hours the public is also invited to write their ideas on how to grow Denver’s creative economy


Do not miss the opportunity to pop in in this great store between April 10th and April 17th!!!

Store Hours: April 10th-17th from 11am-7pm
Location: 1600 Glenarm Place, Ste. 110


If you are interested in learning more about Create Denver, please contact Ginger White Brunetti, Sr. Economic Development Specialist, at ginger.white@denvergov.org.

First sign of Spring – Easter

Finally, after long and dark winter it’s time to add some seasonal colour and life to your home. Decorating your house with cheery Easter colors is a great way to shake off the winter and get your home ready for the bright, sunny days to come.

Bring in some blooming branches and further decorate them with some paper birds like here. Buy some cute bird nests and fill them with decorated eggs.
[Click on the images to enlarge them]



Easter eggs can be added into your décor in many different ways
…even transformed into votives:
Simple eggcups make a lovely base. First, make a hole in the top of each egg with a pin; enlarge the holes, and pour out the yolks. Clean shells, then dye them with food coloring (follow package directions). Nestle shells in a carton. Cut wire-core wicks to 4 inches long, flatten one end, and fasten in shell with a bit of warm wax. Using a funnel, fill shells with hot wax (tinted with dye pellets). Let the wax cool. Trim the wicks, and light.



or you can simply use eggshells to display some pretty spring flowers....and how cute are these chicken and chick cardboard silhouettes!



Easter bunny is of course the main character of Easter and makes a great central theme for lots of your decorating



Wheatgrass makes a wonderful Easter centerpiece and a display of decorated eggs, flowers, and bunnies.
This is something I did with my mom when I was a kid. We would grow the grass few weeks before the easter, then trim it and add little chicks, bunnies, easter witches, easter eggs etc..



...and I really love that idea of moss & mushrooms...fun fun!

Of course nothing tops the beauty of fresh seaonal flowers






Here are few picture of my own "blooming" Easter-branches



Happy Easter!
Love ~Heidi

Images: Martha Stewart