Dionne Designs: WAKE UP your Kitchen

Sometimes your kitchen needs a big WAAAHOOOO moment to inspire more cooking, gathering and general well being, it does doesnt it?

Scared before you even start? Dont be!

No need to get out the jack hammer, that's a promise!

For the more adventurous, a paintbrush......

Spruce up your tired contractor white or (off white?) walls with a fresh coat of paint. Think apple green, sky blue, the sky IS the limit.

If you are considering painting your kitchen this Paint Color Tool from House Beautiful Magazine will make your life easy. Just click Launch Tool and repaint your room or any of their sample rooms as many times as you like till you find your perfect color!

http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/paint-colors/

Seeing that Tangerine Tango is Pantones 2012 color of the year, I'm kicking off with this up and coming paint color, cheery and bright, but not for the faint hearted.

~ Tangarine Orange ~
Photo courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

~ Pale Blue ~

~ Pale Yellow ~

Designed by Janet Metson Urman

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful Magazine

Really feeling artistic? Kitchen designed by Erin Martin.

If painting is too much hassle or out of budget?

Use some cheerful artwork, modern prints work, it does not need to be kitchen themed, in fact please don't ;)

This great piece of Pop Art is titled Sugar Rush it is available from Uncommon Goods its whimsical, fun and a great conversation starter!

Original oil on canvas by my Uncle Godfrey Cremona is a keeper!
For commissions contact me on dionnetrifiro@yahoo.com

Another simple and effective way to brighten up a tired kitchen is to replace or install a new light fitting, This fixture from West Elm is under $100

Next ...declutter the counter tops.

Put away everything except for your Coffee machine (god forbid) and your toaster.

If you're thinking "I have no storage space!" tidy up the inside the cabinets too, get rid of all the old pots and items that you have not used in the last year.

Or utilize the space above cabinets or on open shelves with containers, baskets etc..

Now give your kitchen a Pre Christmas clean and have fun finding some choice items to style your counter tops with, and make your choices useful ones.

I like Alessi products which are perfect for both contemporary and traditional kitchens alike,
life is to short to save the good china!