This or That: Kitchen Design

For many households, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s a high traffic area that sees a lot of enjoyment from every member of the family. We may spend a lot of time in our bedrooms, TV rooms, and bathrooms, but the kitchen is very central. It’s where we gather to cook, eat, and chat about our days. And when it comes to a space that sees as much action as the kitchen tends to, design and decor are important. So we’ve got to ask: which of the kitchens below do you prefer? 

Where would you rather help with homework and sip your morning coffee? Option A’s colorful cookery? Or Option B’s modern creation? Which kitchen would you rather have in your home?

OPTION A

Image via Country Living

OPTION B

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Our Choice: Option B

As much as we enjoy Option A’s whimsical color scheme and quirky retro touches, Option B is our favorite. The space is bright, open, and airy. Some may argue that an all white kitchen is dull, but it’s also classic. A bold color can sometimes come with an expiration date – what seems unique and fun can start to feel tired after you’ve seen it day after day, year after year. White tends to have a more long term appeal. Colorful accent pieces, like a yellow vase, can add the color you need and are much easier to replace.

Don’t agree? Connect with @HomeShows on Twitter and tell us what you think. We’d love to hear from you! Plus, check us out on Pinterest to see more kitchens that we love, and to get decor ideas for the rest of your home.

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Color, Color Everywhere

Color theory encompasses a multitude of definitions, concepts, and design applications - enough to fill several encyclopaedias. Even though we're surrounded by color throughout our lives, choosing a paint color is usually a combination of interesting, frustrating, and intimidating. We all have a favorite color, yet when it comes to selecting the right or best color to use in our homes, choosing can often be difficult.

Wynn Waggoner, Interior Designer and the creative force behind Wynn Interiors, has wondered about this color conundrum and how to correct it so that homeowners can feel confident in their design choices - at least when it comes to color. She encourages readers to consider the following:

"We go into a paint store to see what colors we might like to use and are immediately greeted by a thousand choices, not only colors in different hues and finishes, but also textures - like suede, metallic, plasters, and much more. Now, of course you have to be an expert just to navigate through all the eye candy, let alone choose the right one.

To combat this overwhelming scenario, try choosing no more than three to six different colors that appeal to you. Look at the colors you've chosen and separate them by color family, such as red tones, blue tones, etc. Staying within each color family, compare your selections and you should be able to see which ones have a certain brightness vs those that are soft are subtle. This will not only help you choose, it will help with the finishes for the rest of the room. For wall colors, I usually go for the more subtle tones and find that when the whole room is finally painted, I have many bolder colors available to use as accents in the space to add additional depth and interest. I also find that artwork and pictures come forward and seem more interesting.

Second, and this may be the most important point, take the color samples home with you and look at each in the room. Hold them up one at a time or tape them to the wall. Step back so you can look at them from a distance. Immediately use a process of elimination and take away the ones you don't like.

Third, look at them throughout the day and into the evening as they will look different as the light changes. Since it's easy to purchase small amounts of sample paint, many have tried painting all the color patches on a wall at the same time. I find this visually confusing. The way the eyes sees color is different for each of us. When one color or shade of the same color is near another it affects the way we perceive it, especially in different lighting. Once you've narrowed your search down to two colors, if you want to see a larger patch on the wall, then that would be the time to try it.

Another pointer that may help is to look through magazines of finished rooms and emulate the color or color combinations that have already been done. By seeing the room as a completed project you'll have a vision of what your space might look like when it's done.

Ultimately how you feel when you walk into the room and how you feel living with the chosen color is the concern. Color affects us deeply and many times we are unaware in the moment how we may feel in the future. Pay close to not only to how the color you choose will interact with the aesthetics in your space, but also how it makes you feel."

Wynn will be sharing tips and advice much like her color theory ideas at the Denver Home Show. The Design Expert will be manning our Ask The Designer feature, where guests can sit down for a free one-on-one consultation. Bring your plans, questions, inspiration, and idea to Wynn and let her help you with your design dilemma.

The Denver Home Show takes over the National Western Complex from March 20-22, 2015. With hundreds of home and garden professionals ready to help you with your next home improvement project, it's the home and garden event of the season! Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on Facebook and treat a friend or family member to the show.

MARCH 20 - 22, 2015.
NATIONAL WESTERN COMPLEX 

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Home and Garden Design Trends for 2014

The Top Trends

Are you already pining for warm spring breezes so you can get your hands dirty in the garden? Are you anxious to get started on that home improvement list that you've been putting off all winter? Join the crowd at this year’s Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show January 17-19 and get a head start on the biggest trends in décor, design and landscaping. Soon you’ll be seeing more color than just the winter blues.

Color Coordinating

If you’re ready for an easy change in your home without the cost and commitment of a major renovation, look to Pantone. Known worldwide as the standard language for color communication, the company recently released their favorite color pick for 2014 - Radiant Orchid. Pantone touts the purple hue as “a vibrant color [that] is sure to liven up neutrals.” For everyone from first-time homebuyers and decorators to renovating pros, Radiant Orchid may just be the color that can reenergize even the most tired color palette.

“My clients are asking for a lot more color,” said Denise Smith, C.I.D., owner of at Decorating Den Interiorsin Norman and vendor at the 2014 Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show. “From large painted rooms to smaller accessories and accents pieces, color is becoming more popular.”

Smith thinks Radiant Orchid is a good choice for the year’s feature color. “While Pantone’s 2013 color Emerald Green was gorgeous, it just didn't take off and become something that people incorporated into their homes. I think this year’s color is bold without being overwhelming and will be pretty almost anywhere you use it.”

Garden Variety

Planting season may be a few months away, but you can get an early start by touring the feature gardens at the Show. TLC Garden Center will focus on helping visitors envision their Backyard Oasis by showcasing an outdoor kitchen, sitting areas, a firepit, hot tub and raised vegetable beds.

“The big ideas for this year are finding more ways to live outdoors, even if you just have a small yard,” TLC landscape designer Shaun Doering said. “Urban gardening is a growing trend, and we have some great ideas for growing flowers and plants as well as vegetables in a small space.”

Tony Mussatto, owner of Tony’s Tree Plantation, is also noticing that clients want to spend more of their time living and playing outdoors. Their Ultimate Backyard will feature a basketball court, putting green, outdoor kitchen, natural log structures, a fire pit and unique water features. But don’t get overwhelmed by all the options, Tony warns.

“Most clients know what they want. They just do not know where to start,” Tony said. “Any design is doable, and we have a plan to make our clients’ dreams come true while staying on budget.”

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While spring may still be several weeks away, visiting the Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show is a good way to get a jump on updating your home and refreshing your gardens. Purchase your tickets now and help Jack Frost pack his bags a little early this year. 

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