Kitchen Inspiration: Seven Stylish Ideas

When it comes to upgrading your home decor, sometimes less is more. You don’t always have to take a sledge hammer to your space to achieve a big change. If you want to spruce up your kitchen without breaking the bank or the walls, we’ve got just what you need. Transforming one or two strategic pieces can have as big an impact as completely remodeling – you just need to be clever. Consider the following ideas as you begin to revamp your space; we’ve got a list of seven fun things to try in your kitchen.

Beautiful Backsplash – Getting a little creative with your backsplash can go a long way. Have fun exploring styles and colors before selecting a new one. There’s a myriad of options available to you, so think carefully about what will work best for your kitchen and your taste.

Image via Mobile Home Living

Cute Chalkboard – There are few spots in the home better suited for a chalkboard than the kitchen. Write messages, shopping lists, recipes, notes, and more! Help get your family more organized and your kitchen more stylish.

Image via Hunted Interior

Fun Fixtures – This is a grate light fixture! It’ll add tons of zest to your kitchen. Ok, we’ll stop, but seriously, how cute is this cheese grater light? And the best part is, it’s a breeze to make!

Image via RecyclArt

Sweet Seats – Why not use this project as a chance to experiment with color and patterns? Not everything in your kitchen has to be entirely uniform, so get a little playful. We love these unique chairs – they’re clearly part of a set, but their different patterns have a great effect on the rest of the white kitchen.

Image via Rue Daily

Happy Herbs – Improve the look of your kitchen and the taste of your cooking by making a fun and functional herb garden! These gorgeous plants will freshen up your space and food.

Image via Camille Styles

Wonderful Wallpaper – Wallpaper can add some much needed warmth to an otherwise icy kitchen (stainless steel appliances and white walls are classic and stunning, but they can also be a little cold). Try using a nice pattern to create an accent wall. Heat up your space without going overboard.

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

Cozy Color – Instead of making your space more cozy using wallpaper, you can be a bit bolder and try paint. We’re loving the mint green they’ve tried in this kitchen. Make sure to pick a hue you’ll love for a long time; painting is a more serious commitment than wallpaper. 

Image via Apartment Therapy

We hope these ideas help inspire you to try something new in your kitchen. Will you update your lighting or try growing a herb garden? Make sure to share your kitchen transformation with us @HomeShows on Twitter and Instagram! We’d love to see what you cook up! 

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Springspiration At The Calgary Home + Garden Show

At this year's Calgary Home + Garden Show, it's all about spring inspiration for your home - both inside and out. In anticipation of the show, we've rounded up our top five favourite home trends to embrace for 2015. From marble to rose gold, authentic wood to simple succulents, these trends are here to stay.

Marble Furniture

Marble has made a comeback once again, and the trend is more popular than ever. From classic white marble countertops to tabletops in every size, kitchen accessories, and birch-like coat racks, this timeless, muted material is sure to brighten up any room.

 

Images via Design Milk and artnet

Rose Gold

Gold has returned as the go-to metal for everything from fixtures to hardware, but its copper-toned cousin has been introduced to the home like never before, including kitchens, bedrooms, and dining areas. Sleek, sophisticated and bold, this metal screams trendsetter.

Images via Dorn Bracht and Brit + Co

Organic Wood

Organic, raw wood has never gone out of style, but mixing this authentic look with different materials and colours adds depth and dimension to an otherwise drab space. Pair with sleek, modern Eames chairs or a glass tabletop for an ultra-modern mix.

Images via Apartment Therapy and Carla Aston

Succulents

Succulents have been on the scene for a few seasons now, and they're not going anywhere. Popular for their effortless maintenance and simplicity, these plants will give any room an instant refresh, appearing brighter, cleaner, and modern.

Images via Day 2 Day Super Mom and Mixbook

Indoors Outdoors

HGTV's Carson Arthur, this year's Main Stage celebrity presenter, is all about bringing the indoors outside. Creating livable, relaxing outdoor spaces is his forte, as seen through his work on HGTV's Critical Listing. Furniture choice for your outdoor space is key to making the space feel like an extension of your home.

Image via Carson Arthur

For more tips on how to create the perfect outdoor space, don't miss Carson on the Main Stage at the Calgary Home + Garden Show on Saturday, February 28th at 3pm and 7pm, and on Sunday, March 1 at 12pm. Remember to buy your tickets early for the best deal! Right now, get 2-for-1 tickets on our Facebook Ticket Deals. We can't wait to see you at the show!

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This Or That: Retro Bedrooms

Many home design styles are influenced by popular fashion trends, which means the current prevalence of and appreciation for counter culture is having an impact on our interiors. Translation: hipster homes. Artfully-waxed facial hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and plaid shirts are popularizing eclectic decor. Where many opt to wear clothing reminiscent of the past, similar motifs are expressed in the way homes are being decorated – we’re adopting older styles and making them cool again.

Check out the two vintage bedrooms below and let us know which you prefer: Option A’s casual cottage chic? Or option B’s bold flavor? Where would you love to read Bukowski and listen to music we probably don’t know about?

Option A

Image via Lonny

Option B

Image via Lonny

Our Choice:

While each room has its own merits, we prefer Option B. We find Option A’s antique lighting, bedside table, and portrait make it a bit more dated than we enjoy. It evokes the 1920s where Option B has more of a 1960s feel. The fun colors and bright patterns are balanced by the hardwood floor and white accent pieces. All in all we think it’s a nice mix of modern and classic with some playful touches (we love the faux skin rug). 

Funky wallpaper is gaining in popularity, so we have to ask: what do you think of this trend? Are you excited to put a fun pattern on your walls, or do you think this is one revived decor style that should have stayed buried? Let us know below!  

And of course, for more bedroom advice and inspiration make sure to check out the Marketplace Events home show nearest you. Check out the home shows coming up in your area - US shows & Canadian shows. 

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Meet Chris & Peyton Lambton, Stars of HGTV’s Going Yard

Since Chris and Peyton Lambton's appearances on ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, the happy couple has dedicated their time to transforming backyards one house at a time in their HGTV series, Going Yard. Chris' background in landscaping and Peyton's background in design make them the perfect pair. Together, they create outdoor living spaces and features including patios, arbors and water features for deserving homeowners.

Photo: ChrisLambton.com

They'll be swinging by the Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show on Feb. 7-9 to speak about being sustainable in your own backyard, but first, they decided to give us a few of their best pointers.

Where do you start when preparing a new garden or backyard space?

You should always begin by becoming familiar with the space and the current conditions. The biggest factor in gardening that you can't control is the sun. Some parts of the yard will have full sun, while others will have partial sun or shade. You need to plant accordingly.

What are your top 5 tips for backyard sustainability?

1. Designate a compost area.
2. Recycle rainwater.
3. Water at proper times of the day.
4. Plant native.
5. Grow your own vegetables and herbs.

Where do you gather most of your inspiration for new projects?

We get inspiration in learning from clients about what they want to get out of their outdoor space. Their likes and passions are transformed into something they will be able to use and enjoy.

What design/gardening trend or item are you coveting this season?

Fermentation gardening is our favorite trend of the year. This encompasses growing your own grapes, hops and apples for wine, beer or hard cider.


To learn more about Chris and Peyton, visit their website at www.chrislambton.com and follow them on Twitter at @ChrisLambton13 and @PeytonWLambton.

Don’t miss Chris & Peyton Lambton at our Metropolitan Lawn & Garden Show (Feb. 7-9)!

FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE!

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