The art of kitchens
When it comes to trendy kitchen designs, paintings, drawings, posters or even something unique like an Asian screen or decorative panel are generally the farthest thing from the mind.
With the move towards open-plan kitchens and the popularity of fittings and cabinetry with a more furniture-like appearance, however, designers are advocating the use of art in the kitchen. So what works and what doesn't?
Because kitchens are often already quite heavy with wall-hung fittings (think cabinets, splashbacks and rangehoods), if you like the idea of displaying artwork in your kitchen it might be a good idea to plan ahead, making sure there is enough blank wall left after renovating to hang a painting or poster without making the room look cluttered. Another tip is choosing the artwork carefully and making sure it's an appropriate theme for the kitchen. While that means an intricate landscape oil painting may be out, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to opt for the obvious choices (i.e. drawings of apples and oranges). A good middle ground can be hanging retro food advertisements and posters. They look fantastic in a variety of kitchen styles, from sleek, contemporary designs, to more eclectic kitchens. Alternatively, think about using your splashback as a form of artwork. Glass splashbacks already come in hundreds of colours, but why not take the concept up a notch by having an artwork banner set behind the glass? "An emerging trend is to have a design or pattern custom made to suit your particular kitchen tastes," says graphic designer David Hall. "It's a unique way to add some permanent artwork to a kitchen design and, while different people will like different things, it's best to choose something that goes well with the style of your kitchen, that won't date too quickly and is something you can imagine yourself looking at every day for the next 10 years." If you go down this road, be sure to choose low-iron glass - that way, any 'green' tinge will be eliminated, allowing the colours in the artwork to shine through in their true brilliance. Contact an interior decorator to find out how you can add exciting art to your kitchen design:
Choose a kitchen wall for the artwork
Types of artwork to use in kitchens
Alternative glass splashback designs
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