Combine form & function
when decorating your new kitchen
BY JESSICA NIKOLICH For Sun-Times Media
From top to bottom: Kitchen designs from Linly Designs and Green Living Designs.
“Dust off your grandmother’s silver tea
set and place it in your newly renovated, modern kitchen. The contrasting styles will create an edgy, updated look.” kitchen design but can become a major conversation piece,” she says. Renewable products like LED undercabinet lighting and bamboo, a waterresistant option for flooring and cabinetry, cater to the eco-minded crowd. Green Living Designs practices this methodology by keeping formaldehyde out of the millwork and offering locally grown and harvested hardwoods. Glickman designs kitchens from a cook’s perspective and knows the busiest spot is between the sink and the stove.
He suggests spreading the workflow between the important areas by putting in a prep sink in the island, for instance. Sterna has found clients requesting multiple and extended islands for extra workspace and entertaining elbow room. “After all,” she says, “everyone gathers in the kitchen during family gatherings and parties.” “Really decide how you use your kitchen and what it is to you,” says Glickman. “Everyone’s dream is independent.” HOME AND GARDEN | 7 | DOWNTOWNHP.COM
Jennifer Sterna, general manager of Linly Designs, always recommends displaying decorative but functional serving pieces on the counter or inside glass-paneled cabinets. “Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, you should prepare and serve every meal on dishes that you love.” Citywoods houses furniture, jewelry and clothing handmade by 400 American craftspeople. “Whether installing a modern, minimalist kitchen, using reclaimed wood, or a more traditional design approach, combining form and function with handcrafted accessories brings art to everyday life,” says owner Diana Schaps. Bowls look beautiful as “empty vessels” on the kitchen table while doing double duty serving salad. Cutting boards feature end grain chunks, birdseye maple, and turquoise to present bread and appetizers. Lazy Susans incorporate riverstones and reclaimed wine barrel parts for a natural feel. “Only display items that you love to look at. Just because you’ve owned it for a long time or used it in your former kitchen doesn’t mean it must transition into your new one. Review and select carefully and intentionally,” says Sherry Levin, who co-owns Style Shack along with Dawn Pye. Try the utensil caddy to neatly store your everyday cutlery or for a festive occasion. According to Leslie Smith, who works in sales and design for Tithof Tile & Marble, the kitchen can get congested being the main hub, so she advises keeping it simple. “A pop of color can always be added with a bowl of fruit, fabric on bar counter chairs, artwork, etc., but it’s more difficult to de-clutter.”
Top photo courtesy of Citywoods; bottom photos courtesy of Style Shack