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Designing a Collector’s Kitchen
Between cooking, eating and entertaining, we certainly spend a lot of time in our kitchens. So shouldn’t this “favorite room” incorporate our favorite things as well? At SilverMark, we definitely think it should! That’s why we like to plan kitchen remodeling projects that include not just beautiful and functional counters, cabinets and appliances, but beautiful and functional display space for your favorite things as well. The challenge is finding clever ways to integrate treasured artwork, mementoes and collections without cluttering up counters or exposing those favorite pieces to damage from steam or spaghetti sauce. Here are tips to keep in mind as you plan your kitchen remodel.
“Collector Friendly” Kitchen Remodeling Tips
Kitchen Lighting: Good kitchen design always includes task lighting as well as ambient lighting. When designing the kitchen to include artwork or collections, you should also include “display” lighting. Examples can include fixtures designed to highlight a painting, light up a cabinet featuring beautiful china or glasses, or to shine down dramatically on a pottery collection.
Built-in Kitchen Display Shelves: With a little planning, even non-custom cabinets can be configured to provide plenty of space for displaying objects you love. A common add-on to kitchen islands, for example, is book shelves designed to hold a few prized pieces or a collection of favorite cookbooks. From a simple shelf added over the sink or refrigerator, to elegant wall niches, there are many creative ways to show off your treasures – and keep them away from countertop spills and splatters. If you’d like to have a collection of fresh herbs at hand, plan for the kitchen remodel to include wide windowsills (perhaps tiled to protect the surface from water) and windows with a sunny southern or eastern exposure.
  Protecting Displays: Glass-front cabinet doors are a smart way to protect your treasures from kitchen moisture and spills. Painting the back of the cabinet a contrasting color can add extra drama to your display, as can the right in-cabinet lighting. Styles can range from modern, virtually frameless glass doors, to paned doors perfect for providing individual “frames” for different objects in your collection. Ideally, objects on a kitchen wall should be framed with glass. Glass is far easier to clean than acrylic which can yellow and scratch in the kitchen environment. Unframed canvasses and tapestries are not the best choice for kitchens since they can absorb kitchen odors and their surfaces can be difficult to clean.
Kitchen Cabinet Tops as Gallery Space: Again, by planning ahead, you can vary the heights of kitchen cabinets to create beautiful spaces for your collections. Even functional items like colorful Le Creuset cookware can take on the status of art when displayed well! Careful design also eliminates the cluttered look that can come from some cabinet-top displays by balancing the height and relation of other cabinets so that the display is tightly integrated rather than just sitting atop the cabinets.
 Kitchen Remodeling Finishes that Pull it all Together: Color, texture and style are key elements of every good kitchen design. By planning for your collection right from the start of the kitchen remodeling project, these elements can be selected to complement what you want to display. The backsplash, countertops, paint and floor, for example, all can be designed to coordinate with and highlight the colors from objects in your collection. Moldings are also important for pulling the look of the room together. For instance, the ornate feel of a large framed painting can be balanced with beautifully carved cabinet molding.
With a little advance kitchen remodeling planning, you truly can fill your dream kitchen with your favorite things – without cluttering up those beautiful new counters!
Maintenance Tip: Inspect Roof and Gutters for Winter Damage
Damage to your roof that occurs during the harsh winter months can lead to larger problems in the Spring. Inspect and repair loose or damaged shingles, gaps in the flashing, and leaks in the seams and at the corners of gutters.
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  See you next month!
Terry
Terry Streich, President
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