Kitchen Lighting Tips

One of my current projects is a family kitchen extension. We are extending the existing kitchen and incorporating both dining and lounge areas.

If you are thinking about or redesigning your kitchen, I cannot stress enough the importance of lighting. It will transform your room.

As I am frequently asked about lighting, here are my top tips for kitchen lighting to help you make the right decisions.

1. Use different light sources
Ensure you use different light sources at different levels in your kitchen. Lighting has different purposes so consider what you'll be doing in your kitchen first and foremost and where it will be happening.
Spot lights are perfect over counter tops and for areas that should be well lit to prepare food and cook/clean, pendants and wall or table lamps are ideal for dining areas creating a softer and more atmospheric light.
The combination of lighting will be functional and create interest and focal points within the room.

2. Zone your lighting
Zone your lighting so that you can operate different areas independently. For example, when you're eating dinner, you can turn off the lights highlighting the overflowing sink and create a more intimate dining atmosphere. Depending on the size of your kitchen, lighting could work as follows and all working independently to one another.
Kitchen spot lights
Breakfast bar pendants
Dining table pendant
Lounge lighting

3. Dimmer switches
My top tip of all. I strongly encourage you to use dimmer switches in combination with the above in your kitchen. In addition to the zoning of areas, you then have the power to control the overall feel in a room, and rather than plunge areas into darkness, you can create a softer general light.

4. The power of three
As with everything in design, always work in odd numbers. If you have a breakfast bar in your kitchen, 3 hanging pendants are very stylish, not to mention practical, making much more impact than one pendant alone. With dining tables I may use one statement pendant rather than three pendants, my choice will depend on the style of the room and other light sources used but it will be just that, a statement, a focal point. Again, using different light sources, sizes and types will create interest in your kitchen.

{Images: Pinterest, deVOL Kitchens, Humphrey Munson}

Hanging Terrarium

The Urban Botanist 

Feeling inspired from last nights post, indoor plants, succulents and terrariums?

Want to know where you can buy your own terrarium from?

Well, here are my top picks and details on where you can purchase them from.

West Elm

Rose and Grey

Cox and Cox

Not On The High Street

Indoor plants, succulents and terrariums

{Image: Wildwood}

Indoor planters and terrariums are HOT right now.

Whether it's succulents, potted herbs or seasonal planters, indoor plants are back, and I love them.

I will always incorporate fresh herbs and planters into the kitchen, they are a match made in heaven. They serve a double duty for both styling the kitchen and actually serving a purpose - cooking! 

I like to keep kitchen design simple and these are a fantastic way to introduce colour and style with minimum effort but maximum impact. Especially when you work in numbers - 3's or 5 in a row! They're also a great alternative to flowers, which while beautiful, and I'll have all over my home, can cost a small fortune when replacing on a weekly basis.

So, what do you think? Will you be putting your green fingers to work and potting some succulents for your home this weekend? Side note: They will need very little attention and you can grow them easily!

{Images: Pinterest}

How to create a Modern Interior

With much confusion over modern and contemporary Interior Design, hopefully I can give you an overview of the difference between the two and how you go about achieving a Modern home.

{Images: Pinterest}

Contrary to popular belief these are not one of the same style and the terms cannot be used interchangeably. Contemporary design refers to design which is a popular trend, right now, ever changing, and not fixed to a specific style. Modern design on the other hand is unchanging and fixed to an era, eventually evolving to Mid Century Modern or ‘Retro’ as it may more commonly be known today.

Come on over to The Utopia Hub where I'll look at some of the key elements of Modern design, and how you go about create a modern home, just click here.

If you need any more guidance into Modern Interiors please feel free to contact me

laura@lauraadkininteriors.com

www.lauraadkininteriors.com

How to Identify Interior Design Styles?

Ever wondered how to create a particular style at home, what are the current styles or perhaps felt unsure about which style suits you and your home? 

Over the next six months I’ll be writing for The Utopia Hub and covering this exact topic, looking in depth at five Interior Design styles and helping you understand how to recreate them before the final post ‘How to identify your style’ so you can transform your home with confidence. There are many more styles out there and more being created so this isn't a definitive list, but a guide to some of the most popular.

My specialty area is Modern Country Interiors, so naturally this is where we start our style guide journey.

To read my full post on creating a modern country home, click here.

If you need any more guidance into Modern Country Interiors or indeed, Interior Design in general, I am happy to help and you can contact me here:

laura@lauraadkininteriors.comwww.lauraadkininteriors.com

What colour front door for my house?

Having recently inspired you (I hope) with Modern Country front doors, I have been asked to send some of my tops tips over to Door Deals so that they too can help their customers when choosing a front door colour.

If you're interested to learn more about choosing a front door colour, the rule of front door colour and not only my top tips but those of other designers, then head on over, just click here.

While we're at it... My house has finally started its transformation. Last month our decorator started work on all the doors and windows. We're almost finished and what a difference it has made. Why did I wait so long? Hoping that when I get home, we're another window closer to completion.

New Website & Branding!

Did you know that I have launched my new website?

No?

Well, why don't you go and have a look.

With a new brand - Laura Adkin Interior Design and style to boot, this is a very exciting time for me.

I'm also working on some very exciting projects so keep an eye on my blog and I promise to keep it updated with everything that is going on, right now!

http://www.lauraadkininteriors.com