10/31/18 10/31/18

White Kitchens - Yes or No?

Put me firmly in the YES camp. I'm the middle of sourcing cabinets for our Anguilla Beach House Project. As I read various online design magazines and blogs, it appears that white kitchens are "out". People are sick of them. Apparently, they are boring and show no creativity.

I disagree. I strongly believe that kitchens and bathrooms are not the places to be trendy. They are the most expensive rooms to build or renovate. Twenty-four percent of Americans move to a new house every five years. In other countries people tend not to move as often. If one is worried about the resale value of their home, it would make sense to have a kitchen that is not dated.

A well-designed white kitchen is timeless. This is one reason they're so popular. One cannot tell if the kitchen was renovated five months ago or fifteen years ago. A homeowner can always swap out hardware or light fixtures to freshen things up or we can use accessories that speak to the trends of the moment. Most people cannot afford (nor want to) gut a functional kitchen just for aesthetic reasons.

White kitchens are not a trend given they've been "in" for almost two decades and were very popular in the 1920s. They are classic. Seriously, what are people smoking? I think, with the rise of social media, we're burning through trends faster. There's this need for instant gratification and always looking for something new. The thing is, most of the hot trends of today will not hold up.

To me it's more important that a workhorse room, like a kitchen, functions well. Open shelving may not be practical for some families. Maybe your kitchen isn't big enough for a massive island.

If a client wants to go with dark green cabinets, I'm all for it and we'll look for the shade that works best in the space. However, if a client wants white Shaker cabinets but worries it's too boring, we're going to get the darn Shaker cabinets. We can find other ways to add some color to the kitchen.

Content driven decorators rarely think about the architecture and/or the function of the space. Many have moved away from working with clients and instead continuously buy and flip houses. That's a very different mindset than creating a home for yourself or for a client.

As I work on this beach house kitchen, I'm mindful of the trends but we will have white Shaker cabinets as they fit the space, the location, and the architecture of the home. If the house were inland or a primary residence maybe we would chose a different color.

Here are some kitchens from talented designers and decorators. Notice that they don't look the same. I wish someone would tell them that these kitchens are boring or "so over".

This kitchen is in a 1922 Colonial that was recently renovated by interior designer, David Nastasi.

Modern Farmhouse by House of Jade Interiors.

A villa in Tuscany designed by Ilaria Miani. The estate belonged to her grandparents and is now owned by her brother. I was one of her interns and I remember her custom Whatnot shelving well.

Interior designer's Mark D. Sikes's kitchen in the Hollywood Hills.

A minimalist NYC kitchen. Love the terrazzo floor. Interior Design by Pierce Allen.

6/23/14 6/23/14

Stylish Simplicity - Eres Bikini (and a short rant)

Today's edition of Stylish Simplicity highlights the ERES bikini.

Work it J.Lo

Photo. Vogue June 2012

This French brand has some of the most beautiful bathing suits on the planet... classic and well made.

I never wore a bikini until I moved to Italy. NEVER. I grew up seeing magazine covers constantly saying, "Get A Beach Ready Body!" or tabloid headlines that screamed, "Worst Beach Bodies!" In Los Angeles many of my colleagues gleefully ripped celebrities to shreds, calling them fat and what not. Celebrities who were no larger than a size 4.

What's the point of starving oneself for the season? What happens once the summer is over, back to bad eating habits? I blame the Puritans for this madness.

The first time I went to the beach here I was stunned by the variety of shapes, sizes, and ages wearing bikinis and Speedos. Italians were chilling, just doing their thing. I stood out with my very sensible one-piece for a woman of a "certain age."

How do my friends in Italy get ready for beach season? They put on a bathing suit and go to the beach.

I'm not sure what made me decide to take the plunge and finally buy my first bikini. In the fitting room, I told the saleslady there wasn't enough coverage on top. She looked at me like I had two heads. She said that's the way a bikini was supposed to fit. I was skeptical.

The day came when my Eres bikini and I went out in public. The world didn't stop spinning. The Italians couldn't care less. The only reason I stood out is because I was one of the few people of color on the beach not selling a trinket.

Now my sensible one-pieces (which actually made me look heavier) are sitting at the back of my closet. To me function is just as important as style. A two-piece is more practical than a one-piece.

I wish I could go back and talk to my critical younger self. I'd tell her to get a grip, just go to the darn beach, and enjoy herself.