Color, fabric, accessories reshape kitchen

Dear Sandi: I’d like to redo my kitchen in a whole new look. For the past 10 years, it has been done in a sort of country look with soft pastel colors. I want more punch, and I would like to give it a sort of Tuscany look. What do you suggest? —Charlene P. Dallas

Hi Charlene: The very first thing that I would suggest doing, if you haven’t already done it, is to go through as many books and magazines as you can that have pictures of the type of look that you are going after.

Tuscany can mean many different things to many different people. Do you still want your kitchen to have a somewhat rustic, country look but perhaps without the “cuteness” that the pastel colors may have provided? Do you like lots of “visual candy” in your kitchen, or do you prefer to have it outfitted with just the more practical pieces that you actually use? Fortunately, a few hours spent in a bookstore, the library, a home-improvement store or even the magazine rack at the market should give you lots of mental fodder to work with.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

Color is where you probably will want to start. It is the quickest, easiest and usually the most inexpensive way to change the mood of a space.

Organic and earthy are two of the terms that come to mind with this look. For me, Tuscany colors conjure up shades that are rich, yet dusty. I like to work with at least three, and often more, different colors in the mood I am creating.

Collect color chips that reflect the shades you think you want to work with, then play with them in your kitchen. Be sure to look at the colors you are considering in morning, midday and early-evening natural light and also under your regular kitchen lighting.

You probably should think about your windows next. This is a good place to continue with the color scheme you are working on. Curtains and/or shades really can add to the ambiance.

As you collect your color chips, look at fabrics that reflect the mood you are going for. If you find a pattern that really gets you excited, make it your color palette for the rest of the room.

Cafe curtains impart a homey feel that works perfectly with this look, but if they are not right for your space, consider other ways of bringing fabric pattern into the room, such as with chair cushions.

OK, now that we have taken care of wall and trim colors and what to do with the windows, this is the really fun part — accessorizing. I am going to assume you are OK with a bit of clutter because this look just seems to demand a certain amount of stuff.

Again, organic and earthy are the bywords here. A couple of weeks ago, in this article, we were talking about faux food, and this is the place to bring out your onion and garlic braids or garlands if you have them. Food, real or faux, is a great decor item, especially in a Mediterranean kitchen.

When looking for the faux version of these items, you either can go for the ones that look totally realistic or those that are blatantly artificial, such as the pepper strings that are made of brightly colored porcelain.

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

Continue your hunt by looking through kitchen shops to see if they have any interesting containers, especially ones in glass where you can store pasta, beans, spices, etc.

Look also for things in terra cotta and natural fibers. Large baskets or terra-cotta serving pieces work great in this environment. Make these functional. If you find a great basket, keep your potatoes or onions in it.

If you can’t find anything that hits your creative buttons, try garden shops. Often, they will have containers or pots that look fabulous inside.

A collection of small terra-cotta pots and jugs strung together with torn strips of fabric — perhaps the same fabric as your curtains —makes a great statement, or you can use a piece of the same fabric to line the top of a grass bag, then hang it on the wall and store plastic bags, rubber bands or whatever in it.

Don’t overlook the things that you already have, either. There’s a good chance that your pots and pans would love to come out of hiding in the cupboards and have a chance to hang out in your kitchen, either on great-looking wall racks or, if you have the space, a large overhead rack.

I don’t know how far you want to go with your re-do, but even if you already have perfectly good, functional lighting in the kitchen, you might want to consider buying a light fixture (or fixtures) strictly for the ambiance they can provide. Today there are so many inexpensive and interesting ones available that if you can find the right spot for them (walls or over a table), the impact they can have usually is well worth the additional cost.

I hope this gives you some ideas, Charlene. I think you’re going to have a great time creating your new environment.
May 13, 2005