The kitchen is one of my favourite places to be when I'm at home. Actually, scrap that. It's
the favourite place for me to hang out when I'm at home. Whenever I have a party, or it seems attend a party, the kitchen seems to be the beating heart of the event. I think there's a juxtaposition of both drama and serenity to kitchens; a sense of theatre as a meal comes together with pots bubbling and pans searing hot, then the calm of clearing away plates and glasses under the soft glow of the hob light once guests have departed. The hum of the dish washer. The sound of a kettle boiling. The smell of pastries warming in the oven on a Saturday morning. All these things awaken or soothe the senses and I often find myself appreciating these quieter moments when relaxing in my apartment. That said, I'm renting at the moment, and as much as I love my apartment let's just say the kitchen isn't to my taste! So I found myself cooing out loud at my Macbook (enter confused fellow coffee drinkers in Starbucks from stage right) when these inspiring snaps of
West Elm's rustic kitchen collection landed in my inbox. Likening the acacia wood pieces to a casual, New England oyster bar, the brand have kicked off 2012 by adding a
bistro table,
prep counter and
dining table, to the
island and
dining chair that made up the original collection. I may not have space for the lovely set of dining table and chairs in my current place but I have the perfect little spot for the
industrial stool. What inspires you about this rustic kitchen range?
Labels:
Kitchen,
Latest collections,
West Elm
Posts
Gorgeous images and I am totally digging those lightbulbs. Amy x
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally one for the rustic look but the stainless steel tabletops make this collection feel much sleeker.
ReplyDeleteI like the contrasts! Sleek modern and rustic go so well together! I like the last combination of Rustic island and stainless steel-grey kitchen. Very good text - emotional, vivid and warm!
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast between the stainless steel and the wood textures; also those black pendant lights are gorgeous! xx
ReplyDeleteI could definitely use the chairs - just my style.
ReplyDeleteLike, but I kinda wanna take a hammer to it and make it really really rustic ; ) it's just too pretty to be called rustic.
ReplyDeleteCan relate to the current kitchen conditions Will!!! Lots of kitchen envy here.......first pic with the white tiles and cupboards, the rustic french style sink contrast with scuffed floorboards and love the funky lights, when can I move in??
ReplyDeleteCarla x
Lovely blog, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI love this rustic Kitchen it's very simple and chic!
ReplyDelete@Milo and Mitzy - Ditto! Been loving those exposed bulb pendants of their's for a while now.
ReplyDelete@rolala, Ice Beautiful, Rachel, Sarah Roads, Deborah - I think it's a good balance between modern and rustic. Very practical, I think. Perhaps a good fit for the modern family home?
@Jackcynredesign - They are my favourite part for sure!
@Carla - Hi there, my new roommate! ;) x
@liduh - Thank you!
Our kitchen has a lot of these elements...I love the mixture of styles!
ReplyDelete"Rustic" is probably one of my favorite design words. I love this collection (and pretty much everything from West Elm). The way they mix modern with rustic elements just really gets me! The acacia wood is perfect-I have their acacia wood console table and it's just a really fantastic looking piece. I love what you wrote about the kitchen-it is so soothing, the smells, the sounds, everything. And totally with you on the whole rental apartment kitchen thing-mine is a bit of a nightmare but I tried to spruce it up as best as I could!
ReplyDelete@susan - You have excellent taste! ;)
ReplyDelete@Jackie - I feel really at home in the kitchen so it's great to hear your experiences and feelings it as a space as well. Here's to sprucing up rental kitchens!
This style totally speaks my language, I'd buy everything!
ReplyDeleteI´m dreaming of a bigger kitchen as well, and I would love to have a island unit similar to this one. I don´t like facing the wall when I´m cooking - I feel so alone... :)
ReplyDeleteWe are actually talking about getting a new kitchen where we live now, but there are not enough space for any island unit I´m afraid. But I will copy the open shelves idea as shown here - I love that! Maybe I could fit that industrial stool as well :)
I love the industrial stool! They are super cool! That rhymes. :)
ReplyDeleteJessie
www.mixandchic.com
i think i love your kitchen images more than the ones in my post :0 hahahaha. Love that bar stool in the last image. FIT! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a good week mate.
Stu
http://whatwilsonwants.blogspot.com/
i adore the kitchen, but even more i love what you wrote. i had never thought about WHY we all gravitate towards the kitchen or what all of those moments mean to us. love love love.
ReplyDeleteA lovely doing kitchen! You know where you stand with kitchens like this....no pretense, no nonsense, worktops are used not looked at, the smell of coffee, and crumbs in the corners!.........lov the lighting too.....
ReplyDeletex
I`m cooing over those chairs. Love the clean lines and combo of metal and wood. I love modern, so these chairs are right up my alley. You must make alot of friends at Starbucks with your cooing:)
ReplyDelete:)
mikky
www.todaloos.com
That first pic grabbed me! Love those jar-like pendant lights.
ReplyDeleteDear Will,
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Christmas and a fab new year!
I enjoy every post you make, I´ve been to busy to work on mine. I hope, I think, I´m back, now.
Smiles Jeanette
Love the lighting and that island - Imagine sitting at that while T makes dinner - Bliss :-)
ReplyDeleteWe're so lucky to have a kitchen diner - its definitely my fave room. People always gravitate there when we have people round!
Rachie xo
the white tiles, you know I love them!! I dream of one day creating my perfect kitchen!!
ReplyDeletehaha, I can totally picture you in that moment on your computer in starbucks. I also have the same renter's problem with our kitchen...it has the worst counters and flooring ever.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's all about the beauty of the wood grain. It's a touch wild, not in a strong sense but gives the look of nature with a clear tinted finish as opposed to a heavy opaque finish we see sometimes on wood. It's at once modern and warm. I like it!
ReplyDeleteYou're just amazing. You keep me glued to your blog with all those inspiring images and posts.
ReplyDeleteI am considering these chairs as they are on sale now. But I will not get a chance to get into the store. Have you seen them in person? Are they comfortable? Is the wood really hardwood or a cheap looking veneer (as some of the other West Elm pieces are)? Any feedback would be much appreciated as I can't find any reviews on these.
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! I've not sat on one of these chairs in person as we don't have a West Elm store in London but the product description says "Solid acacia wood with metal frame" so I guess they they are soild wood and not veneer. Here's the link:
Deletehttp://www.westelm.com/products/rustic-dining-chair-g529/?pkey=crustic-kitchen
I bought the bistro table as my breakfast table this week.
ReplyDeleteThe stainless steel table top is a winner.