Using Colour To Soften An Industrial Kitchen Look

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The fusion of industrial and country style has to be one of my favourite looks of the moment. I love the main colour combination of rich noir and racing green in this kitchen. Peppering primary blue and red accents throughout the space has helped to keep it feeling fresh and modern; a much needed hit of vibrancy to the industrial elements. The ticking stripe fabric that has been used to cover the front of the kitchen units adds a relaxed country charm, which in turn also softens the more robust elements of the scheme, such as the black walls and industrial-style metal stools. Sometimes I see a space that wholeheartedly encompasses my vision of Bright.Bazaar style, and this kitchen, with it's bold use of colour, is one of those spaces. Tell me, what are your favourite elements of this kitchen?

// Ideal Home | Photography by Simon Whitmore

Kitchen Notebook: A Green & Black Beauty

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX / SEVEN

I've always felt a strong connection to the kitchen. Yes, I love to eat(!) but it goes deeper than culinary pleasures and stems back to happy childhood memories. When I was little my mum and I used to stand side-by-side baking for hours on end. We'd bake cakes, cookies, biscuits and lots more; I'd watch mum first and then make my own much less fancy version, but it was still a whole lot of fun. These days when I'm at home I'm often found in my kitchen, whether it's enjoying the peace of dawn with my first coffee before a new day kicks in, cooking up a dish for dinner or working away on my laptop. I'm no minimalist so that cosy, lived-in feel that one often feels in the kitchen thanks to the abundance of pots, pans, utensils and foodie bits, makes me instantly feel like I'm home. That's why the kitchen space of Austinites Marco Rini and Tim Cuppett resonated so strongly with me. The open wall storage and little nooks filled with linen-packed baskets makes for a practical and cosy kitchen that oozes personality. Plus, the olive green and black colour scheme works a treat with the raspberry red accents - delicious! What do you like about this kitchen? Do you have happy kitchen memories?

// Photography by Alec Hemer for Country Living

NEW! Bryon's Cosy Rustic-Meets-Diner Style Restaurant

Shop the look: Antelope chair | Newgate clock | PS Pendant

When I'm not in New York (too often than I would like!) I'm always on the lookout for a decent burger joint to replace my love for Shake Shack. Luckily London offers a different, but equally as a good burger joint called Byron. (Be sure to check out their site, the branding is spot on.) They've just opened their latest restaurant in Putney and it looks a treat! I can't get enough of their quirky colour combinations, the herringbone floor, or the cosy two top tables next to rustic brick walls, so I had to pull together a few market items to match the look. What catches your eye about Byron's latest interior? Do you have a favourite type of interior for an eatery?

{Rustic Kitchen/Diner: Get The Look}

This is the kind of place I'd like to spend a couple of weeks on holiday. It would be perfect for whipping up a green salad, some fresh bread and a good glass or two of wine for one of those lazy European lunches on the terrace. Ok, so I'm dreaming, but I do love this space. I wouldn't choose to live in it full time, but it certainly fits that summery/laid back/chilled/generally-super-douper-happy kinda mood I usually have when chilling out on holiday. Geee, those tiles are killing me!

Tiles | Sideboard | Pendant | Plate | Chopping Board | Pan | Top Image

{Retro Kitchen: Get The Look}

I don't know where to start with this fun and fabulous space; for me it's all so good. It's an eclectic and colourful space tied together with industrial metal finishes and soft, neutral furniture, which makes me want to call my buddies and get together for an impromptu evening of good food and wine. That mantle is pretty much my ideal mantle and don't get me started on how excited I am by those open kitchen shelves. Plus, that hugely European stone floor...I die! Right, time to stop being all swoonful and see how to recreate this playful kitchen space...

Tablecloth | Clock | Vases | Dining Chair

{I'm moving in...}

Image: Vintage Glamour

...to here.

Why?

Triple-height windows, patchwork sofa and starburst mirror = my dream living room.
But, seeing as I'm not really moving in, let's see how to get the look...

1. Clairemont Coffee Table, Crate and Barrel; 2. Starburst Mirror, Furniture Butler; 3. Jelly Beans Rug, John Lewis; 4. Sofa, Squint; 5. Armite Floor Lamp, Pedlars; 6. LSA Clear Vase, Heals

{Office Inspiration: The Art Barn}

Maybe you work in a creative space everyday or perhaps you slog it in a cubicle doing the 9-5? Either way, I promise you this creative work space will make your jaw drop in awe. Let's take a peek inside the art barn of Alexis, Fern and Feather's author, who I discovered through luxe and lillies yesterday - it's a real treat!

Managed to stop squealing with delight yet?! (Yep, it took me a while to stop, too!) Ok then, let's see how we can recreate this creative, laid-back style...

Paint with Sexy Pink from Dulux

Add lighting with the Ridged Pendent from Pottery Barn

Accessorise with the Pink Splash bunting from Zigzag Bunting...

...then add character with these antique bottles from three potato four...

...and finally keep in with the barn-like look with a pile of these wooden trays

Images: 1. Luxe and Lillies; 2. Fern and Feather

{Colourful Cakes and Colourful Rugs}

Conscious of the fact there's been plenty about shelter mags on Bright.Bazaar recently, I wanted to mix things up a little by posting this fab cake design by Sugar Coat It Studio, which I saw over on Jessica's lovely blog, How About Orange (a seriously good blog, be sure to check in there if you haven't done so before). You might be wondering why I am posting on cake? Well, two reasons: firstly, cake is yummy. Secondly, I'm often inspired to use colour in interiors in many different ways and the amazing talent of Krista Markell in recreating a fabric pattern to decorate a colourful cake, is one of those very inspirations.

Jessica's fabric...

...on a cake

Fallen for this cake design? Get the look in an instant with the Felt Pixel Rug from Anthropologie.

Images: 1. Jessica Jones; 2. Sugar Coat It Studio; 3. Anthropologie

{Toast: Blue and White}

Toast always get it so right, don't they? If you remember how much I love azure blue, then you'll understand why I'm all excited looking at their scrumptious blue and white offerings this morning. These pieces would be perfect for a relaxing bedroom scheme - I'm thinking pastel shades for the walls, plently of exposed wooden surfaces for warmth and texture, teamed with these calming blue and white accessories from Toast. Yummy.

Ok, so there's some yellow in here, but still the Eve Pottery is divine.

Sigh. This image warms my heart. I'm sure the cotton jacquard throw would be lovely and warming, too!

Images: Toast

Checks arn't quite as cool as chevron patterns, but the lovely blue and white hues still make this a winner.

{Bold and Functional Home Office}

This is such a simple and fun way to update an antique dresser, don't you think? Plus, it makes for a really practical home office solution with all that extra storage. The wallpaper may be bold, but somehow it feels sympathetic to the age of the dresser. Get the look with this clock, this lamp, these boxes and this wallpaper.

Image: HousetoHome

{Office Inspiration: Grey and Orange}

The reason I think this office is so great is because it's achieveable and accessible. Don't get me wrong, I love dreamy, OTT styling as much as the next slave to interiors, but every now and again it's lovely to think: I could easily achieve that look. Teaming the cool grey hues with vibrant orange accents was a good move, as they are clearly best friends. Plus, it would be easy to get the look with a lick of this paint, a couple of these units and this fantastic lamp. Sorted!

Image: Living Etc

{A bright white house: style steals}

In the past week or two I've kept returning to belle maison, meaning 'beautiful home' in French. Maybe it's my recent visit to Paris that's made me fall for this blog, but I think it's just because it's author, Julie Thigpen writes brilliantly and posts some beautiful home tours! Like this one, showing a house with an all white interior, with pops of brightly coloured accessories. I've never considered being able to live in an all white interior, but after seeing this, I think I may have to reassess! In fact, I was so inspired by this great home, that I've been on a hunt to 'get the look'. Amazingly, I found that this style can be achieved on a budget, look at what I found in Ikea...

You can get this amazing chandelier from Ikea. It's called the PS Maskros light and costs £85. Check it out here.

Find similar chairs in the Ektorp Tullsta range, £124. Which boasts removable and washable covers. See the different colours and options here.

There are many versions of the Kartell Bourgie table lamp by Ferruccio Laviani. Whilst I think the clear version looks understated and effortlessly stylish here, I might have gotten a little carried away and opted for this gold version.

There has been an explosion of companies stocking glossy, fitted kitchens such as these. Not normally my favourite style (they must be a nightmare to keep clean?!), yet somehow in this house, it works perfectly. Tesco have recently started stocking kitchen's, check out their offerings here, or play it safe with an Ikea kitchen.

Images: belle maison and Otthon Magazine

There is something so refreshing and awakening about this dining area, and to me, it doesn't even feel cold. Plus, how fabulous is that pink candle stick holder?! As always, pick up cheap candles from the Vaghult series at Ikea, but also check out the latest range from Habitat for super stylish and very colourful vases. My favourite is this yellow Balta vase, which I would team with a striking print by Paul Wearing to add personality and colour to the white interior.