Inspired by my recent Diva-ish remodel of my bathrooms, my friend Crystal was ready to re-do her kitchen. As we flipped though the latest design magazines, she began to rip out pages of her favorite looks. All I can do is call her planned approach Steampunk-Industrial-Farmhouse.
While blending styles is the hot new groove in the design biz, it takes a certain eye to make it work. I trembled in my shoes at the idea of blending these three current trends, but then not everyone can have the Diva’s eye.
Crystal stood fast in her decision to blend the three styles and we took off for City Tile in Murfreesboro to get the ball rolling. Most places tell you to start with your choice of cabinets, but Crystal and I agree that is it the flooring, counters, and the tile backsplash that make the kitchen pop.
Of course we went straight to Andrew for ideas on how to make it all work. He showed us some great porcelain tile called “Cement” from Interceramic as a nod to Industrial and some metallic tiles and accents from Marazzi to give her kitchen the Steampunk touch. Woodstyle floor tiles from Ragno USA added the Country touch, especially when Crystal chose super-rustic barnwood cabinets with open shelving and a huge farm table with heavy metal legs and bench seats into the mix.
Why I doubted Crystal’s ability to pull off her blended look I know not. After all, she is a long time friend of the Diva, so of course she has great taste and style. Touches like a clock with open workings and plates, bowls, and mugs from a local potter displayed on the open shelves just added to the elan.
Allowing the tiles and flooring to do most of the design work, Crystal chose a light grey paint, and kept decor to a minimum. A few antique milk bottles with fresh flowers, a pair of vintage framed illustrations of gears, and a rag-rug by the back door was all she added. Blown-glass pendant lights finished it off giving the right amount of contemporary spin.
Yep, I never should have questioned her style. After all, this is a woman who made the custom sewn Tardis rug I gave her for Christmas work in her entertainment room.
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