Tips for decorating the kitchen
Working with a well-thought-out, timeless base and then adding personal details and trendy accessories, such as paintings. When Åsa Gramén, interior designer, stylist and photographer, designs kitchens for clients, the above are vital key words. Together with Åsa, we delve deeper into how we can think about kitchens – and how we can use simple means to create a comfortable environment through the seasons.
In the kitchen, we naturally cook and bake, but over the years this room in our home – also called the heart of the home – has also come to act as a space for conversation, work, study and much more. Not entirely surprising, considering that we also cook and bake in a different way today; new techniques and flavors are to be tested, and then to the advantage of more chefs and taste testers close at hand. The kitchen is simply the place where we gather to socialize. And surely we are even more inspired to dare to create when the environment is warm and inviting?
Kitchens that last over time
To delve deeper into kitchen design, we spoke to Åsa Gramén, interior designer, stylist and photographer, also known as @killingyourdarlings on Instagram. When Åsa plans a kitchen, she always starts with a neutral base with personal touches.
– I want to create a beautiful, well-thought-out and personal kitchen that includes both function and comfort! Timeless design is something I strive for and the customer's needs are always the basis for the interior design, says Åsa.
Furthermore, Åsa has great respect for the fact that the kitchen is often a more expensive renovation to carry out, as the customer wants it to last for a long time.
– The kitchen is to be used, which requires both solid quality and a neutral expression that the customer does not tire of. The best way to still create a trendy feel is with details such as lamps, paintings and accessories. Changing a motif or frame for the painting, from white to oak, for example, gives a completely different feel. Small, simple tricks that make a difference!
Kitchen planning with a mood board
In her role as an interior designer, Åsa assists with everything from ideas to total implementation; but regardless of the scope, each assignment starts with a mood board. A mood board functions as a kind of emotional collage; a perfect working tool for gathering inspiration and can include everything from materials, colors and photographs. Useful for capturing the feeling and atmosphere we are looking for in the environment we are planning for. A mood board is therefore a perfect task for those of you who are planning to renovate your kitchen. Visit the paint store and pick up color samples, cut out a piece of fabric you have fallen in love with and tear out inspiring homes in your best interior design magazines; and it will soon be clear exactly what feeling you want in your future kitchen.
Paintings for the kitchen
When choosing accessories for the kitchen, the paintings for the walls are an important aspect. Do you want to enhance the color of the kitchen doors, the material of the worktop or the color scheme of the interior? Combine graphic posters with photo art, preferably of both family members and favorite places in the world for a personal feel. Choosing a frame for the paintings may seem tricky, but one idea is to capture, for example, the type of wood in the dining group or the color of the floor for harmony in the interior.
