the heart of the home

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!

A great family kitchen really is the heart of the home. It’s where the family shares good times over meals, important conversations about the day, preparing delicious, memorable food, and the wonderful secrets of the life. The kitchen can also become the meeting place for just about any social gathering. Did you ever notice that at a party, the kitchen seems to be the nucleus of the gathering? With kitchens acting so much like a “family room,” maybe it’s a good idea to go ahead and put a little thought into making it a warm and inviting place for your family and guests (they are going to be there anyway, right?).

Decisions, decisions: Decide on the ‘tone’ you want the set for the space. It might be a sweetly decorated place known for its baked goodies, a rustic space with lots of natural elements, or a contemporary room with more key tech elements than a Star Trek movie.

It’s All in the Detail (seriously): It’s easy to forget the kitchen when it comes to decorative accessories and other home details. But a few well-chosen pieces to warm up your countertops or start a conversation about the lighting can take it from a work room to an actual “living” room. Be sure to add comfortable seating so there are cozy places to linger a while (they are going to anyway)

What are you cooking: Too obvious, huh? But there really is no substitute for the wonderful smells that drift from a kitchen when tasty things are being created. It’s like a magnet to anyone who steps inside your door. Don’t worry if you are not a cook, it doesn’t have to be something fancy. Ever simmer a pot of orange and lemon peels with some cinnamon sticks and cloves?

It sure looks like you have been cooking: If you are not the cooking type, no problem… you can still make the kitchen seem like it’s the happening place. A pretty cake dome with a great dessert underneath, a bowl of fresh fruit or a tray of nuts, crackers, cheeses and pretzels will draw anyone to the conclusion that the heart of this home is a warm center of activity.

Go ahead, just give in and entertain there: Some of my best memories when I was young were in the homes of friends whose parents welcomed us warmly in the kitchen with food and drink and made us feel like part of the family - right at home. Go ahead, invite company on for the weekend and plan some special snacks or relaxing meals in the kitchen to warm their hearts and set the tone for a casual visit.

Classic design and thoughtful details lend convenience to the heart of the home.

Here are just a few of my favorites that definitely set the tone for

‘The Heart of the Home’

You can tell that I am extremely bias to white kitchens with just a little stained wood thrown in for good measure