COOK UP creative ideas

Fun touches are on the menu in this family-friendly kitchen.

A pease your appetite for a flavorful kitchen and breakfast room. Chock-full of delicious color and tasteful touches, it's a treat for the senses. The not-so-secret ingredients in homeowner Sharon Moore's creative cookbook are paint, fun finds, and a gotta-try-it attitude. "Remember, it's only paint. If it's not right, just slap some more on top," she says.

Window Dressing

A stained glass remnant hangs from simple hooks to add color to the transom window above the doorway. Above the sink, another stained glass piece is beautifully backlit on sunny days. Its diamond pattern echoes that of the faux rug painted on the floor. Shop flea markets and antiques stores to find salvaged stained glass.

Add Some Seasoning

Like salt and pepper, it's the extra dash that often makes the mix work so well. Sharon added plenty of fun touches to the rooms. She painted a built-in cabinet in sunny shades of yellow and orange. The doors are embellished with handpainted flowers and chickens. More ideas you'll want to steal: a window basket that hangs inside and holds cookbooks; a row of wood lockers and a large chalkboard to keep the family organized; and rustic, colorful chairs.

Trompe L'oeil Triumph

This paint technique is named for the way it tricks the eye, but it's no illusion that Sharon is a whiz with a paintbrush. She gave flat molding around the door between the kitchen and breakfast room a stunning transformation. Now it looks like detailed millwork. A piece of stained glass adds sparkle and is the perfect topper to Sharon's artistry.

A rug in the center of the kitchen needs no pad to keep it in place. Sharon painted it directly on the floor. This is a great option for older floors that need some work. If you don't have the confidence to paint freehand, use stencils.

Spell It Out

Sometimes it's not enough to know what you want. You also need the patience to pull it together. On multiple shopping expeditions, Sharon engaged in alphabet hunting. She always knew what she needed, a "v" here, a "b" there. Finally, she had a perfectly random assortment of letters to spell out "eat your vegetables." Kids can't claim they didn't get the message when it's displayed so prominently above the windows.

A Finely Aged Feel

The walls get a textured look with a rag rolling technique. To get a similar look use two neutral shades. Paint a base coat, allow it to dry, and then apply a second color with a crumpled cloth. Press the rag against the wall several times before you dip it in the paint again. Re-crumple the rag to vary the pattern as you go.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Apr 2007
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved