How to Create a Cozy Kitchen

We’ve been trying to decide on what to write about for our last blog post of the year. 2020 has been a challenging year on so many levels, and we want to send you off into 2021 with hope, gratitude, and inspiration for a better year.

If you’re like us, you’ve been treating yourself here and there this pandemic year, so you’ve probably already gotten that new kitchen rug or those cane stools you’ve been eyeing. And you probably already have your dream appliance, since you’ve been cooking so much more than normal. And ditto for favorite cookie recipes; in fact, you could probably tell us a thing or two about those.

But gifts and treats aside, the separation forced by the pandemic has helped us realize what we treasure most about the holidays. It’s just being with friends and family and spending time with people we love.

Make yourself a mug of hot cocoa or tea, and enjoy scrolling through these warm, inviting kitchens as you ring in the new year.

True Blue

Blue is calming and relaxing, but this beloved hue is also very reassuring. Choose a classic blue, and pair it with touches of honey-toned natural wood and copper like Heidi Caillier did in this kitchen, and you’ll have a kitchen that everyone wants to hang out in.

Gather Around the Hearth

We like to say the kitchen is the heart of the home. And in the old days, it literally was, because the kitchen was the warmest room in the house, according to culinary and cultural historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris. That’s because every kitchen had a multipurpose stove like this one for heat and cooking. We love the way Anna, an Instagrammer in Sweden, used the hearth to add a vintage touch to her warm white kitchen.

Here Comes the Sun

Studies show yellow makes people think of sunshine, warmth, and happiness. This intense Farrow & Ball shade called India Yellow proves this ably with the way it enlivens this collected kitchen open shelving vignette. If you’re looking for a way to heat up your kitchen without adding to your heating bill, invest in some yellow paint.

Charming Details

There’s so much to love about this quietly beautiful kitchen by Lauren Caron of Studio Laloc, that we hardly know where to begin. From the warm beige-pink hue paired with deep blue to the little gold details and the basket collection to the floral floor, we’re smitten.

French Farmhouse Chic

Designer Becca of June and Blue (who sells amazing Moroccan rugs) transformed an old French farmhouse not far from Lake Geneva, and this is the stunning kitchen. The space features a Calacatta Viola marble backsplash, oak cabinetry, walls done in Bauwerk Stone paint, and of course a French range.

Warm Woods

The library, with the multicolored books and botanical prints, is just a warm-up for the kitchen designed by Killy Scheer, an Austin, Texas interior designer. But the real showstopper is the vintage wood island with a stone top. The chocolate wood floors, mango wood stools and headboard plank ceiling add to the charm.

Storybook Kitchen

Sometimes I walk into a home with such wonderful historic details that I know they’ve got to be part of the final design. That’s what happened with this kitchen called Merry Tudor Full of Grace. The arched walnut doors were so striking that they informed the woods that I chose for the cabinetry and the rail along with the range hood. Even though the kitchen is painted a clean white, it feels very warm.