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My husband and I have started decorating. Well we are cheating by using a page from a restoration hardware catalog from last year and buying stuff from said catalog. Our style is now what I would like to call industrial meets elegant.

We are both foodies and really want to utilize this for expanded space for our kitchen items. I guess I am asking for recommendations on how to place things in a way that is useful and pleasing to the eyes?

I keep trying to figure out how to shrink the photo until then I will paste a link. I am new to my apple and still figuring this out :-/

http://s1285.photobucket.com/a...current=IMG_1215.jpg

Welcome back (saw your other thread). I am no help w/ tech questions re. photo shrinkage, but do know others here are. so hang in there. Till you can post pics, here are some tips re. displaying your cookware/kitchen items on visible shelves.

Mix colors/shapes/sizes/sheens.
Draw the eye in a zig zag configuration so that nothing is missed.
Keep display clean/organized/neat and uncluttered as the minimal approach lends itself to the industrial/elegant feel you seek.
Feature large scale items that are visually pleasing while grouping "like" smaller items in odd numbers for more impact.

I await your photos which would be most helpful re. specific recommendations. Do observe what retail displays (in stores, in catalogs, in model homes, in designer showhouses, in deco mags and on the web)and other professional sources offer you for guidance. Some of the keys to a successful presentation are scale, balance, unity, contrast and variances of heights/shapes/colors/textures. The goal is not purely to fill voids, but to paint a composition that relates to your style of decor as well as your lifestyle, passions and personality.


Whoops! Just noticed your link of three pics. They appear dark, but it could be just the camera. If not, do bring more illumination to the kitchen area. Love the style of your home's facade. It's like a cottage/castle. Very quaint. Re.those shelves, feature pops of more red as in the mixer in staggered areas esp. if red is part of your room scheme or a complimentary accent. Touches of sparkle via the chrome here and there will reflect light. Leave voids for the eye to rest tho.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

BTW, since you are both foodies reflect your passion for the culinary arts by displaying a favorite, handsomely bound, cookbook or recipe album on a stand on one shelf. A nest of colorful mixing bowls, additional small appliances, a kitchen clock, oversized salt and pepper mills, attractive cannister set, etc. can be possible items to display and store there.

Froo Froo,
Thank you so much for your response! You just gave me GREAT ideas that I never considered before. My room is kind of dark (I like it dark) but I also love the idea for adding punch of color.

Thanks again!
Raye

It depends Wanna, on what you want your shelves to "say" about you. Are you a foodie or do you want others to think you are a foodie? Will your displays be about symmetry, balance, scale, proportion or will they be about utility?

Here is a picture of one of the bays of my kitchen cupboards. For my purposes these are about utility. . . to store as much of my beloved china as I can. I do not "style" these cupboards in the same way I would a mantelpiece or a table top.

So first I think you need to answer that fundamental question for yourself. Good luck.

Oh btw with an apple to downsize your photos. . . if they are not in Iphoto. . . import them. Then go to the file menu, select "export" then when the window pops up, select the lower button (to change the size) I always put in 400 for the larger view (width if it is landscape mode or height if it is portrait)then name it and send it to your desktop. Hope this is clear, if not post back and I will try to be more explicit.

Lady of Shallot,
Thank you for your response. My husband and I are definitely foodies. These shelves are open to the rest of the room so we want them to be both functional and pleasing to the eye. Also, thank you for the tip on the Apple and resizing photos! I really appreciate it.
Raye

Some inspiration may be found on here...
http://www.houzz.com/photos/co...ary/display-shelves-

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks...culate-Open-Shelving


Perhaps repeat the red of your mixer. Shelves featuring one color scheme can make for a dramatic presentation and red pops against your dark walls. Touches of chrome help reflect light and provide the industrial vibe you desire. Here's a pg. of red appliances:
http://www.squidoo.com/Red_Kitchen_Appliances


I like the red EAT sign in the fifth picture on this pg.
http://www.houzz.com/modern-red-kitchen

A red neon sign is another option if it's not too retro.

Hi wanna.

Another thing you could add would be some cool vintage items such as this

There are lots of vintage kitchen gadgets on etsy and I'm sure on ebay as well.

Some of these old gadgets work better than the modern ones.

http://www.etsy.com/search/vin...ets&original_query=2

Froo Froo and victoriangirl

Thank you so much for these ideas! I LOVE them! I am now so inspired for what to add and ideas on how to place things. I really love that scale.

Should have added the link for the scale for you.

Here it is.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99...2&ga_search_type=all

Just weighed my new pitcher on such a scale! DH uses it for his various art projects.