A Truly Modern Cottage!

I have to admit that I have been falling in love with the design work coming from Chango & Co.  They have a knack of taking timeless designs and adding just the right amount of a modern spin.  This happens to be the purest definition of a modern cottage – classic design built for today’s lifestyle!

A Social Setting

We all know that the heart of the modern cottage is the kitchen.  Great kitchen design allows the space to function as a place to prepare food and to gather in all sorts of social conditions.  From morning coffee to afternoon homework and evening celebrations, the modern cottage kitchen provides the setting.  This island is a great spot to hang out and converse with the cook, but one of its main purposes is to separate the ability to prepare food without distraction from the gathering.  Here, there is a clearly defined separation between the two.  Designers use tricks like color and material changes to identify “zones.”  In this case, a beautiful, blue island contrasts with the clean, white cabinets.

Sit, Relax & Reconnect

Today’s world is fast-paced, frenetic and often overwhelming.  We often don’t allow ourselves the time to sit and reconnect with those things that are valuable to us:  our friends, our family, and ourselves.  Good design creates places to do this – comfortable and cozy places where we want to hang out, take time and relax.  Put this space near the kitchen and you have a winner!  You now have the ability to have conversations over breakfast or help out during those stressful homework projects.  The cozy nook provided in this design just screams, “Come sit.  Let’s have a talk.”

Don’t Forget the Storage!

While kitchen design takes on many shapes and sizes, the key to every successful one is whether or not it works.  A beautiful kitchen will soon lose its luster if the cook is frustrated with too little storage or not enough countertop work area.  Great kitchen design starts with these fundamentals and then spreads the beauty on top.  Make sure to include ample counter space that’s clear, free and close to the sink as well as a designated prep area and refrigerator.  Storage requirements should be based on where it is needed.  For example, a place to store everyday dishes and glasses should be in easy reach from the dishwasher.  Good design will understand how the kitchen will be used used first, then the fun of materials, textures, and colors follow.

Shine Some Light!

The better the light in a space, the more we enjoy being there.  Both natural light and artificial light need to be part of your design.  Take advantage of natural light.  It allows for a view and brings warmth into a space.  Choose your fixtures carefully. The color of artificial light affects our moods and how we feel in a space.  Soft, warm light makes us feel cozy, while cool light tends to activate us.  How do you want your space to feel?

Design Exploder is a “tool” used by Your MODERN COTTAGE to help explain why we like (and don’t like) the homes that we live in.  It explodes design elements into their basic form and gives us insight into how designers think.  We hope that this tool will empower you to understand your own homes and give you the confidence to make the changes that you need in order to improve your life.

We look forward to your comments, questions, and continued conversations!