When traveling in Italy we picked up an adorable ceramic donkey brimming with vibrant color. I know that this might sound crazy, but even though this home was just a distant dream I knew that one day I wanted to design a kitchen around this tiny new friend. So, I shipped it back to the states and for the next several years it held a special place in our home, wherever we were. When it came time to pick out colors and tile for our new kitchen, the donkey did the heavy lifting. We took it with us to Sherwin Williams and chose a coordinating island color, the tile for the fireplace carried out an international vibe across the open concept living / dining space and it all fell into place quite easily.
The first time a friend stepped into the space, the first thing she said was, “I love the donkey.” Success! I love giving others this same blueprint for creating a home that is truly unique to you and your experiences.
Is there something in your home that you simply adore? A photo, blanket, or tiny friend like our donkey? Something that represents your journey and unique style?
This is a great starting place for creating a space that feels unique to you and your family.
Once the donkey set the stage for our space, we knew that we wanted to go BIG and bold with our over the island lighting choice. Grandmillennia style is just everything to me right now. But, we also wanted to stick with an Italian, Latin feel for the space.
Lighting is what I like to call the jewelry of the home.
The brass pendant lights linked below from Crate and Barrel absolutely nailed that look for us. I love how they keep the space warm at night, with a soft downlight, and coordinate so seamlessly with the kitchen faucet, continuing a warm vibrant feel for this space. They’ve been a huge hit. I really encourage you to think about investing in focal lighting pieces for your home. It’s an element that is always noticed, and I’m glad I focused on these, keeping the background and stove space clean and minimal. I’m linking all of my favorite pieces (including some stellar, well priced bar stools and counter stools from our in-house collection) below.
I hope you’re leaving this post inspired to dig through the moments you’ve stored away, and start designing from a place you love.
Happy Designing!
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