This week’s kitchen mood board is a mix of charming french-inspired accents and clean modern touches for an easy collected over time feeling that’s anything but cookie cutter:
1. The color palette for this imaginary room is all about navy-ish charcoal tones, deep pistachio hues, soft blue grays, and antique whites. We’d love to see the walls get a coat or two of artichoke-chic paint (which you see represented by that large rectangle of green at the top of the board) – try Benjamin Moore’s Sesame 381. The cabinets in the kitch could remain wood or white (either would work with this scheme) but you could also paint them an antique white tone and even add a bit of aging glaze to get that weathered french feeling for extra credit.
2. This deeply discounted table just oozes Parisian elegance, and when paired with these affordable pistachio and wood-toned chairs (which would tie into wood cabinets if you’ve got those) it makes for a nice casual yet cohesive mixed & matched effect.
3. We love the idea of adding in some crisp modern pieces to keep the whole look from feeling too obvious or themey, and this $149 lotus flower pendant would look so pretty hanging over the table.
4. Antique bronze or hammered gold curtain rods with ring hooks would really add to the polished but casual vibe, and these breezy (and totally budget friendly) smoky blue-gray curtains would introduce some nice moody ambiance.
5. Fun little modern pops of color in the form of accessories like this cute electric water kettle would be oh so charming on any countertop.
6. This stunning little runner started it all (it’s the first item that I found, which inspired the rest of the board). I love how elegant and polished it is. It’s a nice balance of french-inspired pretty (thanks to the sheen and the delicate dots) and modern cool (thanks to the dark food-friendly hue and the geometric pattern).
7. This cute little antique white cabinet (on clearance!) would work so well with the round table and I’m obsessed with the shape of those glass cut outs in the doors.
8. The concept for this room is really all about the mix, so I searched high and low for a pendant light (just $49!) that could be hung over the sink (heck, two or three of them could even be hung over an island or peninsula). I wanted something that could be layered into the same room with the lotus pendant that I found for over the table. They definitely don’t “match” but I can picture them happily coexisting in a space like this for that certain je ne sais quoi.
So there you have it. An imaginary kitchen makeover that I’m still daydreaming about. Anyone out there with a penchant for french-inspired decor and antique white? Or a craving for artichoke colored walls?
Psst- Looking for oodles of mood boards? Search them by color or by room right here.
I love the new moodboard, especially the sideboard!
I wish we had a place in our house for another pendant light, because I’ve been loving the lotus flower pendants lately! I’ve been considering the idea of taking the ceiling fan out of our art room, but we live in Florida…
Ha!! You seriously just re-did my kitchen/dining area! I have been in the process of “taking out the red” in my house. (I had lots of red and I don’t love it anymore!) I have recently been adding in lime greens and light blues. I have a file cabinet that I am planning on adding legs to. (And was even before I saw the re-do on your page, now I just have a better idea on how to go about it!) Thanks so much for posting these ideas! I love the mood board!
Dropping by to say that I am LOVING the new mood board format.
I LOVE this color scheme! AMAZING!!
A style quiz once told me I was “French Eclectic”. To be honest I have no idea what that means but I like this mood board! I think the internet is trying to tell me something…
Love the light, but the IKEA Knappa light would be a nice alternative for $119 less. Of course, the IKEA version is smaller, but still…
I’ve been thinking of adding a similar light to our guest room:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/the-grand-tour/
Oh my! The lotus pendant is the rage in Germany right now! They are in a lot of rental apartments and the Americans hate them!
A lot of them remove the pendant and replace them! So glad to see you two have created such a beautiful mood board with that pendant! I’m definitely going to ask our friends over here if I can have their discarded lotus pendant!
Beautiful mood board!
This is a beautiful and serene mix of colours. Very cool.
best mood board ever!
Love those colors!
I agree with Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowed}. The IKEA Knappa pendant would be a great alternative and they just introduced an 18″ version for only $34.99. It doesn’t come hardwired but you can buy a hardwired pendant canopy at Lowe’s for about $10. Thats what I did in my dining area and it makes such a statement. Always the first thing people compliment when they visit.
LOVE this color combo! It’s very modern–and with the pieces in the mood board it brings it back to an almost vintage feel. Perfection!
I really like this mood board. Especially since I I just bought a set a chairs like the one you have pictured from Pier 1 on a complete whim because they were on clearance. I was starting to think I made a big mistake but this mood board shows me they could work. My wheels are turning.
I also wanted to say that I really love the new mood board concept. I still think that offering custom mood boards is a nice option, but you have so many now that it really isn’t that difficult to put things together ourselves. It definitely helps to see how you would put together a room from scratch rather than modify it based on someone’s space and taste. Your blog has really helped me focus on the bigger picture for a nice and cohesive look rather than just a few items.
Love how you did a mood board for a kitchen! I would love to see more of these.
Have you ever thought of doing a post on decorating for those who are renting and can’t do a lot of painting or other big fixes?
I would love to see what temporary design ideas you have for these kinds of spaces!
Hey Laura,
Just check out our Projects page (see that tab under our header) and scroll down to our dorm and renting category. It’s full of ideas for those types of spaces!
xo,
s
Love mood board! The cabinet and the table you found are great!
Btw, is it possible to combine color and room while searching mood boards?
Hey Sammy,
Alas, we wrestled with coding to try to make that possible for hours but we just couldn’t make it happen. Hopefully it’s not too much trouble to search by room and scroll through the thumbnails and click on the ones in your desired color palette. Happy hunting…
xo,
s
Beautiful. Love the color scheme!
I LOVE the juxtaposition of the bamboo pendant light and the lotus flower pendant… It’s modern and fresh with a touch of natural elegance. The prices are fantastic as well! Love the mood board, I always love your finds!
One of my favorite mood boards ever. I can definitely see myself drawing some inspiration from this for my dining room!
Sherry, I feel like this was made for me!! I LOVE it!! We are about to paint our horrible yellow-y oak-y kitchen cabinets white. But, we just finished painting out kitchen walls a smoky blue-grey (very similar to the curtains in your mood board). Do you think I could reverse the paint and curtain selection in the mood board and do a some kind of a green curtain against my blue walls? I love the idea of the pistachio chairs popping against the blue walls!! Also, what style/kind of cabinet hardware would you recommend to complete this look? (Most of the hardware in the rest of the house is black wrought iron.) Thanks SO much!! I LOVE you guys!!
Yes! it would definitely work that way as well. Send us pics!
xo,
s
Thanks for the mood board! I’ve been giving lots of consideration to troubleshooting my bedroom (which is currently the pistachio color!), including your color scheme ideas! So, while you’ve made a fabulous kitchen/dining design, it gives me lots of inspiration toward my future fabulous bedroom. :-)
That’s funny that the lotus/artichoke lamp is big in Germany, as it’s huge here in the US, too! Must just not be the target demographic of Americans in Germany.
I’d love to have you guys do a post on bookcases. My husband and I have an extensive book collection, and our old folding, stackable bookcases are rickety and won’t work in our new condo. I’m trying to avoid particle board crap, but solid wood “furniture” style bookcases are amazingly expensive, especially when you have a thousands books to shelve. Our two best bookcases, which have survived many moves, came free from a Barnes & Noble store when it renovated.
Any recommendations or sources? I want them to stand the test of time (not bow under the weight of books, as many do), withstand moves, and look good, or at least unobtrusive.
Everyone we know loves their chunky and stylish Expedit bookcase from Ikea, so that’s an idea. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love this look! I’ve tried blending French and modern throughout my mid-century modern beach house. So far, I’d like to think it’s working! I think that pistachio green may be just the accent color I’ve been looking for in my dining room. Thanks from a long-time reader, and (how can this be?!?!) first-time commenter.
This caught my eye because I have the Lotus Flower Pendant from Lamps Plus.
Actually, I have 3 of them!!
One smaller one in my entry way, one huge one over my staircase and an Ikea knock off in my hallway that was converted to a screw in fixture that I got from Freecycle!!
The one over the stairs looks amazing with the two tone blue wall (harlequins) behind it!
Since I have something that you are recommending I feel so design-y and cool!!!
So cute! Question: we have a pot rack hanging from our ceiling directly in line with where our overhead kitchen light is. Right now we just have a boring light flush against the ceiling, but I’m in LOVE with the bamboo light you found–would it look weird to have a pendant light hanging directly in line with our hanging pot rack? Thanks!
Hey Harmony,
We’ve seen a bunch of kitchens with pendant lights and pot racks so we think it might work! Of course trust your eye and see how it looks in person (sometimes that’s the only way to really know if something looks weird or awesome). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I have to chime in too….I love this mood board! We are in the process buying a new home and I will be revamping everything from bathrooms to the kitchen.
I love the new grays and greens and was thinking that I would have to choose one or the other, but alas….you have given me great inspiration to use both!
I do have one question though….all of my wood furniture throughout the house is black. Do you think introducing a white dining area and kitchen would look mix matched? You just never know until it is too late and thought you might have some input.
Thanks!
Hey Lorrie,
As long as you have white a few white accents in the rooms with the black furniture, and you bring a few hits of black (with accessories) into the kitchen, it should feel totally cohesive!
xo,
s
Hey Jodi,
I think most of the Americans that move into the apartments in Germany are just overwhelmed by all the modern European decor and they think the pendant is just odd looking in a blank room. I’m positive if they saw this mood board, they would have a change of heart!
I certainly do now!
Love, love, love this mood board! Have you been reading my mind??? Recently, I’ve been scouring design blogs for inspiration to combine French country/vintage and modern design. I feel like many of my past choices have ended up way too “themey” as you put it! I, too, really like the lotus pendant. @Cait@HernandoHouse…I just checked out the lotus pendant at Lamps Plus…they also have one as a ceiling light add-on kit! You could keep that fan, and have your lotus too!
hi i have a question about your bamboo shades in the living room…i know you hung 2 together to make it look like one big shade….but what did you do with the cord on the one shade? i don’t see that it is hanging down in the middle of the window. thanks for your help!
We just tucked it up behind the shade so it’s not seen (since we don’t lower or raise the shades that often at all). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Wow, I think this is my favorite mood board you all have done. I love the twist on French country, and I just started incorporating a lot more gray into my house, so this mood board hits the spot!
I love the mood board, especially that little sideboard. And it actually brings up a question I’ve had for a while. Can anyone comment on the quality of Ballard Designs furniture? I’m all for online shopping but their prices are just high enough to give me pause.
I love love love this new moodboard! I have always had a strange obsession with that green color. :)
I love the pendant light and those colors are gorgeous!
I feel exactly like lorrie above, but we just bought a new (old) house and are redoing every room. I just sent my husband the link to this and told him its our inspiration. Now I just have to resist running out and buying all this lol!
Hey in your post you talked about the curtain rods but didn’t mention where they were from. We are on the look out or possibly considering DIY-ing it but whatever is easiest of the wallet will determine the outcome. Do you know the website? Thanks!
Hey Jessica,
The curtain rods in the pic are from the same company that sells the curtains, so while we didn’t hunt down a direct link you can look for them on that site or even hit up places like HomeGoods or Marshall’s or Target to find a deal. Anything simple and hammered gold or antique bronze would look great!
xo,
s
Hey guys! I loved this mood board, and absolutly fell in lov with the dining table! I’m sad though, becuase I don’t
think it’s available in white any more. Any other ideas on where I could get it?? Thank so much! Love your blog!
Hey Meghan,
Hmm, Pottery Barn used to sell something similar… maybe they still do? Otherwise perhaps you could buy it and paint it white or even try building one of your own with a large round tabletop and a shelf/cabinet that you can use as the pedestal base. Good luck!
xo,
s
Looks great. I love all of the green!
I adore your mood boards!! The table for this one looks fantastic at first glance but seriously – how would your legs fit under? The base and whole style is fantastic but it just looks uncomfortable to me. Has anyone actually checked it out in real life? Maybe it’s the photo angle?
Hey Pam,
We were waiting for someone to ask that! We thought the same thing at first, but if you click the link over to see it, they show it with chairs in a second photo and it looks like it works perfectly. Pottery Barn also sells a version like that which we’ve seen in person and it’s also super functional. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
That is EXACTLY the look I am going for in our dining room! We have a slightly different rattan-style lamp from IKEA and I am planning to paint my black table a creamy white very soon! Glad to see someone bring my vision to life in that mood board – definitely helpful for future inspiration!
Love all your moodboards, but this might be my favorite! And I can’t believe that sophisticated country-esque chair is from Target.
Just chiming in again… the table that we use now was built by my husband’s dad when he was 18 and it has a similar design. It’s not my favorite construction, to be honest, but we don’t have a problem with our legs fitting underneath. This is making me want to sand and paint it a creamy white.
Speaking of Target… after looking for ‘the right bar stools’ for about a year, we finally ordered these from Target. http://www.target.com/Oak-Barstool-–-29H/dp/B000AYRMJI/ref=sc_pd_gwvub_2_title.
Have to say we were pleasantly surprised! They are very sturdy and well built, have a large seat area, are a nice shade of brown and blend with our decor nicely. Not to mention, a price that can’t be beat. Just thought I’d share the good news in case they work well for someone else too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT…IF YOU EVER NEED A CONDO TO DECORATE USING ALL YOUR TRICKS SO YOU HAVE MORE TO POST PLEASE COME TO MIAMI BEACH AND MY CONDO IS ALL YOURS! I have actually lived here for four years with boxes still and my bed in the living room!!!!
ANYWAY…LOVE THIS MOOD BOARD!
PS your baby is adorable!
love this mood board!
I wish you would ever do a mood board combining dark and unpainted (wood-tone) furniture (major pieces),- never seen such a combo, maybe it’s a no-no, or smth. Just curious.I suddenly fell in love with dark furniture and all I have at home is birch and pine wood…
Would LOVE to see yalls suggestion for a big rug to go with this mood board…I’m lovin’ it!
Hey Amy,
We can picture a big braided jute rug (West Elm and Overstock used to sell a round one for under a kitchen table- maybe they still do?). It would look so nice with the pendant and add that casual french-esque texture. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ooh, I really like this one. I love the caged pendant light. I would love that for over my sink in my kitchen. And $49 is definitely not bad. Even though it’s still not in my budget right now. ;)
Love this mood board – I’ve been looking lately at Crate and Barrel’s Augustine curtain panels for my kitchen. These colors would go perfectly and the pistachio chairs would really make it pop! Thanks for the inspiration!
Just thought I’d let y’all know, but IKEA has a lamp EXACTLY like that pendant, but for $30 instead of $150!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60071344
Love your blog!
-Chris
Thanks for the Ikea pendant suggestions everyone! We always love a cheaper alternative (and Ikea) so for anyone who doesn’t need one quite as big as the one we dug up, it’s an amazing steal!
xo,
s
I love love love this! I think I’m going to try to adapt it to my bedroom. :)