Umbria walnut finish ceiling medallion

Just imagine how beautiful your kitchen will look like with this amazing ceiling medallion if the cabinets in the kitchen are in the same nuance of dark wood. With its walnut finish and beautiful copper bronze trim accents, this 20 3/4″ diameter ceiling medallion from Minka’s Umbria collection installs easily and adds more finished touch to the ceiling-mounted lighting.

Imagine it with some of the following chandeliers. I think the effect will be wonderful:

Chandelier

Chandelier

Chandelier

My idea here is for general kitchen lighting. As you may know, this is the basic lighting in the kitchen; the one you turn on when you enter the room. The purpose of this type of kitchen lighting is to obtain a uniform spread of light in your room; that is to say, without dark or highly illuminated zones. The light must be sufficient for you to be able to move around safely in the kitchen, to arrange utensils in cabinets or drawers, to clean… activities for which you don’t need such precise lighting.

You can find the Umbria 20 3/4″ Walnut Finish Ceiling Medallion and these beautiful chandeliers at LampsPlus.com - America’s Lighting Superstore!.

Sponsored Links

Types of kitchen lighting

You can use three types of artificial lighting in your kitchen. The difference between them is expressed in the function each one of them performs…

• general lighting (ambient).
• task lighting.
• accent lighting.

The most important for the functionality of your kitchen are general and task lighting, but for perfect illumination, try to combine all three types of lighting, using the advantages of each.

General kitchen lighting

This is the basic lighting in the kitchen; the one you turn on when you enter the room. The purpose of this type of kitchen lighting is to obtain a uniform spread of light in your room; that is to say, without dark or highly illuminated zones. The light must be sufficient for you to be able to move around safely in the kitchen, to arrange utensils in cabinets or drawers, to clean… activities for which you don’t need such precise lighting.

A good variant is to use fluorescent tubes, placing them on the ceiling and ensuring enough space between them. They are economical, don’t radiate much heat and supply uniform, well-diffused light. You can use also other types of lamp…

• pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
• chandelier for greater luxury.
• recessed or track lights…

The number of lamps you will use depends on the size of your kitchen. If it is large and/or has a high ceiling, you will need a greater volume of light to illuminate the whole area well.

Task kitchen lighting

This is a precise lighting that makes it easier to perform typical kitchen tasks, such as preparing food, cooking, washing and eating. Potential places for this type of lighting are countertops, sink, kitchen island and places for eating. As far as the range is concerned, you usually illuminate it from above, with light from the hood.

You can light the countertops or the sink with lamps positioned under the upper cabinets. Fluorescent tubes are a good option for this, because of their extensive lighting surface.

Lamps positioned under the upper cabinets

You can also add some extra lamps to the lighting for these places; for example, recessed or track lights. You place them on the ceiling, slightly in front of the upper cabinets.

Track lights placed on the ceiling, slightly in front of the upper cabinets

Sponsored Links

Concerning the island, peninsula, table or bar, one or more pendant lights will do a great job. Apart from adding a certain elegance, they also function as accent lights, turning these areas into pleasant, attention-attracting centers.

If you have any kind of shelving above your kitchen island, you can use the underside of the shelving to serve as a base for task lighting, for example, track lights, in order to illuminate your island better.

Accent kitchen lighting

This is extra lighting, which casts soft and tender light into the room; usually from lamps with lower voltage, for example, 12 volt halogen lights. Such lighting makes your kitchen more interesting and inviting.

Focus on special places of the room…

• flowers.
• art works.
• small areas.
• also on the lamps themselves…

You can create the illusion of space in the kitchen by positioning, if you have space (at least 12 inches (30 cm) of empty space to the ceiling), lamps above the upper cabinets, directing them towards the back wall and the ceiling.

If you have upper cabinets with glass doors, you can draw attention to their contents by placing small lamps inside them at either the top or bottom. This creates a wonderful visual effect. Another way of achieving this is by drilling holes in the bottom of these cabinets and allowing the light from the task lighting below to filter through.

You can use different types of lamps for accent lighting…

• track lights.
• pendant lights.
• the same as the ones below the cabinets…

The types of lamp just stated are a small portion of a great variety that you can use. In addition to the type of lamp, you will need to consider the accent. You should be careful not to go too far with the accent; otherwise you will lose the effect.

What else do you need for good kitchen lighting

1. Light switches: it’s good to zone your lighting; i.e., to be able to control it independently. For example, the lamp above the sink should have its own switch. The same consideration applies to the lamps above the island, table or countertops.

2. Light adjustment: it is good to use such systems everywhere you can. You can use them to modify the intensity of the light according your needs at a given moment; for example, when you have dinner, to reduce the light above the table and thus make the atmosphere cozier. Besides, by adjusting the lighting you save energy and prolong the life of the bulbs.

3. Reflection of light: light tones and shiny surfaces (on the walls and furnishings) make a room lighter, because they reflect a lot of light. By contrast, dark colors and matte surfaces absorb light. Therefore, if your kitchen is light and/or shiny you will need less light (for example, soft light from lamps with lower voltage or lamps with bulbs, covered with shades), than if it is darker and/or has matte surfaces.

4. Installation: to be sure of the quality of your kitchen lighting installation, I recommend that you employ the services of a professional.

Click here for the best deals on kitchen lighting.

Resources: Kitchen Lighting Video

Sponsored Links

A variety of kinds of kitchen curtain are available…

• different shapes
• different colors
• different fabrics

Shape of kitchen curtains

You can put curtains on bigger windows; for example, long, sheer curtains on the left and the right side of the window. You can also use such curtains to respect current styles if you have furnished your kitchen fashionably.

Long, sheer curtains on the left and the right side of the window

You can put other kitchen curtains on smaller windows; for example, small pleated curtains to cover the upper and lower part of the window. These are wonderful curtains if your kitchen has such windows.

Small pleated curtains covering the upper and lower part of the window

With some curtains you can cover only a small part of your window; for example, by valance on the upper portion. Thus you will allow a greater amount of direct sunlight to penetrate into your kitchen, bringing warmth and life.

Valance on the upper portion of the window

With other curtains you can cover the greater part of your window, thus creating more privacy in your kitchen, avoiding outside eyes. If your kitchen has a dining table and you wish to have more privacy when all of you are gathered around it, these curtains are a good variant.

The shape of the kitchen curtains is a flexible element. You can experiment to achieve different effects…

• to add or to remove a valance in the upper portion.
• to select longer curtains, if you want to lengthen your window visually.
• to select shorter curtains (to the sill of the window or a little beneath it), if you want to create a more informal feeling.
• to pull back the curtains with ties or hold-backs in different places on their length: in the upper or lower portions, or in the middle.

Hold-back in the shape of flower

Also to create different effects you can use different hold-backs…

• in the shape of flowers.
• in other decorative shapes.
• from various materials as well (wood, metal, glass…)…

The curtains must be sufficiently long that, after you pull them back, their inner end continues to hang beautifully.

When selecting your kitchen curtains it’s good to choose ones that are a little bigger than is strictly necessary. Folding them (if necessary) is easier than lengthening them.

Color of kitchen curtains

Sponsored Links

The colors of the curtains have great importance for the decor of your kitchen. Select them to complement the colors of your kitchen furnishings. For example, if your cabinets or countertops are brown, match your curtains with them by having them contain a brown element, but a different shade of brown.

If you want your windows to be the focus of attention in the kitchen, select brighter or more patterned curtains. If not, select curtains with a more neutral color (white, beige, grey…) or ones with a simpler pattern; they, also, can look wonderful.

You will see some curtains in a solid color and others with different patterns…

• in stripes
• in flowers
• in checks…

All these styles are a good variant for your kitchen, if it has informal decor.

Bear in mind that passing through your curtains, the sunlight will add a certain nuance to your kitchen, based on the color of the curtains. Take care to ensure that this nuance is appealing to you.

Fabric of kitchen curtains

The fabric of your curtains is as important as their color and shape. Its significance is expressed mostly in its functionality. It needs to be strong, durable and fade-resistant, since it will be exposed to the sun’s rays.

Because the specific function of this room means that there may be a great deal of moisture from cooking and washing, you will probably clean kitchen curtains more than those in your other rooms. Hence, choose curtains you can wash in a washing machine.

The natural fabrics listed below are suitable for kitchen curtains…

• cotton
• linen

These synthetic ones are also suitable…

• synthetic silk
• polyester

You will find also some kitchen curtains in a combination of natural and synthetic fabrics. Usually, you will find the constituents of the fabric stated on the manufacturer’s label.

You will find that some curtains are sheer, with a high degree of transparency, and that others are coarser and correspondingly thicker. The thickness of your curtain will determine how much sunlight will penetrate through it into your kitchen. As a whole, curtains that allow more light to penetrate into your kitchen are a better choice.

Way to hold kitchen curtains

The curtains also vary according to the way you fix them to the rods. Each method of fixing will give a different character to your curtain and a different visual effect.

Curtains with metal loops

You will fix some by tabs (such curtains have metal loops along their top border). With them, the hanging rod will be visible all along the length of the curtain. So think carefully about what kind of hanging rod you would like…

• metal or wooden.
• with a different finish or with different finials at the ends (there are rods with different nice details to them).
• hidden behind a beautiful frame (wooden, gesso…)…

With other curtains you will wrap the rod, hiding it entirely (such curtains have a sewn pocket in their upper part, where the rod enters). Here, your curtains will be more pleated near the rod.

Curtains with sewn pocket

You can hang a third type of kitchen curtain by rings (there are clips to the rings to hold the curtain with). Such curtains are very easy to open and close.

Curtains held by clips

Conclusion

When selecting your kitchen curtains think about the sunlight penetrating into your kitchen…

1. What is the amount of light penetrating into the room?
2. Do you want it to be more direct or more filtered?

The answers to these questions will help you to select the right type of fabric, color and shape for your kitchen curtains.

• bring warmth, color and a cheerful mood to your kitchen.
• hide old flaws, if you have any, on the kitchen flooring.
• revivify the flooring, if you think it isn’t attractive enough.
• keep the flooring in good condition, protecting it from damages and stains.
• prevent, to some extent, dropped objects from breaking.
• make your work in the kitchen more pleasant, feeling their warmth and softness under your feet…

Patterned kitchen rug with semicircle shape. Photo courtesy of Scarbrough Faire.

However the kitchen is a special room in our home. For that reason the kitchen rugs must be multi-functional. They must possess certain properties that other rugs don’t usually have. The tips that follow are based on these properties. Upon reading them, you’ll know what rugs to put in front of the key zones of your kitchen, for example…

• in front of the sink.
• in front of the range.
• in front of the countertop.
• in front of the refrigerator.

What properties must kitchen rugs possess

1. Look for kitchen rugs that have the ability to withstand intensive usage. The kitchen is usually a high-traffic region, being one of the most frequently used rooms.

2. Kitchen rugs must also have the ability to resist water and moisture. It’s normal that there be more moisture in your kitchen than in other rooms, because of cooking and washing.

3. An important thing for safety in your home is that your kitchen rugs can withstand high temperatures (or, at least, to have a high ignition temperature). We all have accidents. Sometimes we might spill hot liquid or food on the floor while cooking, or drop hot utensils…

4. You have to be able to clean your rugs comparatively easily, so it’s best if they are machine-washable. It’s normal if stains appear on your flooring (on the rugs as well) in the kitchen while cooking or washing. If your kitchen has an exterior entrance, your rugs will become soiled even more quickly.

If you place machine-washable rugs in front of your sink, range or refrigerator, you will be able to use them again and again, without them becoming dirty or dingy.

5. The kitchen rugs must be thick. The thickness refers to the amount of the threads and how tightly they are interwoven. It will be best if the threads are short ones, because then the rug will have a tighter weave.

6. Use kitchen rugs with a non-slip pad underneath, between the rugs and the flooring; or with a non-slip backing on their underside. Then, your rug will be stable and it will be much less likely that you will slip on it. Using a non-slip pad you will also…

• prolong the life of your rug, letting its fabrics breathe.
• avoid pressing the rug to the flooring, resulting from the exhaustion of its pile after long-term usage.
• clean your rug more easily with a vacuum cleaner.
• protect your kitchen flooring from scratching, if it has a smooth surface.

The pad is an accessory, and is thus sold separately from your rug. Usually the characteristics of the pad and the kitchen mat itself are stated by their manufacturers on the label, or in a pamphlet. The material used for these pads is usually polyurethane, polyester or rubber.

Materials for kitchen rugs

Look for rugs, made from some of the following materials…

• wool.
• nylon.
• polypropylene (olefin).

These materials are…

• strong and durable.
• resistant to water and stains (they repel liquids).
• easy to clean and maintain.
• resistant to high traffic and moisture (although wool absorbs moisture).

Wool is a soft, luxurious and natural material (it is like a gold standard against which all other materials are measured). It resists fire well and dampens noise well. Together with nylon, you can find them in different colors.

Kitchen rugs design

You can find rugs with different shapes…

• rectangular.
• square.
• round, oval…

With different colors and designs…

• solid color.
• representing different geometrical figures.
• different foods, plants, animals, drinks…

With different styles…

• contemporary.
• traditional.
• transitional…

Choose the design of your kitchen rugs so that they complement the general appearance of the kitchen. If your kitchen (the flooring, the walls, the furnishing inside…) already has sufficient pattern, it may be best to use solid-color kitchen rugs. However if clean, deep colors predominate, patterned rugs will introduce an element of vitality. Thus you will avoid the overuse of different colors and will maintain the beauty of the rugs and their influence over the decor of your kitchen.

Conclusion

It is important to choose appropriate kitchen rugs. Consider well the tips above. Think about the way you use your kitchen and the way you might use it in the future.