Cape Cod is beautiful, we can all agree on that. But it’s also part of New England, which means there are those days when getting outside and enjoying the cold, damp winter months can feel unappealing. That’s a great reason many homeowners are deciding to bring some of that natural Cape Cod outdoor beauty, indoors.
To achieve this look and feel there are a few key design choices you can make.
Opening Shelving
First let’s talk about open shelving. This isn’t for everyone, but if it is something you’re thinking about, remember it doesn’t have to be for the entire kitchen. Take a look at the space and determine if and where open shelving makes sense. Here you will see how the homeowners were very intentional about which shelves would be open and which would be traditional cabinetry.
Plants
One of the many benefits of open shelving is that it gives you the opportunity to display indoor plants which really brighten the space and establish a sense of nature. For those without a green thumb, there is no shame in using artificial plants. But if you are looking for a hack on making your artificial plants look and feel real, you can try using real dirt. Your plant will stay green and beautiful and no one will know the difference.
For those homeowners looking to display real plants on your open shelving, here is a friendly life science reminder that if you are going to be displaying plants on those shelves, you will want to make sure they will have access to sunlight!
Windows
Now let’s talk about windows. Everyone can benefit from more sunlight, including those plants, therefore lots of windows is something to keep in mind when designing your kitchen. In addition, if you are looking to bring the outdoors in, adding more windows to the design will certainly help achieve this aesthetic.
To bring the outdoors in, you will want to plan for lots of windows and take notice of the way the sun rises and sets over your home. In this Brewster residence you will see how big and open the windows are above the sink along with the slider in the dining area.
Contrasting Countertops
Along with open shelving, bringing the plants indoors, and planning for lots of natural light, you can think about bringing in the bold look of dark countertops into the design. Dark countertops are a versatile option and perfectly compliment the lighter cabinets, natural light, and greenery. In this kitchen you will see the beautiful contrast between the Grey Mist Cabinetry and the black countertops.
While Cape Cod is the place to be in the summertime, there are occasional summer days that have stormy moments. These homeowners made some very intentional choices when designing their kitchen to bring the outdoors in. When you are considering redesigning your kitchen think about bringing the outside in, for year round beauty with open shelving, plants, windows and a bit of contrasting colors.
If you want to talk about ways to make your kitchen more open, we would love to find a solution that works best for you and your home.
