Better Homes and Gardens Small Kitchen Solutions

If you're thinking of renovating or building a small kitchen, this is a good introductory overview of small kitchens for the price--you get a free one-year subscription to BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS magazine with it so the book is practically free! I team-teach kitchen design classes with an interior designer and kitchen design store for continuing ed classes and will use this book for our classes. There's not that many small kitchen books on the market, and it helps to see pictures of real kitchens to determine what you want. Try to find kitchens you love in books or magazines and deconstruct them in your mind, analyzing what it is you like about them and what you'd change. The kitchen on the cover of this book appeals to me, and am thinking of renovating my black and brown 1970's-era kitchen, so am pulling ideas from this kitchen. I love the white cabinetry with feet, the farmhouse sink, stainless steel appliances, the curved cabinet with peninsula and second sink, the subway tile although might do stainless steel behind the stovetop--probably change the black countertop, have a couple glass fronted cabinets, do a wood floor, and want a banquette with red leather seating....but that's the kind of thought process you want. This book has numerous kitchens to view so you can start listing what works for you and what doesn't. In teaching various design classes with a designer, I learned in other rooms you want a focal point for the eye to be drawn to: fireplace and seating in livingroom, bed in bedroom etc. However, in a kitchen, you may NOT want a focal point. You don't necessarily want the eye to be drawn to the floor, countertop, or bright patterned backsplash. You want your eye to move around as it does I think in the kitchen on this cover--there's a balance and harmony. The charm is in the blending of subtle textures, and in the balance, where no one feature dominates. One of the most common aesthetic mistake in kitchens, I've learned, is that a tile backsplash is so colorful or busy it is visually screaming at you which you may tire of quickly. There's enough activity and chaos at times in a kitchen, that you may wish the room to be soothing--not boring--but soothing. You can always add interest and accessorize with some art, fun dishes, a rug etc. but it's in the harmony of the surfaces and textures that is the beauty. (My designer friend, Georgette, says don't hesitate to use a real rug in a kitchen, if you want a rug.) If you look at some of the kitchens in this book, there may be a few where tile or a lot of different patterns dominate. Ask yourself if you'll tire of it after a year? Think of your ideal kitchen--what 5-7 adjectives would describe it? My adjectives would be light, airy, charming, cottagey, fresh, welcoming--so when you see a kitchen you like, you can see how well it embodies those words. Your key words will help you in making choices. Do the cabinets, tile, flooring, countertops support your ideal style? Another design tip is that classic style and materials are almost always in style--beware of trends as they date quickly. Get what you love, but often you can find something you love in a classic material. Your kitchen style should suit, although doesn't have to match exactly, the architecture of the home--you don't want a Tuscan style kitchen in a Colonial says my designer friend Georgette. If you're doing a period-style kitchen, it's best to look at orginals of this style and then use materials/styles that most capture the essence of the original. Simplest is often best. Don't do an American version of what we think a country French kitchen should look like--look at real Provencal kitchens in books and then capture the style fairly accurately. Great features of this book include: *multiple styles of kitchens to view in diverse geographical locations--include traditional, modern & art deco *lay-outs of some kitchens *before & after photos *budget breakdowns of some kitchens *kitchen workbook at end detailing cabinet, counter, floor choices and price points *list of resources of companies for cabinetry, tile, appliances, tile, countertops at end of book with websites My only suggestion for improvement for this book is that I would have liked to see visual samples of floors & faucets in the workbook section along with cabinets and countertops which were featured. As new products change and kitchen styles are updated frequently, you want a book on kitchen design that has been published in the last couple of years, like this one, unless you're going for a cottage style kitchen or more historical style. You'll still want to see some recent versions of these historical looks. As homes are getting smaller and more energy efficient, smaller kitchens may be more in vogue so this is a great resource of attractive kitchens to look at. It will help you begin to articulate your priorities in kitchen design for your own home.

Love this book so many great ideas! A lot of pictures!

Great ideas!

We’re getting ready to do a complete renovation of our small galley kitchen and even though this book was published in 2011 many of the styles are still relevant. It solidified my contemporary choice and picked up some great pointers for saving space.

Their definition of small and mine are definitely different. Most of the examples in this book are not what I would consider "small". For instance an eat in kitchen with room for an island and a bar that seats 3, is not small to me. I had hoped for ideas for a small cottage kitchen and unfortunately, there aren't many in here.

ok for kitchen inspirations. But not really for small kitchens. The kitchens shown are much larger than expected.

If you are planning a kitchen remodel, this book features loads of practical ideas presented in clear photos. I would have liked actual floorplans for all kitchens, however.

Book is in very good condition. It is an excellent book, very informative and has given me some good ideas for my kitchen remodel.

Not very interesting! That's about all I can say about it!