mmm... minty fresh

This kitchen gave me a great idea, inspiration-wise for what to do with my own, when and or if it ever does get a makeover (talk to me next year *wink*). I already use one of those Ikea rails to great effect over my stove to hold my gazillions ladles, strainers, whisks, etc. and LOVE it. So convenient, clean, and accessible. WAY easier than keeping everything in a drawer, perpetually tangled together. And while I can't afford to lose my upper cabinets all together, I'm thinking it'd be cool to install them right at the ceiling, then hang a rail the likes of this wall all the way across the bottom. For one thing, this would give me extra counter to cupboard height (especially helpful when it comes to trying to open up my stand mixer or breadmaker, which I can't do without turning them sideways), and I think it would make the whole place seem both more wide open AND taller. Oh, and I'm a sucker for a little minty-aqua goodness. Image from here.

to me, it's all just black and white.

If I had nothing but black, white and silver... honestly I don't even need patterns, really, just some interesting texture, I'd be happy. I literally have to force myself to branch out into colour. Oh, I'm not saying I don't love me some bright coloured accents (flowers are my friend!), I'm just a neutral kind of gal. Now, that's also not to say that I like things bland. Not at all! I like my neutrals STRONG! Rich chocolates, and velvety greys, slick piano-key black, stark white, and creamy caramels, all bouncing off one another, making each other seem, brighter, darker, deeper, richer... So needless to say, when I saw this room, from Dublin's The Beacon Hotel, I just about swooned... can't you just imagine a bouquet of deep pink peonies on the bedside? And it certainly doesn't hurt that it has my all-time favorite combo of traditional + midcentury furnishings in modern finishes. I love it. I want it. Image from here.