Habitat: A Chat with Lauren Liess + Giveaway

This fall I received a copy of the new decorating book Habitat: A Field Guide to Decorating, and instantly fell in love. There is something about the book that just pulled me right in and I read it from cover to cover. I love Lauren’s aesthetic and must have tabbed over 50 pages to reference for ideas as we chip away at our house and plan for our addition. I paid special attention to the kitchen section since that is my main focus at the moment. Luckily for me, Lauren had time to chat and she answered a few questions I had about her kitchen design techniques!

1) I love your chapter on kitchens. You really speak to how functional, pretty kitchens can fit in nearly any space. What is the first thing you do with a client when you begin designing a kitchen?

I approach a kitchen design similarly to how I approach the design of any space, which is by really trying to get to know the client’s style, needs, and wishes.  I like to first figure out the “feeling” I want the kitchen to have before moving onto its function, because the overall intended vibe of the space will influence how things are laid out.

2) I notice you use a lot of natural colors and textures in your kitchen designs. What is your favorite way to add a pop of color without making it something trendy that will quickly become outdated?

In the kitchen, I often add color in accessories, art, and things like bowls, mixers etc. while keeping the bones neutral.  If a client truly loves a color, I’m happy to paint the cabinets that color, because they’ll love it no matter if it’s “in” or “out.”

3) Kitchen countertops get cluttered so quickly! How do you advise clients keep their kitchen looking clean and polished once they move in and get cooking.

So true!  I think it’s really about having a place for everything so that clean up can be easy and require very little thought.  Look at what the clutter actually is and find places for those types of items.  People tend to develop clutter when there isn’t a storage solution for the clutter culprits.  In our house we try to keep our countertops clear of everything but what we like out and use frequently- cutting boards, toaster, cooking utensils canister, and fruit bowl usually.  Our general rule is that the counters need to be clear every night from the inevitable things that try to squat daily- Kids’ papers, mail, random tools.  We have a place for those things so clean up is quick.

4) What are some ways a person can “freshen up” their current kitchen design when they are on a budget? Are there any tricks you swear by?

Painting cabinets is a good one.  My favorite inexpensive redo is painting lower cabinets and replacing upper cabinets with open shelving.  I love open shelving for its practicality and livability, and think it looks beautiful when people have a cohesive looking collection of kitchen/ table ware.

5) What is the riskiest thing you’ve ever done when designing a kitchen for a client?

I did a kitchen recently (it’s in the book actually!) with no upper cabinetry and no upper shelving.  There was enough storage space below that it wasn’t necessary so I left it or to keep the space feeling as open and airy as possible. I really try to force myself to think unconventionally and to shake off preconceived notions when designing kitchens because each space is so different.

Thanks, Lauren!

To enter to win a copy of Habitat:

1. Leave a comment sharing your favorite tip for freshening up a kitchen space.
2. Contest runs from December 10th through December 17th. Winner will be announced in the December 18th newsletter!