Courtesy of deVOL Kitchens, Artwork by Wendy Prather Burwell
Over the past hundred years, kitchens have evolved from cold, sequestered spaces to open, inviting rooms that are often thought of as the heart of the home. Kitchens today are places where family members dine and spend downtime—and where guests are welcomed and entertained. This shift in how our society uses and perceives the kitchen has given rise to kitchens that are as much about gathering as, say, the family room, with the added benefit of food and drink nearby. How can homeowners emphasize this transformation? By introducing art into the kitchen.
“Kitchens are a central part of family life and one of the most heavily used rooms in the home. Having artwork in our kitchens allows us to interact with and be affected by it on a daily basis,” says Carolyn Miles, founder and owner of St. Louis–based Atrium Gallery. “To our guests, artwork signals that this is a special room, not just a workplace.”
Helen Parker is creative director of London-based design company deVOL Kitchens. She says that art in the kitchen creates a sociable feel akin to living spaces and lounges rather than working rooms. “This change has allowed for much more creativity, diversity, and style within this once functional room.”
Throughout Susan Barrett’s Richmond Heights kitchen, guests and family enjoy meals in the company of a Cy Twombley print and a collection of 350 black-and-white photographs by artist Asher Penn that lines the wall leading into the kitchen and up the back stairwell. Barrett, president of Barrett Barrera Projects, suggests homeowners evaluate their kitchen space to determine the best places for art. An eat-in area with an open wall lends itself to a single substantial work of art or a gallery wall. Spaces between windows or atop floating shelves are ideal for small, delicate works. Alcoves or upper shelves work well to showcase fine ceramics. “Art is relatively hardy, but it shouldn’t be displayed over a stove or sink, where smoke, heat, and water might [cause] damage,” says Barrett. Painting art onto kitchen walls or inside the cupboard is growing in popularity, notes Parker. “This may be in the form of a wallpaper, now much more acceptable in a kitchen, but also bespoke hand-painted murals, collages, or designs inside your cupboards,” she says. When possible, adjust ceiling lights to highlight art, or invest in sleek library lights. Art for the kitchen should be framed by a professional and covered with UV light–filtering glass or plexiglass. “This may cost more, but it’s worth it, because the frame will protect the art from the elements,” says Miles.
Equally important: purchasing art that you’ll enjoy having for some time. “Abstract geometric watercolors with blocks of color are beautiful in minimalist kitchens or can be a nice foil in traditional kitchens,” says Miles. Themed art, such as the black-and-white etching of sliced bread that Miles has hanging in her own kitchen, can also look elegant. Or be playful and irreverent: “You might have a photograph of a cow on one wall and a steak on the opposite,” Barrett muses.
The most important consideration is to choose art that resonates. “Art should enrich the experience in the kitchen, not just hang on a wall,” says Barrett.
