brings back the romance to your home

[Huligar]

Old World style brings back the romance to your home

By KATHLEEN LEIGHTON
Special to The Star When Bev Gilbert was designing the kitchen of her new home, she was under more pressure than most people.As the owner and president of Regarding Kitchens in Lenexa, Gilbert knew her kitchen would face intense scrutiny.
“It was a little bit nerve-racking,” Gilbert said, laughing. “But I knew I wanted an Old World look that leaned toward English, which is my heritage.”
The popularity of Old World kitchens started in the late ’90s and shows no signs of waning. Before that, in the early ’90s, black granite countertops and white cabinets were all the rage. Then the Mission look took hold, bringing back natural wood finishes.
Even after 10 years, no distinct style has displaced the Old World look. But what is it, really?
“Anything that would have been on the European continent: Old English, Tuscan, French, Spanish,” Gilbert said. “Old World would be anything from the Romance countries.”
“We think of it as an Umbrian look, from the Umbria region of Italy,” said Geri Higgins, owner and president of Portfolio Kitchen & Home in Kansas City. “It’s a very refined, sophisticated look that really translates well to Kansas City homes.”
Old World style is warm, charming and elegant. It is characterized by massive aged-looking cabinets, glazed walls and stone or wood-plank floors.
“I think the appeal of Old World is truly the romance,” Gilbert said. “As Americans, we are a pretty disposable society, and for us the Old World style represents longevity and permanence, giving us a sense of security. Old World looks lived-in and glamorous in a romantic sort of way.”
Gilbert fell in love with a backsplash tile that combined earthy golds, greens and a brick color. (She ended up expanding that palette beyond the kitchen and into the rest of the house.)
To push the Old World look in the kitchen she designed high ceilings and used massive, rich walnut furniture pieces. She hid a stainless steel refrigerator in an armoire with distressed olive green paneling. The island has a lighter, distressed finish and a walnut top.
“They would definitely have used wooden counter tops in the Old World,” she said. “(Wood) doesn’t have to be stained, requires very little maintenance and is very durable.”
Perimeter counters are granite in the same muted colors as the backsplash. A large, hammered copper farm sink with an apron front provides another Old World touch. The stove, which features an ornately carved wooden hood, is also a focal point.
“Ranges usually take center stage in an Old World style kitchen, because that’s where people gather,” Higgins said. “There is generally ornate tile with a beautiful hearth and maybe even a pizza oven. The materials could be natural stone, limestone and honed marble. All those give an Old World look.”
Leawood resident Kathy Klag loved the Tuscan style of restaurants and hotels she visited, so she decided on an Old World style when re-doing her kitchen.
“It’s so warm and charming and elegant,” she said. “I chose slate floors because it’s such an interesting look, and so easy to take care of. I already had a gold wall color, but I had someone texturize and glaze them.”
She chose natural cherry cabinets with a painted, distressed finish and oil-rubbed fixtures. The dishwasher and refrigerator are hidden behind wooden paneling.
“We love having friends over, and we usually stay in the kitchen,” Klag said. “It’s not just a place to cook, it’s a place to socialize.”
Lynn O’Leary of Mission Hills loves cooking in her Old World kitchen.
“This is very much a working kitchen,” said the mother of five. “I wanted a warm, intimate, inviting place where I could cook while my kids do their homework. Almost every day I think to myself, ‘I really love this kitchen.’ ”
Because she likes things simple and clean, O’Leary chose white marble counter tops, complemented by lightly glazed cream-colored cabinets. White, lightly crackled subway tile completes the look, which is accented with Oriental rugs and groupings of silver.
“I love all the light coming in and how close everything is so it’s convenient as I cook. My designer, Lisa Curran, really helped bring my vision to life,” O’Leary said. “I can’t wait to have many more years of happy memories in this kitchen.”
“There is nothing as warm and inviting as this style,” Gilbert said. “That’s why this look is still going strong. And I think it will be for some time.”
IsIs not
Highly decorative
Clean-lined
Wood and stone countertops
Quartz or solid surface counters
Massive, detailed cabinetry
Simple cabinet fronts
Furniture-like appliance housings
Exposed stainless appliances
Warm colors
Cool colors
Glazed walls
Flat paint

Change a little…Incorporate copper pots and kettles
Group silver pieces on the island, possibly a tea set
Leave out some wine bottles and crystal glasses
Display pewter plates, rustic glass bottles and fresh fruits
Group Italian-style urns, pots, bowls and plates, some reclining, some standing on an open shelf or above cabinets
Display cooking utensils in rustic containers
Incorporate shades of red in food canisters, pottery or artwork
Change a lot…
Texturize and glaze your walls
If you have wood floors, darken them
Add furniture elements to your kitchen
Add an island
Sources: Geri Higgins, Portfolio
accentsofsalado.com

RESOURCES
•Regarding Kitchens, 9980 Lakeview Ave., Lenexa, 913-642-6184•Portfolio Kitchen & Home, 8027 State Line Road, 816-363-5300
•Webster House, 1644 Wyandotte, 816-221-4713
• Lisa R. Curran Interiors, 816-868-1151

Design inspiration
One of the best places to load up on ideas for decorative accents and color schemes is your local art museum. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, for example, has an extensive collection of European still life paintings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Look closely at the specific types of fruits, vegetables, nuts and flowers depicted, then display some of then in bowls in your own kitchen.
Study what types of metals, ceramics and glass are grouped together, such as a pewter plate, a rustic glass goblet and a delicate, hand-painted china bowl in the painting above.
Viewing paintings in person is the best way to get a true sense of color, but large format art books sold from museum gift shops or borrowed from public libraries are a good way to browse for ideas at home.

	limestone LIMESTONE A sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.

	Marble MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS This standard includes general information on the characteristics and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems associated with the material. INTRODUCTION Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite (CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed, is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds react differently with marble and produce various by-products, which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration. Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red, yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition. TYPICAL USES Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage to which marble is susceptible.