Bohemian & colorful kitchens

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If you're thinking about renovating your kitchen, or other spaces for that matter, consider adding some color, and giving your space more character, instead of going for a generic, flavor-of-the-day look that most everyone else is going for at that time. Let your place have a timeless character and soul, and ideally your touch. Mark your territory.

That approach usually leads to a style generally referred to as boho-chic, or bohemian, or gypsy style... What these styles have in common is a relaxed, easy-going vibe, and an original aesthetic unrestrained by formulaic/textbook styles. 

Colorful tiles

Color is a good addition to life and our environments. Most often we are more likely to have a lack of color and patterns rather than an excess of them, so brighten up your spaces with some color and patterns. Colorful tiles are a great way of making spaces more lively and chevron patterns are easy way to add a good dose of character and visual interest.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3

Colorful window shutters of Mediterranean homes

Add some casual color to your life. Mediterranean coasts are some of the longest inhabited parts of our world and that collected wisdom taught them how to live a casual, easy-going, colorful life. Painting a whole house a wild color may be too much, but colorful shutters, window frames, and/or doors seem to be just the right amount of lively color.

^ These top two pics are from Alacati, Turkey.

Sources: images 1 & 2, image 3, image 4, image 5

Mediterranean casual style of Provence and Tuscany

Stone walls, colorful shutters, easy-going gravel, and plants that are allowed to grow into their natural forms make for a pretty and cozy setting. This approach is also low-maintenance and ages well. When people, especially in the US, try to recreate this look they often create an unnaturally pristine version and miss out on the perfectly imperfect charm.

^ Even fully-paved narrow alleys can be charming with colorful stucco, shutters, and wild and free potted plants.

Image sources: image 1, images 2 & 3, image 4, image 5

Colorful Mediterranean doors with flowers

These Mediterranean doors and entryways have perfected imperfection and coziness. Their aged appearance combined with bursts of colorful flowers subtly remind us to appreciate -not fight- the passage of time and the beauty of nature. Rustic materials that age well and grow character with signs of use/age also let us relax and be comfortable around them, making these entryways very beautiful and easy-going.

Sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5

Lively hacienda tiles

Hacienda style tiles are an excellent way to add some color and beauty to otherwise plain areas. The bright colors and patterns help make the place more lively, friendly, and cozy. Since hacienda tiles are well-glazed they hold up to the elements well and are good options for outdoors use, as well.

^ When used outdoors, hacienda tiles' shiny finish creates a pleasant visual contrast with natural textures. That contrast of textures and colors also make hacienda tiles go well with saltillo tiles and rough stucco.

^ Just a border of hacienda tiles around a window add character and color.

^ The imperfect paint job and the huge bougainvillea pair well with hacienda tiles as well.

 sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

Timeless materials

It makes sense on many levels to use materials that will not only last but will also age well and look good with wear and tear (less time, money, and resources spent on maintenance and replacements.) Such materials also create less stuck-up and more relaxed, cozy spaces.

Image sources: top image, 2nd image, 3rd image, bottom image

Colorful fabrics and textiles

Whether it's simple quilts, kilims, ethnic patterns, or western florals adding colorful textiles add character, make spaces look better, and more inviting. Patterns are also easier to live with. They will age better and they will hide any fading or subtle stains, making them also a very practical choice. The human animal also must find patterns cozier, homier, and appreciate the visual interest since most cultures around the world preferred to decorate with patterns rather than solid colors.

Image 1 from urbanoutfitters.com, image 2 from Tamar Schechner's flickr, image 3 from anthropologie.com, and image 4 from elledecor.com

Cozy kitchens with character

A lot of kitchen updates go from kitchens with some unique character that should be appreciated, to uncreative versions of the current trend. The "updated" kitchen is often time-stamped and bound to be dated in a few years. Such an update is in most cases financially an unnecessary burden, physically wasteful -since a lot of perfectly good things end up getting ripped out and replaced because they're not the newest style. Emotionally, it is only a band-aid because the way to appreciate your kitchen (clothes, furniture, etc.) is to make a mental switch, not a physical one. There will come new trends and if your satisfaction only comes from having the current style, your satisfaction is bound to fade, and you will soon find yourself coveting newer styles.

And if your place deteriorated beyond repair and it makes more sense to renovate, it is best to go after a unique and timeless set-up so you can appreciate it for a lot longer.

Images from thekitchn.com -Notice the mismatched dining chairs! 

Natural landscaping with native plants

Don't be in constant battle with your yard to keep things under control. Wherever you happen to live, takeyour plant selection and design clues from the natural surroundings of your area. This way, your plants will be better equipped to handle your local weather, require much less water and maintenance. Your yard will also attract local birds. A natural arrangement of plants and letting them grow to their natural shapes and sizes will not only look amazing, it will also minimize yard clippings/waste and save you a lot of time.

Top image from planobluestem.blogspot.com, 2nd image from suzybalesgarden.com, 3rd image from julieorrdesign.com, 4th image from lifescapecolorado.com, the bottom image from businessinsider.com

Patchwork quilts, throws, and even skirts

There's something inherently unpretentious about the resourcefulness of patchworks. The colorful and wonderfully casual results, along with that unpretentious attitude create items that are soothing and relaxing to our souls! (Click here for more patchwork inspiration!)

Top 3 images from blueelephantstitches.blogspot.com, bottom image from jemimabean.blogspot.com

Cozy eclectic bathrooms

I don't care for it when people go way too far out of their ways to create "witty" eclectic decors but these bathrooms are quirky enough to have great character and are still grounded enough to be unpretentious and cozy. Enjoy!

Top to bottom; image 1 from housetohome's flickr stream, image 2 from housetohome.co.uk, image 3 from hgtv.com, image 4 from simple-designs.biz, image 5 from RoomEnvy.wordpress.com

Colorful doors

Add some color to your life, brighten up your environment. There is no reason why your door should be a boring color, and a great color on the door makes your place more cozy and welcoming.

All images from flickr.com - top to bottom, image 1 from akudymovsky, image 2 from scenicSW, image 3 from noooozsk, image 4 from PierTom, image 5 from cjanebuy, image 6 from pink_fish13