<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kitchenenvy/alcoves.jpg" alt="alcoves oh my" width="450" height="450" /></p>
This kitchen was found via <a href="http://www.housetohome.co.uk/">House to Home</a> { again! }, which is proving to be a formidable resource for aesthetic and unique kitchen spaces. The space wasn't an obvious choice for me, it actually has two things I specifically hate, a low ceiling height and no discernible source of natural light. That aside, the colour and texture of the cabinets intrigued me as well as the unique open shelving design.
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Invisible Alcove shelving:</strong> On a list of craven maven loves, this ticks all the boxes. Subway tiles? Check. Open shelving? Check. Glass shelves? Ch-ch-check. Combined into one, a unique idea. The recessed shelving is so polished, simple yet effective that it allows for busy yet orderly stocked items. If you look carefully, there is a lot on the shelves: Salt, pepper mills, cannisters, pots, oils, it's all there but it doesn't 'look' over stocked. The simple shelving design allows for this. The home owner has carefully selected items that are unified in colour - silvers and black and low on pattern variety. I love it.

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Venetian Plaster cabinetry:</strong> Can't say I've seen this before. Forget your usual wood or high gloss cabinets, this gray venetian plaster effect mocks a treatment often reserved for the wall and it works. The space is a bit cavenous and small, so the shadow-like look on the cabinets play up that dark mysterious space feel very stylishly.

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Floating Island:</strong> If the island, and I suspect cooktop, in the center of this kitchen had cabinetry it would make this small space much darker and tighter than it already is. The floating island allows for an informal dine space and also for light to flow a wee bit freer than it would.

All in all, a nice space that is largely definied by the open shelving - rightly so. I wish there were more lighting options than just the recessed lights and a floor treatment a little 'warmer' than the simple wood - a colourful Kilim would add a really homely feel to this area. What do you like about this space?

<p style="text-align:right;"><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><em>image via <a href="http://www.housetohome.co.uk/">house to home</a></em></span></p>