kitchen

Dream Kitchens: Five Kitchens We All Wish We Could Cook In

There are some things kitchen renovations can change… and some things they can’t. In Edmonton interior design, it’s important to spot existing potential and look for permanent features to accentuate in order to make the most of your kitchen renovation or home decor change.

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Here are our five top drool-worthy kitchen design ideas and why we love them.



Windows as a backsplash

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We adore these large bright windows that let in tons of natural light, making the space airy and open. Windows like these aren’t easy to create from scratch, so be sure to be on the lookout for existing light when you’re looking at new kitchens or considering an update.
 

The ultimate pantry

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Not all homes have the square footage to allow for a pantry of this scale, but there’s nothing like an over-the-top feature to spark bold interior design ideas. The storage room pictured here is great because you can easily see all your ingredients, and the opportunities for recipe ideas and creative twists are endless.
 

Mile-high ceiling

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We love home decor that maximizes the best parts of what a space has to offer. The kitchen design here accentuates the high ceilings and makes a stunning, glamorous statement. We’d love to prepare a Sunday brunch over those dreamy cabinets.  
 

Outdoor chef

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Now we realize a kitchen like this isn’t feasible in Edmonton, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. The sleek lines, modern finishes, and muted colours in the kitchen pictured here create an elegant design and really make us wish we could grill a delicious meal in this outdoor space.  
 

Skylight heaven

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The skylights here aren’t easy to add to your space, but they make an incredible focal point for the lucky owner of this home. The playful mix of copper and gold is intriguing, and the beautiful windows help create an area where we would look forward to preparing big family meals, or a late night snack under the stars.

At Jostar, we care about making the most of your particular space and creating a kitchen that is entirely your own.

Countertop and Backsplash: Create the Perfect Match

Your countertop and backsplash play a huge role in determining the feel of your kitchen. That’s why it’s important to put a lot of thought into the style you want to create and what materials and colours will help you get there.

Here are five interior design ideas that are trending right now, and some handy advice to translate each idea into your home!


Mix solid colours with contrasting tiles

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In this kitchen, we see a bright white countertop paired with tiles with sharp lines that work together to create a sleek and elegant vibe. When you’re choosing tiles for your backsplash, be sure to think about how the lines will flow with the rest of your kitchen too. Here, we love the mix of the soft grainy lines on the floors and cabinets that help make the sharp edges in the backsplash really pop. 

Create depth and intrigue in a small space 

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This kitchen is stunning, but the particular area that’s pictured actually isn’t that big. To achieve something similar with your home decor, consider creating a tile mosaic or a unique brick layout like the one pictured here. The unusual lines and mixing tones create visual intrigue and make a small space interesting and personalized.

 

Add a pop of colour 

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The kitchen pictured here uses a dark teal for the countertop and the backsplash, but it completely works without being overpowering. We love the structure of the backsplash tile with the natural concrete elements in the countertop. If you want to bring something like this into your kitchen renovations, try mixing materials but using similar, bright colours in your backsplash and countertop.

 

Make a statement without colour 

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Something that really stands out about this kitchen is the use of soft greys and whites to create a design that is anything but soft. The backsplash goes all the way up the wall, which adds to the bold vibe. To do something similar with your kitchen design, select an elegant countertop and complimenting tiles for your backsplash. In the backsplash, opt for a pattern with playful flair, like the chevron pictured here.

Play with texture in a unique way 

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The contrast between the shiny countertop and the rustic brick here is really making us swoon, and experts at Jostar can help you bring inspiration from this kitchen to your own. Consider mixing the textures of your counters and backsplash, and using multiple layouts within the backsplash for even more of a statement.

In Edmonton interior design, it’s important to consider how every element of your kitchen will affect the overall design. When it comes to countertops and backsplashes, create combinations that work together, but also contrast each other slightly to create a truly one-of-a-kind space.  

Kitchen Recipes | Cooking in Style With These Simple Tips

If you’re hosting your family’s holiday celebration this year, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed, especially when it comes to cooking and getting all your recipes just right. The good news is there are lots of steps you can take with Edmonton interior design to make your kitchen as functional as possible and help minimize your stress. Rediscover the joy of cooking and love being in your kitchen again with these five tips.

(Skeptical? Don’t worry – for good measure, we added a delicious holiday recipe with each tip to make sure inspiration strikes!)


Start small with the spices

Organizing your spices is an easy but effective way to make your kitchen more functional. Opt for storage options such as fully organized drawers or pullout cabinets that let you easily see everything all at once. While grabbing the pepper for your Christmas morning omelet, you might spot the cardamom and get inspired to make your own chai latte. The Minimalist Baker has a recipe for a vegan one we love.


Think about open vertical storage

There’s a reason almost every chef on a cooking show has open, hanging storage for pots and pans. It doesn’t just look amazing as part of your home decor; it facilitates grabbing exactly what you need with ease. With hanging storage, you won’t have to open any cabinets or drawers while you’re in the zone making your famous casserole (or the amazing broccoli cheddar one from Budget Bytes that we’ve been enjoying lately). 


Designate Spaces

Another great way to make your kitchen more functional is to have specific areas for every cooking step from prepping to plating. More designated spaces mean more efficient cooking, which leaves time for extra treats like these incredible candy cane chocolate chip Christmas cookies by The Cookie Writer.


Consider a flat stovetop

If kitchen renovations are in your plans, clean-lined surfaces are a great idea to optimize the functionality of your cooking space. When not in use, you’ll be able to use your stovetop for extra counter space to make mouth-watering side dishes, like our go-to kale and bacon salad from the Food Network for all the holiday season potlucks you’ll be attending.


Light your space

Great lighting doesn’t just apply to living rooms and bathrooms. Having great lighting in your kitchen makes your space more relaxing, and it helps you focus on your cooking and getting inspired. Make sure every corner of your kitchen is well lit so you can use all of your space to its full potential. When you look forward to being in your kitchen, you’ll probably feel up to trying more new things – like this tasty prime rib and gravy recipe from Dinner with Julie.

Functional kitchen design is one of the best ways to make sure you enjoy spending time in your kitchen. With a functional kitchen, even the biggest holiday meal won’t seem like a chore. At Jostar Interiors, we can help you get ready for hosting and cooking just in time for the holiday season. Interior design ideas and inspiration are just a click away.

Download your kitchen renovation guide today! 

What Does Your Style of Kitchen Say About You?

The way you present yourself says a lot about your personality, so it’s no surprise that the style of one of the most popular rooms in your home would say something about you too. Read on to discover what your kitchen design says, and determine which kitchen style is the best fit for you.
 

The Minimalist Kitchen

If your kitchen is sleek, uncluttered (including your drawers!), clean, and modern, chances are you have a minimalist kitchen. You believe home decor should be understated and timeless – just like you. Your go-to outfit is a little black dress/black tie, and most of your wardrobe is well, black. Having a minimalist kitchen means you embrace simplicity, and you aren’t afraid of letting things go. It takes a lot of willpower to be a true minimalist, and your kitchen style reflects your decisiveness and unwavering ability to always know what you want.
 

The Chef’s Kitchen

Do you own a spiralizer? More than one type of salt? Does your kitchen feature custom storage and an oversized sink? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you probably have a chef-style kitchen. Your kitchen is highly functional, full of prep spaces, has professional appliances, open shelving, and you always make room for the latest cooking gadgets and tools. Having this kitchen style means you’re meticulous in your craft, and there’s no recipe too challenging or too time-consuming for you. People with a chef-style kitchen are ambitious, clever, and hardworking, and their interior design style shows off their work ethic and dedication to being the best they can be.
 

The Eclectic Kitchen

Do you create your own art? Believe in always having more than one conversation piece? Would you decide to start kitchen renovations in the spur of the moment? Yep, you probably have an eclectic kitchen style. Your kitchen is a mix of diverse textiles and fun colours within an unconventional layout. In Edmonton, interior design possibilities are endless, and you embrace new ideas, bold patterns, and quirky designs with confidence. You’re creative and adventurous, and you aren’t afraid to say what you think, stand up for what you believe in, and take a risk.


The Traditional Kitchen

If your kitchen has soft, warm colours and natural wood, stone, or brick elements, you probably have a traditional-style kitchen. Everyone loves a classic, and you’re no exception. These kitchens have a homey, antique design, a lived-in feel, and the people who have them tend to be reliable, welcoming, and loyal. A traditional kitchen style tells others that you have a big heart, are a great friend, and there’s always an extra seat at your table.

If you want to update your kitchen to make it even more “you”, Jostar can help! We think kitchens should be as unique as you are, so we offer personalized solutions and expert interior design ideas.

Pulling Power: Clever Drawer Tactics To Declutter Your Home

Whether it’s a drawer full of twist ties, rubber bands, and miscellaneous keys in your kitchen, or a drawer bursting with nail polish and tester-sized lotions in your bathroom, there are ways to stop the cycle and correct cluttered drawers throughout your home.
 

Invest in drawer organizers

This seems like a trivial solution – but trust us! They really work. You can even make your own by fitting different sized boxes together. Sure, it only takes a second to neatly place something in an open drawer, but that way of thinking is usually out the window when you’re running late. In the bedroom, try dividing your sport socks from your dress socks or tights to create a more organized feel.
 

Designate spaces

There’s nothing worse than looking for something for hours, only to find it in the wrong room. Planning your drawers with designated spaces will help cut down the chaos. For example, if you’re always finding your hairbrush in the living room, the problem could be that you don’t have a designated space to store your brush in a bathroom drawer.


Be practical

So you’re planning to walk to the kitchen to put your keys away in their new spot every time you come home? Try to keep in mind that drawer organization should make things easier for you, not work against your natural movement. Be practical with the commitments you’re going to need to make to maintain your organization. In the entryway, add a side table or bench with drawers and create compartments inside for your essentials like keys, a lint roller, and the dog’s leash to stop clutter from migrating to other rooms.  


Communicate

If you spend a lot of time organizing, but don’t communicate to your spouse or family what the new systems are, your hard work could go to waste. Get everyone involved with the planning and organization process to make sure they all buy in and contribute to the most impactful solutions. For example, talk about your kitchen design and storing items in drawers where it makes the most sense like resealable bags near the fridge or spices near your prep space.


Don’t let clutter build

Long-term decluttering takes trial and error. Try to stop and think about why clutter is happening and keep only what you really need in problem spaces. If you have a kitchen drawer that won’t stay organized, think about how many items in the drawer you actually use. Remove what you don’t need (hint: you don’t need to save soy sauce packets), and free up compartments for the essentials. You don’t always have to do kitchen renovations to make a big difference in how your cooking space feels.

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We know that in Edmonton, interior design needs to be functional and beautiful. It’s hard to get organized all at once, so our best advice is to start planning and making small changes so the task is less daunting, one drawer at a time. If you have any questions about organization or interior design ideas throughout your home, Jostar is fully equipped to help. Our experts love creating personalized spaces and kitchens, so you can live easier.

Space Doctor | Make A Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

Kitchens are often near (or at) the top of the list for things homebuyers look for. They’re the central point of a home, where families and guests congregate, and where homeowners usually spend a significant amount of time. Words like bright, airy, functional, and open all come to mind to describe the ideal kitchen space.

But what if your kitchen is on the small side? The nice thing is, none of those words we mentioned necessarily depend on size. There are plenty of tips and tricks to make a small kitchen feel more spacious, helping you make even the littlest of kitchens feel like a perfect fit for you.

To follow are a few go-to tips and interior design ideas from our experts at Jostar to make your small kitchen feel bigger.


Replace solid cabinet doors with glass or transparent ones

Your cabinets have depth. A great way to take advantage of the extra space in your cabinets is to replace solid cabinet doors with a transparent alternative, such as glass. Being able to see all the way back to the walls will make your overhead space feel lighter and more open.


Paint cabinets and walls the same colour

Contrasting your walls and your cabinets draws the eye to the colour boundary and accentuates the divide. Cabinets that match the walls help to draw the eye elsewhere and add to an airy feel in your space.
 

Limit your stuff

Another great way to keep your kitchen feeling light and open is to have open space. Donate things you don’t need, and try to keep accents like vases, plants, and knick-knacks to a minimum.

 

Choose furnishings with a small interior design footprint

An oversized kitchen table is the last thing a small kitchen needs. When it comes to home decor, avoid bulky and large furniture that boxes you in, and opt for smaller, sleek, narrow pieces that suit the size of your kitchen.
 

Use storage units

Nothing shrinks your space like cluttered, out-of-place shelves and cabinets. Jostar has custom solutions for your space and can recommend storage units that will work with your kitchen design and style preferences to give you a kitchen that is organized and functional.
 

Merge your space into a larger one

Another option involves kitchen renovations to change your space and merge areas of your home such as a kitchen and a dining room. Something simple such as removing the divide between rooms can really open up your space and add to an airy, spacious feel.

Alternately, if you are currently using your kitchen as a cooking and dining area, consider moving your dining furniture to another space (such as an unused dining area or nook) to give your kitchen more room to breathe.

Edmonton interior design is vibrant and thriving, and there are so many resources available to make your small kitchen into your dream kitchen.