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By now you likely know that interior designer Bobby Berk of Queer Eye fame has got some serious style chops when it comes to mapping out a space and making it shine. He recently teamed up with Corian® Design to create kitchens for each of his fellow Fab Five castmates, and the results were jaw-droppingly good.
After seeing and hearing all of the creative ways Bobby applied each of the materials by Corian® Design to make each kitchen design distinctly match the personalities of his Queer Eye counterparts, we wanted to know more. Namely, how do we design something this amazing on our own?
Jonathan’s Kitchen Design
Let’s start off with a few tips Bobby gave us for designing a kitchen. First up is function. “Not every kitchen is created equal, nor is the way that you use it. That’s why all of these kitchens are so different. You can’t take the same footprint and plop it into every kitchen, as it won’t work for everyone. If you make all your own meals and need a big prep area, then make space for that on your island and have everything else be secondary. If you find that you have friends over all of the time and order in, then maybe opt for an eat in kitchen like I did in Jonathan’s design,” he said.
Karamo’s Kitchen Design
For these kitchens, I wanted to make each space representative to the person that would use them and live in them.
Antoni’s Kitchen Design
A lot of us aren’t working with tons of square footage, so it only makes sense that the actual layout of the space and how storage plays in would be so important. Bobby shares, “After you know how you want the kitchen to function, then you can move into layout and space. My first rule is always about storage. There is no kitchen owner in the history of all kitchen owners that has ever said, ‘I have too much storage space.’ So try to carve out as much storage space as you can.”
Jonathan’s Kitchen Design
Tan’s Kitchen Design
“Materials play such an important part in your kitchen, which is where Corian® Design comes in. Their solid surface and quartz materials really allow you to create something unique, no matter what your style is. They also come in such a wide variety of colors and textures that they can work in any space,” he explained. The vast palette of Corian® Design patterns and colors, in both solid surface and quartz material, are out there ready to become a part of your day-to-day life, in the kitchen and beyond. A few of our favorites are Corian® Solid Surface in Ash Concrete, Laguna, and Pebble Terrazzo that Bobby used in a few of his kitchen designs.
Antoni’s Kitchen Design
Karamo’s Kitchen Design
Investing in surface materials for any project can be a big, intimidating, expensive decision with so many questions that need to be answered. Will I love it forever? How do I mix materials? Will it last? Here’s what Bobby had to share:
“When selecting major materials for a space – like countertops, backsplash, or flooring – I always tell the client to lean more neutral. Yes, that patterned tile or backsplash looks good now, but are you always going to love it? The foundational materials in any space should be just that – foundational – and then you can build out from there. So, start with a neutral color palette and then you can bring in interest through smaller accessories, hardware, or textiles.”
“If you want to mix materials, I always try to make sure that they are in the same tonal family and that you evenly use the color throughout the room. If you bring in a black island, then bring in some black accents through the lighting or hardware. If you bring in a terrazzo backsplash, then you could bring in a few of the colors in that material elsewhere in the space.”
Tan’s Kitchen Design
Jonathan’s Kitchen Design
He went on to say, “I would never say that I am one that believes in ‘trends.’ My belief is that if something is well made, and well designed, it will be timeless. Rather than mixing colors or patterns, I love to mix textures and tones to create interest, which keeps things neutral and inviting. Trends can come and go, but a well designed space will always be timeless and classic.”
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However, we love that Corian® Design has a few tricks up their sleeve that can impress even the most seasoned of interior designers. Of note in their latest and largest color launch collection Bobby mentioned, “I love their new Corian® Quartz leathered finishes, which are not only soft to touch, but have the perfect patina to them. Giving age, character, and interest to anywhere you use them.”
Antoni’s Kitchen Design
Products from Corian® Design are known for their scratch and heat resistant qualities, making for a great match in the kitchen that can stand up to everyday wear and tear. Bobby agrees saying, “Corian® Solid Surface is material that I can count on recommending and using, meaning that it will stand the test of time in any space. Beyond that, the material can be used in just about any application, which you don’t find with traditional stone. It can be formed into different shapes or carved into something. Any concept you have can become a reality with the products from Corian® Design.”
See the entire 2019 collection from Corian Design® at CorianDesign.com.
Karamo’s Kitchen Design
Tan’s Kitchen Design
Source: design-milk