Symbol of Hospitality

Let’s talk about pineapples! The fascination with this coveted and decadent fruit reaches back to the earliest days of this country. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the fruit in Guadalupe in1493 and bringing it back to Europe. As European settlers began to establish colonies in the Americas, they carried the pineapple with them, and it soon became the universal symbol of hospitality. In Charleston, South Carolina, a pineapple placed on the door post, porch or the front gate once signaled that the homeowner was ready to welcome guests for dinner and conversation. In the world of decorating, the pineapple remains endlessly adaptable. You can find one to suit any style and share your love of hospitality in a way that feels personal and inviting. With that in mind, let us peek into the kitchen of the Siesta Model from two weeks ago and discover the homeowner’s own expression of pineapple pride somewhere in the heart of The Villages.

  •  Paint
As we discussed two weeks ago, the homeowner was ready for a new color. The new kitchen quartz and backsplash were predominately gray, so Repose Gray was a natural choice and looked beautiful with the updated kitchen. The Repose Gray has a blue undertone that complemented everything in her home. What I want everyone to notice is how the gray paint creates a visual connection to the gray in the backsplash. That connection brings a calm, blended feeling to the space and allows the eye to move comfortably from one surface to the next. The gray also complements the rich brown cabinetry and gives the entire kitchen a fresh and current look. It is a simple change that makes the room feel renewed. As always, remember to use a satin or eggshell finish on the walls. These finishes allow light to move through the space, while flat finishes absorb light and leave the walls looking chalky. Remember, though gray has taken a back seat for a while it is still a great paint color for walls and if gray is the color that complements everything then you should choose gray and don’t worry about what is trending. We have so much color in this house that gray becomes the neutral backdrop to all the beautiful colors.

  •  Under the bar
The gray paint under the bar looks so complementary to the quartz because it blends into the stone and creates a larger, more unified visual field. When the wall color flows into the countertop, the entire area feels quieter and more connected, which makes the kitchen appear more spacious. Here is a helpful tip. Under every bar, the wall color should visually blend with the countertop. This area is not meant to be a focal point, so the goal is always to let it recede and support the overall look of the kitchen. If your paint color does not blend with the countertop, add wainscot and paint it completely white. The white will give the area a clean, finished look while remaining neutral and complementary to any color found in the countertop or cabinetry.

  •  Backsplash
The homeowner made an excellent choice with the backsplash because she blended it beautifully with the quartz countertop. In any room there can only be one star, and in this kitchen the quartz takes the lead. The surrounding backdrop is entirely gray, which allows the cabinets to stand out and gives the space a calm, cohesive look. When the supporting elements stay quiet, the features you want to highlight have room to shine.

  •  Large Area Rug
This kitchen is so large that it can feel a bit too open, but the addition of a five by seven sisal rug in Indigo pulled everything together and made the space feel warm and welcoming. A rug has a remarkable way of grounding any room, and this model responds especially well to that touch. You can do the same thing in your own home if you have this model or any variation of it. The rug can even be an indoor/outdoor style if you prefer, which makes it easy to take outside for cleaning. It is a simple addition that brings comfort, color, and a sense of connection to the entire home.

  •  To Decorate or Not
There is always plenty of conversation about whether you should decorate your kitchen cabinets or not. In the newer areas of The Villages, the cabinets are installed much taller, leaving little or no space to style. In the more established neighborhoods, the cabinets tend to be lower, which creates a natural gap between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. When that gap exists, it almost always looks better to fill it. Adding décor draws the eye upward, softens the transition to the ceiling, and makes the kitchen feel more inviting than a blank stretch of wall. In the end, let the height of your cabinets guide you. If there is room to decorate, use it. If the cabinets rise nearly to the ceiling, enjoy the clean, uninterrupted look they provide.

  •  Above the Cabinets
Above the cabinets, the homeowner has her pineapple pride on full display. We began the arrangement with a large piece of art she loved, which became the anchor for the entire composition. The space above the cabinets is an ideal place to showcase artwork because it can be seen from almost anywhere in the main living area. To the right of the picture, we added a seagrass basket filled with heather, which brought height and a soft natural texture to the corner. On the left side of the picture, we placed a large pineapple the homeowner found at a local retailer. From there, the heights of the pieces gently descend with the slope of the ceiling. Two small shocks of greenery were added to the left of the pineapple, followed by a tree of life statue that adds meaning and visual interest. Next came a metal tray that holds special significance for the homeowner, and we finished the cabinet corner with two octagonal golden spheres that catch the light beautifully. To complete the look, the homeowner purchased three matching small greens and placed them above the two cabinets to the left of the sink, giving the kitchen a balanced and finished appearance. The decor above the cabinets makes the space feel welcoming and personal. It tells guests that the homeowner is ready for company, ready for conversation, and ready to share the hospitality.
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