apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That last picture, in addition to the lamp, has a dresser and what looks to be a couch - don't you think that those might also be contributing to the coziness?

Stainless steel, wires and granit are NOT cozy.

Somehow, I've never considered Metro shelving units "Cozy" - more utilitarian - but then after seeing them in restaurant kitchens for years before they ever started showing up in domestic environs...

...and yes, that table lamp sure looks cozy - but it's obvious that this kitchen is used for little more than boiling tea and microwaving prefabricated frozen-meals.

I'm surprised that there's no mention of some of the more traditional elements, such as potted herbs on the windowsill, framed artwork & plates hung on the walls, washable area rugs, and colorful canisters & dishtowels?

I like the pots hanging across the window in the top pic - how is that made?

Metal shelving can be kind of cozy for young people since it'll remind them of their college days. :D

Things that make me feel cozy:

-cute potholders shaped like animals
-wood
-mismatched handmade pottery
-succulent plants (hard to kill!)
-stools so you can sit around at the same height as the person cooking and chat

Hm, strange post. I agree with bepsf on all counts.

With the above setup, that lamp shade's days are certainly numbered....

I really, really love that last photo.

i feel uncomfortable in kitchens where it looks like you'd knock things over when you're trying to cook/clean - like that last pic.

Ironically, what seems to make these kitchens cozy is having a lot of space.

Grumpy people..............

I agree with red.door.read, some of these kitchens feel cluttered to the point where moving seems like a hazard (hot pans, knives, etc).

The first picture is the only one that does feel cozy to me.

yeah, odd post.

Where did those pots/holder come from in the first picture. I love that.

Things that make a kitchen cozy in my opinion:
1. handmade dishtowels/dishrags
2. smell of fresh baked bread
3. cafe curtains
4. tablecloths
5. coffee pot on stove
6. braided rug on floor
7. wire vegetable holder (don't know the proper name, but that thing that has three wire baskets one on top of the other in every grandma's kitchen)
8. a radio with news radio/baseball game playing

Just what comes to my mind

I agree, "cozy" isn't the word I'd pick for these photos, except maybe the first one (those window plants are great!). The second is blindingly bright, the third is industrial meh, and the last... maybe the picture doesn't show the whole thing, but it seems like this is atually a living room with an oddly-placed stove.

Love the first photo and wonder what the rest of the room looks like?
The last pic looks a bit of a hazard, not sure where those branches are but look like an accident waiting to happen with someone's eye.

I would also like to know how the plant pot holder in the first photo were done. That's neat!

Metro shelving and open shelving are utilitarian, not cozy. And I can't get into the dressers and table lamps: they seem like they are in the wrong room.

Color is the easiest way to make a kitchen look cozy. A color that resembles your favorite foods is even better. Buuut, of course some of us rent, so white kitchens with ugly cabinets are just life.

-Weird or interesting fridge magnets. Gives a sense of personality and helps make the old yellowed rental fridges look a little less yellowed if you stay clear of white magnets. If you dont like magnets, keep your calendar or grocery list on the fridge.

-Plants. Something Alive is beyond necessary, edible or not.

-Lighting. Overhead lighting is rarely nice, but the kitchen is a room that needs good visibility. Try some of those cheap under cupboard spotlights from ikea over your main work areas. Put a strategically placed rice paper hanging lamp near the kitchen (but away from your appliances and sink) preferably over the eating area. You can buy a plain white one and paint it, or find a nice patterned or colored one. Check out TAG brand shades for $3.

-Smell. I love food, but onions aren't my favorite 24/7 smell (I caramelize onions at work, so I'm pretty fed up with that smell). If you bake often, your set, but if baking is an occasional free weekend activity, fake it. Cinnamon or Vanilla candles or oils smell warm. Fresh herbs also help with a different scent. Try rubbing lemon halves on your wood cutting boards.

-I personally really like the idea of the wire shelving. Its handy in a small space where you want to display things/have storage, but don't want anything heavy looking that blocks light. To make the wire seem cozier, try using metal paint in your favorite color. I'm tempted to spray paint one red.

-Artwork is also key. Do an abstract painting of your favorite fruits or vegetables to stick on a plain wall.

-If your landlord will let you, add a back splash, or maybe make a temporary one (hack some ikea mirrors with mosaic glass)

-Check to see if you are allowed to paint your ugly laminate cabinets or replace the counter top. There are tutorials on here somewhere... Ikea's wood counter tops aren't too pricey, and if you can find a "Restore" for building supplies, you might be able to get a really good deal.

-Flooring. Get a good (rubber bottomed) rug or two if you dont mind beating them out every so often. If you are willing to do some work and have ugly laminate like me, consider hardwood once again from Ikea. I think it is something like $1.50/square foot. That would make my kitchen less than $40.

I think the plant pot holder is close enough to Ikea's GRUNDTAL rail system (pictured in the third photo down) - and even if it's not, that's what I think I'll use when I attempt that project.

Wire shelves can be many good things to me: Airy, clean-lined, practical, easy to clean, shiny, inexpensive. What they are not, to me, is cozy. They can be a nice industrial contrast in a cozy room, but there is nothing cozy about wire shelves.

To me, cozy is: Herbs/fresh produce on display in baskets and bowls. Patterned curtains or wallpaper. Potted plants. Collections of kitchen-related items such as canisters, cookbooks, or teapots.

There's nothing wrong with wire shelves. They have many wonderful attributes: inexpensive, practical, easy to clean. They could serve as an industrial, shiny contrast in a cozy kitchen.

But they are not themselves cozy. At all.

To me, cozy in a kitchen is helped along by displaying fresh produce or herbs openly in baskets or compotes or something, patterned fabrics/wall treatments/tile, and with kitchen relevant collections such as canisters, teapots, cookbooks, etc. Potted plants also work nicely for introducing a live element.

an armchair, a bureau...
oh sure. why not just put a flippin bed in the kitchen?
; )

if by cozy you mean cluttered. then YES these are very cozy kitchens.

My funky collection of magnets has followed me from rentals and three homes since the 80s. It's the ultimate cozy item.

I've always had north-facing kitchen windows (when I was blessed to actually have a kitchen window), so growing plants is out for me.

the first pic came from this post: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2007-entries/22-42andersons-love-eat-party-021647

In the comments section it says that they got the plant pots for the window from IKEA, but they've been discontinued -- if anyone has an idea on how to DIY, please let me know!

I love the ideas. How do i get my plant pots in the window in the first picture. Any DIY ideas...please let me know.

Is there a way to get a close up picture of the window to see what the plant pots actually look like... and what is holding to the window, please?

i need to know about the plant pots as well. what is holding them???