Sarah 101: Episode 3 Big Box Kitchen

**Spoiler Alert**

Another Tuesday night, another highly anticipated episode of Sarah 101. Every week this half hour goes by at lightning speed, and I'm considering writing a letter to HGTV Canada, begging them to expand all future episodes to a full hour. This episode featured a budget friendly "Big Box" kitchen and lounge, with a strong accent on kelly green.


Here's a quick review of the lessons Sarah taught us this week:

• A big box kitchen doesn't have to be basic and boring. Instead, it can be personalized with colour. In this kitchen, Sarah had several of the basic white cupboard doors and drawer fronts sprayed in a vibrant green.

• If your kitchen doesn't have enough square footage for an island, try fitting a 3'x5' peninsula against one wall. It provides extra storage space, delineates traffic flow, and creates an area to pull up a stool for a quick snack.
  

• It is simple to unify two open concept rooms by using a singular paint colour and flooring material throughout the adjoining spaces.

• In a small space, every inch counts, so don't waste valuable inches. Sarah created an office in a recessed area between the kitchen and lounge by installing storage cabinets and a simple desk top.
  

• Incorporating a variety of fabrics stimulates visual interest and softens an otherwise cold space. In the lounge Sarah discussed using a combination of a textural velvet, a graphic print and a bold ikat print. My favourite fabric was the green Thibaut ikat used on the toss cushions.

What did you think of this week's epidsode?

All photos courtesy of HGTV Canada.