White in the kitchen

By white in the kitchen I don't mean everything is white.  When I posted earlier that you should look inside the cabinets as well for easy elegance, I meant it.  The simplest place or item to start with is the white plate.
I tried colored plates and plates with colorful swirls and things, but somehow it just wasn't working.  The food on the plate just didn't look like it belonged there.  Then after years of telling myself white just couldn't be the answer, I came to the realization that it was.
Everytime we went out to eat, everytime we went to a catered event the dishes were plain white.  The colors of the food served on the white platters, dishes, bowls, etc just popped.  The food became the color I needed; it was the food that was the main focus.
I'm not saying to now go and throw out all your dishes and spend a fortune for white plates.  Simply start adding white to your collection. When the time came for new dishes I bought white, not an expensive set.  Then I slowly added other pieces of white over time. I found pieces in markets, at the grocery store and on my travels. 
The colored dishes and bowls I do have I use in combination with the white when I want to do something different.
I just recently purchased white melamime plates for outdoor entertaining. Simple and not expensive.  To give away my secret, I went to Target for that purchase.  I even bought it on sale which made it even better.
I will continue on my white kick with other things. But for now the white dish is the best place to start.

Keep it Simple and Neutral

Keep it simple and neutral may sound boring but I like to think of it as starting fresh and thinking of it as starting off with a blank canvas. 
Adding any color or adding multiple colors is always easier than taking it away.
The simplest way I have found to start is with "blank" walls.  Having moved around quite a lot, the best color for walls has been white or cream.
There are many shades of white out there to choose from.  I've always heard "don't be afraid of color" but I say don't be afraid of white either or cream for that matter.
The walls in my home that I own now are either white or cream. My blank canvas.  For example, in my dining room, the walls are a darker shade of cream. A great backdrop for my artwork.  After hanging the art on the wall, the artwork "pops" out against the color of the wall. For me adding color was with art. Changing the artwork if I wish is now easier to do with a neutral background in place.
Simple and neutral can be in any room or item in your house.  The kitchen is great place to begin when in doubt.  Don't only think of the walls or cabinets, but also of what is inside the cabinets.  Next time i'll expand on the kitchen itself.  Starting with the simple plate.

It's Really Simple

Elegance is obtainable by each and every one of us. We all look at magazines and store displays and say to ourselves "I wish I had that look."

We actually can! It took me years to finally figure it out. Simplicity is the key. As with anything, once you break it down, it becomes understandable and a lightbulb moment occurs.

My philosophy: Keep it simple and start neutral.

So that's what's behind this blog. From time to time I'll be here to pass on what I've learned as well as my own thoughts and observations.

So, let me know what you think.

Until then, think simple, think elegant!