Master Kitchen Designer Mick De Giulio

Meeting with Mick De Giulio you immediately learn that he loves design, planning and kitchens. He came to his profession in an unconventional way: Mr. De Giulio began his working life in Detroit, Michigan, assisting his father, who had a carpentry shop. Helping his father he learned the woodworking trade and therefore has the knowledge of what it takes to make the best cabinets. Mr. De Giulio is uniquely adept at inventing kitchen plan systems that surpass all the market competition. He most notably designed a kitchen cabinet collection called Beaux Arts.02 with Sie Matic, a high-end kitchen cabinetry company. Mr. De Giulio has been called the visionary leader of the future of the kitchen.

When planning your new kitchen or kitchen remodeling project, it would be beneficial to visit the one of the De Giulio Kitchen Showrooms. Mr. De Giulio appears at many seminars on kitchens and design. He also shares his vast knowledge in writing.

The following outline of certain guiding principles, or tenets, of good design are taken from Mick De Giulio's latest book, Kitchen Centric.

1. Space and Light. Light makes people feel alive and space gives the feeling of freedom and security. The goal of every kitchen interior is to create a feeling of openness and to promote what is already there.

2.Fresh and Clean. "Fresh" and "clean" are two timeless attributes especially important to where food is prepared and served. For example, natural wood combined with materials that convey purity such as stainless steel, glass, natural stone and tiles. Wall and paint finishes in lighter values with tones of yellow and green add to a sense of fresh, clean space. White is always classic for kitchens.

3. Function and Durability. A kitchen needs to work. Each material, object, work area must function well and be durable. Therefore, stainless steel is always in and practical. Granite and many natural stones have the same attributes.

4. Mixing: Visual Texture and Counterpoints. Use many types of woods, counter top materials and finishes in one kitchen. It is not about the number of materials or mixing for the sake of mixing, but rather, creating visual texture and a right feeling for each individual kitchen.

5. Proportion and Scale. The right proportions give a kitchen rhythm and make it sing. Elements need to relate to other elements and to the general space including everything from the ceiling height and counter top thickness to door size.

6. Composition Versus Continuum. Traditional kitchen design says cabinets run continuously and dominate a kitchen. A compositional approach is more pleasing and artful. Break down a kitchen into various areas and design each area as a composition by putting in visual texture and considering various relationships among components.

7. Essence. Translate a special spirit or essence that comes from you, the resident, into the kitchen. Quirks are good. Personality is good. Both should be emphasized in a design and not diminished. Do not think of a kitchen as architecture but instead as the bond or link between the people who live there and the architecture of the house.

Tagged as: kitchens, interior design, home, decorating and cabinetry

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Karen Carpino is an interior designer and founder of Chicago-based Karen Carpino Design. A professionally registered interior designer with over 25 years of experience, Ms. Carpino's clientele includes both residential and commercial projects. She brings you techniques, trends and tips in “Style At Home.”