Distinctly Montana Magazine

furniture | appliances cabinets | home decor When remodeling is done well, the end result kitchen will be a well-functioning, aesthetically pleasing space that earns its rightful title as the hub of the home. We specialize in appliances in a variety of colors. Especially red, white, and blue. I We're making an effort to carry as many Made-in-America products as possible. t's the lifeblood of a house, the arterial space that supplies sustenance to its inhabitants and ambience to entertain. So with all the pressure placed upon it, a kitchen should comprise the work- ings of a well-oiled machine. But ensuring functional- ity is easier said than done, especially in older homes where dated design, dismal lighting, and aging appli- ances create overwhelming obstacles. And practicality is only the first factor during a kitchen's renovation. Eventually come the details that bring a space to life: the color, the texture, and the style. Luckily, in Montana designers make remodeling projects a breeze, even on a shoestring. While outsiders see Montana as a vast landscape stocked with endless high- peaked mountains, locals know that the terrain is as diverse as it comes. With rivers winding through the farmland, prairies, buttes, and badlands, inspiration lingers in every corner of the state. But Bozeman-based Interior Designer Diane Leuschen (of DM Leuschen Design) is also inspired by global trends, which she says have taken hold even in the rugged west. "Tiles, fabrics, and colors are all Russian, Moroccan, Indian, and so on," she says. "The global community has opened up a whole world of design." When asked how she integrates such mo- tifs into the more rustic tastes typical of Montanans, Leuschen says it's simple: "A lot of rugs and textiles have Old World patterns that we now recognize glob- ally," so they already have that antiquated look and can serve as accent pieces in eat-in kitchens. 511 North 7th Avenue Bozeman, MT www.bozemantv.com 54 A mismatched mix of chair fabrics or a collection of distressed wooden chairs, painted in assorted colors, can also spruce up an uninviting space. Leuschen's most coveted mode of introducing color: through the backsplash, where she often uses New York City subway tile. A line exists between adding too much and too little, though, she says: "You have a pallet that you keep neutral, and DISTINCTLY MONTANA • SPRING 2012

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