{the blog}

so much to love in one single photo

  

photo from March/April 2009 Southern Accents; photographer: Tria Giovan; designers: Jenny Peters and Rachel Mbiango

new yard = new kitchen desire

Earlier this year we embarked upon a major backyard renovation... sod, new additions in the garden, irrigation, fence, the whole shebang.  Our furry and non-furry friends alike have enjoyed it. 

 

 

 

 

My biggest regret: I cannot see the new yard from my kitchen window.  I now want to rip out my kitchen cabinets and line one side of my kitchen with windows.   

As I was catching up on blog reading last week I came across this post by Things That Inspire regarding "Vanishing Tresholds"... in essence a lack of separation between inside and outside.  Thankfully our home has lots of windows (just not exactly where I would have placed them)... but when I saw this image (below) I'll be honest, I cringed with jealousy.

The cliche term "bringing the outside in" is nails-on-a-chalkboard to me, and I'm not quite sure why... perhaps because it's tossed around on poor design shows on TV?  But there is something to be said for these windows.  I think Vanishing Treshold is a genius term... and I'd like to rip the treshold out of my own kitchen now, so I can see my green grass and garden blooms.  Things That Inspire didn't coin this terminology, she found it here at Tara Dillard's blog titled Landcsape Design Decorating Styling : Vanishing Treshold Home Garden Life

 

 

Can you see your back yard from your kitchen?  I'm tempted to order new windows today, and start the gutting process this weekend... but this might be taking 'nesting' to a whole new level... which could result in a divorce.  I better hold off. 

Last 2 images above from Things That Inspire.

perfection

 

photo from Elle Decor, September 2009

If you don't have a subscription to Elle Decor you are missing out.  It is my favorite.  Last week was so busy the September issue almost dry rotted as it sat on the front table begging me to stop and look every time I passed by.  Over the weekend I finally dug in... and I spent a good hour soaking it all in.  The unlacquered brass pulls and faucets... so delightful there are not words to describe them.  

This particular article is on Mark Badgley and James Mischka's horse farm in Kentucky... ahhh my beautiful home state*.  The photography is by Roger Davies.  The horse farm is amazing.  The kitchen above is one I could move right into and not change a single thing... that is rare.

The blurb on the photo says this:

The kitchen is sheathed in subway tile from Urban Archaeology; the pendant lamps over the sink are by Rejuvenation, the range is La Cornue with a hood by Broan, and the sinks from Rohl have fittings by Newport Brass.  A selection of copper and stainless-steel pans and some of Mischka's many cookbooks.

I wish these guys would have me over for dinner.

Some of those sources listed are my favorites - here are some links:

Urban Archaeology, Rejuvenation, La Cornue, Broan, Rohl, Newport Brass. 

*- where I spent a majority of my 'growing up years'

kitchen candy

 

Almost too pretty to actually use... I love it.  The awning style hood really seals the deal. 

mick de giulio  :: via Life in a Venti Cup :: via Decorati

old file, pleasant surprise

I love it when I go back into old files in my computer and find surprises.  I was hunting down a photo to visually demonstrate a tapered island leg for an out of town client... when suddenly I spied a little black and white spotty-dotty terrihuahua...

 

Back when this picture was taken Penelope was an only child.  And because I have to be fair... here's a picture of Paisley that Chance took last night.  It was storming and storms make the girl very nervous.  She is only allowed on the sofa and upstairs when it storms, she milks it for all it's worth.

 

I cropped out my big bare pregnant belly.  When Paisley isn't digging her terrierfied little chin into me she's panting excessively.  She's scared to death, but it looks like a smile.  Bless her heart, she makes us laugh so hard. 

We love her to pieces... but she's gonna be in for a rude awakening in 6.5 short weeks.

sneak peek :: Annmarie's kitchen remodel is finished

 

 

 

Annmarie's kitchen is complete.  You know while I was in Boston I spent some quality time with this crazy woman.  Mother of 4 who juggles it all.  More energy than anyone I know.  She's amazing and executed her kitchen design perfectly!  Okay, we emailed a few million times, but ultimately she ran the show.  I couldn't be more proud. 

She's gathering "befores" for me... obviously these "afters" don't do it justice, you gotta see the befores.  Working on it.  Oh how I wish you could all see it first hand. 

Chalkboard paint? Check. 

Unlacquered brass cabinet pulls? Check.

Polished nickel bridge faucet? Check.

Herringbone tile?  Check.

Wide plank pine floors to match the dining room? Check.

Nautical light fixtures from an old ship? Check.

More on this subject later... but I couldn't resist giving you a sneak peek.

I need a good toaster.

This is my toaster.  I bought it for its good looks. 

  

It doesn't toast worth a darn.  Uneven.  Extremely annoying.

I'm looking for a decent 4-slice toaster. 

Sebastien Gaudard has a Dualit. And a really cute dog in a sweatshirt.

 

 

Do you love your toaster?  If so, please tell me about it.

Thank you.

soften the soffit

I have a soffit over my kitchen cabinets and it bores me.  Had I been involved in the selection of the cabinets at my house I would have said "take the cabinets to the ceiling, no soffit!"

But alas, I had no say.

 

Here's a softer soffit.  Inspiring indeed.

:: BHGvia Mary Ruffle ::

in the kitchen and more

I am wrapping another project up and since we are on the subject of kitchens I thought I'd give you a sneak peek...

 

 

 

The counters are oyster terrazzo... they are absolutely beautiful (if I might say so myself)! The cabinets are "Macadamia" by Sherwin Williams, the hood and sink are from Texas Lightsmith, the range is Wolf, the fridge is Kitchen Aid, the faucet is Newport Brass, the hardware is Restoration Hardware, the tile is Barbara Barry for Ann Sacks, and the lights are Visual Comfort.  Whew, I'm sure I forgot something...??

 

The photo above is a close-up of the beams in this house... you may recall back in November of 07 when I posted photos of the cotton mill in Albany, GA that was being diassembled for the wood and brick?  Well, that's where the beams and brackets came from- you can see more in this post.  Pretty amazing though to have seen your 'house parts' in their original form:

The rest of the house is not 100% photo-ready just yet... but here are a few more sneak peeks...

    

Thomas O'brien "Julia" rug by Safavieh, chair fabric is LuLu DK contract, lamps, sofas.

   

The iron rail in this house the best I've ever seen... it looks as though it's 100+ years old... it's patinaed and smoothed in areas where hands would have rubbed it down over the years.  Floors are wide plank walnut from Carlisle.

 

   

All bathrooms have soap dishes and washcloth towel bars, fog-free mirrors... all the nice little bells and whistles.  I forgot to photograph the master bathroom... I'll save it for later!

 

 

 

 

This above is the "sand room" - it is the entry off the outdoor shower where guests can drop their towels and even use the potty in the adjacent powder bath.  These clients have been amazing... it's been a long journey, but nothing short of wonderful from start to finish!  (Not that we are done yet... but we are close!)

Something else I think everyone will enjoy... Joni just did a fabulous post on kitchens.  If you haven't seen it yet, head over to Cote De Texas!!  She posted great pictures and then gives readers tips on how to implement this look in your own house! 

a kitchen intervention

This is the short story of what happens when a really bad kitchen happens to a really cool person.

You might know my friend Anne Turner (remember this post and this post)... the girl has style, impeccable style.

 

I can only imagine that this kitchen was totally killing her.  Spec grade maple cabinets with green laminite countertops, mix-matched appliances.  She was way cooler than that kitchen.  But we can't have it all at once... she had just moved into this new (old) house, she did some facelifts here and there, but a kitchen renovation is expensive.  So she and her husband Neal lived with it for awhile.

 

That is, until she couldn't take it any longer.  And started the renovation...

 

She raised those cabinets up, added crown, ripped out that tile, well... here see for yourself:

 

 

 

   

 

 

And my favorite shot of all:

 

I think this might just be my favorite photo of 2008... and it's just icing on the cake that I love the girl who dines at this table and cooks in that kitchen! 

You may be thinking these photos look familiar... because you might have seen it in the last issue of Cottage Living November/December 2008... and when I say "last" I really mean it... it was the last issue.  They went out with a bang...

You can read more about Anne Turner's kitchen renovation here.

Some credits and info:

Photographer: Erica G. Dines {website not working}
Paint on walls: Farrow & Ball "Lime White"
Paint on cabinets: Uppers; same as walls, Lowers; F&B "Mouse's Back"
Window sashes and doors: F&B "Stoney Ground"
Hardware: Restoration Hardware, Ephram 6" pulls
Countertops: Black honed granite from Dupont at Lowes
Wood Countertops: Walnut butcher block from AWP Butcher Block
Appliances: Kenmore Pro, Sears
Tile/Splash: Ann Saks, Capriccio in antique white (it has a great wavy finish to it that makes the tile)
Pendants in kitchen: Restoration Hardware, Harmon Pendant in dark brass
Dining table: vintage
Dining chairs: Zentique
Dining room chandelier: vintage (from her brother's 1940s house in Montgomery, Alabama)
Floors:Lumber Liqudators 2 1/4" white oak select stained with half formula of Special Walnut
Fabric behind French doors: Lewis & Sheron
What year was your house built? We think the 40s
What year do you suspect your kitchen was last updated? oooh, maybe early 90s

And I almost forgot... the Faucet:  Price Pfister!

PS- I'm waiting to hear back from Anne Turner on the color of those dining room walls... will update as soon as I get that info!

Paint on Dining Room Walls: Pratt & Lambert "Sierra Night"

TGIF!