{the blog}

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.

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!

checking in on Annmarie's progress

My long-distance (design) love affair continues... Annmarie's marble counters are in... as are her faucet and sink, so I figured it was time to give you blog readers an update.  She and Barry (shown below) have found some awesome antique brass fixtures (actually from a boat)... they've been playing a little "honey hold this up for me" and I've been on the receiving end of some fun emails with photos...

[try to look past her yellow backsplash... it'll be tiled over on Monday]

 

 

 

 

 

She has this secret stash of discontinued Martha Stewart paint colors!

Then yesterday she sends me some photos from her trip to a local lighting place...

 

{I don't know where you come from... but we don't have lighting stores that look like that around here}

 

 

 

Then she tells me about this little gem across the street from the lighting place:

 

Along with the email full of photos of this place she explains what she desires to occupy this precious little antique building in downtown Cohasset:

Urban Grace North - 11 Ship Cove Street - Cohasset Village - Circa 1800

Across the street from Fleming's light shop.  This shop with its' little PATIO and path to PASTRY SHOP, tiny loft inside.......

Holy quaintness!  Tempting, very tempting. 

 

 

Annmarie's kitchen progress

My girl Annmarie is getting down to the nitty gritty in the kitchen reno'.  Her carrara counters are coming on Thursday... but today I got this in my inbox.  (okay, I added the hearts)

 

 

and just incase you forgot the before:

 

Yes, we are crazy... crazy in love with her new bridge faucet! 

I need to get my buns back up to Boston (before it gets too cold)!

from disco to delightful... on a dime

 

Recall, this is my sister's bathroom.

I CANNOT believe I have posted these images again. 

I hope no one unsubscribes from this blog.

Don't adjust your screen... it really is canary yellow.

Someone suggested that I make suggestions for a re-do on a dime.  I wouldn't do this* for just anyone... but my sister... she's worth the extra hour (make that 2 hours) in the office to compile these suggestions.

This is where she is today (and yes, it is still as seen in those photos above):

This is what I would do, if I lived there:

Let me tell you why... it is not the master, but someday it will be when the girls aren't sharing a room... and I think 2 sinks are nice in a master.  I don't think she will miss the linen closet, as there are 4 closets in the hall leading into this bedroom.  And there might actually be enough room to keep it, I don't have measurements.  I think a shower is practical here (to optimize the space) and is possibly the most cost effective solution. There is another bath tub in the house.  Do not dismay, I am queen of bath tubs in the master (a queen bath taker am I), but there are always exceptions to rules. 

So, here we go... what would it look like...

(all metals would be polished chrome (for the pocketbook's sake) and the whites would be "white", not almond or biscuit)

 

  

A. faucets $300 each in more traditional lines to offset the vanity's contemporary feel, it is not "cheap", but you should not "cheap out" on the faucet. The faucet is more important than the sink, repeat after me, "the faucet is more important than the sink". Okay... moving on.

B. sink $80 each; Ikea. I have this sink... I love it.

C. cabinet $129 each; Ikea. I don't have this but I like it, painted.

D. paint for vanity Farrow & Ball "Pigeon" $32.50; paint for walls match to Restoration Hardware's "Subtle Velvet"- as seen above on walls behind that camel colored sofa 2 gallons of Behr from Home Depot probably $50 (I like Behr's "Flat Enamel" paint)

E. tile - Daltile's Permatones & Permabrites Porcelain... on the floors - Matte White (6501) 2" Hexagon, grouted in gray (ie: Custom Building Products"Delorean Grey") $5.10/sq foot and 3x6 subway tile on the walls... installed in a herringbone (or chevron stripe) pattern, grouted in a more subtle gray/off white.

F. A Bath/Shower Valve (one at each end of the shower), that diverts from the showerhead to the handheld shower (in lieu of the tub filler) are you with me?... handhelds make cleaning sooo much easier.  I'd actually do 2 of these valves, since the new shower is so large, one at each end. I don't know the price on this... but would recommend a Speakman showerhead and handheld. Maybe $350.

G. toilet - Kohler Bancroft in white around $300. (yes, there are cheaper toilets, but you are talking to a girl who appreciates a good toilet)

H. lights either side of mirrors  Martha Stewart "Tumbler" $119 each. 4 total.

I. Bath accessories (prices unknown, all from Norwell, or equivalent from elsewhere)

J. bath mirror and shelf $68 - yes $68 for mirror and shelf, I have bought these recently for a project and LOVE THEM.

TAAHHHDAH.  Now, when she saves up the $ for this renovation, we'll post after pictures. 

Give her a few years, remember there are 3 more of these beauties.

I almost forgot the art and linens... they would be mostly white, with caramel and gold tones, and of course an unexpected punch of color in the art would be nice. I really like how that Restoration Hardware sofa reads against that wall color, hence my attraction to camel/gold.  I am too tired to search for them... use your imaginations!  I am deliriously tired... too tired to even add these numbers and give you a total... feel free if you wanna calculate, and don't worry about "labor costs" that's why she has me and my husband... we will help- my husband and I are quite a team... plumbing, tile, we've dabbled in it all! 

*- I do not design for free.  I actually have bills that require payment.  So, while every once in awhile I offer suggestions... I don't make a habit of it.  I am thinking about offering freebies once every couple of months (would you like that?)... for those in need of solid design advice who cannot afford a professional.  Glad you understand.

pantry love

We have officially moved our laundry room out of our kitchen!  

It was on my New Year's resolution list and it can be scratched off.

We stacked new front loaders (washer & dryer, that is) in the den closet, there was even enough room for my rolly laundry cart next to them... and it keeps the dirty laundry that is in the works out of sight (it used to pile up on the kitchen floor, lovely, I know). Sold the old washer and dryer on Craigstlist in less than 1 hour, and forgot to unload the clothes out of the dryer before we met the people who bought them, glad they opened the dryer door... as I would have been missing some of my favorite things.

Now... what excites me even more than the new laundry space is the new-found pantry space.  I've never had a pantry.  I've had my bread, crackers, what-have-you on the countertop in the corner of this here kitchen for 5 years.

We have a tiny little kitchen. I have no complaints though... it has all the necessities. We might be cramped when we have children someday, but for now it works, and the pantry is a huge help!

Now our new pantry is nothing fancy (we aren't fancy people): it's comprised of our green lockers from Round Top (for the broom, mop, Swiffer, paper towels) and a basic metal shelf from Lowes:

and

The husband (surprisingly) agreed with my idea to paper the walls of the pantry in grasscloth:

I chose Arrowroot Color #074 by Phillip Jeffries

And just because this is a kitchen that I think about often and have never posted on:

{Cottage Living. Photographed by Tim Street-Porter}

Heather Chadduck's kitchen featured in Cottage Living. Sweet simplicity. Here's what she said in the article about her kitchen:

The kitchen proved my biggest challenge. I took it down to the studs, pulling up three layers of linoleum and one sad layer of 1970s-era fake parquet to find the original hardwood floors in pretty good shape. Taking advantage of a perfect opportunity to paint a floor, I brushed giant diamonds and polka dots right on top of the oak, then had them lightly sanded (paint and all) and sealed. Now they look as old as the cottage itself.

I splurged on custom cabinets so I could get the layout I wanted, sacrificing storage space to accommodate my antique French blackboard and newly restored 1950s Chambers stove. My dad handmade the open shelving, my Christmas gift, which arrived just in time for the holidays. And now, after months of ordering takeout, I’ll confess that I love my kitchen most of all. My mom—fondly known as “Suga”—who endured the whole process over the phone, is just glad it’s finally done.

The whole article is here.

I love her Chambers stove, don't you!?  I wonder if she had to buy "mini" cookie sheets, I know mine wouldn't fit in that oven... but it's so darn cute, I could make due with smaller cookie sheets. 

monkey cottage

Remember all my ranting and raving about old one room school houses.  Dang sure - here I am again!

{Photographer: Lucas Allen [more pics here] Article by: Sara Bliss}

Neglected school house turned cottage!  Rock on boys [Jason Oliver Nixon & John Loecke]! I love it... can I move in with yall?  Love the yellow door and the green porch rail!

Country Living... I love you when you do stuff like this... and Mom- thanks for sharing this with me... she said:  Erika, Knew these pics would give you inspiration for your little "adventure"!! Aren't they great?? Love, MOM

Yes, indeed they are!

one room school houses

[12/04 my parents school house just set by the house movers, waiting the renovation to begin]

I gather this subject is intriguing to others like me, given the feedback from my last post... so here are some more one room school houses... {Patricia, ever illustrated a school house? Maybe this will inspire?}

[this is in Snow Hill, Maryland]

[Harrisburg School]

[Kansas has a whole website dedicated to the One Room School Houses in their state]

[there are a ton of school houses turned B&B's - this has a school house suite - it is the Pitcher Inn in Vermont]

[here's a school house turned Garden center - Garden Thyme]

[and one from Beacon Falls, MA]

[Norwalk, CT]

[here is one in Oregon]

[here's one that I'm not sure where it's from]

Central Michigan University talks about the history of architecture in relation to one room school houses here.

Here are the ones Martha B {NIBS} sent to me... she says: I found the photos of the one room school houses in upstate NY. These two hadn't been used for years and were boarded up.

I don't know about you... but I sure would love to have one of these little beauties in my backyard... converted into an art studio, guest quarters, garden room... and the list goes on!

If you can't get enough - check this out!

my parents and their many renovations

This is a tribute to my parents:

[disclaimer - we (sister & I) are AUBURN GRADUATES... ignore their shirts]

So, this "design blood" that pumps thru my body comes from those 2... they are a design obsessed duo.  They have (in addition to their "real jobs" (designer & marketing executive)... have renovated and restored more houses than I can count.  Before we were born (in Norfolk, VA) they had an antique booth and spent weekends scouring for deals. This post in particular is about their renovation efforts at the farm... in a teeny tiny town in Southern Illinois.  Dad saw the dilapidated early 1800s farm house and knew it was perfect (mom wasn't convinced, you see he tends to buy it - dream big, then have mom manage the project).  He also had his eye on the town's One-Room School house that was about to be torn down...

Kathryn (aka Snippet & Ink) & Martha B (aka NIBS) and I have had some recent discussion about 1 room school houses.  Kathryn's post about "school" inspired weddings, prompted me to fire off an email with photos of the one-room school house my father saved and had it moved 4 blocks to their farm property.

[Mt.Carmel Daily Republican Register, article on dad (in photo in front of school house)]

[yes, (a) that's a happy-crying face and (b) we got married in the dark- see light not turned on... it was an oversight - kinda funny]

When the boyfriend and I became engaged, I knew all along I wanted to be wed on the family farm. Here we are - in front of the Lancaster Zion United Methodist Church... which is next door to my parents farm property.  It was built in 1840 (thus a door for women to enter, and a door for men to enter).

[photo credit Jason Reese - www.photorexit.com - those are white cowboy boots I'm wearing]

Alright, back to the school house.  Here she sits in her new home behind my parents farm house and barn.  New replacement windows, coat of paint inside and out... and there she is in all her beauty.

The school house pendants came from Visual Comfort. Fans are similar to Hunter Original. Chalkboards are original, as are the floors.  Here she is set up for our Rehearsal Dinner.

Here is the "farm house"... circa 1800 - this is where we spend a lot of time since parents sold their home in Louisville, KY.  In fact mom lives here - since dad took job in Chicago. They are back and forth frequently.

Here is a view of the barn and blueberry patch.  I think dad searched for a windmill for over 5 years, until he found one that was in good working order.

You also may (or may not) recall this school house from my Christmas recap post. We do spend most family holidays down at the school house.

[daddy-o enjoying the fruits of his labor Christmas day @ School House- pecans on table from husband's parents farm in Alabama - the best in the world]

Sorry this post is all over the place... there is so much good design and architecture to share - I don't know how to stop. Here are a few other houses my parents have or are in the process of rehabbing:

[this house (above) has about a million books inside... anyone in the antique book business - leave comment, seriously... a gold mine if someone has the time to sort thru them]

[oh, and the school house has an Illinois map... here are the Illinois friends I have pointing to where they come from]

[this one was a major overhaul... a downtown c.1903 stone front bank building - mom + my husband]

[dad kissing mom because she has probably just said to him "you are crazy for renovating this building"]

[me (3rd from left) + girlfriends on wedding morning. this is my grandmother's house (background) not a good picture- it's like the 2nd oldest house in town - her cellar was a part of the Underground Railroad - mom and dad renovated it about 15 years ago]

[there's the mother duck and one of her little specialties]

 

[and because I thought this was funny - me and dad being stupid- after savoring some serious architecture at the Bernheim Forest in Kentucky - a whole other post entirely]

That's all (as if that was brief) I can find for  now... HAPPY MONDAY!

Will post some pictures from Martha B (NIBS) of one room school houses in upstate NY tomorrow!

   

 

$6k kitchen appliance overhaul

My identical twin sister Darby has recently overhauled her kitchen and I thought this would be an appropriate post to tie in some before and after shots, as she approximately spent $6k on her new appliances!

 

And a few more (thanks sister, I know the kitchen isn't 100% complete... but it's an amazing transformation).

Some highlights that I should mention in Darby's kitchen:

- fridge/freezer are Frigidaire

- fridge drawers are GE

- ice maker is ULine

- dishwasher is Jenn-Air

- range is Jenn-Air the double ovens is an AWESOME feature... warm your bread separately while you bake your sweet potatoes... oh yes. And a great price-point!

- it should also be known that she loves this sink by American Standard

   

NOW BACK TO THE APPLIANCE MAN FROM

Steve from Yale Appliance back for round 2.  This time I have $6k to spend on appliances.  I want the best I can get for that budget... this is what he recommends.

30” RANGE- Jenn-Air JDS8850BDS {erika here- my parents have this range at their farm and I have it in my office... we all love it! - ours is the downdraft version}

36” FRIDGE- ....French Door Jenn-Air

DW- Jenn-Air model JDB1105AWS

MW- Jenn-Air

ICE – it’s in the fridge

Discounts:

Manufacturers usually have tons of tiered rebates... exploit them and in this instance, we will receive about $400 in rebates.  We also want to try to achieve a uniform style...In this middle premium realm look at:  GE Cafe, GE Profile, KitchenAid and Frigidaire Gallery Pro.

On a side note: I love the look of this new GE Cafe line [Steve agrees - check out his post on it here and I LOVE real-life feedback - this guy bought it and is very pleased- read this]:

Bottom line is: do your homework.  Don't be like me and base your selections on "looks"... these are big investments and you want to make sure you end up with what is a perfect match for your specific needs!  Check online for feedback and consumer reports.  I like: www.eopinions.com - for any big purchase I always check in with that site, Steve's blog is great and he's so generous to reply to any and all appliance questions whether you live in Boston and are able to buy from him or not!   

Happy Weekend!