Cozy Whites

With the weather getting cooler, I'm already thinking about warming up the house with some winter decor, and I even have a bit of Christmas on my mind.  I can't wait to pull out all of that sparkly goodness!  I love white, but it can seem more "cool" than "cozy" during the winter months.  Check out these pretty little finds though--white and warm.

1.  Ruffly Felt Wreath - Tutorial via Design*Sponge (I WILL be making one of these this season!)

2.  Sweater Vase

3.  Mongolian Lamb Pillow Cover

4.  Oversized Cable Knit Throw (almost worth learning to knit so I can make one of these!)

5.  Owl Candle

6.  White Birch Bark Wreath

7.  Birch Log Vases

8.  White Pumpkins

9.  Winter Scene--snow covered and cold, but there's something so warm and familiar about a winter frost

I'm not wishing for snow quite yet, but these cozy-cool pieces make me want to string up some white Christmas lights, sip on a cup of warm hot chocolate and curl up with a good design magazine.  How about you?

Still Workin'

Since the baby's due date came and went and the little guy forgot to show up, I'm trying to find ways to keep my mind off of the fact that I'm still pregnant.  The nursery is almost complete, but there are a few finishing touches that I want to try to get done if at all possible.  I mentioned in this post that the nursery bedding was initially a disappointment because it was so blue, compared to the aqua/turquoise colors that I was going for.  In the end, everything is tying together beautifully, and I wanted to continue bringing together the two shades of blue I'm working with.

For drapes, I would have loved to go with full patterned panels, but I needed to keep this economical and use what I had on hand.  I've been hanging on to this aqua geometric for a long time, and I wanted to make it work in this room.

To stay on budget, I bought these inexpensive panels and took the tabs tops out because I plan on using ring clips to hang the side panels.

Since I had limited yardage of the fabric and wanted maximum impact, I decided to sew 12" strips down the outside edge of each panel.  There are 2 windows in the room, so there's nice opportunity for some "hits" of this fabric.

Here's some photos of the fabric after I attached it to the panel--very basic sewing skills folks--nothing but straight lines and uncomplicated patterns.  I added a grosgrain ribbon to trim out the inside edge and bring in the blue tones found in the bedding.

At the end of it all, to my delight, I had just the right amount of fabric to piece together this pillow cover--complete with some fun orange ball fringe--for the room.  I'll have photos of the completed space soon, and hopefully some even more exciting news to share.....:)

Featured!

Today, I'm so honored to be featured over at Jena's blog, Involving Color.  Her blog has such a unique concept in that it features real rooms, offering readers an extensive resource of room galleries and paint galleries.  She's done a great job at compiling a ton of information for her readers, and her own home is stylish and beautiful as well.  Head over here to check it out.

Thanks for the feature Jena!

Why Does Everyone Want a White Kitchen?

I haven't chatted about kitchen design for a while now, and since the arrival of a new bundle (of joy!) will probably take center stage for the next little while, I wanted to take the opportunity (while I have it) to talk about something career-related.  White kitchens have been "on trend" for a while now, and they seem like the right choice for so many interior spaces.  Besides the obvious though, why is it that this is now the go-to for homeowners and designers alike?

  Pinterest

1.  Designers are still excited about white.  When I see a beautiful white kitchen, my heart beats just a little bit faster.  When clients come to me asking for white kitchens, I never tire of the request, and look forward to pulling together all of the elements that will make their "white" kitchen a success.  I'm not even sure I can pinpoint an exact reason, but I think it has something to do with white's ability to be the perfect backdrop, while at the same time being the star of the show and setting a tone for the entire space.

Charlie & Co. Design

2.  Everyone wants what everyone else has.  While I realize that this is a major generalization, I do see the "white" trend driving more of the same trend.  This look probably won't be popular forever, but for the moment it has a captive audience that continues to breed more and more interest.  But really, who wouldn't want to live in this white-on-white kitchen pictured above?

Pinterest/Kitchen designed by Mick de Giulio

3.  There's a sense of the "non-committal"--in a good way--when you choose white.  In a way, white is the perfect choice for those who are afraid to commit to a color or wood species that they might tire of in a few years.  However, instead of defaulting like we sometimes do by painting all of our walls white because we're overwhelmed by all of the choices, white kitchens don't have the yawn factor that white walls can.  There's so much opportunity for layering of textures and materials in a white kitchen (think glossy white backsplash tile with silky smooth honed marble countertops), that the end result is anything but monotonous.  Add to that the dimension and depth you get from paneled doors, moulding details and wall paneling, and an all-white kitchen can really come alive.  Now the only choice is what shade of white to go with.......:)

Martha O'Hara Interiors

4.  White is versatile and complimentary, making it easy to transition to other colors and finishes.  I love the kitchen pictured above.  It has an abundance of lightness and brightness, definite injections of white, but is perfectly balanced by the addition of that gorgeous smokey charcoal color.  In the same way, white can be the perfect partner if your mood changes with the seasons and you like to incorporate bold shots of accent color.  It allows you to experiment with different colors, wood species and finishes, and add a dose of something different without completely straying from classic white, like in the kitchen below.

Pinterest

 Selldorf Architects

5.  With white, you have the opportunity to inject the unexpected, and have it really stand out.  Because white is so common right now, spaces that incorporate white with some more uncommon elements can really steal the show.  This kitchen above is one of my all time favorites--the white cabinetry and coffered ceiling are beautiful in and of themselves, but also provide the perfect backdrop for those steel-framed french doors--they punctuate that back wall and guide my eye easily through the space.  The herringbone pattern on the floor is another unexpected element, and really elevates this kitchen to a level of high design and well thought out detail.

There you have it.  My thoughts on why white continues to be the new white :)  How about you?  What reasons do you have for choosing a white kitchen?

Getting Close......A Nursery Sneak Peak

With only two weeks to go in my pregnancy, I'm getting so anxious and excited to meet our little guy, and the "nesting" stage has completely taken over.  The baby's nursery is almost complete, with only a few finishing touches yet to be added.  Here's what's been happening over the past couple of months:

Maternity photo shoot.  My husband's idea, not mine (I wasn't too excited to capture my larger-than-life state on camera).  Fortunately for us, our photographer worked magic, the shots turned out beautifully, and I'm so glad we did this. If you're in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, check her out here for a beautiful portfolio of work.  I'm excited for the newborn photo shoot in just a few weeks!

To cover up an odd square recess in the ceiling, I used this oversized drum shade, embellished it with orange ball fringe and added some cute little whales to the inside--they'll glow through nicely when the light is turned on.

We went to the east coast and spent some time in Maine this summer for a little "babymoon".  These lobster buoys are the perfect colors and remind me of our last little trip together as a two-person family!

Love this whimsical, yet elegant whale pillow from West Elm.

You can see the fruits of our labors on all of the walls in the nursery.  Mr.CottageModern and I spent a good chunk of weekends this summer adding board and batten paneling to the perimeter of this room.  It turned out really nicely for a couple of rookies!  The map letters I made tie in well with the different shades of blue in the room.......we've had lots of guesses on the name of this little guy based on those two letters!

I'm really pleased with this bedding from Serena & Lily.  I agonized over keeping it because the blue is very "blue".  Not aqua/turquoise at all like I was hoping.  I was disappointed at first, but its so well made and adorable that I decided to make it work.  Its tying in beautifully with all of the other touches, so I'm happy designer again :)

Can't forget Sophie--a staple toy among all babies, so I'm told!

There are some great built-ins in this room that were original to the house.  I painted the backs of the open shelving turquoise, and have had fun accessorizing with toys, books, and of course the mini Air Jordans that my husband "had to have" for our little guy.  He has a matching adult pair in his size.  Pretty cute, I have to admit :)

So that's the nursery tour for now.  I'll post some more shots in the next few weeks.....maybe after the name is revealed!  This weekend's task list involves creating some drapes for the windows, so hopefully this very pregnant lady can muster the energy!