Cottage | Modern

Client Reveal: Kitchen of the Week

2012-02-29T22:29:00.000-06:00

A long while back, I posted here about a fabulous client before and after project that I designed last year. I've been waiting to get it professionally photographed, and the time has finally come--the photos are in! This project is a career highlight for me, both in the transformation of the space, and in the great relationship and collaboration I was able to have with these clients. I truly believe that a successful project is the result of good communication and an honest working relationship, which I felt I had with these wonderful, stylish and intelligent clients! Here's a look at what the space was like when my clients purchased the home--it was dated, segmented and related poorly to the rest of the home:

And here is the new space:

In designing this kitchen, along with reworking the back entry, staircase, and the guest room hallway, we looked at many different floor plan options before settling on this one. Usually I like to present clients with a few different design scenarios so they can see what could be, and in the end, what works best for their space and their needs. Here's my take on why this design works best, and why I think it will serve the home and the homeowners for years to come.

1 Open, but not too contemporary
I definitely think there's an urge these days to create open and free-flowing space within a home. In many cases, this can dramatically improve the everyday use of the space, the way that family interacts and congregates in the home, and the way homeowners are able to entertain guests. Older homes are notorious for having kitchens that are completely cut off from the rest of the home, and while these spaces often benefit from being opened up, the temptation to get rid of all the walls and create one large room can prove disastrous in a period home. In this space, we combined two smaller rooms to create a kitchen and seating area, and also opened up the wall to the dining room. However, the addition of trim and casing that matches the rest of the house defines the new opening, making it look planned and part of the original design--not like we just cleared out all of the walls for the sake of a more open floor plan.

2 Material choices that read as "period-appropriate", rather than "on trend"
With this home being built in 1931, we wanted to incorporate modern convenience and good design sense while still respecting the age and character of the house. A typical 1930's kitchen (in its original state) might have had painted cabinets, but for this space we took our cues from the warmth of the original dark wood mouldings and trim, as well as the natural oak floors. The cabinetry is natural cherry, which is a lovely wood species to use because it marries well with other wood tones in the space. Cherry also mellows and darkens with age, and over the years will develop its own beautiful character.

Another period appropriate material choice are the soapstone countertops. Soapstone has been used for centuries as a durable surface for high-use areas. It is non-porous, so won't stain or trap bacteria, and is so resistant to chemical abrasion and acidic foods that its a preferred surface in chemistry labs. Plus, it has a natural, organic beauty, and no two slabs are alike. A classic element is also found in the backsplash, which is composed of elongated subway tiles that pick up on the beautiful green hue in the soapstone.

3 Floor plan that emphasizes style and function
A successful part of this design is the way that the layout works well for two or for twenty. The kitchen is essentially a galley style, with the sink, range, and refrigerator placed adjacent to, or directly across from one another. A large island allows for comfortable prep space when two people are working in the kitchen, while the seating and additional beverage center/buffet create another work area for the homeowner, and keep guests out of the main prep space. The gentle curve of the island adds an element of modernity, while naturally guiding traffic toward a comfortable seating area at the other end of the room--a space designed to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, or casual conversation while entertaining friends.

So that's the tour! I could go into much greater depth about all of the details and planning that went into making this space a success, but I'll let the pretty pictures speak for themselves. As I mentioned before, this is a most favorite project of mine, and I hope it results in many great years of good living for these wonderful clients.

Try it Before You Buy It: Chalkboard Wall

2012-02-24T22:59:00.000-06:00

Chalkboard paint is widely used right now on anything from accent walls to entire rooms to furniture pieces. Although, I think that this is a passing trend, and that perhaps we'll look back on it someday and wonder what we were thinking, I have yet to come across a home interior with a chalkboard wall or two that I didn't love. In practicality, I'm bothered by chalk dust, and even more bothered by the sound of nails on a chalkboard.....I have shivers right now just thinking about it, but I'm willing to overlook those two major factors because I want some chalkboard action in my own home.

Christine Lane Interiors

This rustic-modern interior is beautiful, and the injection of a mass of black really sets off the white fixtures and furnishings in the room. How much cooler that the chalkboard itself is actually a huge sliding door? Smart, smart, smart.

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The stark stainless and white tones of this kitchen are offset beautifully by the contrasting black wall. Plus, it adds an element of whimsy to this modern, clean lined European kitchen in that the art has an organic and ever-changing element to it.

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I love how blogger Carmel of Our Fifth House blog addressed this small section of wall--so creative! And she went the extra mile by using magnetic primer under the chalkboard paint so that the wall could serve in that way as well. I'm considering that as an option myself, since I have a stainless steel fridge that magnets don't stick to. Then I remember that I LOVE the fact that magnets don't stick to and clutter up my fridge, so maybe the magnetic option for this wall isn't for me. We'll see.

Schappacher White Ltd.

A simple and effective way to add interest to a small space.

So with all of these great inspirations and examples, I'm now itching try this in my own space. However, I have a track record of painting every room twice because I'm seldom satisfied with my first choice, so I decided that instead of going to the trouble of painting the wall and not liking it, I'd do a little (ghetto) mock up before I commit to the time and effort. Here's the wall in my back entry I'm wanting to paint:

And here's my lame (aka $3 pack of construction paper) attempt at "visualizing" what the black chalk paint would look like:

At first, it was overwhelming to me, but its been up for a few days now, and I'm liking how it kind of brings that wall forward and into the room. Its a large and bossy expanse of black, but I think I need a place that allows me to write messages and reminders in a big and bossy way. The baby takes up most of my brain space these days, so having constant visual reminders of what needs to be done, purchased, dealt with, etc. is key. A trip to the paint store might be in my near future. We'll see........:)

When is a Chair Not a Chair?

2012-02-17T10:47:00.001-06:00

This month's House Beautiful Magazine was a wonderful little indulgence for me. I get excited seeing page after page of things that are "the same but different". In this case, it was the color green, and there was so much eye candy in this issue. I was immediately drawn in by the chair on the front cover:

Which is this chair from this company:

Artistic Frame Co.

This type of chair has been wildly popular lately, and when I first saw a pair of these in one of Kelly Weartsler's interiors, I loved them for their quirky beauty. The look of them totally transports me to another era--kind of Sherlock Holmes-y.
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Then they started cropping up in mainstream retail home furnishing stores:

Restoration Hardware

And appearing in modified form as interpretations of the original:

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I'm sure like me, many people are curious about what it would be like to have one of these chairs in your home. That's why I had to laugh when a couple of months ago, one of my favorite (hilarious) evening sitcoms, Rules of Engagement, dedicated an entire episode to making fun of these chairs.....and they raised an interesting point.

The whole episode is an arguement between Jeff and Audrey when Audrey orders "the chair", actually hates it but pretends to like it to avoid an "I told you so" from Jeff. They engage in a hilarious battle of wills, and end up with two of these beauties--watch a clip from the episode here.

The point they were trying to make was that this chair didn't really function as a great chair should, and wasn't a good marriage of style and comfort. So when is a chair not a chair? When it looks like a time machine and functions like a phone booth (Audrey had to call Jeff from her cel phone even though they were sitting right next to each other :))

Nevertheless, I still love the look of these beasts, and am more curious than ever to sit in one and see how it feels. A quick trip to Restoration Hardware might be in order--I'm sure they have several!

Happy Heart Day

2012-02-14T08:52:00.000-06:00

I wish I were more into Valentine's day in terms of decorating, romantic stuff, etc., but I've never really embraced the "holiday" that much. Even so, I thought I'd post a few pics I came across that I just LOVE, and think they relate beautifully to this little Heart Day without being too predictable.

jcp

JC Penney launched a great new branding and advertising campaign this February. Their latest ad showcases their new "look", and I love how they've breathed a new freshness into what was becoming a bit of a stale department store. I'm especially fond of the graphics in their ad, like the one above for Valentine's jewelry. I would never buy any of that stuff, but when its all grouped together like that, I just might take a second look. And I would love to have the time to arrange my underwear drawer like this:

jcp

A quick search on Pinterest turned up these adorable little heart compositions:

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And I got the biggest smile on my face when I found this most creative collection of art piece/images by the talented Leslie of A Creative Mint. Delightful!

And there's more of these! Click here to see them!

Hope you have a special day with whomever you're sweetie is! And even though I said I don't really "get into" this spirit of Valentine's, here's a peek at me and my forever valentine......I love you J.

Do You Like this Kitchen?

2012-02-09T22:31:00.000-06:00

If you ask me, Canadian House & Home magazine is one of the best design magazines available today. This isn't a plug for my Canadian heritage, or a bias because I'm from that country, but I do think that this publication showcases some of the best and most beautiful when it comes to residential interiors across Canada. What I like about the magazine is that they feature spaces that are high-style, high-end and impeccably pulled together, but still manage to appeal to the average homeowner and design enthusiast. It takes a team of talented editors to create a resource for design professionals while still inspiring the everyday homeowner, and I think this magazine does a great job of it.

Every year, they feature a tour of the Princess Margaret Showhome, and I have absolutely fallen in love with some of the kitchens in those homes (designed by the House & Home team). In 2008 they pulled together this classic-meets-weathered look that showed off current trends while still maintaining a classic aesthetic:

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And in 2009 produced this to-die-for modern meets country kitchen--so many unexpected, yet perfectly executed elements:

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So with a history of loving the kitchens in these homes, I have to say that I'm not over-the-moon with the most current one from the 2011 showhome:

As a kitchen design professional, I'm always on the lookout for current trends, whether it be a new and innovative material for surfaces, functional hardware that allows for improved useability, or interesting colour directions for the kitchen space. I hope I'm not coming across as totally clueless or style-less when I say that I can't quite embrace the abundance of "mustard" happening in this room. While the colour tone itself is quite beautiful and there are other elements in the space that I love, such as the range/hood combination, stone floor and rustic work island, for me, the colour is just too much of a good thing.

I do love the dresser-style hardware on the base cabinets, as well as the grandness that's achieved by taking the wall cabinets all the way up to the high ceilings. And I do appreciate that they committed to the ochre color in its primary state without gobbing it up with glazing or distressing. I want to know what other people out there think though.....am I the only one struggling with this "new" design direction? Opinions please!

Humor in the Kitchen

2012-02-06T22:18:00.000-06:00

Like many of you this past weekend, we spent the Superbowl with friends, enjoying an evening away from the house in the company of people we like. When I say "we" watched the Superbowl, I really mean my husband because I have zero to no interest in football whatsoever. In order to make the event tolerable though, I like to spend some time in the kitchen preparing goodies that can be enjoyed during the game. I take my role very seriously :), but this year my plans didn't go as planned.....

I picked up this Nordic Ware stadium pan a few years ago on super sale, thinking it would be perfect for a theme cake for a sporting event. I tried baking a cake with it once before with disastrous results, but had renewed hope in myself this year, and tried once again. The pan came with an image of what the finished cake could look like:

Very cute. Mine looked like this:

My husband called it "post-apocalyptic", and I just laughed at the disaster that I'd created (once again). My three month old even started giggling as I was trying to shake it loose from the pan.

With two failed attempts at this cake, the pan might be relegated to our garage sale pile for the spring, but we'll see. Or I could ask my expert sister-in-law, who runs a successful wedding cake design business, what the perfect recipe would be for a cake that actually comes out of the pan properly. I'm embarrassed that she even has to see this cake disaster :) There are two bits of silver lining though.

Spray icing in a can:

I bought this to decorate the stadium cake with. However, when the project failed, it worked great to take a handful of broken cake, cover it with a generous spray of icing-in-a-can, and eat away my sorrows in the form of chocolate cake. So much for the post-pregnancy diet this weekend :)

Heath Bar Trifle:

This is the best-tasting and most impressive recipe to use when your cake is ruined. I've done it many times, in many forms with different ingredients, when anything from box cakes to angel food cakes have failed. Here's the chocolate version:

1. Bake a chocolate box cake and once cooled, cut into cubes (or in my case, use the pieces that are already broken). Take a large bowl--a glass one works nicely--and layer cake on bottom.

2. Prepare 2 boxes of chocolate pudding according to the package instructions and layer 1/3 of the mixture on the cake.

3. Spread a layer of Cool Whip on top of the pudding and sprinkle with Heath Bits (or crushed up Skor bars in Canada :))

4. Repeat these steps twice more, and voila, an impressive and large dessert for a crowd.

And no one will ever know the disaster that had to happen to create this masterpiece. Enjoy :)

The Watercolour Trend

2012-02-02T22:19:00.000-06:00

My January issue of Canadian House & Home magazine informs me that one of the top trends trickling down from the runway to home interiors is watercolour. I'm happy that some of my design sources tell me what's fashionable in clothing right now, because these days I've chosen to remain completely clueless about what's up and coming in the fashion world. Its a self-preservation technique, really, because during my pregnancy, I gained 50 pounds, and while I've dropped 40 of it over the last 3 months, the last nasty ten needs to go away before I can start getting excited about new clothes again. So while I'm certainly not filling my closet with any of the latest trends, when it comes to home decor, one size fits all, and I'm loving all of the watercolour-inspired items starting to appear.

In furniture:

Bedding:

Housewares:

Floorcoverings:

Textiles:

I also did a quick search on Etsy, and there's an infinite number of original watercolor paintings--perfect to compliment all of the other popular decor:

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And if I do manage to ditch the pregnancy weight soon, maybe I'll get in on the fashion trend (before it goes away) and sport one of these pretty dresses:

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That's all I've got for now, but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled as this trend continues to emerge in home decor. It think a hit of watercolour--in furnishings, a painting, or an accessory could be the perfect thing to soften the edges of any room. Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

Entryway Progress: My Top Wallpaper Choices

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-06:00

With the entryway disaster behind me, I'm moving forward to get the walls in that space corrected and looking fabulous. Thanks for all of your comments--I have renewed hope for grass cloth, should I go that route again. Since I've been looking for the right wall treatment for some time, I revisited some of my original choices as I went back to the drawing board in search of a wall covering.

If money were no object........

Imperial Trellis in Citrine would be my number one choice. Everyone loves this pattern--in fabric and wallpaper--and I'm no exception. Maybe its the graphic pop, or the combination of curvy and straight lines, or maybe its the striking repetition of pattern--whatever it is, this design is so interesting, and I love the acid green-against-white colorway.

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I also came across this trellis pattern, which would be a great second choice to the Imperial Trellis:

Unfortunately, the paper itself is "thinner" than I think it should be for the condition of our walls. We've patched them as necessary, but I feel I need something with more thickness to hide the imperfections I'm not seeing. See more patterns and colorways from this collection here.

In my search, I came across this and was drawn to it because of the light silver-gray color and overscaled pattern:

I took a quick photo when I was at the store, and neglected to write down the brand. Needless to say, while I love the pattern and subtlety of the color, it has a metallic sheen to it that I think I'd get tired of too soon.

So after looking through countless wallpaper books, and really adoring so many of the graphic, colorful and interesting patterns out there, I feel like I just can't commit to anything too trendy for my entry and stairwell area. If I was considering changing it out again in a few years, I'd definitely take the plunge and do something more fun, but since that's not the plan (WAY too many other house projects chewing into the budget), I'm back where I started......still wanting my grass cloth.

This photo shows the two new samples I found that are closest to what I have on some of the walls (my current grass cloth is the background). The weave of the new ones is a bit more course, but I don't mind the added texture. I think the top one is the one that will work best as it leans more toward a green-gray than a purple-gray like the bottom one.

Grass cloth adds so much glorious texture to this room, designed by Frank Roop, and plays well with the other textures going on in the space.

So with all of the many books and patterns I've looked at (and there have been a ton), I'm sorry to say that I'm not more of a risk-taker with pattern and color. However, I need to go with what I know I'll love in the long run, and my plan is to get the stuff on order this week!

Entryway Progress & Grasscloth Disaster

2012-01-24T09:16:00.000-06:00

A long while ago I posted these inspiration images for the walls in my entryway. We've been living with this awful wallpaper for over two years now, and I'm dying to get rid of it. You know how sometimes when you live with something long enough, you kind of get used to it and "forget" that its there? Not with this stuff--it yells at me everyday:

It was discovered underneath another layer of paper that we immediately peeled off when we moved in. This layer, however won't budge. We've tried everything and even called in experts to have a look, and the verdict is that its not coming off. In addition to that, the walls aren't in great shape, so I've been considering several options. Either skim coat the entire entry and stairwell and prep the walls for paint, or cover it in a beautiful wall covering. Wall covering it is--grass cloth to be exact. I searched high and low for an affordable grass cloth, and when it seemed like I wouldn't find what I was after, I stumbled across the perfect color (and price) at Lowes of all places. Its a gorgeous gray color, and nice and neutral with no weird undertones. Plus, it has a very fine weave, and looks like a lot of the expensive grass cloths I've found in high end books. After waiting five months for it to arrive (it was backordered), we had it installed last fall right before the baby was born. As soon as it started going up, I loved it. This photo isn't the best, but its an idea.

However, shortly into the process, things started to go wrong. Keep in mind that all the correct adhesives were used, and the method for hanging used by my (experienced) installers was careful and meticulous.

I hope you can tell from the photos that every seam is completely bleached out and horribly visible. While I understand that one of the interesting characteristics of grass cloth is that the seams are visible once its installed, this was not the kind of "visible" that I was used to seeing, and obviously a product failure. What's more, not only were the seams bleached, random patches in the middle of a sheet had lost color as well:

And the worst area:

Needless to say, after this started happening to literally every sheet that was hung, we stopped mid-process, and now the project is half done. Lowes was great about it, and offered to replace all of the rolls I purchased with new ones if we wanted to start over and "hope for the best" with a new batch. I was ready to take them up on this, and then found out that the product had been completely discontinued! So back to square one. Its now almost been a year since I started the process and I still have ugly walls in my entry, plus 40% of the walls covered in faulty grass cloth that has to be removed.

The silver lining? I recently found several great new options for wall covering for the entry, and am ready to make a decision and get the project back on track. I'll post my findings this week, and hopefully make a decision and get something ordered very soon.

Has anyone ever run into this problem with grass cloth before? Its such a beautiful product, and so hot right now that I'm sure I can't be the only one. Hopefully the second time is a charm with this project!

Kitchen of the Week: Crisp Contemporary

2012-01-19T19:59:00.000-06:00

Ordinarily, I'm drawn to kitchens that are either on the traditional end of the spectrum, or on the ultra-modern end. I love the cabinetry detailing and craftsmanship that is so evident in traditional applications, and I also love a modern kitchen because it takes a delicate balance of line, scale and proportion to "get it right". The middle of the road is where I struggle to find spaces that appeal to me--I'll call them "contemporary" kitchens. The main reason is that often, contemporary kitchens look like a mash of every trendy material and finish currently out there, thrown into a space with the hope that because these things are "in", the space will look well designed. When I stumbled on this award-winning kitchen, however, I was blown away with how well current materials have been used to create a space that is beautifully appointed, unique, and perfect for this home:

Lucy Interior Design

This space, designed by Lucy Penfield of Lucy Interior Design recently won Best in Show at the 2011 ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) awards banquet. I think that the combination of elements, the application of current trends, as well as the careful attention to maintaining the home's integrity worked to create a gorgeous space with a ton of visual interest. Here's my take on how this talented designer made everything really come together.

1 Neutral "grayish" palate

The "weathered look" with grayed-down wood tones and tactile texture is hot right now. While this look often lends itself to vintage, antique or eclectic interiors, this kitchen is the perfect modern reinterpretation of the trend. The smooth, flat-paneled wood cabinetry has ribbons of gray running through it, but is kept warm through complimentary beige tones in the wood. Having the grain run horizontal on all of the cabinet fronts and doors adds to the contemporary feel, and maintaining a similar wood tone on the ceiling and floor creates continuity and flow in the space.

2 Extra thick countertops & waterfall edge detail

Increasing the thickness of a countertop is a great way to compliment the length and scale of a large island. Typical stone and quartz composite countertops are 1 1/4" (3cm) thick. For what's referred to as a "built up mitred edge", fabricators will mitre the top edge of the stone, and then add an additional mitred piece, anywhere from 2" to 6" to give the countertop its thicker look. When done well, it will appear that the top is one thick solid piece of stone. Wrapping the edge of the cabinetry and having this countertop run down to the floor adds additional mass, and the color chosen in this kitchen adds contrast, definition and prominence to the large island.

3 Mosaic tile backsplash

Glass mosaic tile seems to be available everywhere these days, and has lost a bit of its uniqueness because of it. In this application, however, I love how the designer has been intentional about the tile's placement, choosing to highlight and transform an entire wall and bring another textural element to the space. The contemporary nature of the tile lends itself to the design of the rest of the kitchen, making it "classic" within the space rather than a passing trend.

4 A kitchen that doesn't scream "I'm a Kitchen"

In my opinion, this is perhaps the most successful part of the design--this space blends amazingly with the rest of the interior, but also takes into account what's going on outside. Its been designed to have unobstructed views in both directions, and because of this, some of the typical "kitchen" elements have been left out (in a good way). Wall cabinetry is no where to be seen, which allows a large window to dominate one wall and bring light in. Storage space is neatly designed into one of the corners, and the unavoidably tall appliances like the wall oven and refrigerator are placed at either end of the kitchen's perimeter. With two large islands, there is certainly enough storage space, and keeping everything low creates an open, airy feel. Even the presence of the cooktop is minimized, placed discreetly along the window wall with downdraft ventilation instead of a large hood structure. Overall, this kitchen has the look of a true "living space" and is highly functional as well as extremely inviting.

I also have to say that I'm in love with the fixtures and furnishings in this space, and those counter stools were what drew me in to the space in the first place. Along with those fabulous light fixtures, they add a playful, modern element. With seating for six, gorgeous views in every direction, and an interior this beautiful, who wouldn't want to spend every sunny summer day at this lakeside retreat? Count me in!

Art in the Kitchen

2012-01-16T11:37:00.000-06:00

I've been staring at a blank wall in my kitchen for over two years now, tossing around several ideas of what to do with it. In one of my concept layouts I had cabinetry along that wall, but in the end the design took a different direction and the wall remained as it was. I know I need to do something there (see photo below--the wall in question is to the left of the fridge), and I think a great piece of art, or arrangement of pieces would look great, but that's where I haven't taken enough time to find the perfect solution.

I think that wall art adds an element of the unexpected in kitchens. Often in kitchen design, walls are consumed by cabinetry, windows, open shelving, tile, etc., and there is little space left for anything else. Either that, or kitschy (sometimes cheesy) art prints of food, fruit or wine end up being hung on blank walls to occupy the void. So is there a happy medium--a place for great artwork in the kitchen that doesn't come across as too literal? I hope so, because that's what I'm looking for. Here are some great "art in kitchens" images I found as I started the search:

I absolutely love these prints, and even though they are very literal, their style makes them unique and very appropriate. I like how they add a modern pop of color to a more traditional setting.

Canadian House & Home

This large floral painting by Bobbie Burgers looks like it was not only planned into the space, but gave inspiration for the design direction as well. I love how it connects the outdoors, the yellow range, and the rusticity of the island table and makes everything look so cohesive.

Again, this is a literal take on something found in the kitchen, but the application makes it unique. Its size and scale is unexpected in this tiny kitchen, and the high contrast is perfect with the existing color scheme.

Canadian House & Home

Keeping with the black and white theme, this framed chalkboard looks classy and compliments the kitchen's scheme. Additionally, it becomes a forever-changing piece of art. Great idea.

I've tossed around doing a collection of family photos on my blank wall, but thought that there wasn't enough context for it in the space. However, this dining corner is perfect for the gallery of photos, and I love how the frames are eclectic and carried up over the window.

via Canadian House & Home

I've posted this kitchen before--its always been a favorite of mine. Designed (and lived in) by Canadian designer Lynda Reeves, I like how she's added framed abstract art right next to the range hood, and then repeated it again over a desk in the corner. The artwork brings a sense of sophistication to the space.

This vintage sign is also a clever idea, and is non-traditional and unexpected in a kitchen space.

There are a ton of ideas out there, and I also did a short search to see what other "unconventional" pieces might be interesting:

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Vintage botanical prints

Not-so-vintage (but very affordable) framed botanicals from West Elm

Affordable framed abstracts from West Elm

Original art hardware drawings from Restoration Hardware (there are over 1000 to choose from!)

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I also love this vintage eye chart--it would add a nice graphic punch to any wall.

Well, those are my thoughts for now.....I'm not sure I've figured out the perfect solution, but at least I've started thinking about it. I'm tired of staring at that blank wall!

Kitchen of the Week: Beautiful Brass

2012-01-12T10:33:00.000-06:00

Since being off of work with a new baby, I've missed getting my usual dose of pretty images related to kitchen and bath design. I'd like to get back into it slowly, and I thought that a good way to do so would be to feature a different kitchen and/or bath each week and focus a discussion around different trends and ideas that we're seeing right now.

This kitchen, designed by Minneapolis-based designer Alecia Stevens caught my eye a while ago. At first glance, it is a beautiful and well-balanced space, but as you look closer, there are many current trends integrated into the design. The word "trendy" can often be perceived as negative, since it is the goal of so many designers and homeowners to have "classic" spaces that will maintain a timeless look. Good design, however, has the ability to take a trend (however risky), integrate it into a room and almost transform the trend into looking timeless within its surroundings. I think this kitchen takes four major current trends and does an amazing job of making them work.

1 The "White" Kitchen

White kitchens are extremely popular right now, which would qualify them as "trendy". People ask me all the time if there's a risk associated with going with a white kitchen just because they're popular now, and I almost always say no. First of all, if you love white cabinetry (and its right for your house), this is absolutely the direction you should go. Second, white kitchen cabinetry has made an appearance in every decade for the past hundred years, so its not unique to this time period and should hardly be termed "trendy" for the 2000's. Besides, its most often the style of cabinetry that gives away the decade a white kitchen came from, not the colour.

2 X-Detailing

The above kitchen uses x-mullion detailing on the refrigerator door and the cabinets on either side of the range. While this type of detailing is showing up in a lot of places right now (and has for a while), this space utilizes the design element sparingly yet effectively. A couple more examples of nicely integrated x-detailing:

Woodmode

via Canadian House & Home

Love, love, love this kitchen! And isn't the integration of the x-detail at the end of the island genius?

3 Antique brass fixtures and hardware

This trend is huge, and has the ability to add the element of the unexpected to a space. I would consider it to be somewhat risky, but again, if used properly can add warmth and patina to a room. I think fixtures (lighting, plumbing, etc.) and cabinet hardware are great places to play with trends because they aren't impossible to change out down the road. In the case of those brass light fixtures, I couldn't see myself ever messing with them--their scale and colour adds so much to the room! Plus, look how this element has been carried throughout other areas of the home:

Alecia Stevens

4 Patterned tile

Kitchen backplashes often fall victim to passing trends. Either that, or they seem to be areas where designers and homeowners get over-creative and pull in odd combinations of accent tile, mosaics, etc. and actually take away from what's happening in the rest of the kitchen. Not the case here. This is a perfect example of how to use an intricate and unique tile, and make it a feature that doesn't dominate the space. The key is that the tile was applied as a full height backsplash, and only one pattern was chosen. There are no annoying borders or insets, and the repetition is what creates drama and impact.

Same with the floor tile. The black and white is uncomplicated, classic, and provides a beautiful transition into an adjoining room. Plus, it subtly echos the x-pattern on the cabinet doors, giving it context and purpose.

So what do you think? Does this kitchen score points for its marriage of "classic" and "trendy"? Click here for more photos of this entire home. I could move in to this space tomorrow!

House of Turquoise

2012-01-10T16:36:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank Erin at House of Turquoise for featuring Tate's nursery on her blog today. I was honored to have so much positive feedback, and even more delighted that she chose to feature it. Its special to me to be featured on House of Turquoise since it was the very first design blog I ever discovered, and the only one I followed for a long time. I stumbled across Erin's blog about three years ago when I was looking for inspirational kitchen photos. When I got there, I found a lot more than beautiful kitchens, and had so much fun looking through the collection of gorgeous interiors. I knew immediately that Erin had great taste and an incredible eye for good design, and checking in with her blog every morning became just as regular as my morning coffee.

Since then, she's gotten well-deserved recognition (I was floored when the editor of House Beautiful magazine gave her blog a shout out last year!), and continued to search out and display countless beautiful interiors. I'm sure many of us have come to call turquoise our favorite color because of her blog. So thanks Erin, for your commitment to what you do, which is inspiring thousands of readers and design aficionados everywhere, and perhaps opening doors for little known designers (like me :)) to do more of what they love and be an inspiration as well.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

2012-01-08T22:44:00.000-06:00

All good things must come to an end, and this weekend marked the official stripping of the Christmas decorations from my house. I'm sure I'm at least 2-3 weeks behind most people, but I had to wait until at least after New Year's, then threw in another week for good measure :) Plus I think the Christmas tree really fills in that corner of the living room nicely, so I wasn't too eager to get rid of it.

Since we got married, my husband and I buy a new penguin ornament each year as part of a little tradition we started. Penguins mate for life, so we thought it was cute and fitting to add to the tree with a new little "mascot" every Christmas. I showed our collection here last year, and I was eager to start the search for our official 2011 ornament. I had to chuckle as I was pulling all of the ornaments off the tree this weekend--I'd had some trouble finding a penguin this season, but my husband had come home from Christmas shopping one day, proud to show off his "find" for the tree. Can you tell which one he picked?

Seriously. One of these things is definitely not like the others. At first I didn't say anything because I was so impressed that he took the time to search this little guy out, and then stood in line for fifteen minutes to pay for it. Then, I gently suggested that maybe it didn't quite 'go' with the rest of the tree. He agreed, and said I could do whatever with it, he was just trying to help out. If you've seen my Christmas tree, you'll notice that there's no way this chubby creature fits with the rest of the theme, but over the course of the season, he kind of grew on me. So I decided that this would indeed be our 2011 mascot, and in future years I could just hide him in the branches somewhere :). Of course after the fact, I did manage to get my hands on two penguins, one with a silver tummy, and a frosted one that my mom gave me, both much more suited to my decor. Oh well--I think a little bit of humor this year adds nicely to our tradition!

With all the Christmas boxes now neatly packed and tucked away for next year, I'm looking forward to a few giggles when I crack open the decorations next year. The living room does look so empty though......what to put in that now empty corner where the tree was......?

A Resolution to My New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-04T16:19:00.000-06:00

Every time the New Year comes around, I go over my mental list of the things I'd like to accomplish and ways I'd like to better myself as a person. And every year when it seems like I'm not "on track" for accomplishing those things, I beat myself up and play the comparison game with others, falling into the thinking that I'm somehow not good enough, organized enough, or smart enough to complete my "list". So this year, while I am resolving to make some improvements, I'm also (more importantly) resolving to be easier on myself, accept my limitations and take pride in the things I do accomplish.

I think its so easy to get to a place where we decide that since we can't do it all, we can't do anything. With a world of beautiful blogs written by talented bloggers, we see projects, homes and interiors that look polished and professional, and make the people that live in these spaces look like their homes are picture perfect all the time.

Pure Style Home

Magazines and print media give us gorgeous spaces, presenting a lifestyle that we dream about living in.

images via Canadian House & Home Magazine

Pinterest, a grand distraction full of great ideas, allows us to create boards full of projects, recipes and inspiration.........it would take me years to complete all of the things I've pinned! Although I love this idea for a clock--its totally me!

Anyways, my point is that we (me) beat ourselves up over how much it looks like others are able to accomplish without realizing that the pretty pictures only tell half the story. In reality (and I hope other bloggers can attest to this), for every beautifully photographed room, there's a not-so-pretty pile of stuff down the hall, or in the corner the picture doesn't show. For example, at the same time my new kitchen looked like this:

The guest bedroom on the other side of the wall looked like this:

And I won't even get started on all of the other "hoards" I have in various rooms of my house...... :)

Those gorgeous rooms we see in magazines and designer websites don't tell the whole story either. It takes a team of talented designers, fabricators, installers, photographers, stylists and editors to create the lifestyles those spaces impart, and they certainly didn't come together overnight.

Julie Charbonneau via Canadian House & Home

So this year, I'm determined to be ambitious, but also realistic. I'm aiming to stay grounded by keeping things in perspective, applauding my accomplishments and not beating myself up for the inevitable failures. Overall, I'm looking forward to good things, great changes and challenges, and a year full of success.

All the best for a wonderful 2012!

Easy (and Impressive!) Last Minute Goodies

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000-06:00

I found this recipe on this blog, and as soon as I read it had to give it a try. Easy as can be, and makes a yummy and delicious treat to give away to friends and neighbors, or to have out as munchies for a party.

I personalized the recipe a bit, and it turned out great--here's my version:

Peppermint Cookies and Cream Popcorn (aka Reindeer Food)
2 bags microwave popcorn, popped
2 bags red & green M & M's - 1 mint flavored and 1 dark chocolate flavored
1 pack Oreo cookies, crushed
1 large (20 oz.) bag white chocolate chips
2 tsp. peppermint extract

1 Place popcorn in large bowl (I use a turkey roaster because its huge and works well); pour crushed Oreos over and stir together.

2 Melt 3/4 of the package of white chocolate, adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of the peppermint extract. I used a double boiler method to melt the chocolate.

3 Pour chocolate over the mixture and stir. Oreos will absorb some of the chocolate and won't be fully coated.

4 Melt remaining chocolate with 1/2 teaspoon of extract. Pour over mixture and stir to coat.

5 Before chocolate is fully hardened, add M & M's and toss until they are incorporated and stuck to the mixture.

6 Pour onto wax paper, and once hardened break into pieces. Enjoy!

Maybe you can tell by the mess in my kitchen and the amount of light in the photos that I was frantically doing this late at night, the day before I needed giveaway treats for friends. I'm happy to say that this recipe came together in a half hour, tastes great and made a ton! I'm definitely putting this in my "must use" recipe pile for future years.

After it was all hardened I poured the mix into these cute little take out boxes. Done and done. :) Easy enough to make another batch if I should need some for later in the holiday season.

Hope you have a very Happy New Year's this weekend, and cheers to 2012!

Featured on Project Nursery!

2011-12-29T13:31:00.002-06:00

A big huge thanks to Cristin of Simplified Bee for her article on Project Nursery which features Tate's Nursery. What a great holiday gift for me--I feel so honored! And even though Tate doesn't realize it, he's a pretty lucky little guy to be able to spend all sorts of time in that room. Here's a recent picture of him (2 months already!), chillin' in his big comfy chair.

Hope you've all had a great week of celebration with friends and family.....enjoy the weekend and Happy New Year!

Christmas at CottageModern

2011-12-21T16:09:00.000-06:00

With a new baby in the house, by necessity my Christmas decorating was slightly minimized. This was a bit painful, as I love to deck the house out for the holidays! That said, I told myself that it might be the last year for a long time that I get to have things the way I want them :), so I made a point to get out all of my fancy breakables and load the tree down with sparkle and shine!

We went to pick out the tree this year, and I had in mind something a bit scraggly with lots of random branches sticking out everywhere. I wanted it to be "not so perfect", and although my husband thought I was crazy, within minutes I spotted what I was after. Too bad it was 12' tall. Even though we have standard 8' ceilings, I wasn't going to let that stop me, and had one of of the workers do some minor "remodeling" to get it down to about 7 1/2 feet. I love how it turned out, and how it looks all decked out in turquoise and green!

I'm not allowed to buy any more tree ornaments. This is what I'm telling myself since its become clear that I have more than I can even use. My problem is after-Christmas sales. Every ornament on my tree was either a gift, or purchased at 70 - 90% off at the end of the season. Its become evident that I'm unable to control myself when things are that deeply discounted, but we'll see what happens this year :)

I felt like I needed to change my mantle up a little bit for the season. Last year, I did decorated it like this, and I'm ashamed to say that it stayed like this for the entire year (except for the hanging balls and ribbon):

I like the symmetry of the new mantle, and the lanterns and candles add a nice ambiance when lit.

I love this winter white owl, and am delighted to finally have this hearth tiled. Last year, it was unfinished with exposed concrete, and this year my dad finished it out for me in this nice marble subway. He did a great job, and its nice to have another project checked off the list.

I did have a few more touches of Christmas around this house, including this wreath I made a few years ago, but mostly I focused my efforts where I was able--because I only have short windows of time these days, it took me a week to get that tree decorated! Thanks for stopping by for this little Christmas tour!

Tate's Nursery

2011-12-12T08:43:00.000-06:00

Ages ago, I gave a sneak peek of the baby's new room, and then last time I posted, I said that I'd share photos of the completed space within a week. I thought I was giving myself enough time, given that taking care of a newborn takes up ALL of my time these days. Here I am though, almost two weeks later just getting the photos up....such is life with the baby, as sweet and wonderful as he is :)

Before I share the "after" shots, I should show you what the space looked like when we moved in:

And again, over a year later when we still hadn't gotten around to making it a pretty room. Please don't judge the mess:

Other than refinishing the floors and hanging some window shades, we hadn't even painted the walls in this room. I'm sympathetic toward our poor guests who had to stay in this less-than-pretty space time after time (although I promise the bed looked more inviting than it does in this picture). So this was our starting point, and after a few weekends of tackling a board and batten wall treatment, months of shopping for baby furniture and accessories, and creating some personalized statement pieces, this is how the room turned out:

I would say it is quite a transformation, and is definitely the bright, fresh space we were going for! I wanted it to have a classic feel, with a bit of whimsy and an interesting color palate that I could build on. I chose aqua and orange, and ended up with a nice mix of blues that compliment each other as well as contrast with the bright hits of orange in the space. Obviously, white is a huge component in the room as well, with a large circular shag rug providing softness and texture, and a white micro-velvet rocker/glider giving me the perfect place to spend (a lot!) of time.

I like this crib for its clean-lined, modern feel. It has a nice drawer for storage as well. The map letters I made sit perfectly above the board and batten, and tie in all of the shades of blue in the room.

The bedding collection is "Ben" from Serena & Lily, and I have to mention that I purchased the entire set for 70% off when they had a sale this summer. It was so exciting to get that kind of a deal! The art piece at the end of the crib is a letter-pressed "T" I found, and framed in a turquoise frame that I had previously been using in another room. I added an orange background to make it pop and tie in with the room.

Much of my time these days is spent in this very comfy rocker-glider. I brought in this Eileen Gray table from my living room for a touch of modern glam. This is for me, because let's be honest, I care way more about how this room looks than the baby does right now! I love the pattern on the ottoman pouf, and it's the perfect height and softness as a foot rest for me. Plus, it will function well as Tate grows and wants things to pull himself up on. I purchased it from this Etsy shop, and would highly recommend browsing the collection if you're looking for a great selection of patterns and a well made, quality piece.

This mahogany bow-front dresser was given to us by my parents-in-law, and its been in several rooms before this one. I was going to paint it, but just couldn't cover up the rich wood that I liked so much. Turns out it looks great here and is a nice juxtaposition with some of the more modern elements. The "art" above the dresser is simple framed letter-press greeting cards that are the right color tones for the room. I wrapped a couple of the frames in a natural linen to make the images stand out. Also, I kind of have a thing for lamps, and managed to squeak two fantastic ones into this room. This one, with the great burlap shade, and the one by my rocker (with the pretty fabric patterned shade) are both from HomeGoods.

The completed drapery panels turned out well. My mom came to the rescue and finished sewing them after the baby was born and I was in no shape to complete the project. I started them here, and it was her idea to add a narrow piece of orange grosgrain ribbon. The panels are mostly decorative, but I love the pattern on this fabric and how it ties in with the other elements.

These built ins were original to the house, and are perfect in this room in so many ways. The countertop is the right height for a changing table, and there's lots of surface area for diapers, supplies and essentials to be within easy reach. Lots of open shelving is great for storage and display, and I painted the backs of the shelves a soft aqua to offset the brightly colored accessories. With drawers and more storage below, this unit can evolve as Tate grows, providing space for all of his "stuff", and hopefully giving him some incentive to keep things neat and organized.......yeah, right :)

So here it is again, our little nursery project. It truly is one of the nicest rooms in the house now, and I love spending time in here with my little guy:

Introducing....

2011-11-28T10:50:00.000-06:00

Its been ages since I last posted, and for good reason. This past month has brought wonderful life change, and an amazing new adventure. On October 20, 2011, we welcomed our new baby boy into the world. He was more than ready to be born (I was a week late), and he came to us at a healthy 8lbs, 12oz! In this post, I revealed two of the letters of his name, and got some great guesses as to what it would actually be. No one came close to actually guessing it........

Meet Tate. He's such a joy, and we are blessed as new parents to be entrusted with raising this little guy.

I posted here a sneak peek of his nursery. Check back again this week for the reveal of his completed little room!

Cozy Whites

2011-10-18T22:05:00.000-05:00

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'

2011-10-15T18:53:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-10-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

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?

2011-10-05T15:39:00.000-05:00

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?

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.

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

2011-10-01T13:27:00.001-05:00

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!

Client Project: A Fabulous Before & After

2011-09-21T13:48:00.000-05:00

A while back (a long while!), I posted here about a client kitchen project that was in the works. The kitchen remodel has been complete for a while, and I finally got around to taking some amateur "scout shots" of the space. I wish I could share professional photos with you (those are in the works), but I'm so excited about how this turned out that I couldn't wait to get these pictures up. I do need to say first that I believe a large portion of the success of this project is the wonderful clients I had the privilege of working with. They were the perfect balance of stylish, receptive, intelligent, and realistic with their expectations, and I loved the working relationship we had. My hope is that they'll enjoy this kitchen for years to come, and that I'll get to work with them again in the future!

Here are a few before photos of their space:

The main space was cut up into three side by side rooms--a dining room, small kitchen and bedroom at the back. The house had also been used at one point as an "apartment-style" space, so there was a back staircase that was disconnected from everything, but needed to be integrated to make this a practical single-family dwelling. The design took the three separate rooms and opened everything up into one large, long area. We managed to fit a nicely proportioned island, and create zones for cooking, prep, as well as serving. The back staircase was opened up to the rest of the house, and it now integrates beautifully with everything else that is going on. Here's how it turned out:

The major challenge here was to create a functional cooking/eating/living space while maintaining the integrity and charm of the 1920's home. Open floor plans are not always the best solution, especially in older homes, but it works here because we've maintained some doorways and divisions that help each area feel distinct, but still open to one another. Additionally, materials like natural cherry and soapstone speak to the age and aesthetic of the house, and tie in beautifully with the original dark woodwork.

Overall, this project turned out better than I could have imagined. There are still some finishing touches to be installed (like FABULOUS backsplash tile--stay tuned!), but as a whole, I think the design is a success, and the homeowners are happy, which is the true goal of any designer. Again, my apologies for the less-than-desirable photography.....I'll update once we get a professional in there!

Black & White & Wood All Over.........and Some Exciting News!

2011-09-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

The injection of rustic elements into a clean modern space continues to gain popularity and be seen everywhere. Maybe its the unexpected pairing of clean lines with rough finishes that makes it so appealing, or maybe its that we're ready (and have been for a long time) to see interiors that aren't so matchy-matchy. Currently, I'm drawn to the stark nature of black and white, paired with warm rustic wood and driftwood tones.

Elle Decor

Love how this second image marries the very modern with those industrial, vintage chairs. Such an unexpected mix, especially with that stone floor. It all works, and is refreshing instead of stark.

via Desire to Inspire

This relaxed, but beautiful space uses a "colorless" backdrop to showcase and highlight various wood tones and textures. It mixes the perfect with the imperfect so well, and looks very comfortable to live in. Check out more great photos of the house here.

via My Scandinavian Retreat

That pine ceiling has such a cottage-like vibe, but when paired with sleek surfaces, that great modern hood, and those architectural window coverings, there's a nice harmony here.

via Pinterest

Love some of the details in this kitchen--the natural rug against that gloss white floor, the leather pulls on the drawers, and the casual rustic cabinet for open storage of dishes. The look is gracefully unfitted, and it works well.

Tracery Interiors

I've seen this kitchen in many different places and can't get enough of it. The strong, dark outline on those island pieces punctuates the space, while the rough-hewn beams flanking the doorway and grey-washed floors add a casual softness.

And in other news........a certain other kitchen with some black and white tones of its own got a bit of recognition this week:

I revealed my own kitchen a while back, and got some great response. On a whim, I entered it in a state-wide design competition, sponsored by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. I'm pleased to announce that it took 3rd place in its category! Maybe to some people, third place is the "second loser", but given the criteria and the other kitchen designs I was competing against, its a proud moment for me, and I'm thinking this space is truly "the little kitchen that could". There may be some magazine recognition for me in the near future, so I'll let you know if that happens!

An Original Take on an Unoriginal Idea

2011-09-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

I've officially entered the "nesting" stage of my pregnancy. Actually, with all that's been going on around our house I feel like I've been nesting for months, but now things are in high gear. My latest project has been creating letters to spell out our son's name somewhere in the room. Everyone does this, and although I'm not sure what the reason is (the baby can't read), I love the look of bold graphics and lettering, so I wanted to do it too :) I found these letters, and although I liked them, I thought I could do a better job and make them more personal. So an unoriginal but interesting idea was born.

I thought it would be neat to create letters out of maps that show where both myself and Mr.CottageModern are from--me from Canada, and him from Minnesota. I found these maps of various Canada/U.S. regions in a perfect array of turquoise and orange to complement the room.

The maps came from a place called Hunt and Gather. If you live in the Minneapolis area, this is the most terrific antique/"vintage stuff" store, and definitely worth the visit. Its quirky, always changing, and off the wall in all sorts of ways. I go there every couple of weeks and always find something that makes me smile.

After I figured out which maps would go on which letters, I got to work piecing it all together.

The letters I used are those simple, inexpensive cardboard ones you can find at any craft store. I also used my favorite product for gluing paper to paper:

And after the initial panic of the "do not use while pregnant" warnings splattered all over the back of the bottle (discovered after I'd completed a couple of letters), Google calmed me down and I realized that I probably hadn't used the product long enough or in a way that was harmful to the baby. This stuff is great--you apply it to the surface you're going to glue on--in my case, the face of the cardboard letter, as well as the back of the item you're gluing (the map). Let both surfaces dry, then carefully adhere them together and it creates a tight bond. The best part is, if you get glue on any surface you don't intend to, it rubs right off once it dries.

As a finishing touch, I added canvas around the edge of all the letters (also an unoriginal idea). I started by cutting strips of natural canvas slightly larger than I needed, then using Stitch Witchery and a hot iron to bond and finish the edges.

And here's the finished product:

I used craft glue to adhere the canvas to the letter, and the result is a nice clean edge. The color of the natural canvas also complements the tone of the vintage maps.

Well, there's a little sneak peek--I love how these are turning out. We are keeping the name a secret, and I've probably already given away too much by revealing two of the letters. Any guesses? :) Check back in about five weeks and we should have the name (and the baby!) ready to introduce to the world!

An Accidental Favorite: Turquoise & Orange

2011-08-30T22:12:00.000-05:00

Since the nursery color combo has been on my mind a lot lately, I'm taking notice of this combination everywhere. I didn't realize it was so popular until I did some more digging, and now that I've found this collection of delicious images, I'm liking these colors even more......

Platt Byard Dovell White Architects

What a fabulous kid's space! Its so chic and modern, but still incorporates a touch of whimsy with that zebra rug, fresh palate, and monogrammed pillows. My favorite part--the antler chandelier! What a great crowning touch.

House Beautiful via House of Turquoise

Since I have kid's rooms on the brain, this one obviously struck a chord with me! My favorite part--that grandparent's-house-meets-cabin vintage-look sailboat wallpaper. Love it!

Caitlin Wilson Interior Design

House Beautiful

I've always loved this room--so serene but that orange quilt adds such an unexpected zing of color.

Elle Decor

Never mind the delicious color combination, I want that chandelier! The mix of styles make this room feel so lovely and fantastical....

Emily Gilbert via House of Turquoise

This goldy-peach version of orange is handled so well in this space. Perfectly complimented by a soft, seafoam tone. Beautiful!

Mabley Handler Interior Design

Porter Design Company

Personally, I don't think I could live in this room, but I'd love to vacation in a space like this. There's a lot to look at, and the whole room kind of wraps you up in a warm, graphic hug :)

Tobi Fairley

I could move right in to both of these spaces! I love the jade tone in the first photo--an interesting and unexpected compliment to the orange. In the bedroom, orange and turquoise is handled in such a sophisticated way--restrained pops of color, but an overall serene feel to the room.

Tracery Interiors

I haven't seen a space by Tracery Interiors that I don't immediately fall in love with. There's a refined rusticity to both of these rooms that feels so comfortable. Accents of orange and aqua are beautifully handled, adding interest and punch. I especially love the wallpaper in that bedroom--so fun!

Baby CottageModern's Nursery Colors

2011-08-25T15:09:00.000-05:00

As I've mentioned, there's a lot going on in my house in preparation for the "new little addition". I remember a few months back when I had a ton of energy and a ton of ideas--all of which I had every intention of implementing. I work well under pressure, and need deadlines to motivate me to action, so there's nothing like an impending birth to get me workin'. Unfortunately (this being my first and me being completely clueless), I "forgot" that carrying around a fully-inflated beach ball on my front (as well as additional poundage elsewhere...ugh) might slow me down a little bit. Needless to say, I'm still trying to accomplish a lot, and thankfully its starting to come together.

(from top to bottom)

Benjamin Moore's Pool Blue (accent paint color);

Fireball Orange (accent color);

Restoration Hardware's Pale Silver (main wall color)

Months ago, as I was trying to come up with a less-conventional color combo for the baby's room, I decided that if it was a boy, I'd do turquoise and orange, and if it was a girl I'd go with turquoise and lavender. Secretly, I'd always preferred the turquoise and orange idea, and am excited to get to carry it out. A few of my A-list finds related to this color combo:

This bedding is ordered and should be arriving on my doorstep tomorrow! Excited to see how these pieces look in the room. I'm in love with pretty much everything Serena & Lily has to offer, and was so excited to find this color combo in their "Ben" nursery bedding collection.

The bedding is going on this crib, which I'm extremely pleased with now that its all assembled. It has a modern look, but was a fraction of the cost of all those beautiful clean-lined modern ones.

This was the fabric that got it all started for me, and although it isn't a perfect match to the bedding, I'm still trying to figure out a way to make it work in the room (this image looks much more seafoam green--in reality, its a nice turquoise/aqua). I love the color, the over-scaled geometric pattern, and the fact that it has some soft sophistication to it.

Etsy

I fell in love with these floor pillows from aletafae on Etsy. They are made in a variety of graphic fabrics, and the designer who makes them has such a wonderful eye for color and fabric that its hard to decide which one to go with! I haven't officially placed my order yet, but plan to order the one pictured above. It will be a great foot rest during those late-night feedings, as well as a fun piece of furniture when the baby becomes more mobile.

Some other finds that will help accessorize the room:

Love the softer colors, and the fact that my hometown in Saskatchewan, Canada is visible in this U.S. map :)

West Elm

Jonathon Adler

I have a few whale items throughout the room, including the pillow from West Elm. I'm not really into "themes" as such, but there are some cute things out there, and hopefully I can tastefully integrate a few of them. The bookends are on my wish list, but at their current price tag, I'm sure they won't be making it into this nursery anytime soon. Will they, Mr.CottageModern? :)

Actual photos of the room coming soon!

Painted Wall Paneling

2011-08-16T22:40:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've had an obsession with painted wall paneling. Probably because the last couple of months have revolved around weekends of a little DIY project in the nursery putting up board-and-batten paneling. It was an ambitious project for us that turned out beautifully--photos to come! I also used horizontal paneling in our recent bathroom remodel, and am so pleased with the results.

The idea of bringing dimension to walls with the addition of simple strips of moulding, wood or panels is certainly not new, but there are so many gorgeous applications, from cottage-country to contemporary that its somewhat of a hot look right now. What I like most is the way paneling can create a great marriage between different design styles, as well as allow a single paint color to take center stage in a room.

Elsa R. Soyers

You need little else in a space like this to add drama or interest. The minimal accessories are enough to allow that towering wall of paneling and sweeping staircase to take center stage.

via Pinterest

Again, this floor to ceiling wall treatment provides the perfect backdrop for pared down art and accessories. I love the perfectly equal panels that wrap the entire room.

via Pinterest

In and of itself, a black wall makes a statement, but the added panel detailing makes the look so intentional. The traditional nature of the paneling is a perfect contrast with that ultra-modern bathtub.

Sarah Richardson Design

This bedroom vingette, created by the Sarah Richardson Design team for Toronto's 2011 Interior Design Show uses full height v-groove paneling to provide a casual backdrop for bold color and a mix of modern and traditional furnishings. The dimensional white walls make a statement without getting in the way.

David Woolley via Desire to Inspire

This kitchen and bath are among my favorite rooms right now. Both spaces utilize horizontal paneling in a decidedly modern way, but the addition of traditional elements like the rustic, farmhouse-style island in the kitchen, and the clawfoot tub and antique sconces in the bathroom inject interest and quiet drama. I love the simplicity of that wall-mounted faucet above the bathtub.

Country Home

Board-and-batten walls started as an exterior application where flat panels were applied to the surface (boards), and vertical strips were attached to cover the seams (battons). Traditionally, this treatment was common on old barn structures, and is also referred to as barn siding. Its come a long way from its humble roots, and is used now in interior spaces to add height, dimension and interest. It looks best when two-thirds of the vertical wall space is taken up with the paneling, and provides natural places to mount hooks, light fixtures and artwork.

Sarah Richardson Design

Another example of vertical wall paneling working to unite both contemporary and "cottagey" elements. This space shows it extending onto the ceiling surface, which adds great continuity and interest to the fifth wall.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

These last two spaces are absolute favorites. There's a rustic, cottage vibe with the natural wood tones and horizontal paneling, but some of the accessories and furnishings have such modern flair that I can't decide which I like best! I feel like I could move right into this space and love everything about it. Plus, if you look close, you'll see that the last photo manages to showcase my two faves--horizontal paneling right alongside board-and-batton. Perfectly done, if you ask me!

Check back soon for photos of my own wall-paneling adventures. The rooms are almost done!

Respect the Process

2011-08-11T23:10:00.000-05:00

Designing and renovating are truly a process--often lengthy--that can bring about an array of emotion in clients and designers alike. From excitement to impatience, and sometimes anger and frustration, there are high points and low points in the. Its helpful to keep in mind that all of this is normal, and there have even been studies conducted that chart out when to expect the "highs", and when the worst and most frustrating times will be. More often than not in my career as a designer, I've found that my clients can be my best friends, or look at me as someone to blame when things aren't quite as they expected. Its sometimes difficult to see past the immediate situation and focus on the beauty of the end result. The reason this is so fresh in my mind right now is because over the past few weeks, I think I've encountered every emotion that goes along with renovating, and I have no one to blame but myself :)

With the exception of paint, a minor re-glazing project, and the final accessories and styling, my 50's bathroom renovation is complete. Here's a walk through the process so far......

A reminder of the glorious "before". My emotion at this point was complete apathy and neglect for the space. Even keeping this place clean was kind of like trying to polish a turd, so letting go of what was in here wasn't difficult.

Lucky for me, the wallpaper came off like butter, and Mr. CottageModern pried out the cemented-in vanity in less than an hour. With the cabinet and vanity gone, you can see the varying shades of "band-aid" in all their glory. Feeling very excited about progress at this point.

We thought the floors would be the biggest beast to remove. My innovative husband came up with some sort of primitive dual-wrecking bar system, and managed to pry it up in large sheets. Genius things happen at 12:00 am. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled to hear the sounds of inch and a half thick tile and cement hitting the bottom of a dumpster at all hours of the night.

The bathroom came apart relatively easy, all things considered. After 2 weeks of living in sub-par conditions, however (aka our 50's basement bathroom--yes, there's another one that's actually worse in some ways than the upper level), we were almost coming apart too. I'd reached the point where things were moving along construction-wise, but not much progress was being made with the "pretty" things I'd chosen. Then our air-conditioning quit, and it was game over for a couple of days for me. Nothing like incurring another large expense in the midst of renovations, and having to sleep in a stifling hot box during one of the country's craziest heat waves. I was beyond grateful when our new A/C unit came, even after a week of waiting. At this point, I decided to put together a "mood board" to lift my own mood and organize all of the clippings of selections I had lying around for the project. This helped tremendously, and referring back to it over the next little while lifted my spirits.

Here's the part where everyone freaks out and gets mad, and I was no exception. The first of the tile selections go in, and they're not looking "perfect" and "done" the first day. I know its typical to have a chalky haze of grout covering the tile right after its completed, but I was so amped up about the dark tile and excited to see it, that when I came home and saw this, it was instant disappointment. Again, no one's fault, just impatience on my part, and an inability to respect the process at this point.

Even the pretty glass and stone accent tile was looking dirty, and the whole mess was causing me to doubt all of my decisions and material choices. Silly, I know, because I coach clients into not falling into this type of desperation, but its so easy to get to this point! The ironic thing was, this was the morning we left for a five-day weekend to visit my family, so I was forced to step away from the situation, trust my contractor (who has been fantastic throughout the entire process), and let the rest of the work happen according to my plans, but in my absence. It was a good thing though, because to my delight, I came home to this:

While the space has a long way to go to reach the finish line, I can now breathe a sigh of relief at the way everything is coming together. Details I love are the wood-look porcelain floor, the v-groove wainscotting (standard Home Depot v-groove panels that I had installed horizontally instead of vertically), and the grayed oak linen cabinet. I'm SO pleased with the way that cabinet turned out, and can't wait to add the finishing touches with hardware and accessories.

With the tiles cleaned up, the glass accent sparkles. I'm exercising my patience with that tub though--its getting re-surfaced (in white, of course) next week.

Here's a little bit of pretty......I'm loving this faucet, and guess what? The hot water is now officially in working order :) I'm a happy girl, and can't wait to get this space completed. Stay tuned!

My Wonderful Weekend

2011-08-09T23:53:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I headed back home to Canada to visit my family one last time before the baby is born. I had a very memorable time, and I want to take the opportunity to brag on my wonderful family for the great time they hosted for me while I was there.

First, I got to see this little peanut, who is just as precious as ever, and is developing the most charming, fun-loving personality.

Then, my talented sister-in-law, who owns and designs wedding cakes for Sugar! Wedding Cakes invited me to help her with a one-of-a-kind creation for a wedding this weekend. It was SO MUCH FUN, and the cake, which was inspired by the art of quilling, turned out beautifully!

Sugar! Wedding Cakes

We had hours and hours of fun, and I was honored to be a part of this custom piece, which by the way, tastes as good as it looks. The banana cake she makes is delicious, and cream cheese frosting is to die for! The baby definitely got a sugar rush during my visit this weekend!

In the midst of all of this fun, my sis topped it off by telling me that she was hosting a "surprise" baby shower on Sunday afternoon! So exciting, and so appreciated by me. Despite having cakes to bake, decorate and deliver all weekend, she managed to fit everything in, and threw me a wonderful shower where I had the opportunity to see old friends and dear family members from my "homeland". And I certainly can't neglect to mention my amazing mom in all of this--it was the two of them who worked really hard to make this all come together in a beautiful (and delicious!) way. Here's what they did:

Lovely little touches throughout the house--inspired by my color scheme for the baby's room, aqua and orange, and my love for little baby whales.

I love the handmade touches the best, and am so excited about this art piece my sis made for the baby's room--perfect color choices, and so well put together! Beautiful job, and I can't wait to get it hung up in the completed nursery.

My mom's "cake" creation is so special to me. She put it together with handmade receiving blankets (made by her, of course), and a collection of the tiniest, most wonderful little sleepers for the new baby boy. It still seems surreal that we'll be welcoming him into the world in just two short months!

So together with a smattering of sweet desserts, an afternoon of fun and fellowship with family and friends (not to mention the generous gifts given by all), and the hard work and love my family poured into making this a memorable weekend, I'm one happy mama-to-be. Thank you and love you lots, mom and Sheena!

A 50's Bathroom Update

2011-08-01T08:51:00.001-05:00

Even the smallest of updates would be an improvement in this existing bathroom. Heck, we would have settled for running water in the sink. For more than a year we'd been living with a cold water trickle only, and using the bathtub for all daily washing--sad, I know. Since we moved in and the problems began, we debated replacing just the faucet (which turned out to be a plumbing nightmare), to replacing the entire vanity top or vanity in order to "make due" for the next few years. Eventually (and as you'll see in the photos), we realized that one small "fix" would have led to another area needing attention, and the project snowballed into something that we were either going to have to do all at once, or live with it the way it was. I chose to do it all at once--and at 7 months pregnant, why not take on a major remodeling project? :)

This bathroom was really more like a tiled bunker--so heavily clad in mortar and flesh colored 50's tile that it could have been our panic room in case of emergency. From the walls to the floors to the fixtures, everything was done in varying shades of pinky-peach, and wallpaper had been added sometime in the last 60 years to "tie it all together". It was truly like stepping back in time every morning we woke up and walked into that space!

One of the (many) problems with this space is its long, narrow orientation. Sure, we could have knocked out walls and borrowed space from other rooms, rearranged fixtures and really gone all out, but keep in mind that this is kind of a "forced" renovation, so my challenge was to keep it simple, keep the existing footprint, keep it on a tight budget (most importantly), and still make this a more functional space for our growing family.

Great progress is happening, and I'll post more pictures this week, but for now, here's a sneak peak at some of the fixtures and hard finishes that will be going into the space:

The overall look is cool and clean, but with some fun and interesting materials and textures. The glass and marble accent shower tile went in beautifully, and I'm excited to see how the floor tile goes in this week. I chose a dark, wenge-colored porcelain tile that comes in long narrow pieces and evokes the look of hardwood floors. Super durable, but with a bit of interest, and I think the dark color will really anchor the space. I'm also adding touches of weathered oak in the form of storage cabinetry, so that will add another texture and tone to this cool scheme. Check back for progress, and to see how its all coming together!

Let's Try This Again

2011-07-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

I've done a shameful job of maintaining this blog for the past few months. Shameful. While I fully realize that keeping readers engaged and building a base of followers requires commitment and consistency, I've let several things get in the way of moving forward in this endeavor. Call it being busy with work (not a good excuse--everyone is busy), or allowing myself to feel like I had nothing great to write about, whatever way you look at it, I've missed great opportunities to share over the past months because I simply haven't set aside the time. That said, I do feel like one special thing has been "distracting" me since early this year. A few months ago, this happened:

Yes indeed, we're expecting our first baby--a little boy--arriving in mid-October!!!!!! The pregnancy has been great, and I feel like there is so much to look forward to. The anticipation is killing me these days! So being that there are big changes coming our way in just a few short months, and knowing that our little CottageModern needs to be ready for a new family member, things have been very busy around here. Currently, we're living through another round of demolition/renovation, this time its the bathroom and nursery that are under attack. Great transformations are happening, and I'd love to start sharing some of my projects again.

So if you're still out there, and haven't completely given up on hearing from me, I appreciate it so much. I promise to make it interesting, and make up for lost time with some great project updates!

Living Room Mood Board

2011-04-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

I recently had the privilege of working with a wonderful new client who asked me for help in "casting a vision" for her new living room. Her and her husband had purchased a home, and after living in it for almost a year, it still isn't feeling like "home" to my client. She wants to start working, room by room, and have an overall "plan" and vision to work toward. Great idea, and I got to work creating a floor plan, and a couple of mood boards for her living room and adjoining dining room.

Although the overall scheme looks somewhat "white" in this photo, trust me, for this young family, we're upholstering those pieces in rich, kid-friendly fabrics and colors. I'm seeing that sofa in a fresh olive green color, with one of the accent chairs in a chocolate microfiber, and the other in a chunky natural linen. The walls will be painted Sherwin Williams "Amazing Gray", which will provide a lovely backdrop and bring in some of the gray tones in the zebra rug, and floral accent fabric. For another hit of color, I'm seeing the backs of those shelves painted Benjamin Moore's "Stratton Blue".

My client wanted a scheme that had some personality, but was neutral enough to bring in different color tones throughout the seasons of the year. I think a warm gray is the ideal backdrop, with the green bringing in a pop of color, but acting as a neutral with the ability to blend with blues, turquoises, ambers, violets, etc., depending on the time of year.

We also chose this gorgeous metallic damask for the adjoining dining room. It will pair with white paneled wainscotting on the lower half of the walls, and add a hit of glamor and shine.

I'm excited to see this come together, and shop for the "finishing touches" once the room is furnished. Its hard to show one-of-a-kind finds on these boards, but I think that's definitely what this room needs to pull it all together--a little bit of vintage, and a little bit of modern. I'll be on the hunt!

It Must Be Special

2011-04-12T23:18:00.000-05:00

Wow, two posts in one day.....I don't think this has ever happened for me! There must be something special about this day that warrants a mention. And there is. Three years ago today, after months of immigration paperwork, years of long-distance, and a lifetime of anticipation, I married my best friend and started our journey together as husband and wife. We've had a wonderful three years of marriage, and what was the sweetest wedding day ever, has gotten even sweeter with time. I loved him to pieces on that day, and I love him even more today. Cheers to three years, and a lifetime of anniversaries to look forward to.......

How To Decorate Around a Huge T.V.

2011-04-12T07:48:00.000-05:00

We were recently gifted with a beautiful antique buffet by my parents-in-law. The piece is quite traditional, and I wasn't sure how it would integrate with my more modern decor, but I wanted to give it a try. I asked my husband to bring the piece over one weekend while I was out of town, and to my delight, when I arrived back, it was sitting in its place in our living room, with little floor protector pads under each leg. What I didn't notice, however (not right away, anyways), was the GIANT new television that was sitting on top of the piece, perched prominently in our living room. Obviously, Mr.CottageModern figured that if I got something new for the living room, he should too. So began the quest to try and "disguise" this black beast, and make that side of the room look nice despite it. Avoiding the issue, this is what that area has looked like for the past while:

This space had really become a junk collector with a big blank wall behind it. All of the component cords showing underneath drove me nuts, but that was secondary to the huge television that dominated the arrangement. Last week, I was a guest presenter to a lovely group of women on the topic of "Designing on a Budget". One of my budget design principles is to 'shop your own home' to refresh and revive your space, so I decided to take my own advice and do that here.

While the television hasn't magically shrunk in size, now there are some pretty things to "distract" the eye. I moved the art piece to a new wall, and added a mirror (it had been lying on my floor, in a box for months) to reflect light in its place. A chair was moved from another area in the room, and pillows were added for an injection of color.

I moved a lamp from another area and placed it on the opposite end of the television. Together with the art as a backdrop, it adds some weight and height and helps balance the scale of the T.V. A stack of books, frames, and other collectibles, including a vase from my Ernest Miller pottery collection (my favorite things) help to personalize the arrangement, while trying to take some attention away from the other video components.

Finally, I cleaned up all of the hanging cords, and added some larger pillows and a ceramic stool under the buffet for extra "seating" when guests are over. I would say that while not "perfect", this area is definitely improved from what it was, and the television is somewhat less of a distraction. The best part--it all cost $0.00--budget design at its finest!

French Apple Tart

2011-04-07T09:33:00.001-05:00

Life and work have been very hectic for the past couple of weeks. There's been a lot going on, and when that happens, I always feel like there are less hours in my day than there seem to be in everyone else's. So often I get the impression (which I'm sure is false) that the rest of the world is accomplishing everything they set out to do, and I'm stuck in the slow lane with a huge list in front of me, barely scratching the surface of all of the tasks to be done. That's how I'm feeling these days, but I've found that the best remedy for this feeling is to bake stuff. Baking is a nice little distraction for me, and most of all I can get something started and completed in relatively little time--a small, but rewarding accomplishment. The other day, I tackled the Barefoot Contessa's French Apple Tart, and it turned out beautifully.

The recipe has you make homemade dough for the crust, which turned out light and flaky with a subtle richness to it. The fun part is the pretty arrangement of apples (and butter and sugar) that top this dessert

Pop this sheet into the oven for an hour, and it comes out looking carmelized and delicious:

Don't worry about the burnt stuff--its just the juices from the apples. Looks pretty good, but it gets better with the addition of an apricot glaze.

And yes, it tasted as good as it looks.....after the tart cooled, I cut it up, put it into a pretty box to take and share with family......topped with vanilla ice cream, this is a great and pretty alternate to apple pie--delicious!

Here's the recipe:

For the pastry:

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tbsp. sugar

12 tbps. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, diced

1/2 cup ice water

For the apples:

4 Granny Smith apples

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, small diced

1/2 cup apricot jelly or jam

2 tbps Calvados, rum, or water

For the pastry, place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 x 14 inches. Using a ruler (I just eyeballed it) and a small knife, trim the edges. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.

Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples crosswise in a 1/4" thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and dot with the butter

Bake for 45 mins to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Rotate the pan once during cooking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a slit to let the air out. Don't worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan, but the tart will be fine. When the tart is done, heat the apricot jelly with the Calvados and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 6.

The instructions seem long, but trust me, this is an easy recipe with great-tasting results. The couple of hours I spent on it certainly helped me to destress!

A Client Project....Starting to Take Shape

2011-03-31T14:28:00.000-05:00

I'm working with some great clients right now on a kitchen for an old home they recently purchased. The home is a Tudor style, and has great bones, but a crazy layout that was original to the space. I've been working on the design with my clients for a couple of months now, and we've now decided on a final plan and all of the details are in place. There's been a lot of constructiongoing on at their home, and now its time for the cabinets to get built and installed. Here's a peek at what the new space will look like (I'll post before and after photos when we get to that exciting point)!

We took out a couple of walls to expand and open up this space to the dining room and breakfast area/sitting room. Of course, we could have blown it open even more, but I think the key with some of these older homes is to open spaces to gain function, not to try to create an "open concept" floor plan--that might seem odd in a 1930's home. I usually create about three different floor plan scenarios, and this one was the clear winner--my clients were elated to be able to fit an island into their space. The island's asymmetry was designed to create better flow throughout the kitchen area, but it also gives a bit of an updated flavor to this older home.

I love designing with custom cabinetry because it really allows you to hone in on the individual details. The upper cabinets have a great tri-panel door, and all of the door and drawer panels have rails (the horizontal part of the door) that are slightly wider than the stiles (the vertical part of the door). These details may seem small on paper, but make a completed project unique and one-of-a-kind.

Across from the main work/cooking center in the kitchen, there was a great little space that gave us the opportunity to create a pantry area and secondary prep space. This will be nice as a coffee and serving bar when the clients have guests, and also provides much needed additional storage. The slatted doors in the center conceal a radiator while still allowing heat to enter the space.

My favorite part of this island is those great pendant lights my clients chose--here they are in "real":

Quoizel

A side view of the kitchen looking in from the breakfast/sitting area. I like all the paneling detail and custom corbels--it adds a nice formality to the space.

Here's a little smattering of a few finishes that will be used throughout the space. All of the cabinetry is natural cherry, which is perfect for the age and style of the home. I'm showing two cherry samples in this photo to illustrate how the wood changes and ambers (naturally) over a very short period of time once it gets installed. The sample on the bottom is "new" cherry that has a fresh coat of finish on it. The larger sample behind is a couple of years old, and has darkened very nicely. This is something I like to make my clients very aware of when choosing certain woods--the color will get to what they expect it to be, but won't be there right away. The soapstone pieces have a blackish look in the picture, but we're actually doing a gorgeous green soapstone--its going to look rich and yummy! Complimented by oil rubbed bronze hardware and stainless steel appliances, this space is going to have a clean look that still compliments the age and tradition of the home. Still on the list is finding the perfect backsplash tile for my clients....that's coming!

The "Weathered" Look

2011-03-28T14:36:00.000-05:00

Whenever I get a new Restoration Hardware catalog (or "source book" as they now call it), I get a bit overwhelmed with the whole "weathered" look. Not that I don't love it, because I do like the cozy, time-worn, earthy vibe a weathered finish conveys, I just struggle with how to correctly and beautifully incorporate it into my own space. I have a lot of bright, light furniture and finishes, and lots of cooler tones, so sometimes I get lost at how I would bring in something weathered without having it look completely foreign in my space. That said, I'm on a quest to be inspired by interiors that provide a mix of old and new, weathered and modern, and do it with effortless class. Its a tricky mix, because not all of us can afford to go hog-wild and change styles based on what commercial/retail trends are putting out there. Nor would we want to, really.....a mixed up/collected over time look is better anyways.

The above photos illustrate my point. I understand that the company's mission is to sell this "look", but that's a lot of weathered oak/driftwood/distressed/tea-stained/Belgian linen covered stuff. After a while it seems a bit like a dead flower arrangement to me.....where's the "life"?

Source

Lauren Liess

That's more like it. The above two spaces integrate a piece of weathered furniture beautifully with other elements--some antique, some modern, all having that "collected over time" look. The cowhide rugs are also a nod to a natural look, and its amazing how the addition of simple greenery brings so much life.

House Beautiful

This open concept kitchen, belonging to my favorite Ina Garten, mixes clean white cabinetry and classic furnishings with a dramatic rustic beamed ceiling. The pairing of bright, light and simple with the weight of those beams is spectacular, and makes this space so inviting.

Source

I love this space! Who would have thought mixing super-contemporary cabinetry, countertops and fixtures with those stone walls and weathered floor would work so well? It looks effortlessly pulled together (love that antique mirror in lieu of upper cabinets), and the addition of greenery injects just enough "life".

Feldman Architecture

The mod pendant lighting and acrylic Ghost chairs provide just the right amount of tension with the barnboard wall and rustic farm table.

Steven Gambrel

While this kitchen has a decidedly "country" vibe, there's still a great mix of elements. I love the white cabinetry with the antique benches and time-worn table. If this space had been all wood (as in wood cabinets and wood floors), it would be all wrong. Its the mix that makes it interesting and "right".

That crisp white sofa provides the perfect backdrop for a unique rustic piece. I'm starting to be inspired.......

Decorpad

I think I'm ready to move into this space! The balance of crisp and rustic elements, differing wood tones, and glam crystal chandeliers is just perfect. Those reclaimed wood beams set the tone for the space, but the more classic/modern additions really bring it all together!

Well, I think I'm inspired to believe that it can be done. If you have any other great examples of rustic-meeting-modern in a smashing and spectacular way, let me know! Hopefully soon, the lonely little piece of driftwood that I have managed to incorporate into my living room will be joined by a few other "weathered" pieces.....

My Favorite One-Year-Old

2011-03-23T16:50:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I had the honor (and fun) of being a part of my niece's first birthday party last week. I'm pretty sure that the terrible cold/flu bug I caught during my trip up to Canada was care of Delta airlines, but being with family made this sickness I've been struggling with for the past few days worth it.

I was really excited for one of the gifts I had for my little niece. I'd worked on creating it for a while before her birthday, and am so pleased with how it turned out. I have to say that the idea for the piece was not my own, so credit is due to this talented lady for inspiring the project.

I started with a color palette that I knew would complement my niece's nursery.....the hope was that the piece would turn out nice enough to hang there!

Then I decided on a phrase that could be repeated and fit the letters of her name within it. I used the phrases "I am a child of God" and "Jesus loves the little children" and strung them together to create the lettered background I needed. Then I got to work cutting out all the letters with my Cricut.

I used a white linen fabric for added background texture on the letters. And voila!.......the finished product:

I love how it turned out, and the simple white frame and large mat set of the "art" quite nicely.

Most importantly, it was a huge hit at the party, and although I'm sure my sweet niece had no idea what was going on (or that this piece had her name on it!), my brother and sister-in-law love it.......and I think they even plan on hanging it in her room :)

Where I've Been.....

2011-03-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

I'm back to the grind after a wonderful week away in Canada, visiting my dear family. I'll take any excuse to visit my precious little niece, and since it happened to be her first birthday this past week, I couldn't possibly stay away! My sister-in-law, designer and owner of Sugar! Wedding Cakes didn't disappoint, and the party she put together was full of personal touches that honored her darling daughter.

The color inspiration for the event came from this little dress....isn't that handmade flower hair clip the cutest! (And doesn't the girl wearing it make your heart melt?)

This is fabulous! Maybe it would have been over the top for other first birthdays, but a cake designer has a standard to live up to. I can also say that this cake tasted as good as it looked......banana layer cake with cream cheese frosting--my favorite!

Even the sprinkles on this cupcake topper were hand-rolled!

Vanilla cupcakes with matching frilly cupcake holders.....delicious as well. I definitely indulged at this party!

The finishing touch was a yummy candy bar full of sugary treats that matched the birthday decor. I was so honored to able to be a part of this great family event. Although I had the privilege of helping my sister put it all together, the vision for the elements that went into it was all her. Maybe she'll have to branch out and add "party planning" to her list of services :) To see more of her stunning work with cakes, click here.

One more of the cute little family.....can't wait to see them all again :)

Entryway Progress

2011-03-12T13:40:00.000-06:00

After last week's disappointment of finding out I'd have to wait an additional month for my grasscloth wallpaper to get to me, I found some other (small but significant) projects in our entryway to keep busy on. Since we moved in, we've had two tiny, dated light fixtures that lack all visual interest and give off very little light.

Hideous, I know. I've found so many beautiful fixutres, but almost all of the ones I was interested in were either too large in scale, or hung too low for our eight foot high ceilings. I also love the drum shade trend--but again, all of the ones I liked were either too tall, too long, or too expensive :) Here's the look I was after--low profile and sophisticated:

Source

This look is so simple, and I was convinced I could do it myself. Luckily I stumbled across two low profile, 6" high shades for only $10 a piece.

They sat around for a couple of weeks while I tossed around some ideas on how to install these properly. I pulled my husband in on the little project, and he had it figured out within an hour. We bought two inexpensive 2-light fixtures (also $10 each), and simply installed them without the glass globe.

Actually, Mr. CottageModern installed them while I was at work one day, and had the whole set up complete when I got home! I love when things just magically get done :)

Again, please excuse the awful wallpaper (its on its way out in about a month). Here are the quick and easy finished products. We added a longer threaded rod to allow for the height of the shade, but besides that, it was a very uncomplicated fix for about $20 per fixture. I still need to add a circular diffuser to the underside in order to cover up the bulbs, but overall, the finished product is just what this little entry needed.

Grasscloth Love

2011-03-04T15:05:00.000-06:00

Here is the wallpaper I've been living with in my entryway for over a year. Please don't judge me:

It was underneath another layer of wallpaper, which we managed to peel off, but this stuff is not budging. We even had two professionals come in and advise us on this, and the general consensus is that as long as the walls themselves are staying, this wallpaper is staying. Ugh. In case you need further description, its brown with over-scaled pale green tropical foliage all over. Maybe in a past life, this was hip, but not today. And "tropical" in Minnesota is certainly not an appropriate theme. Not with these frigid temperatures.

Needless to say, I've been looking at these unwelcoming walls for long enough (this stuff covers all of the walls in my entryway and front hall), and I'm excited about recently ordering some beautiful gray-toned grasscloth to cover up the nastiness. I expected to get it this week, but found out yesterday that its back ordered until mid-April! I'm so disappointed, but I will wait (I've waited this long, right?). In the meantime, I've put together a collection of images that inspire me to be patient for what's to come......is there anything more beautiful than this natural texture on a wall? I love it!

Frank Roop

Frank Roop uses this texture beautifully in many of his interiors. In fact, pretty much everything he touches looks stunning. Check out his entire portfolio here.

Thibaut

Inview Interior Design

I love how this golden grasscloth shimmers and reflects light. It is beautifully offset by the white cabinetry and wood tones in this space. I would love to get work done in this office!

Mabley Handler

Go big or go home, right? There's texture everywhere in this space, which helps to cozy up the cool palette. I love how the grasscloth wraps the ceiling and is accentuated by the white trim. Gorgeous.

Source

Remember this space? It was designed by Lonni, a contestant on HGTV's Design Star. I couldn't get enough of that printed grasscloth wall treatment she used, and thought that this entire room was a success.

Source

This chocolate color adds such a richness to the room. I want everything in here, including that glorious lacquered sideboard!

Source

This trellis pattern is actually printed on grasscloth......and turquoise grasscloth nonetheless! Although the material I went with is a lot less expensive than some of these beauties, I'm inspired by the textural spaces, and can't wait to have one of my own. I'll post pictures when it (finally!) gets done!

Should Designers Get Paid for Their Services?

2011-03-01T16:28:00.000-06:00

The obvious answer to the question posed in the title of this post is "yes". Interior designers, kitchen/bath designers and architectural designers alike all have years of combined education and experience that qualify them to be in their field of choice, offering clients the opportunity for a project that is well-planned, meets code requirements, and fits within their lifestyle. Why then, are there articles floating around like this one that offer a list of tips and tricks to "pump a kitchen designer for ideas" without paying a dime. The article opens with this statement:

When you're looking to renovate your kitchen, the first order of business is to come up with a good design. The reason why designing a kitchen is different than designing, say, a living room is because so many factors are involved, and many of these factors are unchangeable (i.e., electrical code requirements, plumbing code, cabinet sizing, etc.). So it helps to get kitchen design advice, and free is better than paid, right?

I read this article last week, and my blood has been boiling ever since. There are so many ridiculous statements contained in this opening paragraph, and that the author has the audacity to suggest that you can get "good design" and information that will educate you on electrical and plumbing code requirements, cabinet sizing, etc. for free is outrageous. This is learned information, provided by qualified professionals who have spent years honing their craft and skill, and it is insulting to find an article encouraging people to "not feel bad about using designers for free kitchen design service."

Jennifer Worts Design

All of this said, however, I have been guilty in the past of providing clients with free professional design, assuming that they would do their project with me and I would get paid. I have been severely burned by this, and have found out that there is very little loyalty when it comes to consumers taking your ideas, regardless of the relationship you have, and shopping around for the cheapest price. I've since learned my lesson, and in the meantime come up with a list of "cautions" for the homeowner who thinks that they can complete a complicated design/renovation project based on free advice.

1. Never assume that free design is good design.
While there are designers out there who will provide nuggets of good information to give a potential client a sense of their experience and expertise, a good designer is protective of their skill, and will not divulge their entire toolbox of ideas without a design agreement/contract in place. I would tread with caution if dealing with a designer who is more than willing to provide hours of time, drawings and ideas free of charge--chances are they are salespeople, and not trained professionals.

Steven Gambrel

2. Free design now could equal costly mistakes later.

All successful major renovation projects begin with a solid plan. Because kitchen and bath renovations are so costly and labor-intensive, the planning stages can often take more time than the actual remodeling process. This is a good thing, and knowing that all of your i's are dotted and your t's are crossed before the first swing of that sledge hammer will help you sleep better. That said, it is ignorant to assume that you can collect snippets of free advice, and think that all of those parts will magically come together on their own to create a cohesive, well-planned project. What you will end up is exactly that--a cobbled together collection of ideas and opinions, and often the headache of having to backtrack and fix costly mistakes. Save yourself the time and the money by hiring a designer from the outset--the investment you make for professional design services will pale in comparison to the overwhelming satisfaction you'll have knowing that there is someone working for you to achieve a successful end product. Success has a price tag.

The Woodshop of Avon

3. Consider the ethical implications.

Stealing intellectual property is the same as stealing. Period. I know there are differing opinions on this, but personally, I have a conscience about expecting something for nothing, and wouldn't feel comfortable walking into a showroom and "pumping a designer" for free advice, knowing I had no intention of hiring them for their expertise. It would seem absurd to expect this from a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or professional in any other field, so why would it be acceptable in the design field? There is a cost to doing business, and trained professionals have earned the right to charge for their work. Encouraging this type of behavior from consumers is misleading and outright wrong.

Jennifer Gilmer

4. In the end, there is really no such thing as "free" design.

Companies that offer this service (refer to point number one for cautions) have this service built into the price of their product. A commenter on this article stated it perfectly:

"The layout they give you works for their product line first and your needs second. They fit the pieces of their product line into your space like a puzzle with very little concern for workflow or design. "Pumping them for ideas" is a waste of your time and theirs. Kitchen layout is critical to efficient cooking and enjoyment of the most important space in your home. Better to pay a modest fee to a real designer and get a kitchen that is beautiful and actually works."

(P.S. Click here for more heated reviews on this article)

Atlanta Homes Magazine

I think I've cooled off sufficiently from the initial effects of that article. I guess I felt personally attacked, since kitchen design is the industry I'm in, and I've worked hard to obtain the education and knowledge to get to this place. That said, articles like this one remind me to stand my ground when it comes to the "value" of design expertise. Great design results in a great project, and neither of those things are free. Nor should they be.

Wish I'd Thought of This!

2011-02-25T11:47:00.000-06:00

I have many magazine subscriptions (probably too many), but getting the mail everyday becomes a little more interesting when there's a little nugget of a home decor magazine waiting for me. One of my favorites is House Beautiful, and I love their monthly column called the Best!. March's issue has me smitten with these delightful little cafe au lait cups that are decorative, functional and genius. Look:

Look closely--when filled with your favorite milky beverage, these clever creations reveal the shape of a bird, cat, or wolf. So innovative! They were designed by French designer Geraldine de Beco, and are available through Bernardaud. At $189 a piece, I don't think I'll be sipping out of these anytime soon, but the brilliance of their design has certainly caught my attention.

Have a great weekend!

Marble, Marble, On the Wall

2011-02-23T18:32:00.000-06:00

White marble with grey veining, in all of its many varieties, is everywhere. This is an overwhelming trend that isn't going anywhere, and despite constantly seeing surfaces covered in it, I still can't get enough of the stuff! There's something about marble's ability to sit proudly within modern and traditional interiors, as well as the rich visual texture contained in its veining. There's a purity to the stone itself, and paired with the fact that no two slabs are exactly alike, choosing this surface is a no-brainer for many applications. Currently, I'm kind of obsessed with the ways I've seen marble applied to surfaces other than countertops......this stone is so beautifully versatile.

Joseph Dirand Architecture

That is a delicious looking island. Nothing like marble instead of wood when it comes to a paneled look, base moulding, etc. Outstanding!

Its not a vertical surface, but I think the veining in this countertop is stunning, not to mention that crisp extra-thick edge.

Haynes-Roberts

Not a single vertical surface is untouched with marble here. The tiled effect is simple, yet beautiful. I could move right in to this kitchen.

Haynes-Roberts

I didn't think I could love this space any more, then I saw it from another angle! The tiled niche is genius, and cleverly integrates with the adjacent room.

House & Home Magazine

This space isn't as dramatic as some, but is perhaps a little more "attainable". Marble tile is a more economic choice than slabs, and I love how it continues up the tub for a seamless effect.

Jasper Conran via House & Home

Speaking of dramatic though, this bathroom makes my heart beat a little bit faster. The custom touches like that marble sink, as well as the vent covers made from marble slab really set the space apart and elevate it to a beautiful level of modern. Plus, I love the warm gray veining that this particular marble offers.

via A Well Dressed Home

This apron front sink really caught my eye. A sleek look with a nod to tradition that doesn't say "farm sink" at all.

Canadian House & Home Magazine

I'm sure there's no storage to speak of underneath this vanity, but the thing is so stunning I wouldn't care at all!

I'm loving these marble shelves peeking out from that stone column. So monolithic and modern, but the visual texture from the marble adds just the right amount of relief.

And finally, a little portfolio piece from my own pursuit of this glorious stone. My bathroom from our former home--hexagon marble tile for the backsplash, and Carrara floors and countertop.
I miss it terribly :)

My Sister's Kitchen

2011-02-21T13:52:00.003-06:00

I've had it in mind to post about this for months now, and its finally time. I'm blessed to be a sister-in-law to one of the most talented cake designers out there. My "sister" launched her wedding cake business just last year, and it has taken off in an amazing way, due largely to her amazing design skills and hard work ethic. Its called Sugar! Wedding Cakes, and these beauties taste as good as they look. It helps that my brother (her husband) is a marketing genius and has come up with all sorts of clever ways to promote the business. She's currently based out of Saskatchewan, Canada, but I'm sure with the rising demand for talent and quality, she'll need to figure out a way to ship these creations elsewhere! So without further hesitation, here is what happens in my sister's kitchen almost every weekend of the year--an amazing collection--some done as showpieces, and most done for her lucky clients.

The level of detail and pretty elements working together here just excites me! This is among my favorite of her recent cakes (although its hard to choose)--I love the high contrast color scheme, quilting detail on the top tier, and cutout damask pattern on the bottom. So striking.

There has been a lot of demand for this one, I think due to its soft tone-on-tone color palate and flawless execution. Yes, my sis made all of those edible flowers on the top, and aren't those the most perfectly tied bows you've ever seen?

Another favorite. I love this unique overlapping technique, created by using vertical strips of fondant. Classic with a bit of an edge.

This cake has the perfect amount of whimsy and fun. I've never seen a cake like it before, and I think it would be perfect for a bride who's all about frills and fancy.

If I had to do it all over again, this might be the cake I'd choose for my wedding (although I LOVED mine--I'll do a special post with photos of that cake). I love how architectural and organic this one is, and again, so out of the ordinary.

I need to note that all of this piping was done by hand--often without a template of any kind. Yes, she's that good.....:)

How fun are those Jones soda bottles with the couple's photo on them? Great wedding favors, and the cake compliments the theme perfectly.

Another freehand cake creation--all of the cutouts and piping are an original design.....beautifully done!

all photos courtesy of Flare Weddings

This gorgeous composition was created as a replica of my brother and sister-in-law's own wedding cake. They got married at Christmas, and wanted the cake to be a classy resemblance of Christmas gifts. The original cake was done by my sis's parents, who are also cake geniuses.......and as you can see from all of these beautiful photos, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Oh, and one more thing.....the "icing on the cake" is the car they drive around to promote their business. One of the most clever marketing strategies, if you ask me.....its called "The Sugar Cube"

I could post way more images, but I'll let you visit her website here to discover more of these beauties for yourself. And after all of this, I'm craving chocolate cake and icing.....wonder why :)

I Want.......

2011-02-17T16:43:00.000-06:00

I've been on an ongoing search for dining chairs. From Craigslist to all of the usual retail haunts, I haven't found something I want to commit to. In reality, I've probably found several worthy specimens, but my indecision has prevented me from actually making the purchase. The problem is that I'm trying to accomplish a successful mix of old and new, and wanting to execute it properly. We have an antique oak dining table available to us from my parents-in-law, and the piece is really beautiful. A house full of antique furniture isn't really my style, but I LOVE the mix of antique and modern, so I think it can work. Plus, the table is perfect for our daily needs, and it has a million leaves to expand for large gatherings, etc. This (grainy) photo is similar to what we have:

I really love the base detailing, and ours is a nice "wood" color that will work well with our dark floors. Now for the chairs.

West Elm

I love these in white, and especially love the modern take on the Windsor chair. Plus, these are smaller in scale than a traditional Windsor chair, which would work better for me.

Room & Board

Then there's this beauty. Not quite a Ghost chair, but the same effect. I like chairs without arms because they push in all the way (when my dining room isn't in complete disarray), and these take up minimal visual space. My fear is that they would be too "lightweight with that heavy oak table. Moving on.

West Elm

Back to West Elm we go. I stumbled across these just now, and they're on sale! I like the retro lines, and think the white one would work well, but if I remember correctly, last time I was in there, this chair felt a bit "small" to me. Kind of like a child's chair. I'll have to double check though--this sale may be too good to pass up :)

Crate & Barrel

This Ypsilon side chair from Crate & Barrel is probably at the top of my list right now. Its powder coated steel, which gives it a delicious glossy finish, and it would be so easy to clean. Plus, its so different in style than the table, and it would be such a unique mix. Maybe too different though.......see how I can talk myself out of anything?

Room & Board

If money were no object, this would be the one. Hands down. I shouldn't have even ventured into this territory, because I love these, and they're perfect in every way. But at $855 a piece, not perfect enough. Check them out here though, because they come in a ton of fun colors!

cb2

This is an interesting one from CB2. I like it because its a little bit industrial, but has some softer lines. Might be an interesting pairing of materials, and maybe pick up on the stainless elements I have in the adjacent kitchen. Hmmmm......

So what will it be? Any suggestions? I'm sure I'll look through many more options before I decide on a winner......

Saving Because We Can

2011-02-15T23:38:00.000-06:00

I had a great conversation with a client this week about saving money. Not necessarily because we have to, but because we can and should. The conversation came out of a discussion about the lifestyles us 30-somethings think we need to lead. The interesting part is that as this "younger" generation, we have a growing entitlement to live like our parents do, have the stuff they have, the big house filled with nice furniture, the nice cars, etc. Even more interestingly, we think we should be able to acquire all of these possessions through a few years of hard work, when realistically, our parents worked a lifetime for what they have now (and are often still more money-conscious and penny-pinching than us!) I think about my own "standard" of living. I don't consider myself to be an outrageous spender, but I will splurge once in a while on things my mom would never consider dropping that kind of money on. I was with her when I recently dropped $27 on a blush (with a name that makes you blush!), and she thought I was ridiculous to spend that kind of cash.

Part of me agrees that it's ridiculous, but a bigger part of me thinks "I deserve it", and allow myself to become a member of the cult following that "needs" these products. How does this kind of spending come into play when it comes to our own homes? I think its easy to get carried away and think everything needs to be brand new and shiny and perfect, but when we sit back and take stock of what we have, and what it would take to live a modest and less-expensive life and still be over-the-moon happy with our surroundings, I think we would be pleasantly surprised. There are many creative people out there who pinch pennies, spend wisely, and still end up with a beautiful result. I admire these people, and hope to learn from my past splurges and realize that new/expensive isn't always better.

This light fixture just about blew my socks off. Britt at Gus + Lula came up with this beauty, and you can click here for her great tutorial. It looks beautifully expensive, and it only cost her $35. Brilliant.

Gus + Lula

While you're over there, check out her hand-painted "wallpaper". I've been paging through wallpaper books for months trying to decide what to do for my front entry. I was about to give up and succumb to the fact that I would have to pay at least $75 for a double roll to get what I wanted. Since seeing her beautiful transformation again, I've decided to do something far less expensive, and although it won't be as stunning as this, I'll be happy with my choice.

I've posted here about this kitchen, and the amazing before and after transformation that took it from drab to fab. Although this looks like a major overhaul, the genius homeowner kept all of the existing cabinets, plumbing and appliance locations, etc., which was a huge savings. The end result is outstanding without being an extravagant over-the-top overhaul.

I'm sure you've seen this beauty from Isabella & Max Rooms. Janell is pure genius at well-executed, expensive looking DIY projects. This upholstered headboard is no exception, and I can just imagine what you'd pay in a designer showroom for something like this. See the whole tutorial here.

But don't stop at just the headboard, how about an entire DIY bed!? This was done by Camilla at Effortless Style, and the work her and her husband did to pull this off is nothing short of impressive. Definitely the look for less, and they did a wonderful job creating the high end bedroom retreat they were after. Check it out step by step here.

I could literally spend hours posting all of the projects I've found that have been done by creative people who pinch pennies but still turn out projects that look like a million bucks. To say the least, I'm inspired to look at what I have, and see the beauty and potential in existing items instead of thinking I need to buy new. These photos and projects show that it doesn't have to look "homemade" and cheap to be cost effective and savings-conscious.

Gray & Gold

2011-02-11T09:49:00.000-06:00

A long-time favorite color combo of mine is gray and gold. Maybe its the tension created when mixing a warm and cool tone, or maybe its the quiet pairing of two luxurious hues that gets me. I don't know, but I've loved it for years, and continue to be drawn to interiors with these colors. Gray can seem so cold to some, but I think adding golds, yellows or chartreuse tones can inject a "ray of sunshine" and really bring a gray room to life. I've experimented with this in my own homes, and hope to share more of this mix as I continue to play with these lovely colors.

I love my soft gray furniture--I've always wanted pure white, but this is more forgiving, and still maintains the light palate I'm always after.

My house at Christmas.....I love how gray, gold and turquoise work so well together.

Caldwell Flake

These acid-green pillows and charcoal upholstered wall are to die for! I love how this room feels so luxe, even with a simplistic mix of elements.

Fisher Weisman

I'd feel like a million dollars even if I were sitting in this room in my pyjamas!

Kelly Wearstler

Lonny Magazine via Pure Style Home

House Beautiful

Sara Richardson

It might be a stretch for this room to qualify as gray and gold, but I've loved this space forever, and thought that the small brass and mirror side table made it worthy. And I can't get enough of the glorious built-in banquette!

Steven Gambrel

And finally, these last three rooms, all designed by Steven Gambrel offer an amazing mix of gray and varying shades of gold. There is definitely a warmth to these spaces, and the bold patterns and rich textures really add to the visual interest. Beautifully done.

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!