Refining Style










Since I have begun my new journey on living a life of simplicity, I have also begun refining my style. At times I feel all over the place and I am trying hard not to waste and buy smartly. I want pieces and a home that we can grow with and me not tire of in a few sort months or even years. After much evaluation I think I came down to what I am when concerning my home. I think designer Kristen Panitch nailed me right on the head with her gorgeous designs. Her spaces look easy to live in, welcoming, traditional, with a bit of boho here and there. The textures, patterns. and the layering of all her spaces feel like home to me. This is the direction I am slowly going in. I can't wait to share my home soon!

Her goal for every space they design speaks volumes to me... to create homes that will reflect and evolve with our clients’ lifestyle, tastes, passions, and dreams... That is so what I want and am striving towards.

An Organized Life: The Kitchen

Here is my kitchen. Since I learned how to cook last year I quickly realized that our kitchen was a mess. Not necessarily looks wise, but in how it functioned. Here is how it works for us now...


We have two fruit bowls so it keeps access easy for the kiddos and I. Actually seeing the fruit out makes us want to eat it more.


The large basket keeps all our bread at easy access and the small one keeps all our bars like granola, lara, etc bars within reach. I like having all our wooden cutting boards out in plain view, but I keep the plastic meat cutting board hidden away.


This is my baking drawer. It has all my specialty flours and sugars. I keep our all purpose, bread flours and sugar in jars on the counter.


This is an example of inside our cabinets. Everything is neatly lined up and yes we use chinet recycled plates for when we are on the fly.


A few of my favorite cooking books stay out all the time. The rest are kept in a cabinet. I do need to take the time and write down all my favorite recipes on recipe cards instead of having loose sheets of paper tucked everywhere.


The basket is a new addition that I adore. I needed a space for all my table linens and went back and forth with the idea of getting a low cupboard. The only problem with that is that one of our current pieces would have to go in order to accommodate one. I then came across this basket at World Market and new it would be perfect.


The barstools are not new, but the slipcovers are. They were a blue that didn't quite blend into my neutral color scheme and I really wanted a natural linen. I decided before hiring out that I would try to make them myself. The first two went well and the third was a whole other story, but I got it done after much frustration. They are NOT perfect by any means, but they are good enough for me.

*To see a full view of my kitchen you can go here.

Kitchen Obsessed

During my local real estate stalking I came across a home that I have been in love with for quite some time and the price dropped... again. Oh happy day! Well, happy day for someone who is the position to move. The reason I loved it so much was because of this kitchen...


Which happens to remind me of this kitchen from one of my favorite  homes  that was featured in Cottage Living years ago. It also happens to be for sale in the area.


You can see the rest of this storybook cottage over on Mrs. French today. Do you think a house is to much to ask for for Christmas? Just a thought.

Painting + Rugs



I have had quite a few requests on giving more details about my kitchen makeover. I personally hate giving advice on this subject, because I am not a painting professional and simply did what I wanted. Case in point I used a latex satin paint without any sort of lacquer after. I did not want any sheen so this is what I chose. So far it has held up well and has taken quite a beating from the kiddos and has cleaned up fine. In reality I know an oil base is best as is a semi or high gloss or a lacquer coating. For those of you who could not care less about the how dos you can just take a glimpse at my new antique rug find from ebay. I adore it. Okay now back to it...

-I used a latex primer after a really good cleaning and sanding. Then between each coat I did a light sanding. It took a total of one full evening and one full day from start to finish. It took one primer coat and two to three paint coats. For the framing of the cabinets my husband painted it all by hand with a regular and foam brush. For the doors and drawers I used a paint sprayer in the garage. It has become my new best friend.

-All paint was Sherwin Williams. The bottom is Warm Stone. The top was a Benjamin Moore color that I had matched by Sherwin William's, unfortunately I cannot remember the name for the life of me. In the image it looks a lot more white next to my wall color than it really is. It's more on the cream side. The formula is...

Bac Colorant 02 32 64 128
B1 Black - 2 - -
N1 Rawumber - 11 1 -
Y3 Deep Gold - 9 1 -

-My knobs are the same ones that came with the house. I really wanted these in antique brass, but were a bit too cost prohibiting for the amount we needed.

-My counter tops are Silestone in Minerva Cream. The benefits are huge and were what we wanted at the time which was something easy. They are truly easy and good looking.

Hope this answered a few of your questions. Let me know if I missed anything and I will answer them in the comment section. Have a great Day!

* This lovely lady from High-Heeled Foot in the Door did a great play by play of painting her mother's cabinets. Now that I look back it seems we went with similar colors, ha! Great minds think alike?

My Kitchen Redo





I finally painted the cabinets! Well not just me, but me and the Mr. I could not be anymore excited about the outcome. The before is here in case you needed a refresher. It took one night and a full day. We used a sprayer for the doors and Kellen hand painted the rest. The colors I used were Warm Stone by Sherwin Williams for the bottom and __________ for the top by Benjamin Moore but was colored matched by Sherwin Williams. Marianne came over and helped me narrow down my color choices. Let's just say I had a hard time making up my mind and she came to the rescue in a huge way. Did I happen to mention that I am one happy lady?

Cottage Living















Do you all happen to remember Lindsay Bierman's kitchen from the January/ February 2008 Cottage Living issue {second image}? Well I do and came across it again while doing my weekly real estate browsing. I know I am a complete nut, but then again at least I share my nuttiness with all of you right? It is one of my favorite kitchens and seems to have stayed mostly the same except for recovering the settee and maybe an art change. Still adore it and the rest of the home.

Remember I am always happy to put you in touch with the listing agent if you want more info. I will not in any way send out the actual listing and therefore will not share location. Thanks for understanding.

The Marion House











Joslyn of Simple Lovely has a weekly line up of bloggers favorites. It truly has become one of my favorite reads. Well a few weeks ago she posted on Emma of The Marion House Book. Let's just say I became a tad bit enamored and soon a downward spiral of reading every single one of her posts ensued. Lucky for me she hasn't been blogging for too terribly long, ha! One of my favorites features on Emma's blog are posts on her home. This lady has an insane amount of style. Oh and I am not the only one that thinks so HGTV Canada and Bloesem blog both did features hence the crazy amount of photos. Now if I can somehow add a full black wall and a marble one to compliment I will be set.

A Mouse's Back

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know I have been going back and forth about painting my cabinets. Finally I am ready to take the plunge, but finding that perfect color has been harder than I have expected. My wall color although nice is an odd color and if you pair it with the wrong color it can look yellow which is something I don't want. Also painting my walls is out of the question, open floor plans makes for a lot of wall space. Anyway, I came across this gorgeous image on Lonny. The cabinets are painted Mouse's Back by Farrow and Ball. I was thinking of going lighter, but this has my wheels turning once again. I have finally succumbed to asking for help and Marianne is coming to my rescue to narrow down what I like for me. I am at the point where I just want someone to tell me what to do. I think she will be perfect.

A Place in the Hamptons










This may be my favorite issue of Elle Decor yet and I have been receiving this magazine for years. I absolutely adored the sneak peek into Meg Ryan's summer home on all my favorite blogs, but once I actually received the issue I was elated with Timothy Whealons summer home in the Hamptons. He made the purchase on a snap decision and had to redo the whole place. I think he did a mighty fine job, so much so that I keep on rereading the article and keep on studying all the pretty pictures. I simply can not put it down.

Kitchens, Baskets, and Painting...

In our kitchen we have a lot of dead space between our cabinets and ceiling. I am not into decorating above the cabinets with ivy and knickknacks so I have just left it bare. I have always loved the idea of putting rows of cake plates on top, but the space is so high it would have lost the impact. Some time ago I came across this image and saved it into my inspiration folder, I recently came across it again and became quite enamored with the baskets above the cabinets. I love the natural feel it brings without any fuss.


So this brings me to our kitchen. I have started my basket collection. I have two so far and rather like how it fills in the dead space. So if any locals come across any lovely baskets for great prices then be sure to let me know. These two came from Home Goods. Also my wall paint color is reading a bit more yellow than it should in the shot. I swear it's because it's the color of the cabinets (more accurate color interpretation found here). My wall color is sherwin williams rice grain. Doug I am sure you will be so excited to hear I am back on my wanting to paint kick. We are in this home for the long haul so I mine as well make it the best that it can be, right? I am thinking this would make a superb birthday present to me.


I am thinking a color similar to Farrow and Ball Hardwick White without the price tag. Then again maybe I should take the plunge? As you can see my mind is not quite set. Something close to this...


I know this color would go with my decor quite nicely. Any of you know a color like this that you absolutely love or if you think I am going in the wrong color direction let me know? Also has anyone used Farrow and Ball? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post. You all had me blushing. I suppose a picture or two a week would be no big thing.

Adding to my Inspiration Folder







I know you all have seen this home throughout blogland, but the first time I saw the full tour was via Flourish Design + Style. By the way Sarah's blog is a daily read of mine. She and I share much of the same style, love that. Anyway, I had to re-post it. I think if we every get to build this will be one of those homes that I show the architect and then I will want to recreate the light and airy feel. There is not a detail I don't love. Oh, and the fabulous photography was done by this brilliant lady who also happens to blog. I love getting to see a few extra photos here. Gorgeous, right? My only wish now is to get my hands on the actual magazine. I love pouring over a good magazine more than the computer screen. It makes it easier for me to study.

{via Style at Home}

3x6

On Tuesday Brooke came over to help me tackle my kitchen backsplash and I could not be more excited about the results. I stuck with a simple 3x6 white subway tile with white grout. The process was much easier than I had expected, but the clean up took much longer. The actual tile job took about 6 hours with only a lunch break in between. Brooke really is my hero. She doesn't have much longer till her due date and she had more stamina than I do on my best day. I really could not have done this without her. Well, her and him. He passed out tile like no other...



Sweet Brooke rocking it out. Yes, I did help, but I did stop to take a few pics in between...



The finished product, well besides the outlet covers. That will be happening tonight with the help of the hubbs...



I am so happy!

COLOR






This home is the perfect mix of being swoon worthy and child friendly. I look at images like this and just fall head over heels for all the color, so why can I not personally live with it baffles me. One of my favorite pieces in the article is when the owner and designer Jenny Keenan states, "I love things to be beautiful and be perfect, but that's just not realistic. Baskets are a pretty and practical way to sort of have it both ways." I must agree, baskets have become my best friends too.

{via Better Homes & Gardens}

And always I love to see my sweet babies up on Party Perfect. So fun!

NYC Apartment







I know, I know this home has been featured over on Design*Sponge, but I really have become smitten with it. I try hard to be somewhat blog original, but sometimes I find things to be so inspiring I can't help myself. This is one of those times. That kitchen full of subway tile is such a dream. The inky black doors have me drooling. Oh, and don't even get me started on all the art work. You must check out Design*Sponge for more images and full write up of this home formerly owned by interior designer Ellen Hanson.

A Kitchen Reno






I am so excited to be able to post this kitchen and dining renovation. This is the home of Eden Lang a fabulous photographer from Canada. She and her mother came up with the kitchen concept and her husband made it happen. What I love is that it's a kitchen made for cooking, but at the same time is extremely family friendly. I adore the clean lines, chalk board door, farm house sink, gorgeous lighting, the floors are delicious, and that huge map, wow! Did you also notice the clipboard leaning up on the counters with the calendar. Well, I did and I am so borrowing this idea to hold Ellie's school calendar. This looks much better than I just leaving ours laying out on the counter. Oh, and to see the complete transformation including before pictures you must go here. Trust me you will be in awe. I want to move in, really.

Thank you Eden for letting me share your gorgeous renovation.

Eden Lang Blog
Eden Lang Photography