An Update on the Kitchen Here in Our Cottage-In-The-Making

Long time no see!

Sorry about the crazy-long break ... wow!

end-of-year-school-stuff for our boys can really kick me in the patooty:O)

It catches me off guard each year because it's actually

more than the hussle-n-bussle of the holidays
... it really is ... 
but now summer vacation has officially begun!

YEE-HAW!

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE having my boys at home ...

I'm just one of those moms who loves being at home with her kids!

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Sooooooooooo ... here's a quick update on our kitchen flip ...

Remember this wall's beginnings?

Those old green walls are gone!

I painted them White Sand by BMpaints 
and everything you see in white is 
Decorator's White by BMpaints.

Isn't it just dreamy?  I love it!

Here are some more pics of the current uppers ...

By the way ... I would love your feedback on
our current updates ... let me know how you
feel about the colors, design, execution!
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These were my initial thoughts in color & textures ...

White dishes, glassware, mason jars, earth tones,
some sort of basket system,
and the yummy warm color found in that,
oh so adorable,
crock!


As you can see it turned out a bit different ...


This is our first home that I can display some of our
Land's End dinnerware :O)

Didn't Dan do a fabulous job adding detail trim to
these old 70's cabinets ... :O)
I just love that man!

These wooden corbels were about $10 at
The Home Depot ... they add that country farmhouse
style that I so love.
And that bead board is more of the same great stuff ...
wallpaper!

Dan added a small bead of trim at the top of the
original cabinet ... then he added a 1 x 4 to increase 
height and then finally the crown molding to give
it that WOW factor.  And wow it is!

Do you remember in the recent post called
"How to make those bookshelves sing!"
There are some helpful suggestions for layout & design
when loading book shelves.  I applied these same 
techniques to the country cupboard.


(1)
The picture above shows a Vera Bradley, Cooking with Friends  
cookbook under the little tea-pot my dear friend, 
Susan Carter, gave me as a going away gift when we 
moved from Colorado to Massachusetts.
The white cookbook was in a (pretty but) bright blue book jacket ... 
so after unwrapping the jacket ... I found a hard bound book in the
exact color palette I was gunnin' for!


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(2)
The picture below applies rule #2

work from the left to the right on the first shelf 

and 

right to left on the next

this will help achieve balance

and 

keep the viewer's eyes flowing in a zig-zag pattern

soooo ... start at the top left and move right ...

do you see the zig-zag pattern?

(this is when I wish I had Photshop so that I could

draw fun little arrows to help make my point!)

Here are some everyday household items that

look great in a mason jar ... 

Bingo Balls

&

Scrabble Pieces

:O)

I got this idea from my most recent PB

on the itty-bitty desk ... there are two glass jars
with everyday household items ...
clothespins and scrabble pieces!




Isn't it good to display something that is functional too!

I think I'll display them in these jars found at IKEA.com

I really like the brushed nickel lid which will
go nicely with the cabinet hardware 
and 
pendant lights above the peninsula

pendant lights for the peninsula

 drawer pulls and door knobs


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The baskets were a bit of a challenge

but I am very happy with the ones I settled on ...

 

the darker stained baskets were too dark in this

very light and airy space PLUS the wood floor we'll

be installing (Red Oak w/Rustic Grain) will blend

so much better with the ones below ... 

and

these Waterhyacinth Baskets from Pier1.com are

great for storage (can't see through them)

and

they won't scratch the new paint job!

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I hope to hear from you -- until then
happy summer :O)

How to Make Those Bookshelves Sing!

Hello Friends!

The other day we were looking at a picture

of my friend's fireplace/library room ...

Well, here's another shot of the same room,

different angle ... the bookcases.

Don't you just love the rug in this space?

LOVE it :O)  The colors are brilliant.

She has managed to follow these

colors into the rest of the house.

And that leather sofa ... makes you

want to curl up with a book and melt the day

away in a juicy story.

These were some of the suggestions I had for
her bookshelves ...

1. incorporate the mantle clock

on one of the shelves

2. remove the 2 small framed pieces on left of unit

(this will clean up the large frame the bookshelves give

to the wall they reside on)

 3. arrange a series of framed pieces (photos or artwork)

along the top of the book case

4. create arrangements on bookshelves that zig-zag your eye

throughout the shelving (see tips listed below)

5. update pillows on leather sofa that will contrast

with the warm, yummy hues of the leather

6. the basket left of the unit on the floor -- update

with a larger one ... deep in color and rich

in texture

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Okay!  Let's get started, shall we?  :O) 

When I saw this picture in my latest Pottery Barn

issue ... I immediately called my friend and shared

the layout with her.

(ignore the fact that it is a media center ... these

concepts the designer has used can be adapted to

the bookshelves we're reviving)

The pictures along the top draw the eye upward ...

and give continuity to the looooong stretch

overhead.

Also notice how they stacked books vertically and horizontally.

Remove brightly colored jackets from hardbound books ...

the neutral colors underneath will blend nicely together and give

it a vintage-bookcase look.

Add metal (photo clip and wire baskets) textures, 

wooden textures (baskets and keepsake boxes), and

pottery (notice the white crock) 

to your collection.

Adding a small plant also gives an element of softness.

Again, baskets (woven or wire) can be a great way

to organize children books on the lower shelves.

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Here's another one from Pottery Barn.

Want to achieve this on your own bookshelves?

Here are some easy tips to create a bookshelf

piece of art ...

1. the basic rule is the rule of thirds:

1/3 books

1/3 accessories

1/3 empty space

2. work from the left to the right on the first shelf

and right to left on the next ... this will help achieve balance

and keep the viewer's eyes flowing in a zig-zag pattern :O)

3. if you have high books on the left side of one shelf, you don't

want the same type of books and space on the next shelf

4. do not line up books like a library ... try lying a pile of books

on their side and use them as a bookend or to lift up an accessory

5. when choosing accessories, think color.  some colors will better

enhance your books, or the the room as a whole

6. include free space ... the viewer will be able to rest their eyes ...

if you overcrowd a bookcase, it will look messy

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Here are some fun accessories for the room ...

I found this @ CrateandBarrel.com!

It would create 

height in that 

corner and the 

red berries 

would sing with 

that  beautiful 

area rug!

Speaking of the colors in the rug ...

These pillows come from the Pottery Barn collection ...

I see some of the beautiful colors in her area rug that

would "pop" nicely along that leather sofa :O)

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But if she's seeking more of a neutral pallet with
a mono-chromatic feel ... the classics below are
the answer :O)

crocheted pillows from PB ...

The texture of these beauties partnered with the buttery
hues of the leather 
would make a wonderful marriage!

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And for frames ... as long as all the frames are the

same medium ... same size ... with same matting ...

skies are the limit ... BUT these are gorgeous options below.

They are made of a rustic wood (of course found at PB)

and would contrast nicely with her neutral wall color.

The wood tones mixed with the other textures and tones

in the room would blend nicely.

Again, whatever you choose to do ... make it consistent ...

the artwork will stand out more and your eye will

be drawn to the continuity of the whole picture not

just the individuals.

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Happy Decorating My Friend!