Showing posts with label Home and decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home and decorating. Show all posts

8.19.2014

Seeing the possibilities...

I never really thought much about the ability to look at a space and envision what it would look like differently.  Even as a kid I could see something and just picture it a different colour or configuration.  Honestly, I thought everyone could do that.  Like breathing.  Then I got older and realized that not everyone can do what I do in the same way that I am seriously lacking in math skills.

This kitchen was no different.  I could see the cabinets, countertops, tile and the coveted range hood before we ever tore any of it out.  I knew that with the right design this 9x12 kitchen could bring it.

Here are a few shots of where we started:



The original cabinetry was actually in very good shape.  The construction was solid and they were built on site...back in 1970.  I toyed with the idea of keeping the lowers, but the configuration of them on the right side included a built in oven, and there was no way to convert that into anything usable.  Along with Travis' crazy work schedule and us having to be moved in by August, we opted to purchase new cabinets.

Then came the demolition part.  Funny tidbit, we started ripping the kitchen out before it was funded through the lender.  I think our real estate agent had a small heart attack when he called and could hear hammering in the background.  It all worked out fine, house funded just as we were pulling out the last cabinet ;)



Here is what the kitchen looks like today.  It was a complete gut job, but well worth it in the end.  We still have a smidge of trim work to finish up, but I am calling this kitchen "finished"...


Range hood by the talented Tuesdays with Dorie stove is a GE drop in...

Cabinets are Kraftmaid in Mushroom...


Light from Kenroy Home

Open shelving designed and built by Travis...

Fridge only by Frigidaire...



Molasses man sat in my Grandmother's kitchen...


I get asked a lot about how I am liking the marble.  I love it, as in sometimes I sneak downstairs at night, pet it and softly sing to it.  Yes, it scratches- we already have a few, and yes, it stains- those are coming I'm sure, but I find beauty in the imperfections.


Hope y'all are having a lovely week so far.  I am still sorting through things in the garage and slowly, but surely thinning it all out.  Downsizing has been a process, but I feel 100 pounds lighter for it!

Savvy Southern Style

4.09.2014

Kitchen design...

I can't think of a better way to twiddle my thumbs spend my valuable time than to come up with kitchen designs for a kitchen I don't have in a house I don't own.  Right?

But since I am sitting here after teaching all morning, I thought I would take my few moments of "me time" and do just that.

These are my inspiration pictures....via Home Design Board




Light, bright and not a lot on the walls.  We are looking at downsizing considerably, so this next kitchen is going to be tiny tiny- and wall space will need to be clean and clear to visually give a bit more room.  I say this to my husband and he gets that Scooby Doo look.  (think head tilted and quizzical brow)

My material choices are pretty solid:

Soapstone countertops or honed black granite (at least in one area of the kitchen)

Honed Carrara marble on another area of the countertops or island (if the kitchen isn't the size of an island already!)

Nice and very quiet dishwasher

White subway tile with grey grout





White/Dove White Shaker style cabinets with simple brushed nickel pulls & white planked walls...

via decor pad


Vintage Big Chill fridge



Viking or Wolf stove





Interesting light fixtures.  Really leaning toward something in brass...

via circa lighting

So there ya go.  My thinking on our new but completely fictional kitchen.




PS- Our home is being featured in a new ebook- Rooms Repurposed.  Pop over here to see how you can enter to win:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

3.19.2014

Decorating with industrial pieces...


So I put a tease picture out on Instagram last weekend about a piece I found while we were in Round Top...


It's industrial, and heavy...


We are not sure what it really is- a mold of sorts, or a piece for fabrication...

I don't know why the camera picked up on this red spot- in real it's not noticeable! 

 We decided to hang it in the entry way and upside down- kind of like a sconce of sorts...


 I like how it fills out this space...


One of the things that drew me to the piece was the patina of the wood and the raised metal numbers...


I love these fun and funky pieces and incorporating them into our little cottage :)

2.27.2014

Illuminated...

"That corner needs some light", my husband said one rainy afternoon.

You don't have to tell me twice to go purchase a lamp.  I was on it like wet on water.   The corner would only work with a standing floor lamp, so I set out on my quest.  Can you believe I have never purchased or even owned a floor lamp?  Nope, not one.

Floor lamps are pricey, y'all!  I checked out some of my fav sites like Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs, but both were more expensive than what I wanted to spend.  A trip to HomeGoods was in order.

Have I mentioned how much I love HomeGoods?  Oh, and lamps, have I mentioned how much I really, really love lamps?  I do.  I really love them.

As luck would have it, they had just the type of lamp I was looking for- and in a pretty burnished brass!

(I should also tell you that I drive a Mini-Cooper, but hubby keeps telling me to get a truck.  I love driving my itty bitty car and the challenge of making large purchases and coming up with creative ways to drive home with them keeps me on my toes.)

I carefully placed the lamp to fit between myself and Sara and started out on the drive home.  At one point I looked in my rearview mirror to witness my 12 year old son with the lampshade on his head.  I had asked him to hold it and keep it from getting squished.  12 year old problem solving at it's best.

Ooooh shiny!  and bright!
I am really liking how it picks up the metals in the kitchen lamp, back entry fixture and the sign that hangs in our kitchen.  Copper/brass vibes abound!


Also, it is not too tall or overtaking of that little corner...



So that's my illuminating moment for this week.  What items do you tend to buy lots of for your home and where are your favourite places to find them?

2.18.2014

Sew perfect & a giveaway...

A while back I contacted my friend, Jill of Sew A Fine Seam, to see if she could come up with a pouf of sorts for our son's room.  His room is one of my favourites as far as functionality and style, so I wanted something that would hold up to the wear and tear of a boy but still look good.



Jill, being the sewing master that she is, dove in and produced one of the most beautiful pieces that fit Hunter's room to a "t".  It isn't just a pouf, it's a little piece of sewing art.

This is the top of the piece that greeted me when I first opened the box.  I may have swooned a bit...




That Jill included my boy's initials makes my heart happy...




Jill used antique European grain sacks and filled the pouf with bean bag fill.



This piece was the perfect addition to Hunter's room, and with an upcoming (BIG) photo shoot I am over the moon excited to have it featured :)

If you want to pop over to Jill's shop you can see all of the beautiful pieces she creates, or have her design a custom piece for you.

The Giveaway...

Jill also included a little something extra for me to give away to one of my lucky readers!  This is a lovely little scarf and one of her adorable key fobs!



Here is what you need to do to enter:  

1.  Like my Facebook page: Little Cottage Designs 

2.  Like Jill's Facebook page: Sew a Fine Seam

3.  Leave me a comment and tell me your funniest sewing story.  Maybe you sewed your finger to a shirt, like my sweet hubby did in high school home economics, or sewed the hem of your skirt to the chair you were sitting on.  Hypothetically, of course...

Sara will pick a winner on Sunday Feb. 23rd- Good Luck!


2.01.2014

The Old Painted Cottage feature...

A while back I was contacted by Jennifer Grey of The Old Painted Cottage, one of my all time favourite bloggers, asking if she could feature our cottage on her cottage of the month series.

I couldn't type "YES!" fast enough!  We are the February feature, so head on over today at around noon today, PST to see our cottage tour and read some of the answers to Jennifer's interview questions for me.    




1.03.2014

The Library...

10 months ago it looked like this...



Then it started to look like this...







And finally, today it looks like this...



Part of the design had to include a space for the vintage slot machine my dad gave me...


and a cozy window seat to sit and read in...




I also wanted a bookshelf that would accommodate front facing books & pictures to display...


I love the simple chicken wire on the cabinet doors...







One of my favourite things is actually right outside the library.  The butler's bell my mom gave me for my birthday.  Straight from England and just like the ones on Downton Abbey.  Now if the butler would only show up...




The other part of the butler's bell on the inside of the room...


a spot to charge electronics...

desk essentials...

books from my childhood...




So from this...


to this...



Paint colour:  Sherwin Williams Functional Gray
Door/Cabinet pulls:  Pottery Barn
Light Fixture: Ballard Designs
Wood for cabinets:  Red Oak cabinet plywood
Contractor:  My husband, Travis.


*linked up at:  I'm not a trophy wife


*Linked up at:  Life on Lakeshore

*Linked up at:  The Foley Family



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