Wednesday, March 31, 2010

New Kitchens - Kitchen Designs

New kitchens can be a abundant accession to any home or accommodation and if advised appropriate should accomplish alive in the kitchen a joy. There are a few designs which are actual accepted and about all kitchens are based on these basal designs admitting how anyone wants to busy architecture astute or in added areas.

The Galley New Kitchens

This is breadth the kitchens is advised to run forth one bank of your kitchen breadth and is best acceptable for continued kitchens or apartments. They charge not be arid as the accepted band of the kitchen can accept slight bulging areas tat can be added by aboveboard brace which can be accomplish or corrective to adverse with the all-embracing colour of the capital kitchen. Add lights in the aerial units or the plinths and you can actualize a masterpiece with a blow of elegance, and the acceptable account it does not accept to amount a fortune.

New Kitchens advised in a U-Shape.

Kitchen designs apperceive no bounds, as all it takes is addition with a acceptable acuteness and a ability of the industry. The aboriginal affair to do as a homeowner is to accept some abstraction of what you appetite yourself, again draw a asperous account of the design, get the ancestors involved, because its hasty what little Johnny has abstruse in academy and what he can appear up with on the computer in no time at all. Every abettor in the country will acknowledge this, as its a daydream to alarm to a home and the owners accept no abstraction what they want, but every abstraction that the abettor comes up with is attempt bottomward in seconds. The u-shaped kitchen is one of the best accepted kitchens in avant-garde homes in Ireland and the Uk, its simple a kitchens that runs forth three walls and in some cases will accept an island in the average which can be acclimated for accidental dining. This blazon of kitchen affords one the ideal assignment triangle accouterment its not to ample of an area. The ideal admeasurement in amplitude is twelve anxiety and over as this will acquiesce you abode an island in the centermost amid both alien walls.

New Kitchens advised in an L-Shape.

As the name advance these kitchens are advised to run forth two walls affair at appropriate angles actual accepted in restaurants and avant-garde homes. The hob can be placed breadth the two walls accommodated authoritative this the centermost allotment of you new kitchen, its the ideal abode to accept your adorned custom fabricated crimson and accept the aerial units on either ancillary disconnected with some anesthetized doors and low voltage lighting. Any of the aloft mentioned designs are ideal for accomplish in any copse but admirable back complete in oak kitchens.

Kitchen Designs

What anytime architecture you accept for your new kitchen, try and get yourself an in-frame kitchen as they are glassy and will be admired by all your ancestors and guests alike. This blazon of kitchen is bogus so that the doors and drawers alcove into the anatomy of the kitchen body and looks added affected than accepting the doors afraid alfresco the body which is additionally actual nice depending on the application. Older kitchens tended to be bogus in this way. Finally get acceptable admonition from bodies and companies that accept been in business for a ample period.

A spring table

 birdyWell, it’s in the 70’s here today, and the weather has been glorious for weeks now – SO unlike the Midwest. I’m crossing fingers and toes that there is no more snow! Puhhhleaze? Considering it’s supposed to be 84 degrees here tomorrow, you’d think we’re safe.

When I showed you the cute little Dollar Tree bird in this post, I told you I had some ideas in mind for others as well. I was so sure my idea would be adorable, I drove back to the dollar store at 8:55 that night, grabbing the last few I could find. (So sorry if you were looking for them…)  ;)

My idea was to use them on the dining room table. The bowls I bought last year for the place settings (from Pier 1) have been such fun to decorate with each holiday/season!

My first thought was to nestle them into some Spanish moss, but then I had a bit of a freak out that the moss would stain the white bowls. Probably wouldn’t – but my freak out made the end result even better!

To protect the bowl, I first used crinkled up tissue paper and made a “nest” – but then it hit me. What’s natural, springy, pretty and moss-stain protecting? Burlap baby! And I already had it!:

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I have six little birds total, but I am using a couple elsewhere, so I still needed to fill two place settings.

When Maryann posted her twine/jute covered eggs back in February, I was HOOKED. I am a sucker for jute. I don’t know what it is – but I love it on just about anything.

So I made some of my own jute covered eggs a few weeks ago – just using plastic Easter eggs we had and hot glue. Fareee!

Last week I found some white yarn in my craft stuff and covered a couple with that as well:

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Warning:  This cuteness takes foreva and a day to attain. I think about 15 minutes per egg. But it’s good mind-numbing activity while I watch my shows. ;)

I wanted to keep the centerpiece simple but wanted to add a little somethin’. I found some mossy “blanket” stuff at Joann’s today that was perfect to line the bottom:

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I just cut it to fit and I love it! It was pricey -- $9 – but it is reusable.

A couple weeks ago I decided to start using a few of the candle holders as vases, so I’ve been filling a few of them:

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If you look carefully you can see the toys on the floor…shhhhh. Nothing but the best for you all!

I had forgotten what a great deal flowers are at Trader Joe’s until my friend Kate mentioned it. (You must see her dining room. Swoon.)

Some of these have lasted for two weeks now! The tulips were $10 for 20. Hard to beat!:

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I absolutely love how fresh and bright the table is!

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    060 And I wuv you, you cute little birdies! Kisses!

087I  have BIG plans for our hutch – I can’t wait to get working on it. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I’ll let you know, of course.  (And no, I’m not painting it!)

To see how I made the centerpiece, go here.

For a recap of the dining room redo, go here.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Workin' the Plan

Oh my gosh, it's been such a ca-RA-zy week! 
Our first event here at our farm went well... the weather didn't cooperate at all, but wonderful friends and long-time customers came out to see what we've been up to. Their support is priceless! We are more prepared now for our big launch in May, with a show on Mother's Day weekend that is open to the public. {Click on the 'Petite Retreats' Page link above to see more about that upcoming event!} Thanks to MaryBeth Sande of Poppyseeds, we have one photo of us that proves we were there. One. That's how crazy things were!

In a few short weeks, we have the Remnants of the Past show down in California to attend, and we spent yesterday and today plotting, planning, and then setting up a mock booth to test our plan. Hmmmmmn.... lots of shuffling and swapping out of products goin' on! It's getting there. By end of tomorrow, we'll have it all sorted out. Then we can move on to the details of the displays - yay!

There are some funny things that happen when we do this - like the 'stand ins'.
Items that are still 'in process' in the shop or paint room get another chair or table that takes its place in the setup until the actual item is ready. A 'furniture stunt double', if you will! There is also the requisite moving of an item by infinitesimal increments over and over and over...'just a tch that way... no, that way'... multiple times. Usually until it ends up right back where it started. I messed with a table and chairs for about fifteen minutes and multiple rearrangements until I finally realized that the reason it just wasn't working was that I had the wrong chairs with the table. duh!

Just about the time I figured that out and swapped the chairs, the rain moved in again. Wind was blowing it in under the big 20 X 20 tent {where we set up the 10 X 10 tent!} and I was cold and cranky in about 30 seconds. Deb was done for the day!!!

Amazing Kitchen Design - FNQG3U6TYK2E

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Monday, March 29, 2010

A cozy window nook!

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First of all, thanks so much for your idea on the furniture layout! It’s hard to get a feel for the room just with the pics I posted – there are walkways behind both sofas, so for now, they have to stay put. But I am going to add a console table behind the long sofa for sure – I found a perfect table that isn’t too deep and it’s gorg! But for now I’m trying not to spend any cash. ;)

One of the first changes I made to the Bub’s room was his window –  it looked like this for quite some time:

beforeI’ve gone back and forth for years now about adding a built in window seat in this spot. Some day I think we will, but for now, I needed a spot to put the rocking chair. The addition of a big boy bed made for little room for it. It fit perfectly into this little area -- so I decided to make a little “reading nook.”

Then it was time to address the window. I’ve slowly but surely been replacing all of our two inch blinds with bamboo roman shades (LURVE) and that was the first step:

bamboo

I loved the shutters (found at an antique store) but with the move to a big boy room, they just felt too “nursery” to me. Or maybe I was just tired of them. I’ll go with the former. ;)

I played with a few ideas in my head. One was to make shutters like I did for the windows on our deck and hang them to each side of the window. I loved that idea, but I also had plans to add more light to this spot. It was going to look odd having the light sconces I had in mind installed on top of the shutters.

I wanted it to be light and airy feeling – and then I remembered the white muslin fabric I had bought for another project. I had a ton of it (I need to get more now for the other project, then I’ll share that one!), and it was only $1.99 a yard, and 40 percent off of that.

Score!

It was perfect!:white drapesI found the swing arm sconces at Home Depot ($30-something each?) and they were EXACTLY what I was looking for! Squeal! They are so gorg. And they even had drum shades, with a yummy basket weave-like fabric. (Just like the wallpaper I used in this space!)

I still wanted to add a little something to the white drapes, so I decided to use extra fabric from his headboard project (coming soon). I started by hemming up the ends of the muslin with my iron and hemming tape:

hemming

Then I made panels of the accent fabric, hemming the edges with the no-sew tape:

And then I just ironed the panel to the muslin:

I rarely ever sew drapes – I always use hemming tape! I cannot stress how easy it is to use! I always buy the super weight and it holds up great – for years and years and years. You can even wash items you use it on. I buy mine everywhere – Joann’s, Hobby Lobby, I think even Walmart has it?

This project would probably have been faster with a sewing machine – but by the time I get my little machine out and then try to sew a straight line, I’d rather just use hemming tape. ;)

Now the little touch of navy blue really grounds the drapes, both literally and figuratively:

sconces

The extra fabric at the bottom helps to make them a bit more substantial and they hang much better now.

I planned to make the panels a little thicker than they are, but I didn’t have enough fabric. They ended up being eight inches tall:accent fabric

I love love LOVE how they look next to the built ins:

Wooeee, I am in love with this navy and white combo! Classic.

Each sconce takes a 75 watt bulb, so it adds a TON of light:

after

The sconces are on the wall behind the fabric – and to make it so the arms came through the fabric, I separated the panels of muslin – one slightly thinner panel on the left, one wider on the right. So the arm of the sconce comes right through the fabric:

      

I can still close the wider section when I want, so they are operational.

I’m thinking about adding a cornice at the top, but I’m a little wary that it will get too busy, so I’m holding off for now.

I am so thrilled with the transformation! Before:

After!:

nightI especially love this area at night! It’s so sweet to sit in this chair with the Bub – during the day, looking out on the land behind us. At night, reading, talking, just being.  :)

All in all this spot was in the cost of the sconces and the bamboo shades (from Lowe’s). The fabric I already had for other projects. It is one of the first things you see when you walk in, so I felt like it was worth it!

The room is coming along just as I saw it in my head. Lurve. Lots still to do in here – art, accessorizing, molding, painting, painting and more painting. :) I can’t wait to show you the rest!

P.S. You can see peeks to other parts of the room in these pics – I know I said before I was trying to avoid primary colors when I started thinking of the redo a year ago. The whole irony in all of this is that primary colors are all that are going in here! AND I love it! :)

Art Glass Decor

How abundant do you apperceive about art glass? Dichroic art bottle is the newest and hottest affair to hit the art world. Artists accept created abounding different items that accompany beauty, appearance and appearance into your home. This amazing actual was aboriginal developed for the aerospace industry but has aback been apparent and acclimated by ambitious artisan everywhere.

Here are examples of some of the admirable art bottle décor that is available:

* Dichroic Bottle Gecko - This is the absolute centerpiece for the southwestern theme. Decorated with 24k gold agitate patterns and ablaze jewels the bottle gecko is a nice accession to any home.

* Dichroic Bottle Seahorse - Add a blow of close décor to your home with this ablaze and ablaze atramentous bank plaque. This seahorse is advised with a three dimensional aspect that will ablaze up any room.

* Dichroic Bottle Horse - This is a attractive bottle amount that is advised with a 24k gold saddle and platinum hooves.

* Dichroic Bottle Zuni Sunrise - Are you analytic for Native American décor? Then you will adulation this beauteous allotment of bank art that is advised with a atramentous abject and gold application that will absolutely accomplish a statement.

* Dichroic Bottle Sea Turtle -This stunningly advised sea turtle is a aphotic dejected blush with a ablaze aureate sun in the centermost of his back. He additionally has 24k gold accents brindled beyond the blow of his body.

After examination some of these pieces you will be captivated by their adorableness and motivated to alpha your own different accumulating of bottle art to add to your home décor.

Which Would You Choose???

Here are my current wood counter stools with the Ballard Design toffee checked chair cushions. If you look closely you will see that the chairs are actually different. The two on the ends I bought at a discount many years ago because they were being discontinued by the manufacturer. When I needed an additional stool I bought a similar one from Ballard Designs.
What I like - the tall backs, the warm wood tones and cushions - over all the chairs are very comfortable for sitting. We don't like that we can only fit three stools. I have two children and when they each have a friend over, only three can sit. Also we don't' like how the stools protrude into the walking area.
Here are the Tabouret stools. Aren't they great?! Did I mention they were only $50 each - I am still giddy about this...you can find them here. What I like: Aesthetically I like their lines and the way their color ties in with the stainless steel in the kitchen. I love how four stools (and children) fit. I also like how they push in and make a clear pathway for walking by. I don't like how cold they are to sit on in the morning and how uncomfortable they are with out a back. I also worry they are just too industrial looking (a family lives here after all!)
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So readers, what do you think?? Which do you prefer and why???

Happy Spring Break & Some Good News for Friends!!

Hello!!! We're off this week for Spring Break and I might literally have to duck tape my laptop shut so I don't work.  ;)  But that's the goal. 

I also just wanted to share some awesome things going on with a couple of bloggy friends:

Brooke & Steve Giannetti's {insanely beautiful} Home is being featured on the cover (and of course inside too! ;) of the May isse of Romantic Home Magazine!!  I am crazy over everything they touch and of course theirs is a perfect dream house:


And Kayce Huges's {fun &fresh & gorgeous}home is featured in this month's Country Living!!:



Kayce just recently became a sponsor of Pure Style Home & I am so happy she did!  I'm constantly drooling over a particular dress she designed at her store Pears + Bears.  (I wont' tell you which one because I don't want it to sell out!! ;) ;)   Her company, Pears + Bears also makes beautiful children's clothing.  How freaking adorable?!!!:


Oh if I ever get a girl....

And finally, Eddie Ross is making a pilot for a TV show!!!!  He's looking for a room to makeover for the pilot episode and is accepting submissions!!  Just click here for details.  I am soooo  excited for Eddie!! He can do it all {perfect tables- interior design- styling- photography- craft projects- budget- high-end- etc.} & with his sense of humor & charisma I KNOW he's going to succeed!! yay!!



Ok, so I am pretty much OFF-  no I'm OFF-  for the week but we will be having another super-duper guest blogger before & after!!  Have an awesome week & a Happy Easter if I'm not on before then.!!
xoxo,
lauren
 
ps- I wanted to thank everyone soooo much for the awesome response to my last post on roman shades.  I appreciate each & every one of your emails & comments.  Many of them contained questions about specific window situations & I wish I could answer all of them, but I hope you can understand the time it would take for me to give good, specific advice for each situation.  Right now I'm pretty overloaded with home life, clients & blog & I really hope you can understand that I'm just not able to do this right now.  I offer e-decorating services (you can click on the link at the top right of the blog)  if you're interested in specific advice for your home.  I will work on getting a price on the e-decorating page for general window treatment queries/ advice.  Again, I hope you can understand and thank you for your response!!
xoxo,
lauren
(again ;)
 
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