A Client Project....Starting to Take Shape

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

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"?

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 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.

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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

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.....

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

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:

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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

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

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.

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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.

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

 

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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!