Kitchen Art

I got the new Crate and Barrel catalog and one thing that caught my eye was a couple of their new dish towels.  I love textiles and some of these are almost too beautiful just to be used as dish towels.  Frame them for some great art for the kitchen!  You know me... "elevating the everyday" right?  Well... doesn't get much more everyday than this.  :) 

(Canning Dish Towel from Crate and Barrel $5.95)

I knew I'd find some great pieces on etsy too!  There are sooo many, here are just a handful of my favorites.

For my fellow Pride and Prejudice fans, aren't these cute?  From brookish.

Love the colors and graphics on this one.  From avrilloreti

A sweet reminder.  From:  indobay

A great punch of color and pattern.  From: leahduncan

Happy Monday everyone!

Loving this Makeover!

(all photos via houseandhome.com)

Happy Monday!  I see plenty of before and afters and some are predictable and some really knock my socks off.  I found this makeover at House and Home and I truly love everything about it.  I found myself going back and forth between the befores and afters and thinking, "How did she do that?"  Here are some things that I particularly love:

1.  I think her place before was something we can all relate to.  Not awful, nice bones, but they really didn't reflect any style or personality.  I think we all have or have had rooms like these.  How inspiring to see how furniture placement, paint and being selective with choosing some really interesting pieces can just really change a space COMPLETELY!

2.  Painting the trim and wall the same color.  I know I tend to think, "Oh I want to highlight the trim or the crown molding, so I purposely choose a different wall color.  But after looking at several of her rooms, the thing that really makes the room seem bigger and the walls almost recede and seem endless is that there's no definition between, wall and window.  Except for the bathroom, it shows how interesting white walls and trim can be!  Inspiring if you can't or don't want to paint.

3.  Texture!  We've heard all designers talk about texture, but it really does make a space come alive.  Check out each of Emma's rooms... Maybe with the exception of the bathroom, every space as a bit of nature (trees, branches and flowers) , metallics (gold or metal finishes), sleek, hard surfaces and lots of soft throws and furs.

Enjoy these pics!  Thanks Emma for the inspiration!  And click over here to see the full house tour.

Living Room BEFORE

Living Room AFTER
Loving the fig tree, stacked logs, wire chairs and furs

Kitchen BEFORE

Kitchen AFTER
Loving the dark floors, (maybe slate?) and the marble backsplash!
Also, contrasting counter tops.. white on the cooktop side and dark on the island.

Chalkboard door.
What's not to like.  Great place for chalkboard paint if you don't
want to invest in painting a whole wall.

Dining BEFORE

Dining AFTER
Loving the sharp contrast between white and black. 
Another great tree and bold, oversized art.  Too often, artwork is too small.

Master Bedroom BEFORE

Master Bedroom AFTER
Loving the scale of the 2 pieces of artwork and the placement of the bed.
I wouldn't have thought of that, but oh so cozy!  Great textiles too!

Bathroom BEFORE 

Bathroom AFTER
 I actually thought it wwas pretty good to begin with... but...
Loving the blue/black paint and the shower curtain!!
( if you're curious... paint is BM, Raccoon Fur)

My Weekend ... Paint and Shelves

Ok... I'm realizing I have a serious problem and I'm going to call it "projectitis".  :)  This condition causes me to have an insatiable desire to paint, move, reorganize or redo spaces in my house. When I look around my house, I'm usually thinking...

"hmm... I wonder what that would look like in a different color?  hmmm... I wonder how that would look if I moved it over there..."  "hmm... how about wallpaper... window treatments?... hmmm..." 

The prognosis... I will live in a very well-loved home, pouring myself into every nook and cranny... but, I will probably never see my home as finished and be able to put the paint brush or tape measure down!  Do any of you suffer from this same condition?  :)  Oy!  It's both a blessing and curse I tell ya.

Last week I wrote about adding some more contrast to my all white kitchen... I've been thinking about it ever since.  I didn't paint my cabinets black yet, but this afternoon while the kids napped... I decided to paint one wall.  Carpe Diem right?  What used to look like this:



Before: 
Our kitchen walls are a soft, light green. 
Grecian Green by Benjamin Moore

Now looks like this:



After:
IKEA EKBY shelves
Paint:  Galveston Gray by Benjamin Moore



A few thoughts on this project:

• This truly was so easy and didn't cost a thing.  I just used paint left over from the dining room.  I LOVE this gray.  It's Galveston Gray by Benjamin Moore.  It's a wonderful, cool-gray.  Using left over paint in different areas of your home is not only economical, but it allows your rooms to flow nicely from one to another. 

• I really didn't mind the children artwork on the wall.  This is a designated kid zone.  But I wanted to add shelves because I don't have a place to put the kid projects that need to sit somewhere rather than being taped up. I have a whole wall where I tape things up.    

• While at IKEA picking up the brackets, I was really debating whether or not to go for white or black.  I decided to go with black.  So glad I did.  White would've worked and would've been the safe choice.  I LOVE the contrast of the black, against the gray wall in my all white kitchen.  The risk paid off.

Sorry for the grainy, un-styled pictures.  But at this point, if I wait to style each photo and try to get the perfect shot, I may never get to posting a single project.  Hope you get the idea.  Trust me... I'll be styling away in the days ahead.  :) 

Last Friday, I wrote about doing something over the weekend that made your heart sing.  This is what did it for me.  A mini-makeover that breathed new life into a tired corner.  What about you?

Black is Back - I'm Inspired

Happy Monday!  It seems everywhere I look these days, I'm seeing black in interiors and I'm loving it.  Especially in kitchens!  I looked through my inpiration photos on my computer and was amazed at how many of them have black cabinets or black framed windows and doors.  Here's what I mean:



(Tyler Florence Kitchen of the Year via housebeautiful.com)



(Kitchen by Tommy Smythe via houseandhome.com)




(House and Home 2010 Showhome Kitchen via houseandhome.com)



Tons of black and white in Nate Berkus' new NYC apartment, check out the video tour in this link.  (sorry, couldn't find a pic, but had to share!)



(Nate's previous NYC apartment via escapadeblog.com)

Lastly, just by chance, I flipped through some old House and Home mags and found this photo from its Oct. 2010 issue.  LOVE the black framed glass cabinets! 

( via houseandhome.com)

Now the real question is.. .will I have the guts to do the same to my white cabinets that are perfectly fine?

I can risk painting $5 thrift store chairs, but this takes real confidence and commitment.  I know I'd love the finished product, but... not sure how to best execute it.  Any tips?  Have you painted your kitchen cabinets? 



Kitchen Chairs - The Reveal

Has the suspense been killing you?  Have you been staying up at night wondering if I went with white or green?  :)  Well I put in some over time decorating hours this past weekend and the chairs are now done!

Last Friday I posted pics of these thrift store chairs in a rather sad state. 

Here they are today.

I'm very happy with them!  Such a great shot of color and it's such a happy green.  I went with Lemongrass by Behr at Home Depot.

Not too far off from my inspiration pic:



(via tilthrestaurant.com)

It's funny, I went to this restaurant last year and the food was good, but what really stuck with me, was how much I loved their lovely green chairs.  Clearly, you know which of my 5 senses are more attuned. 

I'll be sharing more pics tomorrow documenting the process and some of the tricks I picked up while painting.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you so much to everyone who gave me feedback through a comment, email, text.  It was so fun to hear from so many of you!  Green was by far the most popular choice and it gave me the confidence to go for it.  Painting with bold colors is scary, even for me! 

This got me thinking... wouldn't it be fun AND helpful to be able to send me pics if you're in a design dilemma and I can post them and have people comment and give feedback.  I could see it as a regular column?  Sound fun?  Well... if you have a design dilemma, send me a pic and we'll see what happens!  :) 

I think that's the beauty of developing a great online community through blogging, being able to help and encourage each other to solve problems and live better.

picketfencedesign@gmail.com

:)

 

WHY IT WORKS - A Timeless Kitchen

In the midst of my mad state of organizing and decluttering last week, I was looking for inspiration photos to help me style my newly cleared off kitchen counters.  I came across this remodeled kitchen from the Nate Show.  This kitchen is so me!  Classic, clean, but updated and with some twists. 

WHY IT WORKS



(via thenateshow.com)



Loving this kitchen, especially...

• The contrast of the cabinetry on the island.  What a great way to add interest.  Love that the island is simply a work station and does not have bar stools around it.  Something different.  :)
• Chandeliers in kitchens.  I love the idea of making "fancy" be everyday.  Kind of like wearing that fancy dress with a jean jacket. Love it here too!

(via here)

WHAT I LOVE MOST

That gorgeous backsplash tile!  White subway tile is my all time favorite, but man, this tile sure is a close second.  Love that it has the same classic subway tile feel, but updated, new and different.  Beveled Arabesque Tile.  Duly Noted.  :)

*swoon*

WHY IT WORKS - House Beautiful 2011 Kitchen of the Year

It's always fun to see House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year.  Last year, I wrote about the kitchen Ina Garten designed in 2009.  I remember being in Rockefeller Center one year when they were setting it all up.  So fun.  NYC is the best!

Here are some things that I love about this year's kitchen designed by Tyler Florence.

WHY THIS WORKS

Texture and Color.  I love the idea of using a different material for your island.  Butcher block works perfectly.  It's warm, feels lived in and can go modern or traditonal.  This island is awesome.  So practical with the storage and all the drawers, rolls and fits perfectly.

Contrast.  LOVING the contrast of light dark.  Never can go wrong with subway tile and the dark cabinetry set against the white backsplach and beams is striking. 

A side office in the kitchen is so practical.  What I love about this one is that it has doors that can actually close!  And the chalkboard paint on the inside is genius!

Bold.  The dark cabinetry in here is really stunning.  Look how the white dishware pops!  I don't know if I'd be brave enough to go black, but I'm all for gray.  If I ever paint my white cabinets, I'm going for a dark gray.

A twist on a classic.  A black cast iron sink.  Love the gooseneck faucet, beautiful and practical.

Don't you love the mismatched chairs.  Gorgeous use of coordinating fabrics.  It makes the room not so "put together" and so welcoming.  A great look and easily acheived on a budget by getting mismatched chairs and reupholstering. 

This may be may favorite photo of the bunch.  You know my love for stripes and that awning just screams, resort, relax and rest.  Retractable shades by Sunbrella.

Lastly, I really like the open bookshelves in the space.  Airy, open, and casual.  A great option is you have a room full of windows, but need to put up shelving for storage.

To see the whole tour, click here.



And We Have a Winner...

Dandelion Rug from Garnet Hill

Just when I thought I've seen my share of rugs, I got my Garnet Hill catalog in the mail last Friday and I think I found my new kitchen rug!  If you're looking for a rug, you need to check out Garnet Hill.  They've come out with some beautiful rugs this spring and all rugs ship free until May 24th.  This is their indoor/outdoor Dandelion rug.  Isn't it fun?  The color palette is just right and I love that it's an indoor/outdoor rug.  Excellent for a high traffic area!  I'll be getting it in 3 x 5 for this area.  What do you think?

I've been wanting to get a bold, graphic graphic for the kitchen ever since I saw this picture:

Here's the lesson in all this:  Resist the temptation to buy something just because it's cheap,convenient or you're in a rush.  I've waited and have been looking for just the right rug for almost a year.  I was tempted to go with another FLOR rug like I wrote about here, but I just wasn't convinced.  I'm so glad I waited!  There are so many beautiful and inspiring things out there, there's something for everyone, wait for just that right piece, it's out there!  (Is this starting to sound like dating advice?)  Anyways!  :)  Living beautifully is about being selective and only living with things that you truly love.

WHY IT WORKS - A Family Kitchen Nook

Happy Monday everyone!  I love this photo.  It's a great example of how good design, function and kids can all happily coexist !  Here's what I love about it.


WHY IT WORKS:

• Banquettte.  If your kitchen allows for it, either a long wall, window or corner like this one, I'm a big fan of a built-in banquette.  They are practical for storage underneath, cozy for kids, it can accomodate alot of people and they're just so darn charming!
• Wallpaper.  Wallpaper has come a LONG way.  The wallpaper here is fresh and helps to hide a multitude of imperfections.
• Mixing styles.  I love the look of the modern Eames chairs with the traditional pedestal round table.  Both are durable and are well suited to meet the needs of a busy family.  Good style CAN be kid friendly too!

 

(via houseandhome.com)



INSPIRATION:

• Storage.  Kitchens tend to be the hub of all activity.  Do you have closed storage for all the stuff that tends to migrate into this area?  Bins or cabinets for toys, crafts, art supplies, etc
• Style.  Is your kitchen more function and less fashion?  Easy ways to inject style is through window treatments, wallpaper and covering a bulletin board with beautiful paper or fabric.
• And lastly, edit, toss and store.  This is an endless task, but oh so essential for living well.  It helps to build it into a routine.  For me, I try to make sure the sink is clean and the counters and tables are cleared off (as much as possible) each night.  There's nothing more gratifying than walking downstairs to a beautifully clean kitchen in the morning.  :)  I often think of our kitchen as a restaurant with 3 big rushes during the day; breakfast, lunch and dinner.  At the end of the day, we close up shop and regroup and try to start fresh for the next day. 



Everything AND the kitchen sink

I have to admit, one of my pet peeves is looking at all the glossy and styled kitchen photos in magazines and not seeing how people really live in them. I'll often look at pictures and wonder, "Where do they keep their dish soap and hand soap? Where's the sponge?" Admittedly, not glamourous stuff, but oh so essential. Why else would we be at the sink?

So, here's a short, practical, (not so glamourous) post inspired by my own kitchen sink. Remember, my goal for this blog is to inspire beauty in the everyday. Well, no better place to start than the sink right? :)

Here's my kitchen sink:

When we were designing our kitchen, I had a few must haves for the sink. I knew I wanted one single basin sink, preferably a farmhouse sink and a tall gooseneck faucet. A single basin sink suits our needs much better. With our old double basin sink, I could never properly soak a pan with a long handle. Also, the gooseneck faucet is key to washing and filling big pots.

I'm loving these 2 recent additions that I want to share with you.

First, I love foam soap pumps. They are so practical! The foam definitely makes it easier for small hands to spread the soap, and we use 90% less soap! It's amazing! We were reusing our Bath and Bodyworks pump for awhile, practical, but I wanted something more attractive. I was happy to find this foam soap dispenser at Crate and Barrel for $14.95 . I love it's sleek, clean shape and it works great.






Second thing that I love is our Simple Human Automatic Soap Dispenser. A friend of mind turned me on to these and I love mine! No more dripping around the soap dispenser and getting the edge of the sink all wet. Getting these at Bed, Bath and Beyond with a coupon is the best way to go. Oh, and one more thing... Simple Human has GREAT customer service. We had one that stopped working, they paid for shipping for us to mail it back and mailed us a new one!




There you go! I hope I haven't bored you to tears, but it's things like these that truly mean, "elevating the everyday". Have a great day!  Next week, I'll be talking about how to style your toilet.  :)  Just kidding!