Thoughts on home...Kitchen Update

Hello, hello..So I've put together a kitchen board. This pulls together my thoughts for the space. My goal was to incorporate both classic and modern elements. I prefer clean looking but functional kitchens!

The back splash tiles are in! Next up, is ordering and having the lighting installed!
I'm very happy with the Carrara marble and my faucet so far.
Here's are the deets on the rest..

1. + 3.  I retained the cabinet boxes and am having new drawers and cabinet door fronts made. I went with a simple shaker style front and am going to use brass pulls. I was contemplating campaign style pulls (photo below) but I like to cook and move around the kitchen pretty quickly so I don't think they'd be all that practical. Hardware source.

2. This is the faucet design I went with. I chose something classic. Mine is by Dado, but I can't find it anywhere online. It looks almost exactly like this but it's a little taller.

4. I chose honed Carrara marble for the countertops. It is not the most practical choice but so far I'm loving the look. I'm just sure not to keep my bottle of red wine on the counter top anymore!

5. Oops, that tile shifted on me. I went with white subway tile with a beveled edge. The bevel adds a bit more depth to the design and flat surface of the tile. This is where I saved some cash. I picked these up at Lowes for .49 cents each!!

6. I'm pretty sure I'm going with this pretty blown glass fixture. I'm going to place it above my dining table.

7. I'm using simple bamboo blinds and a drape on a brass rod over the sliding glass door. (which I'd eventually like to remove - the sliding glass door that it...)

8. I used a 12 x 24 slate like ceramic tile on the floor. I'm loving that too!

9. I own this white parsons table from West Elm. Unfortunately, they don't carry "white" anymore.

10. I also own a vintage version of these Chippendale inspired bamboo chairs. I'll be
spraying them black as soon as it gets warmer out.

11. I painted the inside of a large kitchen cabinet this pretty Emerald color. Clark+Kensington's, Irish Dance 29D-4 (in stores this Spring). I'm going to have glass doors made for the front.

12. I'm ordering this pretty nickel pendant for over the sink. I know it looks a lot like the Hicks pendant but I keep gravitating towards the simple elegance.

I need new flatware. I think this is my final choice!

Image via (this looks so pretty)

Relaxed Living....

I've had a tile installer at my house for the past two days! He finished up my back splash and the little bathroom off of my bedroom. He was efficient as hell and I'm pretty happy with the results. (I'll be sharing a kitchen design board with you next week!) I need to select the cabinet hardware this weekend. I'm pretty sure I'm going with brass. Speaking of renovations.... I came across this home renovation in Traditional Home yesterday while I was picking up the tiles. I usually use a little more color in my designs but I'm drawn to the relaxed feel and mix of modern and traditional elements. Life can get so chaotic sometimes, I dream of coming home to a finished, beautifully decorated home!

I love this entire dining area!!

I'd also love to powder my nose at this vanity table! Beautiful!

Thoughts on home - kitchen

This week my plan is to budget out my kitchen. I need to make some decisions on this space very soon. I don't have a huge budget so this isn't going to be my "dream kitchen" but on the flip side I'm a firm believer that you can make a space or design look amazing without breaking the bank!

Here are a few of my thoughts thus far.

Color:
I'm going with classic white cabinets. I figure I won't tire of them and I am ultimately going for a fresh, clean look. I'm also thinking of adding an area where perhaps I paint the floor with a design in a high gloss finish. I'm not sold on this idea yet but I think it'd be a fun place to add a graphic. I would paint the design in deep charcoal and white. The charcoal shade will pick up the living room wall color next door to this space. I may just keep the bases of the cabinets and outfit them with new door fronts and a small section of drawers. This will save both time and money. I'll then have them professionally sprayed a white color in a semi-gloss finish.  I also want to add a small bamboo fixture over the sink!

Kitchen by Meredith Heron

Faucet:

I just finished up working with a client on their kitchen design. It turned out beautifully! I'll share the details when I have it professionally photographed. We used a goose neck faucet, I love how classic and clean they look. So this is a no-brainer decision for me. I'm going with a shiny nickel finish. Here are my favorite options.

Rohl

Perrin and Rowe



Nickel - by Kohler

Counter Tops:
Simply put, I know Carrara marble counter tops are wildy popular and not overly practical but I just LOVE the way they look and they are not overly expensive. I'm 90% sure I'm going this route!

Hardware:
If you follow my blog than you've most likely figured out that I'm big on cohesion but don't love a perfectly matched abode. That look doesn't feel evolved enough for my creative brain or aesthetic. My faucet will be shiny nickel but I'm thinking of going with brass hardware. I'm currently loving this campaign style for the drawers. This image is a shot from Christine's house of Bijou and Boheme blog. Her house is beautiful!!

Shelter Loves

I had the opportunity to see Boston Ballet's Sleeping Beauty last night. It was a gorgeous performance. The ballerinas never cease to amaze me with their courus (ballet term), plies and pointe techniques. There is an entire glossary of ballet words and definitions, read more here. I'll have to admit, I can't wait to sign my daughter up. She wears tutus over her leggings all the time as it is!

Here are the details on this week's love list!!

2. I love entertaining friends and family. A party just isn't the same without a beautiful drink selection...
3. I'm ordering these pretties for my ACK trip!
4. James Perse : ballet top, is a summer staple!
5. I'm working on two kitchen projects right now. These black lacquered cabinets and classic pulls are so pretty!

Thoughts on home...

I adore this kitchen snapshot, it's the perfect blend of old and new.  I especially like the black glass cabinetry and the beautifully displayed silver collection on the fridge.

I think a home feels more complete when it's infused with a bit of history. Vintage finds are more easily found now with the growth of Etsy, and 1st dibs but I still love to scour flea markets when I have a free Sunday, especially during the warmer months. 

Sterling silver and silver plate serve and barware look beautiful layered with everyday collections.

I've decided when I move I'd like to invest in some new flatware. I want to ditch the set I had when I was married, it was one of the only items my ex contributed to our new home together and he had no interest in taking it when he split. I might buy an inexpensive bamboo inspired set but I also want to begin to collect monogrammed silver (+ silver plate) pieces.. I could go the formal route and collect only "R"'s for Richard (my last name) but I also think it could be fun to collect E's, (it seems to be a popular letter in vintage flatware, J's and C's). (our first initials)

This Etsy site has an evolving collection of flatware and vintage housewares.

image via Eddie Ross