Making progress

Despite being sick all weekend (darn you stupid cold!), we made some progress around these parts. Hmmm...does illness = productivity? While I'm sure it's not doctor's orders to be working so hard, we got a lot accomplished!

The kitchen trim is painted...

Please, divert your eyes from the lovely black & white floor. For obvious reasons, it will be leaving us soon. The 1980's tiles are old, manky & partially stained (the previous owners smoked--apparently only in the kitchen). Lovely, eh? I know, it's a complete shame we're ridding ourselves of this beauty.

And just to refresh your memory...remember what the walls looked like before (after the black linoleum was removed)?

Can you believe the previous owners covered this up? This trim is the real deal too...it's not the manufactured bead board you can find at Home Depot or Lowes. All it needed was a little love, a lot of sanding (thank you husband) & several coats of primer & paint....and voila! We have ourselves some new-old walls again!

And we finally decided on a wall color!

It's a little putrid in this picture (in real life, not much so)...but after much deliberation we decided to go with Split Pea by Benjamin Moore. I have my hesitations (the name alone sounds pretty gross), but this was the one color we actually agreed upon. So split pea it is! I originally wanted a soft gold & the husband wanted bright oranges & yellows (I believe one of the colors was called 'margarita'...I like my margaritas in a glass, not on my walls thank you very much). This wasn't what I originally envisioned for our walls, but I think it will work just fine. If not, it's only paint...it can be changed!

Oh, and for those of you wondering...the holiday deer are still very much dead on our front lawn. Hey, there are so many hours in a weekend...we pick & choose are 'to-do's' around here!

Hope you all had an equally productive weekend!

My weekend...

...includes some painting (let me rephrase that...a lot of painting)

...a little project (more on that soon!)

...perusing Etsy for some kitchen artwork (aren't these prints from Farouche SO cute?!)

...finally taking the holiday deer off the front lawn (who are currently "dead" & buried under the snow). I'd rather tackle this task now vs. being super embarrassed come April when the neighbors label us as the "folks who leave up their holiday decor a bit too long". Yeah, I'm hoping to avoid that moment.

...hoping not to get sick. Pretty please, pretty please? I feel something coming on. I'm not happy.

Whatever your weekend brings--hope it's a good one!

Pillow talk

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of this:

Etsy seller, Decidedly Chic, says that the color is a bit more vibrant than the photo. Which, for the first time in a long time, doesn't send me into a panic one little bit.

But hey--check it out! Does the fabric look familiar? What can I say...I love this particular design. Although, the purchase of the new cover was a complete coincidence...I hadn't noticed they were identical until after I bought it! 

The goal for 2011? If it doesn't match, it doesn't matter. I'm adding color to our boring beige couch & chair one throw pillow at a time!  

The new digs

For anyone who thinks we're not enjoying the new kitchen...

...we're taking full advantage of the new digs. Cabinets open, appliances in full use, the husband making homemade pasta, and a color deck hiding behind the pasta rack (my attempt at sorting out all of this 'which paint color to choose' nonsense).

Up next? Painting, painting & more painting, new light fixtures, window treatments and flooring...

And then there was tile



The tile is up! Tomorrow the contractor will return to grout & then it's official...project backsplash will be done!

We expected to have our fabulous hood vent installed this week too. Until our contractor pointed out that--because of our high ceilings--it will sit higher than most standard vents. We went back & forth for quite some time as to whether or not we'd be okay with that, but eventually decided to fork over the $150 for a hood vent extender. If things are going to be done in this kitchen, they're going to be done right! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait at least a week or so for the extender to be delivered and installed. Patience isn't my strong feature at this point... 

So how will I pass the time? By finally painting once and for all! I continue to be overwhelmed by all the color options, but I think we (and by we I mean me) have narrowed things down to a non-beige, non-grey decision! But ask me again tomorrow, as some things are never guaranteed...

I'll be back soon with more kitchen pics!

Kitchen progress

We purchased some supplies this weekend:

Yep, that's 60 ft. of white subway tile that will be installed this Thursday along with our hood vent. We're making progess! Slowly but surely the kitchen is pulling itself together...

We're also in the process of buying accessories for the space:

These glass canisters will soon be holding flour, sugar, and whatnot. I'm not sure why, but they remind me a lot of Ina Garten, don't you think?

And of course, we're picking paint colors...

My only issue with Benjamin Moore is that there are too. many. color. options. As usual, I'm being drawn to beiges & grays. I was kindly reminded by the husband that our entire house is beige and gray. True dat. But I find it hard to mess with a good (neutral) thing! This one may go into negotiations...

Once the backsplash is installed & everything is painted we'll begin the process of picking the flooring. It depends on which day you ask, but we're on a hardwood kick at the current moment. We ventured to a local reuse site this weekend to check out their stock, and at $1.50 a square foot it's definitely a bargain. But it's unfinished wood, which would require more work & money...bringing our debate (hardwood vs. tile) back to square one. While I'm not a big "green" person (I know, shame on me), I definitely love the idea of using reclaimed wood, especially in our 100+ year old home. It's fitting, don't you think? Not to mention I think it would sound pretty cool to say, "I'm glad you like our floor--it's reclaimed wood!" In the event that someone takes the time to compliment our floors of course. If not, I would still plan to tell them anyway.

For now, you'll find me with a paintbrush in my hand every evening until this place is looking brand new once and for all! Any thoughts on colors? How about beige, beige or more beige?

It's always best to make lists...

If I've discovered one thing since starting this blog, it's that wish lists are a good thing. Like, a really good thing. In fact I'm sure all 5 of my readers take careful note of my gift ideas when the holidays & special occassions roll around (hint, hint).

For instance, this Christmas was a no-brainer for my sister. The Kate frame from ZGallerie? Check! A sparkly cardigan from Charlotte Russe? Yes please! I post the lists, and they deliver!

Even better was my cousin Allie. She picked me in this year's family gift exchange. Which is pretty exciting. I picked her name 2 years ago & she was one of the easier people on my list to shop for. I'm pretty sure she'd say the same thing for me. Well...at least I'd like to think so, as she totally hit a home run in the gift department this year.

This book was not a wish list item, but I love when people know you so well that it's totally okay for them to vear off course when it comes to gift giving. This book = i adore.

To say I was totally surprised to receive these alpha book ends from Crate & Barrel is a bit of an undestatement. I had added them to our registry eons ago & after the wedding they were one of the lone items left unpurchased (which isn't a word, but whatever). At that point their availability was limited & I wasn't able to order them online. Which was a bit of a bummer, but honestly...my life would certainly go on without bookends. So what a treat to unwrap these! I love.

The husband also came through this Christmas with a subscription to House Beautiful!

We decided to stick with just stocking suffers this year (since we "gifted" ourselves a new kitchen & trip to Mexico). The husband is finally getting the hang of this stocking thing. Last year I received a lint brush, hair elastics & notepads. Useful, yes. But the House Beautiful subscription was a total winner this year. He says he has has no clue what House Beautiful even is....but I do, and I'm very anxiously awaiting the arrival of the February issue (that I gaze at each & everytime I'm at the store. Must. Resist.).

Here's hoping your gifts were all good ones this year!

Back to reality

I took a wee bit of a blogging break for the purpose of this...

I can tell you that this trip was quite possibly the best way to ring in the new year (and celebrate our delayed honeymoon, of course!). No worries, no technology, no snow. Now if that isn't a vacation, I don't know what is!

I've been in a bit of a haze as I try to adjust to the reality of going back to work, the cold weather & that darn to-do list--that (much to my dismay) was still here when we got home. I'm fairly certain this transition into "real life" would have been much more managable had I paired it with a margarita served by a friendly man named Carlos (well of course!). But alas, that's not gonna happen as our house has zero fixings for a margarita and Carlos is still in Mexico. A smart man, indeed.

I'll be blogging more this week as we're nearly finished with project hallway. I know, I know...I've been promising some sort of reveal for the last 2 months. But honest, it's coming. And "project backsplash" starts later next week. Things are sloooowly coming along in the kitchen. More pictures to come!

Now where is that margarita, alright already?!

Jump start on the new year...

Remember that gallery wall you were promising to get to in the new year? The one that Nate talked about & then we were all going to run out and develop our photos & become really diligent about making that display we've always wanted? Or maybe that was just me...

Okay, so I still have pics on my camera from all those summer weddings & events we attended. But my gallery wall is intact! Actually, it's been in existence for the better part of a year, but I never got around to sharing a photo.

I can tell you there was zero method to my madness when putting this together. The large "K" in the center is a John & Sherry original (alas, it's no longer for sale). I basically used that as my focus and built from there. No measuring, no practice layout on the floor or bed--I just started hanging things half-hazzardly & was impressed how effortless the whole process was (which is huge for me, given the agony of my indecisiveness).

The layout is easy to add to at any time, while interchanging can be a bit more difficult. Although, I recently switched out a larger photo for the antique gold mirror & lowercase "K" (thank you Karen!) and they fit perfectly. But that's the beauty of a gallery wall--it doesn't have to be perfect. It just is what it is. A collection of photos & memories fit for that empty wall.

I'm not quite sure what I'll do when we run out of space on the wall. But I suppose that isn't cause for concern at this very moment, considering I have about a million photos just sitting on my camera. Time to get developing!

Out with the old, in with the new

Long time, no blog!

Around these parts we've officially recovered from the holidays...I think?! We had a wonderful Chrismas weekend filled with lots of family time, gift giving & an absurd consumption of cut out cookies. At this point, it's safe to say I don't care to see another Christmas cookie until 2011. Which could loosely be interpreted to mean either next week or Christmas 2011. Hey, I have zero willpower...I need to keep my options open!

The day after Christmas I wasted no time taking down all the decorations (minus the tree that will go curbside this weekend). I typically wait until after the new year to do so, but this year I got a bit of a jump start. It's out with the old, in with the new! Call me a scrooge, but it was time to give this stuff a rest. The decorations spent the better portion of a month festively adorning our home (while at times competing for space with the contents of our kitchen) and now they're safely tucked away until next year.



My goal for the new year was to use what I already had on hand. By mixing up the placement of certain things it gave our living space a new, fresh feel. I typically give things a home base & then forget that it's okay to change things up! Just because that white vase looked great in the dining room doesn't mean it won't look as good on the mantle (with old branches that I spray painted white...a bonus look at the low, low price of FREE!). I also left the silver ornaments on the mantle & ornament vases on a side table. Afterall, it's still winter...at least until April around here!

So that's how things are looking around here lately! A lot less cluttered, definitely less holiday-ish, and much much cleaner. Now, if only we could do something about that darn snow that's gonna linger for the next few months...

Gallery walls

Around this time each year, I get a twinge of excitement at the thought that all this holiday nonsense is about to be packed away for the year. Don't get me wrong, I love the festive feel of a decorated house each December. But to think that a more fresh, simple space is in store for our home is a totally wonderful thought.

Nate Berkus was recently on the Today Show to talk about just that. When the holidays are officially over & the decorations are packed away, our homes become pretty bare. Nate featured 5 decorating tips for the new year that are super easy to implement in any home--one of which is a gallery wall. Most of us fall victim to the digital age, indefinitely keeping photos on our cameras & computers. And I'll admit...I fall into that category. In fact, just months ago I finally got around to developing photos from Christmas 2009. Yep, I get that lazy sometimes. Don't judge.



all photos courtesy of Decor Pad

For someone who doesn't get around to developing photos on a regular basis, I do love displaying them once I actually take the time to do it. I added a gallery wall in our hallway over a year ago, and I've found it's the most easy way to display photos & personalized mementos. In fact, the husband and I dubbed it the "wall of meaning". We have photos from our travels, wedding, places we've lived (and currently live!)...and a giant "K" thrown in there for good measure (the husband's favorite element).

So get out there and develop! Maybe the new year is that kick in the butt that you (and me) need to take some of our most important photos & memories and put them on display. Just add that to your growing list of 2011 resolutions...I guarantee this one will deliver the most satisfying results!

Oh Christmas tree

With Christmas right around the corner (quite literally!), I realized I hadn't posted pics of this year's tree.

For starters, let's have a look at last year's tree, shall we?

It's important to note a couple of things here:

1. Your eyes to not deceive you, I'm not 7 ft. tall.
2. This miniature--not to mention expensive--tree is a drastic difference from this year's version.
3. This photo is very reminicent of my old dance school photo days. Minus the neon, sequins & shiny tights of course. Check out that pose! And a 5, 6, 7, 8....

Last year's tree found us at the usual spot--picking out a just cut tree & within 10 minutes it was tied onto our car and away we went (okay, so clearly we weren't going for the experience here...I'm vowing this changes once we have children). At any rate, we decided that a nice little tip was in order for the kind worker who very strategically tied the tree on top of our car. After an awkward exchange & shuffle of money with the husband, we tipped the lovely man and went on our merry little way. Less than 5 minutes later we realized we had tipped him FIFTEEN DOLLARS in exhange for our $55 (5 ft.) tree. Well, happy holidays to him! It should be noted that over the course of the following hour, we would also purchase our wedding bands--after vowing (no pun intended) that we would only be "looking" that day. Damn, those ring sales people are good! Either that or we're total suckers. Talk about an expensive day!

So that's the story of last year's tree! 2010 was decidedly less exciting. The tree was larger, cheaper, there were no tipping mistakes to be had & the wedding bands are officially paid for at this point. This 8 FOOT beauty entered our home a couple of weeks ago:

Even Tiggy is super excited about the tree (or maybe she's just waiting for Santa to bring her some mice...or a 2011 weight loss plan):

And yes, I'm a total traditionalist--white lights & old fashioned ornaments that have a story. It's what I grew up with & what I love. That's not to say that somewhere down the road I'd be opposed to a tree with matching ornaments, ribbons & the such. But for now, this look is totally us.

Here's wishing you & your's a happy holiday...one that includes a great looking tree, of course!

Eye catching

Some random thoughts & things that have caught my attention as of late...

Dear husband: I know we promised to only give stocking stuffers (in lieu of big gifts) this year, but as of today I'm officially purchasing a larger stocking to accomodate these new Jonathan Adler books. And since you have yet to start your x-mas shopping, I thought throwing these ideas at you would be an excellent way to start the process. Smooches, your wife.



photos courtesy of Jonathan Adler



These dipped pine cones from Sarah Richardson's Holiday Party are completely unexpected, but a great twist on unconventional holiday decor. Sometimes it's okay to step outside of the box! For the record, that special was awe-some. Then again, anything Sarah Richardson can be described as such.

I had my heart set on this light fixture for the kitchen (with it's flushmount twin sister for the pantry)



photo courtesy of Lamps Plus

Unfortunately, phrases such as "soft glow" & "takes one 100 watt bulb" are not things I'm looking for when it comes to lighting in the kitchen. Sigh. Moving on. Possibly to this?

photo courtesy of Overstock


Anything would be better than the ugly fixture that's currently in there. But I'm finding that I'm only "in like" with many of the fixtures I've come across. While this isn't our forever home & I'm hoping to not break the bank when it comes to making a lighting purchase...I'd at least like to love what I pick, you know? I'm telling you, it's the agony of making a decision that's going to kill me!

On that note, I'm off to finish my shopping, do some wrapping & finish some painting (or at the very least, make a sizable dent!). Hope you all have a great weekend!

I'm so excited & I just can't hide it...

...I'm about to lose control & I think I like it (oh yeah!).

Why yes, this post is worthy of a Pointer Sister's song. The fact that we have a kitchen sink & dishwasher makes me really want to really lose control! For real. Like, come home, run the sink for no reason & perhaps a dishwasher cycle just because (not that I'm saying we really did this...or maybe we did?).

At any rate, I suppose I should cut to the chase & show a picture or two. Several people have requested to see the recent progress. And I fear that by not giving my loyal friends & family what they want, I'm going to lose major readership. Doubtful, but a possibility.

So the countertops & sink arrived on Friday. Lake effect snow be damned! The installers spent a solid 5.5 hours working away in our tiny kitchen, while drill sergant Katie checked in on their progress every hour or so. There were several mistakes--all of which were corrected with a lot of bossing, finger pointing & a little bit of yelling. Who knew I'd have to be such a hard ass?! 

Oh, and for anyone who's curious--the counters are corian and the color is Maui. You probably can't tell from my craptastic photos, but they're a shade of brown with flecks of gray, tan, taupes & white. I'm sure you can all rest easy now that you know this information...

I'll be sure to follow up with more (brighter/better) photos & progress later this week! I'm on a strict painting schedule--I'm hoping to have the entire pantry painted its new shade of white by this weekend. It's already looking good! We're hoping to start the backsplash (white subway tiles) before the holidays. But seeing as how Christmas is next weekend & I've done little to no shopping...I should probably stick to certain priorities at this point. Which would be the backsplash (just kidding, of course!).

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  

The night before Christmas

On the eve of our (supposed) counter installation, I'm reminded of a few things:

1. I'm annoyed. Annoyed that this appointment had to be rescheduled in the first place. Annoyed that the snow arrived (which caused the rescheduling). And most importantly, I'm annoyed that our sparkly, modern christmas trees are fighting for space with a butcher knife, tin foil & a KitchenAid mixer (for the record, they're just about as annoyed as me...afterall, this is their season & their time frame for being displayed is limited to about 3 weeks each year). Also, if the husband asks me "where's this?" or "where's that?" again...I'm gonna lose it.



photo courtesy of Decorpad

2. When I'm not busy being annoyed, I'm super excited. Like, as excited as a kid on Christmas! More specifically, the Christmas when I arrived downstairs to find a full track & town set up under the tree for my collection of matchbox cars. Yep, I was that kid. I was the weird girl with an obsession for cars. To this day I could shout out the make & model of any given car driving down the street. Just add that to the list of things you never knew about me!



photo courtesy of Decorpad

 3. I have my work cut out for me tonight. Last week--when we thought the countertops were due to arrive--I diligently began cleaning out all the base cabinetry (as instructed). I got about halfway done before the husband & I opened a bottle of wine, and the next thing I knew we were watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...and nothing was getting accomplished. I'm hoping to get a bit further tonight.



photo courtesy of  Decorpad

 4. I fully intend to beg, act dumb, or promise to be their BFF forever (hey, whatever it takes!) to convince the installers to hook up our plumbing & give us a working sink. Our contractor said he'd take care of this little detail when he arrives on Monday. But I really can't live without a working sink much longer (please reference point #1 if you're unsure of just how annoyed this 3-week stand still is making me).

On that note, I'll be busy painting my life away this weekend. As well as conjuring up some decorating ideas...the most fun part of this kitchen remodel! Once the countertops are installed my mind will be swirling with paint colors, window treatments & accessories. And I. can't. wait.

I'll be sure to update the blog with more photos next week! Including photos of our tree, which I almost forgot about. It's a Christmas miracle the thing isn't sharing square footage with the stove at this point...