Tale of a Kitchen Make-Over...Part Two!

 

Remember a few weeks ago when I promised to show you photos of my sister Wendy's kitchen makeover?
Well, I drove three and a half hours for the reveal (and to be served the most elegant lunch in her new kitchen), only to realize I forgot my camera! Lucky for both of us, she has a good friend with a great camera and photography skills who snapped a few so I/we could share.

You might remember the before photo I showed you:

 

Well, here is one of the after shots:

Isn't is so fresh and pretty? My sister has an unfailing eye for putting together what the rest of us might think won't work. I always liken her style to that of an artist's; because don't they always have the most fantastic spaces? Sometimes more daring, but always edited with a knowing vision.

She and her hard-working (and handy!) husband did this make-over on a conservative budget and stretched their dollars as well as Wendy's design muscles.

It involved mostly paint, new counter-tops, HARD labour, one new appliance (an over-the-range micro-wave), and a new faucet.

And a whole LOT of style!!!

Small details can mean so much:

The new kitchen faucet is from ATG Stores.com  (which I love for its one stop shopping when doing home renovation!) for her review, and you can read about it here. She is still on the hunt for her dream sink but was happy to find that a thorough buffing to her current sink was all that was needed to make it shine again. Another savings!!!

Head on over to Wendy's blog and check out all of the other photos and details of this make-over. Be sure to say hi and check out all of her other renovations at  The House She Calls Home

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The Tale of a Kitchen Make-Over...Part One!

(My sister's kitchen before its new makeover. Stay tuned to the big reveal next week!)

Are you living with a kitchen you'd love to make over? Do you mentally make lists of the things you'd like to change if given the money, time or DIY skills? Would it involve major changes or as my sister likes to call it, "a lipstick makeover"?

Because that is just what she did recently.

Hours and hours of painting, new countertops, sink, faucet, lighting, hardware and she is now the proud owner of a refreshed, beautiful kitchen - one to be proud of. I am heading her way this weekend with Sophie as my backseat passenger and we are going to be received for lunch in her new kitchen.

And I can't wait!

What can I say? I love it when anyone does any form of home improvement project! It is so fun to share in their excitement and see something transformed into something more beautiful. My sister and her husband have laboured over their makeover for many, many weeks. I will share photos with you as soon as I get the green light from her!

What would I do if I could create a new kitchen for myself?

Although I love my current kitchen, I would definitely change everything up if I were to rebuild (which we will at some point). In the meantime, this kitchen has some of the elements that I love. Because I, too, make lists of what I'd love in a new kitchen! Don't you?

Moving Backwards...

(My new blue chairs, embellished with number decals from the fabulous Leen, the Graphics Queen!!)

I have had a style epiphany of sorts. It seems that at a time in my life when I should be seeking out quality and making furniture investments, I am doing a bit of a backslide. I read many blogs where they are purchasing "quality pieces for their home" and mulling over each buying decision with as much thought as they plan their retirements. Cheaper make-do furnishings are being given away or sold to make room for newer, more permanent, quality additions.

So. what is wrong with me?

Even if I could spend the kind of money to purchase "better," I am not sure that I would. With two teen-age sons, university costs are looming and, technically, I am not "there" just yet. It seems silly to wander furniture stores when real-life expenses like that are almost upon us.

But that's not the point.

This picture (I bought it from from Kiki and Polly.com) depicts me in this time of my life:

Need/Want, need/want, need want...

Sure, as someone who sees many things I like, I have pangs to actually go out and get them. But I have matured in some ways and realize that just because I want something doesn't mean I need it...or deserve it.

And then there is the simple fact that I am pretty fickle when it comes to style. I can easily become lured in by a beautiful object, fabric or piece of furniture and it can set me to daydreaming about change. Luckily, budget and good old common sense can keep it in check for the most part, but I LIKE CHANGE!

So, even if I could spend $300 (or more) on a chair for my dining table, well, I need six!

And then what happens when I get tired of that look and want or need change?

I think IKEA is the place for people like me. Sure, there is a snobbery to some that IKEA is for college students or those on a tight budget...those who don't crave quality.

But I say this: sometimes quality is (dare I say it?) boring. Maybe not at first, when its shapely form or plush fabric seduces you from across a room. But let's face it. The shine comes off everything after a while and becomes vegetable lasagna.  And I haven't been disappointed by an IKEA piece, yet!

So what have I done?

I have embraced my inner college student and stored my perfectly fine but perfectly boring (read, unstylish) dining chairs and bought these $20 cuties from IKEA, in the softest shade of blue!

Seriously fun and sturdy, they can be easily cast aside and put to use elsewhere in my home when I fall for the charms of something else.

Something better? More quality, perhaps?

We'll see.

For now, I will go back to my flower and the want/need approach to decorating. Some things are worth the wait, for sure, and some things are just good, cheap fun!

A Decorating Diary...

I am trying desperately to sort through my photos and put them in albums. Also, I need to print out about a year's worth of photos. As a result, I found these photos of two of my former kitchens - one at Christmas - that I thought would be fun to share.

This photo shows my dual coloured cabinetry. I loved the green, with the black tiled counter tops, but felt a lighter hue on top would be brighter and fun. I only lived in this house a year, and I really loved the kitchen; though I would never recommend tiled countertops (which my husband had really wanted), especially if you like to bake.

 Fortunately, it wasn't too much of a problem for me...!

The next is the kitchen in another of my former homes:

I couldn't find the photo showing the other/main angle. Note the attempt to camouflage my ugly, starting to rust fridge. I attached a message board I made to the front using velcro. I also painted a chalkboard onto the door going down to my basement.

I also found this shot of the exterior of this home:

And finally, the little vintagey bathroom in the little brick house we renovated after the one above:

Sorry for the poor picture quality. These are scans!

Of course, you didn't think I could resist throwing in a funny photo of my girlie (at age three), did you?

She is the perfect example of a woman juggling it all: babies, work, high heels, even a bathing suit with no tan. Go Sophie!!

Kitchen Blues...

Today, as it pours rain outside, I am doing my best impersonation of a cook and cranking out supper recipes (and even a dessert!) to heap onto my kitchen table for my family's eating pleasure. While it is not my favourite way to spend the day, it is oddly cmforting to plan ahead and know dinner hour won't be a mad scramble. While I'm on the topic of kitchens, I'd thought I'd share photos of two of my favourite blue kitchens and pop in a few taken of my own:

From the movie, The Holiday:

From Country Living magazine:

My own blue kitchen, awaiting some Halloween decor:

This is all I've managed, a stamped plate from the Dollar Store.

I need to get a move on, don't I?

A sink-ing feeling...

photo: Country Homes and Interiors

With dishwashers a veritable must-have for most people buying or building a home, they have enjoyed a prominent role in our kitchens. In fact, they have done a bit of bullying to the poor old kitchen sink of yesteryear. Indeed, many home-owners select their dishwashers with care, paying attention to detail, and typically justify spending a bit more to get certain features. What's a kitchen sink to do when it no longer enjoys that after dinner fill-up of warm sudsy water, ready to restore the sparkle to our dirty dishes?

above photos: Country Living.com

Well, fortunately, kitchen designers are recognizing the sentimental role our kitchen sink once played, and are giving it its due attention and respect. No longer placed solely in a "butler's pantry" or tucked beneath the kitchen window, sinks are now being placed in oversize kitchen islands, where the cook can rinse the dishes while interacting with his/her family and/or guests. In turn, the folks who design such sinks have sat up and taken notice. Beautiful kitchen sinks are popping up in kitchens everywhere, and the notion that we just buy a $100 stainless steel vessel is losing its sensible footing. One needs to look no further than magazines and their local home building stores to see that farmhouse/apron sinks, copper beauties and soapstone sinks are enjoying a nostalgic resurgence. Sink manufacturers are introducing sinks that appeal to every design aesthetic; and whether you yearn for clean, modern lines - think undermount sink in stainless steel, concrete, or solid surfacing - or vintage style, there is a sink to suit your fancy.

photo: Country Living.com

photo source: Carrie Raphael's kitchen, used with permission

I naturally prefer the vintage variety, especially when paired with a beautiful bridge faucet; and while I like the idea of washing up while being part of the action, I prefer zoning out and daydreaming as I gaze out the window... warm water lulling me into forgetting that I am washing dishes that my cheap (but pretty) dishwasher failed to clean properly.

After all, this is my view...

And this is hers:

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Be sure to check out Julia's Hooked On Fridays event. While you're at it, join the party!!

Sea of White...

White, cream, vanilla, bone, custard...layering shades of white in a space can be one of the most difficult things to get right. I should know. I am in the process of a kitchen project that has evolved into a bit of a "white room". Possessing a tiny footprint, I want the room to feel as though the walls are easing back to make more space for all that needs to fill it. I initially thought I wanted a soft butter shade one the wall, but decided I had painted enough yellow kitchens in my lifetime; so I settled instead on a shade called Slipcover (from the Canadian Home and Country series, made by Beauti-Tone paint, a Canadian company). It still has a hint of yellow making its presence known, but I think I'm okay with that.

The issue I am having with the Slipcover shade, is whether or not it is a non-colour. Non-colours (my word for them) are different than neutrals. Neutral shades are like the quietly supportive spouse of their flashier partners. They look good, but take nothing away from the other components of the room. They complement, rather than distract. Non-colours, on the other hand, add nothing - and are potentially boring, while draining valuable energy from a room. I am still undecided if I have saddled myself with such a colour...

The kitchen cabinets are also a shade of white called Nearly White (same company), which offers up a hint of warmth and is a great alternative to painting cabinetry a bright white. The appliances are also white, and I have selected a faux tin backsplash that is also in a bright, creamy shade of, you guessed it, white. The counter-top has not yet been selected, but it will definitely have to work well in this sea of white. The floors will be offer a nice balance, as they will be a dark wood laminate. Accessories will be how I will introduce some fun and colour, but this experiment with white and all its shades, is turning out to be both a fun and hand-wringing experience. Luckily, the client is me (but not my kitchen...I will explain more, later) and the photographic evidence will have to wait until everything comes together.

Enjoy these all-white kitchens (all from House to Home.com), and let me know if you have pulled together all-white spaces, and the challenges you encountered in doing so.

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Meanwhile, here is a quick list of some designers' and decorators' favourite white shades:

Pointing (2003), Farrow and Ball House White (2012), Farrow and Ball
Cloud White, Benjamin Moore
Atrium White I-79, Benjamin Moore
Natural Wicker, Benjamin Moore
White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Soaker's Tub (P5223-24), Para Paints
Decorator White (ND039), Beauti-Tone (Canadian)
Nearly White, Beauti-Tone
Dover White (SW6385), Sherwin Williams
Crumb Cookie (217-1), Pittsburgh Paints

*What is your favourite shade of white?*

Sweets from the Kitchen...

above photo: Coastal Living Magazine

photographer: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Because I am not an avid baker, I likely won't be your "go-to gal" for holiday cookie recipes. Sure, I will bake a few goodies over the next six weeks or so, but they likely won't be anything you haven't seen before. Indeed, I leave all the baking tips to those who are much more skilled in that area...

That said, I do know my way around a kitchen, and do I have a pretty one for you!! Take a look at this confection of a kitchen (and its eating area and sitting nook) with its vintage style, cheery fabrics, and delightfully pink appliances (go ahead...sigh away!!) and tell me you are not inspired by its feminine touches and nostalgic charm? Sure, you may be a modern woman with an eye for more sleek finishes and detailing, but surely the girl in you sees the splendour in this sparkly gem?

Vision of sugarplums, anyone...??

** photos 2,3,4, and 5: Coastal Living Magazine

designer: Tracey Rapisardi

photography: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

A Kitchen Revisited...

I know many of you have seen my kitchen before. However, I am participating in Julia's (of the fabulous blog, Hooked on Houses) house tour (make sure you head on over there...after leaving me a comment, of course), and I thought I'd give her readers a quick look around my favourite room in our house. I also figured, you don't see a kitchen with blue cabinets that often, so here it is:
My husband built the cabinets himself, although we purchased the doors from a cabinet maker, and the kitchen island was my 10th anniversary gift from my husband, which he made to my specifications. The colour on the kitchen cabinets is Summer Shower, from Benjamin Moore. We settled for laminate counter tops disguising themselves as a marble look-a-like. They don't pull it off, of course, but they fit the budget and are easy to clean. I applaud those who invest in the real thing, but I am not yet into higher maintenance surfaces, and certainly not into trading my children's college fund for high-end counter tops. Maybe someday...

I love my schoolhouse lights, and they were bought at a great price from local building supply stores. The light over my dining table is from Homesense, and was a steal at $130. I love great lighting, and I believe every kitchen should have lighting that draws the eye up.

Most of the accessories in my kitchen are from yard sales, flea markets, or Homesense. I like the less is more approach to dressing your counter tops, although it is an ongoing battle to beat the clutter bugs living with me. For some reason, pockets tend to get emptied onto my island, and I often find Barbie shoes, "special" rocks and seashells, and gum wrappers that simply don't make it to the waste bin.

Our flooring is hardwood - I prefer wood to tile, as I am very clumsy, and would otherwise have to replace my dishes more often than is reasonable if I had tile underfoot. I also love the warmth of wood, and find it lends a more cozy feel to an otherwise cool palette.

My back splash is miniature subway tile with a line of glass mosaic tiles thrown into the mix.

One thing I would never change about my kitchen is my open shelving. They offer such easy access to everyday dishware, and provide great display space for my favourite treasures. I know some feel dust is an issue with open shelves, but our dishes are used and washed on such a frequent basis, that I give it nary a thought. I love the look of an unfitted kitchen, and while my kitchen has more of a traditional design, the open shelving is my nod to old-fashioned kitchens.

My kitchen isn't perfect - it isn't large, and it isn't filled with high-end appliances or finishes...but, it is bright, welcoming, and fills our needs. I have attempted to create a space that has vintage style paired with modern conveniences. It is, to me, a pretty kitchen, and I am happy it is the heart of our home...

Quick and dirty...

Charming homes in downtown Fredericton...

Funny name for a post, isn't it? Well, it best describes my weekend and (stat holiday) Monday. We decided to blow back into our old university stomping grounds of Fredericton, N.B. this past weekend. My brother, Alistair, and his wife just built another new home there(I've lost track of what number this is...) and since my hubby never got to see the last one...and thus we were long overdue for a visit...we decided to pack up Friday to see them. We got in just in time for a delicious ham dinner cooked by my sweet SIL, Denise, on Friday evening and had a jam-packed weekend which ended with us leaving for home after breakfast (bacon and eggs) on Sunday. Denise is quite the cook, and is also a great friend...we actually lived together while we were both in university and she was dating my brother. We had a great time shopping (of course), eating, laughing, and sipping cheap bubbly (as I always prefer...) and the time FLEW!!

***edited to add: Guess what hubby bought himself while we were shopping?? Yep, a nice, new plaid shirt...in Christmasy colours...and he was as happy as a lark when he spied it. "Good quality", you see, (Woolrich's), and "sooo cozy". He looked so earnest that I had to relent. What's one more??***

We also hooked up with "old" friends from UNB and all the kids had a great time hanging out, too. It was kind of a last minute trip, due to all of our busy schedules, and Denise and Alistair just moved into their new home two weeks ago! So...we came, we saw, we conquered...and then flew back home (well, not literally...hubby, aka Mr. Magoo, was driving...).We returned home to some pretty angry cats (they hate each other) and our own beds, sans Sophie, who had insisted on sharing our bed while away!!

Monday was the stat holiday ( in lieu of Sunday being Remembrance Day) and I was actually scheduled for two consultations that day, so the day went by quickly and the kids enjoyed a quiet day off from school. Since I haven't quite got on the meal planning bandwagon that hubby keeps singing the praises of, I have been yanking out my neglected recipes and would like to share with you one of my family's favourites: (as per Wendy's request)

Spicy Garlic Noodles with Chicken (or pork or beef):

1/2 pkg fettucine.. ...............1 tbsp dark sesame oil

1 bunch broccoli ............1 and 1/2 tsp hot chili-garlic sauce

1 lg carrot (julienned).....4 garlic cloves (or 2 1/2 tsp bottled garlic)

1 bell pepper, julienned...............1 tbsp veg. oil

1-2 lbs chicken, pork or beef ..........1/4 cup water

1 tbsp cornstarch ............................1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce

**Cook pasta according to directions; drain. Cut up the veggies (use your favourites...I also add lots of sliced mushrooms). Cut meat into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, stir cornstarch with 2 tbsp of the Teriyaki sauce until dissolved. Stir in remaining Teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, chili-garlic sauce and garlic. Set aside.

Coat frying pan with the veg. oil and cook meat over med-high heat. Stir, then pour in the Teriyaki mixture and veggies. Pour in the water. Stir often until veggies are done to taste. Toss the veggie/meat mixture with the hot pasta and serve. Makes a generous amount of food!!

**Here are a few pictures of my brother and SIL's new home. They insisted I not show too much, as it is not 100% finished, but I had to show you their beautiful new kitchen in particular...