After Pictures...

Stone wall accents with square stainless steel backsplash tiles

Another backsplash done with 1/4" stone along with tile floors and skylights for natural light

The client requested stainless steel, natural stone, tile floors and the look and feel of a warm working environment. Skylights provide natural lighting and the green color brings in the feel of outdoors.

Horrible Space!!

I want you to see some before pictures of a space that I turned into a brand new kitchen.  I will not post the after pictures until next week.  Yes, this is a tease, yet I would like YOU think of ways that you might design it and see what your creative juices come up with!  Keep in mind that I had to do this within the clients' budget and their tastes in colors, etc.

Make a small bathroom look larger!

Trade a standard door for a sliding pocket door to gain additional floor space once reserved for the door swing. Bifold doors (doors that fold up like a screen) can also save space.

Mirrors stretch space by reproducing it. Mirroring the long wall of a narrow bath, for example, can change the room's proportions and make it seem wider.

Because pale and cool colors reflect light, soft whites, pastels, and neutrals can make a bath feel bigger. Woodwork, trim, and doors will "disappear" if they are painted the same hue as the walls.  Also, Black is the perfect look for a little drama and draws your eye to object!

Mood-Lites!!

Remember my posting about how colors affect your mood?! (look for it!) Well, here are some more facts and even light bulbs to help...you can find them at Bed Bath and Beyond. You spend time, energy, and money creating a colorful and unique environment with your paint, curtains, and furniture. Why not do the same with your lighting?  Introducing Mood-lites.

Mood-lites allow you to create the atmosphere you want by using color, just as you do with everything else you select to make your space beautiful.  Research has shown that colors affect our moods, so they have taken that concept and applied it to lighting.   All of the products are named according to moods.

Interested in feeling Tranquil?  Add some Tranquility lighting.  Need some extra Happiness?  Try the yellow Happiness Mood-lite.  They have taken the guesswork out of the sense of sight, color, and moods by naming the products according to the moods they provoke. Check out their website!!

http://www.moods-inc.com/main.sc

I love these houses...

Cody Foster Christmas Houses.  They are the most adorable representations of cottages in my book!

http://www.codyfosterandco.com/index.html  To view their website click on the link!

A Wonderful Birthday Present! Thank you Darling!

These are two beautiful HAND MADE recipe books that my tender hearted cousin made for my birthday!  One is solely for my Halloween recipes (our favorite Holiday) and the other is for everyday collections.

The inside cover of the Halloween recipe book

The inside of the everyday recipe book

They are hard cover and bound with a coptic stitch as well as parchment signatures on the inside.  I can't wait to start personalizing them and adding recipes.  Please feel free to send me any recipes you would love to share!!  Home made gifts are the best to give especially this time of year.

Here is our snow!

Trees at my driveway heavy with the wet snow

Close up of my miniature crabapple

Lights are still working on the patio!

Now I am in the mood!

I woke up this morning to snow!! The 1st day of December and I am so happy to see snow to get me excited about decorating.  It also helps that "The Grinch" agreed to getting the holiday decorations out from the cupboard under the stairs tonight (just like Harry's).  Big chore ahead. Will try to post some pics of the craziness!

Visual exercise from the mind to the palette...

This is a a study how the mind visually can affect our palettes. Below is a picture of a hot meal prepared for your pleasure.  After the meal picture are three kitchens.  This is a personal taste test...which kitchen would you like to think this meal was prepared in?  And, how do you think the meal would taste in each of these kitchens??!

 

Hot grilled steak!

What do you think??

"Magical showerheads"!

Artos Kascade dual-function showerhead in polished chrome finish by Westover Company.

Memowell - Magic Showerhead

Do you believe in magic? We do, thanks to the multicolor Magic Showerhead. It showers you in seven colors, but is green at heart. LED lights are powered by water pressure alone: no electricity or batteries. The two-minute color rotation reminds you of time, encouraging shorter showers and water conservation.

I came across these and wanted to share.  I love seeing new products and how they are advancing. If anyone would like more inf., please contact me!

So much to be thankful for...

I will be putting these around the dining area to give a pretty glow. Very easy to do!

I have so many wonderful blessings in my life that I am thankful for everyday.  Health, happiness, family, friends, pets, clients, a warm home, laughter, and my list could go on forever.  Thank you to all the supportive people who have been with me through thick and thin (you know who you are xo).  I  always wish to be with you and hope my love and support will help guide you.  HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!

Renovations That Give You a Return on Your Investment

It's the fundamental question facing anyone who has ever embarked on a home renovation: How likely am I to get the money back when I sell my house?
There's no easy answer, because what a buyer might be willing to pay depends on many factors — everything from the choice of project to the materials you use to the value of other homes in your neighborhood. But it's important to have some idea of what your improvements might be worth.

No cake for me, I will have a tapeworm please!!

I

OMG!! Can you believe this was an actual product??!  "Easy to swallow" and "no ill effects" REALLY???

I was e-mailed more horrible ads if you would like to see them!?

Smurfs-Came across this picture...

This was in the closet under our stairs.  The area is now new cabinets and storage next to a fireplace we put in.  Anyone remember watching the Smurfs Saturday mornings??!!

Time for a fresh look for the holidays!

I have a subscription to This Old House magazine and the step by step instructions are great.  You really can do this!!

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

By: Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20209705,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-101109-kitchen-cabinets

This just in...

New Ralph Lauren wallcoverings that coordinate with Kravet Fabrics.

Thanksgiving- Are we ready?!!

I love white as a backdrop so all of the rich Harvest colors of food can be the focal point.

 

Pottery Barn Turkeys to decorate with!

Architectural and Resource Mission

It was time to go on a quick road trip to find inspiration!!  It was a beautiful 74 degrees with the sun shining, so we went on a wonderful drive to find resources for clients and possibly a little soul searching.

Our first stop was at a place where they reclaim old house parts.  I love places that keep all parts of a house when it needs to be torn down or people are just remodeling.  So many gems!

Confessional booths from a church!  Note the two lights at the top: one green and one red to signify if someone is in there listening to confession!

Another one: would love to have these.

Look at this detail.

The foliage is still beautiful and I hope it stays a little longer.

This was a surprise to find!  A castle built in 1850 after one in Scotland! We were able to tour it. It is now a botanical library and event center for learning.

This is the grotto in the rear yard where wedding pictures are always taken.  We stopped here to have our picnic lunch we packed.  What a gorgeous view all around us.

Of course, the second I find a spot to sit,  out of the woods pops a cat!!  He walked right up to me and purred.  (It never fails, they find me everywhere!)

I fed him a little of my ham sandwich and cheese nips.  He was so playful and tried to follow when we left. :(

The next thing we saw was this building sitting at the entrance to a gorgeous cemetery built in 1838!

This is the original chapel on the grounds.

As you can see, the leaves are stunning. This is where Susan B. Anthony and her family plots are.

The cemetery is very hilly and some graves are on top of hills. What a great day it ended up being.