Grey Kitchens

My new love?

Inspiration, Kitchens


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I love a white kitchen, really love a white kitchen, just as much as the next girl who fell in love at first site with the dream kitchen in the movie Something’s Gotta Give. You had me at the kitchen, seriously!


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But, lately I feel like I am cheating on my true love. I’m falling hard for grey. And like anything else, the more you are aware of something, the more you start noticing it. Ever notice how once you buy a new car that you start seeing “your” car everywhere?

Taupey greys…


Kitchen designed by Windsor Smith. Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore’s Galveston Gray.

Dark, inky charcoal greys…


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Smokey greys…


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Grey cabinets with brass hardware…a winning combination.


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So, am I swayed by grey? My fickle heart says YES, historical accuracy be damned!

Update:
Thanks to Sharon for pointing out Robert Schweitzer’s article on 1900-1925 Kitchen Colors. I do see a grey kitchen! I also see that he has a link to 1912 Bungalow…nice.

Comments { 6 } December 18, 2012

My Inspiration Kitchen

Dreaming...

Inspiration, Kitchens


Photo: Lincoln Barbour. Professional photographer Lincoln Barbour has many amazing homes featured on his site. Please be sure to take a look!

A blog commenter recently left the following message, “I look so forward to your kitchen reno. Now 8 years later, has your vision for your kitchen changed?”

Great question! The answer is YES, about a hundred times. But, I have kind-of ended up back where I started. After seeing the kitchen in Lincoln Barbour’s photo (above), I had this feeling of that’s it. This kitchen is everything I love; simplicity and that homey, comfortable vibe that just feels “right”. I appreciate the contemporary light fixture and chairs mixed in with the vintage kitchen. This kitchen is definitely my inspiration kitchen.

Here are some other ideas that I love…


Photo: Pinterest

The vintage sink sitting on the marble countertop is so beautifully done. I love it!


Photo: Pinterest

If I was in the market for a new stove I would get something fun like this blue stove.


Photo: Pinterest

Look at that wall of built-in floor to ceiling storage. I don’t have quite that much room in my small bungalow kitchen, but I dream of storage.


Photo: Neptune

My heart still beats quickly for freestanding English kitchens. I recently discovered the beautiful kitchens handcrafted by Neptune. I really want an island with work space and seating.


Photo: Neptune

Did I happen to mention that I really want an island? The English do kitchen islands so well…

Comments { 3 } March 30, 2012

Restyling the Dining Room

Lighter and brighter

Inspiration,

Our Plan
1) Saarinen table 2) Pelle Bubble Chandelier / DIY: how to make your own bubble chandelier featured in the February/March 2009 issue of ReadyMade magazine…RIP… 3) Farrow & Ball Lotus wallpaper 4) Cherner arm chair 5) Sisal rug with border was featured on Fab a few weeks ago

{Confession: I am completely addicted to Fab and Pinterest and spend too much time on both!}

But, I digress…this is supposed to be about our dining room. The dining room is the first room we restored in our house and it holds a special place in my heart.

The truth is that even though I think the dining room is beautiful, it has never felt like “us”. We got so caught up with restoring the house, the strong architectural lines and period details, that we somehow left ourselves out of the equation.

I want something a little brighter and more playful. I intend to leave all the period details intact except for the light fixture, but that isn’t so unusual. I swap out lights around here the way some women change earrings. I always save the antique lights so I can put them back or move them to a new location if… make that when…I change my mind.

I am trying to find a balance between the Modern furnishings that we love and all the beautiful period details…that we also love.


Mix of period details and Modern furnishings. Image from Pinterest

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Comments { 11 } December 9, 2011

Wallpaper in the Bathroom

Add pattern and color to a white bathroom

Bathrooms, Inspiration,


Image from Pinterest

Lately, I have been strangely drawn to wallpaper, which is crazy because I know from personal experience just how difficult it is to remove.


Image from Apartment Therapy

I am the same person who adamantly hated wallpaper and swore I would never do that to our beautiful plaster walls. Well, never say never…

I am considering indulging my wallpaper lust, but starting small by hanging it in our tiny powder room.

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Comments { 7 } November 22, 2011

What I am Loving Right Now

Fall Favorites

Inspiration,

I was convinced I wasn’t a wallpaper person but Farrow & Ball’s Lotus wallpaper has completely changed my mind. I’ve fallen in love with it! I am trying to find a place for it in my house. Maybe in the dining room?

Something about fall makes me want to pull on a warm, comfy sweater, a soft scarf and curl up underneath a blanket with hot cocoa and a good book. I am enjoying getting in touch with my farm girl roots with Noel Perrin’s charming book First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer.

1.Farrow & Ball Lotus wallpaper 2.Madewell first frost circle scarf 3.T by Alexander Wang chunky pullover 4.Barcelona hot chocolate 5.terrain St. David’s Cross throw 6.First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer by Noel Perrin

Comments { 1 } October 26, 2011

Cozy Bedrooms

Design Ideas

Bedrooms, Inspiration

I am in need of inspiration! Doesn’t this bed look comfortable?

I really like the colors of this room. They seem soothing and calm.

I wish my plaster walls looked this beautiful in their natural state.

I like the oversized artwork and that it is centered over the side table instead of the bed.

A tapestry used as a headboard is interesting.

Note: These images came from my inspiration folder. I am sorry that I didn’t save the original source information.

Comments { 3 } October 4, 2011

More Vintage Bathroom Fixtures and Accessories

Ideas to create a period perfect bathroom

Bathrooms, Inspiration


Forerunner of the modern shower.

 


Hajoca Plumbing Goods showers

 


Hajoca Plumbing Goods shower accessories

 
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Comments { 5 } March 27, 2011

Vintage Bathroom Fixtures and Accessories

Inspiration for period perfect details

Bathrooms, Inspiration

For someone needing inspiration to restore a bungalow bathroom or the old house buff who likes to get all the details period perfect, I am posting images from several plumbing supply catalogs dating from 1910’s – 1920’s. You might also enjoy seeing photos and illustrations of period bathrooms during the same time period.


These sinks were named “Filmore” Lavatory

 


Hajoca Plumbing Goods offered by the Haines, Jones & Cadbury Company

 
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Comments { 6 } March 25, 2011

Decorative Ceiling Idea

This ceiling is a WOW!

Inspiration, Paint, Wall Treatments,

Last fall I had the pleasure of visiting the Ruthmere House in Elkhart, IN. I couldn’t get past the gorgeous ceiling in the foyer. I snapped the photo you see with my cell phone, but in person the ceiling is absolutely stunning. The colors and design are historically accurate to 1910.


Detail of a painted ceiling design. The colors are gorgeous!

I would love to paint something like this on our dining room ceiling.

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Comments { 4 } March 21, 2011

The Creative Work Space

Home Office Inspiration

Inspiration,


Home Office Idea Board: 1. George Nelson Bubble Lamp 2. Benjamin Moore Paint 3. CB2 Triumph Lounge Chair 4. Flor Tiles, Grey Pop Tartan 5. West Elm Parsons Desk

One of the things that make bungalows such comfortable homes to live in is that they are well suited to a variety of design styles and tastes. I am taking a bit more of a contemporary approach in the design of our home office. This may be where some of us aesthetically part ways, but please don’t go away! Stick around and see how great a nearly 100 year old room can look with a contemporary color scheme and furnishings.

This home office needs to be functional for two people and it is a place where we will be spending 8+ hours a day. We work in a creative field and want our work space to be fun, colorful, streamlined and, of course, affordable.

I keep coming back to the pictures of the two rooms above. I love how they both have bright pops of color.

Comments { 3 } February 25, 2011