A Closer Look

I love to look at Lonny, but honestly, not many of the homes have much practical inspiration for me. Ashley Putman's Houston home was definitely an exception. It doesn't look overly-designed, but is filled with personal style that's magically kid-friendly -- the perfect stylish family home. Which is why I nearly fell out of my chair when I spotted again on Holly Mathis. It was featured in a Houston holiday home tour last season, and local blogger Lauren offered a closer look. There are some new spaces, like a great hallway gallery wall and an adorable nursery, but it's the kitchen I keep coming back to (no surprise there).

Painting the Kitchen Floor

Making Room for Baby has turned into Starting a Million Projects. Well, really it's starting a couple of projects, which have led to other projects. Case in point: High on Wes's list of priorities has been moving our washer and dryer from the middle of the kitchen into a closet in the breakfast room.


But to accomodate them, the closet had to get bigger. So the entire wall had to come out. I am getting a pantry out of the deal (HOORAY!) but now we have to deal with the floors in both rooms. The peel-and-stick linoleum tiles have been doing more peeling than sticking lately so I was not sad to see them go. I was a little sad though, to see more linoleum and then lovely vinyl tile underneath.


Since we aren't yet ready for a full-on remodel, we've decided to paint the subfloor. Now, do I want a big checkerboard, stripes, or solid?

Photos: Cottage Living.

IKEA kitchen in ... Southern Living?

When I think of an Idea House, IKEA is probably the last thing on my mind. Idea Houses tend to be dressed to the nines in custom, well, everything! But this Southern Living house in Senoia, Georgia has a kitchen outfitted with IKEA, and I must say, it looks good. I think the key to making the IKEA countertops, cabinets and hardware and appliances look higher end is to mix them with custom and unique details. For example, the lighting is custom by Sandy Springs Gallery, and the IKEA look of the stainless-steel vent hood is elevated with wood planks, trim, and support brackets.

I also love the way the Caesarstone counters on the island are wrapped over the sides -- a great way to prevent bumps and knicks. Notice also that the planks on the back of the island are repeated on the hood. A simple Windsor chair painted a fresh blue (Smokey Slate 460E-3 by Behr) offers a pop of color. You can find more sources on the products here.


Behind the range (Dåtid Pro H50 An by IKEA) is a carved wood backsplash that coordinates with the wood countertops (Numerär by IKEA). It's a nice change to see IKEA products in a more traditional space.


The scullery is through a pair of pocket doors.


I think the trick is mixing vintage and vintage-looking accessories to keep it from looking "too new." Any of you have IKEA in your kitchen? I'd love hear what you think!

Photos by Tria Giovan for Southern Living.

The Truth About Open Shelves

I see more and more kitchens with open shelves in place of upper cabinets, and every time I post one, I get e-mails and comments asking about their practicality. Here is what two bloggers, who have each chosen shelves instead of cabinets, have to say.



Trina, A Country Farmhouse: "We're quite happy with our decision to do open shelving rather than upper cabinets. We really like the ease of reaching for our everyday plates, glasses, mugs, and bowls but more than that, we really like the look of them. I think the open shelving allows for so many possibilities decorating-wise. This blank canvas allows us to create a different feel to the kitchen based on the season and/or our mood. The open shelves also make our small kitchen feel so much more open and spacious!"

I just adore Trina's kitchen. She has such a great eye for finding beautiful things, and better than that she actually uses all of them! So inspiring.


Lauren, Pure Style Home: "I LOVE my open shelving in the kitchen. They're so practical: I can see everything at a glance, grab it quickly, and emptying the dishwasher is so much easier. Guests feel at home because they can help themselves. People always ask me about dust and it's not really an issue for us because we use almost all of what's up there on a daily basis. For those occasional pieces that we don't use regularly, I just wash them off before use and it's really no big deal. I'm an open shelf convert and won't be going back."

I also love what Lauren and her handy husband Dave did in their kitchen. Rather than a total remodel, they put in new floors (which were also put down in adjoining rooms), painted the bottom cabinets, pulled down the upper cabinets, and put up beaded board and installed shelves. What was a dark and suburban builder-basic kitchen is now bright, beautiful and - best of all - personal.


I think the moral of this story is that if you love the look, go for it! Even if you aren't ready/willing to forgo upper cabinets completely, try taking the doors off a few of them and painting inside (I did that recently and love it).

Photos: via The City Sage, Trina, Lauren, and Cote de Texas.

Pretty New Orleans Cottage

No less than four of my friends have taken trips to New Orleans in the last month or so. Their fun vacays got me thinking about how much I liked this Cottage Living Idea House. The traditional shotgun-style house was built to fit right in to this historical neighborhood.


Designed by Ann and Jane Dupuy, the front door opens into a parlor lined with bookcases.


The room's pretty monochromatic scheme sets the tone for the first floor.


I've always loved the simple desk area.


Further in, the kitchen has iconic cottage details like beaded board and bin pull cabinet hardware.


But the real show-stopper is the barn door over the pantry and the chalkboard-painted wall.

The powder room is dressed up with a pretty mirror and a wall-mounted faucet.



Nearby, an office nook is no doubt the home's command center.


Along the back of the house, the living and dining rooms have horizontal planking and French doors. The gas lanterns are a nod to the Crescent City.


I also the the simple, but well-appointed dining room. New Orleans design has a reputation for being over-the-top, so I love this more clean interpretation.


The French doors open to a wonderful back porch overlooking the courtyard garden.


Upstairs, the master bedroom is swathed appropriately in French blue and outfitted with Leontine Linens, of course!



And what's not to love about a wallpapered walk-in closet!

Photos are by Robbie Caponetto and Roger Foley.

The Kitchen to End All Kitchens

Are you reading Rachel at Nest Egg? Well, you should be. Her designs are some of the most unique and interesting in the blogosphere, me thinks. Case in point: this beyond-fabulous kitchen renovation!

Inspired by: Putty-Colored Cabinets

I love a bright, white kitchen as much as the next person, but I am open to things less, well, white. Especially a soft beige -- for lack of a better term -- that is still neutral and clean, but is a little more warm than white white.



There's my faucet again!


Photos: Liz Williams, Cottage Living, via Greige, and unknown.

More of My Faucet

Now I'm seeing "my faucet" (or a version of it) everywhere I go. Look closely, it's there.




Photos: first two, Helen Norman; third, Mary Evelyn Interiors.

When Can I Move In?

I stumbled onto this kitchen earlier in the week and keep coming back to it. My taste in kitchens usually leans a little more rustic, but there is something really appealing about this one. Although upon closer inspection, the only real difference in this one and those I have posted in the past is the chandelier, which adds a glam-factor I am not often attracted to. But it is pretty! It also looks attainable; like it's not trying too hard.

So, when can I move in?

Day 996: two kitchen faucets

We're planning to renovate our 50-year-old kitchen (hopefully sooner than later) and Wes -- ever the diligent project manager -- has been drilling me about my wants and needs and trying to come up with a firm budget. Last week he asked about the faucet. Like many of you, I have a dream faucet: a beautiful two-handle bridge faucet in shiny chrome or polished nickel.


But my love -- Kohler's HiRise polished stainless deck-mount bridge faucet -- will set you back more than a grand, which frankly, isn't in the cards for this kitchen AND that doesn't include the side-sprayer, AKA, my best friend. So off I went to Overstock where the knock-offs weren't really doing it for me (though I do sort of like this one).


Then a few commercial-style faucets caught my eye, particularly this one from Vigo. I would have never thought I would like this look but there is something appealing about it. And since my tendency is to be pretty traditional, this might by just the industrial kick our future suburban-farmhouse kitchen needs. Then I remembered one of my all-time favorite kitchens and the crazy-tall commercial faucet Lindsay used there.


While it's true, most of the kitchens I save for inspiration feature a bridge faucet of some sort, I was pleasantly surprised to see this Margot Austin designed-kitchen has a fixture similar to this model. Since this room is a major inspiration for our kitchen, I think I'm on the right track.

Top photo is by Stephen Karlisch for Southern Accents, bottom photo is by Donna Griffith.

Loving: Kitchen Cupboards

Our kitchen is a little lacking in the cabinet department but luckily there is an attached breakfast room with space for the massive piece of furniture that my Dad gave us when we moved in. Its middle cabinet has a glass door and is ripe for a nice display, and as I'm working on sprucing up our kitchen and breakfast room, I'm looking to other kitchen cupboards for inspiration on how to treat mine. The idea, of course, is that it be both practical and pretty. Aren't these lovely?



Oh baby, pieces like this one make me want to sell off my worldly possessions and be the old lady who lived in her cupboard.






Photos: Paul Massey, Country Living, via A Country Farmhouse, via Cote de Texas, The Simple Home, Liz Williams via Blueprint Bliss, Style and Substance, Earle Interior Design.