I'm dreaming of a white kitchen . . .

White kitchens, they just speak my language. Bright, airy, classic, industrial and shabby shic all tied up in a bow.

My kitchen is anything but.

Introducing the fugster:

And please don't tell me it isn't that bad (as so many have been kind enough to do) because it really is and we all know it.

We have recently painted the walls an ivory color, which is an improvement over the green. The issue is, of course, that the ivory makes the counters look that much worse. Oh well, at least it is less ugly, but at the end of the day, it is still fugly.

We currently have a 2012 goal of ripping off the back half of our house and opening/extending a new kitchen, mudroom and small office downstairs, and creating a large master closet and bathroom upstairs. Hmm, that sounds insanely expensive. So maybe 2012 is not a reality, but when we do it we are going to do it right.

Must haves:

• white cabinets to the ceiling
• carrera marble counters (i love the staining, actually)
• viking stove
• sub z
• center island with a massive french chanderier overhead
• diamond pattern subway tile
• pantry

Kitchens to aspire (sources, unknown):

Done drooling?

I hate today.

Here I am, working late as usual, while the rest of the world snuggles at home (my husband and child included), and then I hear the last of all good shelter magazines has gone under. Domino was my literary crack each and every month and the only non-wedding magazine I subscribe too.

WTF else I am going to read?

Wah!

Damages

Happy for me, sad for Visa, this weekend was not without financial damages:

1. I ordered my lamps! But considering they were on sale and I was able to find a 15% off coupon on-line, I had to take advantage. I can't wait to get these babies in my living room. We need the light bad!

2. After three separate Gaps, J.Crews and BR visits, I bought this shirt:

to go with a vest similar to this one

for our upcoming headshots in Feb. Damn you J. Crew for making such nice clothes that unfortunately fit well.

The last time I bought a white blouse was 2002, so it was really much needed. I can't believe I even wear the other one, it's so gross.

3. Then, when wandering in Anthro I spotted a mirror on the wall that spoke to me for our bathroom. Even better, it was 50% off. It looks similar to this and the price couldn't be beat:

Eventually, that bathroom has to be redone and when we do so, I would love to paper that bathroom all trippy like this. As featured in Domino.

I also virtually shopped these shoes for one of my two headshot outfits as well, but will have to wait until Feb to pull the trigger.

I'll post photos of our new bathroom facelift soon!

Final Decisions

Why can't I be the type of person to go to Bob's and buy the coordinating 8 piece sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman tables and lamps package for $799 AND be happy???

Ugh, why is decorating so hard.

Anyway, the lamps are definitely a go. I love the contrast against the dark furniture, so I think that makes my side table decision a little easier. And the gold with my starburst mirros will be nice too (I hope).

The four table finalists, all reasonabley priced:

For my room here. The table will go to the right of my couch:

And here I play:

Initially, I was thinking PB pedistal table all the way, but now I am not so sure. Must mull on this a bit.

Any thoughts?

Yuck Room #2 . . .

Behold my dear friends . . . .the dining room.I'm not entirely sure what is worse . . . scraping off horrid layers of floral wallpaper, or dealing with nasty faux paint that requires serious sanding. Regardless, it's a big ole mess.

The single redeeming quality of the room is my chandelier, which although I believe to be hung too high, is vintage 1950s and from Italy. Of course, it was spotted by Erin, who also was able to get me a discount from the dealer. I can't lie and say that my dear husband wasn't pissed when he heard how much the chandlier cost, BUT after he found out that it was Italian, all malice was put aside. He is head over in heels love with it, which works out great for me!

The dining room I am thoroughly obsessed with is this one, as done by Domino and featured on Ballard Designs. I am going for a mix of feminime and masculine, plus it has to do dual duty of family and formal dinners, evenings at the computer, bill paying, ect.

Since I would prefer not to spend, no wait, invest, $500 per chair, I am hoping I can score some on ebay or craigslist, especially since they would without a doubt get wacked by the Radio Flyer and other annoying sound making toys. We shall see . . .

Living Room Before & WIP

Put on your blinders . . .the color before was . . .painful. In fact, minutes after our new neighbors came across the street to introduce ourselves, they asked us if our living room made us angry. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeh.

This could be one of the few instances where the photos make it look better than it actually was, and that is not saying much.

And, here is how it has turned thus far. Although very much a WIP, I think we are on the right track, it's light yet cozy and as sophisticated as you can possibly get with two leather sofas.

View from the entrance. If only I hadn't encouraged my husband to upgrade from the 42" to 50". We all make our mistakes.

Back corner:

And dead on.

My favorite piece of furniture in the entire house. By Palecek, purchased at Chapter 1 Outlet for a STEAL.

And while I have had a few boutique store decorators turn up their noses at me when I mentioned I had a sofa and a loveseat (the horror), I have to admit it's much more ideal for movie nights (hubby on one sofa, me on the other), than a sofa and two arm chairs, although that certainly would have looked much nicer.

Within the room:

Sofas: Nutuzzi, purchased via Domain (RIP)

Campaign Table: Vanguard, purchased from Stickley

End Tables: Oly, purchased at Homeward Bound (I obsess over this store)

Zebra Rug: Pottery Barn

Mirror: Ballard Designs

Silk Drapes: Restoration Hardware

Chair: hand me down, desperately in need of a make-over :).

List of to dos:
Frame map of Paris
Develop and frame b&w photos from Europe
Buy these or something along these lines for near wicker chair (def mirrored)

Purchase another end table
Purchase set of lamps
Figure out accent chair situation

Comparing Ikats

For a chair like this:

More Side Tables

From The Well Appointed House. Right size, good price. Not sure how I feel about all the gold junk.

Neiman Marcus - I am more drawn to this one than the first. Also good size and price.

Very cool, but will they go???

This one is a bit nodescript, but perhaps that is not a bad thing? From Wisteria. A little bit taller, and the most affordable of them all.

There is also a basic rustic brown one at Homeward Bound where I bought the Oly ones that I've been drawn to since day one. Looks icky here; stain was darker in person.

The one from West Elm, sorta Plane Jane, sorta not. Cheap!!

And finally Target, I've got to check it out in person. Is the $70 price tag too good to be true?

More Living Room Inspirations

A few other fave inspys for my living room for art, tables and lighting:
As a result of both looks, I realize how badly I need a coordianted set up lamps. The two contenders:

Unfortunately, my existing Barbara Cosgrove is no longer made, so I am unable to get a match.

The other item of importance is another end table for the right side of the couch. I currently have this set of nestings, by Oly. Both have gold legs and the tori top. The round table is 24" high and is great next to the couch.

I adore this one, but at only 20" high, I fear it could be too short.

Too bad this one is 30" tall, as it is otherwise perfect. Wah!

I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

Mad Flaws

Flaws. Our house has a lot of them.

In no order of importance:

1. Our garage apparently is going to fall down
2. Many of the lights need to be activated by pulls
3. The only three prong outlets in the entire house are in the kitchen and basement
4. There are no electrical outlets in the bathrooms, which makes blowing out my hair a real joy
5. The windows are ancient and need to be replaced
6. The exterior needs to be painted
7. The kitchen cabinets are fugly. The appliances are fairly new, but I do not like them.
8. The plaster ceilings are cracking
9. We have radiators, and although they did come with custom boxes, they take up a descent amount of room.
10. The tile in my master beach is peach and black . . .and the former owner's painted this room green. Puke.
11. The basement needs to be refinished
12. The closet in our bedroom is painfully small. I could weep over the custom closet we left behind!
13. We have exposed pipes in the downstairs half bath
14. The dining room has feaux paint
15. Nearly every room needs to be repainted

So, as you can see, not only is our new home a total money pit, we'll be working on it forever.

Good thing we love it.

Living Inspirations

Before this house, we lived (and unfortunately still own but thankfully rent!), a quirky 1942 cape. I did that house in a lot of latte, camel and greige tones. It was light and airy, with a few splashes of color here and there, which totally worked. After three years there, it was finally all coming together, which was when we moved. Pooh!

The new house, however, is a bit different. It's bigger and the ceilings are higher and therefore, I was drawn to a richer look. I also traded a formal living room and family room for one large great room, so I needed a look that would go both ways and still stand up to the daily wear of a couch lounging husband and a one year old. My new theme is bohemian aristocrat

Tackling the home seemed overwhelming to me as I have made my grand share of decorating mistakes. I enlisted the help of Erin of Elements of Style and together this was the direction direction we decided to go for my living room, and eventually spill into the rest of the house.

Photo Credit: Home Magazine

Every time I have questioned this direction, all I have to do is look at this photo and realize I can't love it enough.

It all begins here . . .

Here it is people, the house that started it all.

It's a 1935 colonial in a large and very much yuppy Connecticut suburb. Classic center hall with front to back living room, moldings, chair rails, a sun porch, 3 beds, 2.5 baths, a third floor 4th bedroom, new roof, central air and original subway tile and pedistal sinks.

On paper it's pretty close to perfect, inside not so much. So, here I go trying to make it better, as the location can't be beat.