My Kitchen Remodel

Life has been extremely busy these days as I balance my clients and my own kitchen remodel. I am happy to say that my kitchen remodel and new paint scheme for my house only has a couple more days to go!  Pictures are to follow, once the workers move out of the space long enough for me to stage and take some photos. 

Things that I am loving in my home right now:

I decided to do a fun pop of color in the powder room in a high gloss and selected this gorgeous red with plenty of warm orange in it by Benjamin Moore, called Geranium 1307.  This room glows when the door opens!

New countertops:
I adore the clean look of Carrera Marble but a light colored marble simply is not practical for a kitchen that you actually are going to cook in. My husband and I love to cook and want to be able to cut directly on our countertops and marble was just not the right fit because is pourous (say bye bye to red wine) and knives will cut into it.  I settled upon White Fantasy Granite, which is a quartzite granite so it has veining like marble but has the durability and toughness of granite.  I am in love and these countertops look fantastic with the glossy gray paint color I selected for my cabinets! 

Bannister:
I hated the wood bannister, stained a color that went far too orange for my taste.  I opted to have the bannister painted the same high gloss darker gray of my kitchen cabinets and have the spindles and bottom molding White Dove by Benjamin Moore.  It gives the hallway upstairs  much more dramatic look! 


Coming up next... 
Before and After photos!!!

NOLA Influence

I recently joined my husband on the tail end of his business trip to take in the sights in New Orleans, LA.  It was my first time visiting the Big Easy and it didn't disappoint!  I snapped some photos to put up on this blog of some characteristic architecture.  While strolling around and window shopping in the French Quarter with my very patient husband, we came across a plethora of antique stores filled with ornate side chairs, velvet settees, gilded consoles, sconces, chandeliers and other traditional French pieces.  Not my taste in such large groupings, but I could appreciate the beauty of these ornate pieces tucked cozily along the streets of the French influenced architecture. 

The long windows show off the gilded chandeliers in homes and shops alike, peeking out like a piece of jewelry around the neck.  The iron porches frame these windows with intricate filigree and set the stage for a the perfect spot to sip a cold drink and peer out onto the busy streets.

Although Katrina hit New Orleans about 5 years ago now, there are still many reminders around the city.  The last time my husband was in New Orleans was during Hurricane Katrina.  He was there helping out those who were stranded and we stopped by to see an exhibit about the hurricane during our trip. 

This was a boat manned by a heroic citizen who saved over 400 people during Katrina

Although tough to see in this photo, these are bottles with messages in them as well as glass hands hanging from the ceiling.  They are meant to represent the thousands killed by this natural disaster.  A striking and touching site.

Thank you "Nawlins" for a fantastic and inspiring weekend getaway!

C (&M)

It's The Little Things...

What better way to kick off 2011 than to get really crazy and get some new windows installed. Exciting, I know!!! Actually, it made a much bigger difference than I expected. I had been hoping to start redoing our kitchen but windows original to our house took precedence when we found out about a substantial tax credit.  I was about as excited to spend thousands of dollars on windows as I am to pay for new tires or a new water heater. All very necessary but NOT exciting... especially for an interior designer.  I just kept thinking of all the beautiful things that I could purchase with this money that would make an immediate impact.  I must admit that I was happily surprised when they were finished and realized what a difference they make when it comes to curb appeal as well as how clean they look from the inside! Now that I feel good about this responsible purchase I am moving on to some pretty, fun items that don't really serve much of a purpose other than making a space pop and look gorgeous! 

Bring on the frivolity! 

Side tables:

Bungalow 5 Table

Oomph Online Tini Table

Stag Table

Lola Table, Arteriors Home

Rattan Table

Frames:



Faux Shagreen Frames

Throw Pillows:

Paying homage to the Queen

Madeline Winerib Throw Pillows



More soon!

C (&M)

Entertaining by Design



I know, I know, the holidays are over and you are probably packing away the last of the decorations and don't want to think about entertaining again anytime soon.  However, the holiday fetes and gatherings got me to thinking about what matters in a home and how best to make a home functional for everyday, while enabling a seamless transformation for when you have lots of guests over- expected or unexpected. 

The TRANSFORMER:

Drop leaf tables are great to grow with.  In that small apartment, perhaps you once used as a dining table when extended fully in a smaller apartment, now can be used as a sofa table with one or both leaves folded down.  There do not tend to be a ton of these on the market but I have recently seen an influx of furniture companies coming out drop leaf pieces.  See some of my picks below...



A dining table, a sofa table, or looks great with just one leaf extended.
I also love the French curve to the leg.

 

A pretty reclaimed wood table that can be used almost anywhere, kitchen, dining room, living room...

The clean lines of this table make it easy to use as a sofa table, I would prefer
it in a darker shade of wood or painted.

Floating Seats:

Seating becomes very important when you are entertaining.  Too many seats clutters the home and restricts flow.  Not enough seating leaves guest's feet aching (especially during a more formal event...read: stilettos).  Just like the moral I took from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, get it JUST RIGHT.  Creating seating vignettes is also important so it doesn't look like you filled a room with chairs.



This Ghost chair can be pulled into the dining room or into a living room vignette to add seating without bulk.



On a daily basis these chairs are not used for lounging but can be pulled tighter together or moved into another space to mingle

Both of these entry benches can be moved to accommodate
guests in other rooms... or leave as is and surround with chairs
angled into one another on either side of the bench to create
another spot for people to perch.

A good example of how to incorporate a side chair and bench pulled from another room to create more seating without feeling too crowded.

More ways to increase seating...

Sideboards/Buffets:

These pieces provide an extra space to put serving dishes, plates, glasses, etc. so you don't overcrowd or interrupt a dining table full of chatty happy guests. They are also wonderful serving stations for a less formal cocktail party, whether it be for cocktails or appetizers.








Hope some of these tips help for next time you have a soiree.  I promise your guests will be thanking you!  I love your comments so please feel free to share comments or ask questions!  You can also contact me directly at colleen@candmdesignsllc.com

C (&M)

Reflections

The holidays somewhat consumed my life this season, leaving very little time for blogging.  Between last minute client requests, Christmas shopping, packing to head up north and travelling, I have barely had a moment to myself.  But not to worry, I am back!

 I thought I would take a moment, to reflect on why I do what I do.  I love designing the spaces that people live and work in because it is in these places where all of the important things happen...the memories, the benchmark events in our lives.  I like to help set the stage with interiors that people love to spend time and invite others into.  I thought I would share a personal story, which really made me reflect over this past holiday.

I consider myself lucky to have spent a great deal of my time over the past week or so with great friends and dear family.  In particular, there was a conversation I had with my grandfather (Noni) that struck a cord with me.  At the wise old age of 95, he told me how frustrating it is for him to no longer own and live in his own home.  He and my grandmother (Mimi), who will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in May, were forced to sell their home a few years back and move into an assisted living facility.  The everyday work it takes to keep up, let alone move around a large home simply became too much.  This was a family decision...meaning that if my grandfather had his way he would still own that home and still be pulling out his1950's electric saw to trim the hedges each spring.  He said this to me, quietly, as all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and husband fluttered about the function room we rented for Christmas. 

 I realized that it wasn't merely an old man's grumblings, nor was it the tangible house that he misses, but rather the memories that took place in that house, the holidays, the family dinners.  My fondest childhood memories took place in that house.  I could draw a floor plan of every room in that house from memory and could tell you the best places hide, curl up, do a cartwheel, set up a runway to parade some 50's fashions, the list goes on...  My grandfather built that house and I know that he took painstaking lengths to plan each nook, keeping in mind that it would be a place for all to gather and be together for years to come.  I know he misses this house and so do I, but I know that it served as a stage for about 50 years of amazing memories for my family.  We talked a little more and what came out of it was that what truly matters is who you are with and the memories you hold. 

I love helping others set a beautiful, comfortable, eclectic stage for them to live out portions of their lives.  Whether it is a temporary home, a starter home, an office space, or a dream home where you hope to stay forever, I think it is very important to make it a place you love spending time in, and will look back on fondly.
Happy 2011 to all!  Looking forward to creating lots of beautiful spaces and memories this year!

Always,
C (&M)