Around Here....

I literally had the WORST sleep of my life last night...whatever plague I have is making me boiling hot one second and freezing cold the next...it's also forcing my face feel like it's had a rough go in a meat grinder.

Not cool.

And the worst part...I literally watched baby sleep his little heart out beside me...to be awake when he was off in zzzzz land...not OK.

Anyhoo...on a much happier note, today marks Jasper's 2 month birthday...

I seriously can not believe he's this big already...sad mommy.

Thankfully, his sweet expressive face makes EVERYTHING OK.

In other 'me' news...unrelated to precious boy...stuff has been happening with #projectgetroomsreadyforkids

As you know, the whole renovation started with Home Depot coming to the rescue...they supplied the stunning grey laminate flooring that runs through the hallway, bedroom, main living area and laundry nook...the subway tile that lines the laundry and bathroom walls, and the marble mosaic flooring for the bathroom, are also Home Depot specials...I literally couldn't be more thrilled with all of it.

When it comes to renovations, Home Depot really does have so many amazing products...from their special order department to their in stock loveliness, there's goodness a plenty.

My incredible contractor, architect and painter have been busy ever since the Home Depot supplies were delivered and as of now, we're seeing an end final reveal getting very close.

My painter was here yesterday and gave a bunch of stuff the black treatment...

The floating wall cabinets in the hallway {I'm debating those wall shelves... might take them out and just hang some artwork...flip flopping}are about to get some white quartz tops and the laundry sliding door is getting its etched frosted glass installed before the weekend...very excited on both fronts.

And as for next steps...we've got these things on the list...

1. finish laundry area with countertops and cabinetry.

2. construct built ins for TV area above Barcelona bench or...for the wall opposite the TV...debating which wall I want this on.

3. load toys and crap back in:(

4. connect gas line to make working fireplace...we hadn't planned on doing this right away but I think if we are going to really spend time down there, it's got to be warmer and this seems the easiest way to make that happen.

And then...it's just some more accessorizing, art hanging, zhushing etc.

On that front, the Moroccan Shag rug I ordered from RugsUSA arrived and I couldn't be happier with it...

...it's such a lovely creamy white and silky as all get up...helps with the cold issue too.

I'm really quite thrilled with how the new basement is coming together and very excited to get 'er done so I can take pictures with a real camera and show you all the finished goods.

And now that the basement is almost there, we're starting to get a few other house jobs checked of the list.

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you've seen pics of my new hood...and if you're not over there, here she is in all her white boxy glory...

...exactly what I wanted...happy, happy.

Next jobs re: house: moulding work in the foyer and on the living room ceiling; new white paint for the living room walls; a new roof (steel, enviroshake or cedar I think,) new windows (white,  black????) and perhaps a siding re-do (god help me when I have to decide on that)...or we could just move...

...which = THE NEVER-ENDING DEBATE...fark.

xo

Up in the Hood

I've been rattling on about my stove hood for over a year now...basically ever since #projectkitchengorgeous was complete...there was just something about the stainless steal option that didn't jive with me...I wasn't in love with how the marble backsplash was wider than the hood...or how the top floating shelves had nothing to ground them or run into.

So...I started looking at other options.

There were thoughts of brass...

...but my space already has quite a big of gold goodness going on and I didn't want to overdo it.

So...I moved to white and went through some traditional triangular like options...

...but they didn't seem to quite fit either...too expected maybe for my slightly off kilter kitchen.

I also briefly considered a super modern option after seeing these spaces...

via 

...but without the glossy cabinets to go such a hood, it too was a no go.

So...I kept thinking and decided on something uber simple to offset the frivolity of the rest of the space, gathered inspiration...

via 

...and had my contractor extraordinaire make it happen.

The Instagrammed before...



...and the after...



...minus the pretty pink flowers;)

The hood still needs a coat of paint and some calking but you get the idea.

I'm THRILLED with how it looks...love how the top shelf now buts into something and adore how the hood now stretches across the entire width of the marble.

I think this shape adds a nice hit of modernity and echoes the shape of the waterfall island really well.

So yes...pleased as punch.

xo

Stuff is Happening, Melbourne, Newborn Photo and a Winner

I had good news and blech news yesterday on the homefront.

First the good.

#projectkitchengorgeous is getting one last tinker...the stainless hood is officially coming down today...

{that's my contractor extraordinaire who does all the moulding work and pretty much anything else you could possible dream up}

...and being replaced with a very simple box that will be the width of the marble backsplash and will continue right up to the ceiling.

Something like this...

via

...with ever so slightly rounded edges.

EXCITED

PS...these photos are from at the same home in Melbourne...along with the kitchen, the bathroom kills me softly...

...I mean I pretty much want to copy the whole damn thing.

Moving on...and sadly, to the bad news...

I had a roof installer over yesterday to discuss our options...turns out my roof has so many pitches that installing the metal roof I want will be tricky to say the least...and on top of that, it would involve having to remove our siding.

Now...let me just say that I REALLY want to do this anyway- has been in the plan books forever...BUT...if we remove the siding, the windows have to be done at the same time (again, have had plans to do this forever since they're all rotten upstairs)...the issue is that the roof has to be done now...it's basically falling off...but...do I/we really want to spend so much money all at once?  The answer to that would be a big fat no...but...it really all needs to be done.

Or...we could just throw in the towel and move.

Or...we could forget the metal roof and just do shingles and then replace the windows next year.

The last option is obviously the easiest and best on budget but damn nation...it's the one I LEAST want to pick...you see my dilemma...words of wisdom/advice?

In other {albeit unrelated} news...I had a little newborn photoshoot with my very favourite photographer, Jodi Renee.

I'm going to post a little preview of the session next week, but for now, here's one of my very faves...

I'm so smitten with how Jodi magicallly captures the emotion behind a moment...such a treasure she is.

And in keeping with things that make me happy {aka...thowing money at the pit that is home ownership}...it's time to announce the lucky ducky winner of the 

Miranda Frye giveaway.

Congrats to...

Angela M...you've won your choice of necklace or earrings from the stunning...

Woot.

xo

Project Kitchen Gorgeous - THE REVEAL

After a this post declaring the beginning of....

...on March 21, 2011, along with months and months of follow up #projectkitchengorgeous and #pkg updates, it's FINALLY time to reveal the after shots.

As you know, the inspiration for my kitchen was absolutely a space that didn't really look like one...instead, Meredith and I envisioned creating something that felt like a Parisian boutique, mixed with a little London/New York edge...in kitchen form.

I wanted a room that could showcase some of my collections (I'm sure you've read Meredith's mentions of my slight hoarding tendancies), still function as a working kitchen and really set the tone for the rest of the house.

I wanted it to be feminine, but still approachable to the dudes in the house...of which there will soon be 3:)

But most of all, I just wanted it to be pretty...and unique...full of special things that felt collected over time...like modern and old got married and shot out one glorious kitchen love child.

And without any further ado, here are the results of our labour...

I couldn't love it more, truth be told.

My favourite elements are:

1. The pantry and display cases that flank the one wall are my favourite aesthetic element in the space...the former is faced in antique mirror and is holds a bevie of pull out drawers that store all of our food...the later is backed in the same antique mirror and houses all much of my china, glass and antique collection.

2. My brand spanking new set of Electrolux Icon appliances- they are seriously the  BEST ones I've ever owned- the set of fridge drawers to the left of the big/main one are beyond...so happy I picked them over a wine fridge (and yes, this choice likely surprises you as much as it did me) - the bottom one is designated as the kid's fridge and I load it everyday with drinks, fruit and snacks...no more little voices constantly asking me to get them something...did I mention I love the drawers?  All of the appliances are a dream- so happy.

3.  My Brizo Solna faucet and pot holder...they're in a brushed gold finish and I lurv them- never thought about really owning a pot filler before but now I couldn't live without it.

4. The lighting...some of you remember my epic lighting search, appropriately called Lighting Gate- I think I probably sent Meredith over 500 emails on the subject...thankfully, the endless search paid off.  The two fixtures above the table are vintage pink veninis that I found at my favourite local lighting haunt, Sam the Chandelier Man- he actually had one large one and created the matched pair for me by taking the glass pieces off of the big one and adding them to two smaller frames- adore...the one over the island is an antique basket chandy from a local antique store- Meredith spotted it, we ran over and picked it up just mere seconds before someone else was about to purchase- sooooo lucky.  I love how it works against the more modern island...and speaking of...

5. THE ISLAND- the whole waterfall edge/campaign deal makes me sort of dizzily happy and what's more, it's just do damn functional- holds all of my pots, the microwave, 3 drawers of toys, cooking/baking dishes and more...so much storage.

6. The Griffin and Wong chinoiserie panels in combo with the hand painted curtains a la Meredith.  The panels went in first and my original thought was that though extremely beautiful, they were a wee bit peachy...in came the perfectly pink  abstract curtains and well, I almost fainted- COULD NOT LOVE THEM MORE.

7. The marble...oh the marble...it's proved itself as not only pretty to look at but gosh darn, it's durable too- yes...'tis true.  The backsplash shelf was dreamt up once I saw some photos of vintage vanities and I love that it adds another place to display some pretty...and speaking of that, the open shelves are working out exactly as I had hoped- I will grant that there is a dusting issue but the trade off is that I get to constantly rotate my little treasures and give the kitchen a whole new look whenever it floats my boat- I'm thinking of adding a little more edgy black in the new year:)

All in all, I can sum the whole thing up by saying it's absolutely/positively the kitchen of my dreams...with one tinsy/winsy exception...the hood...it's going to be swapped out for this whenever I can so budget...

...and with that, it will solidify itself as my perfect Cinderella kitchen story.

The fact that it ended up in the pages of Style at Home...

...well, that doesn't hurt either...totally added the cherry to the top of the kitchen ice cream cake...and speaking of that...if you're in the US and just want access to a single copy, you can order the digital version of the January issue HERE...and if you missed the magazine reveal post, check that out HERE.

A huge mwah to all of the people who made my kitchen happen- of course, my biggest thanks goes to Meredith...she absolutely helped pull the dreams out of my head and turn them into reality- very thankful.

And of course, a giant thanks to you my dear readers for following along this process for the past year and a half...I know it was a long haul on the waiting for photos front...VERY grateful that you stuck around to see it all come together.

Hugs and juicy kisses,

xo