Kitchen Love

Sorry about the delayed post.  I haven't been feeling well over the last few days, so I've taken it easy and just relaxed and slept. 

I came across this first picture through Laura Casey's work in Charlotte.  She is a wonderful interior designer who's blog I have just discovered. I swear it's like another world - the blog world.  I'm meeting so many new people who share my interest.  I'm commenting on posts of bloggers I have never met but feel so much connection with.  Not many people outside of our blogging world can understand.   It's fun and exciting.   Thank you to all who read my posts and who post themselves.  I have never been more inspired.  

I adore everything in this kitchen, especially the island!  The lights are from a store in Charlotte called School House Electric (coolest name ever!).   It looks like they've used Cererra marble on the counters and backsplash.  The cupboards seem to just disappear into the walls making the dark island the focal point.  

School House Electric via Laura Casey Interiors 

I saw this Suzanne Kasler kitchen and immediately smiled and sighed...  It's gorgeous!  The hit of blue in the backsplash and stools is fun.  Cupboards should always go straight to the ceiling.  I hate when there is space left up there to just collect dust.  Take note of the double sink.  Very functional!  

Suzanne Kasler 

I would like to be having breakfast in this kitchen right now.  I showed this to my husband one night and he said he liked the room and that it would look even better if it had a view of a putting green in the backyard.  Haha!   

Suzanne Kasler

This country kitchen is dreamy.  I love the hit of French with table and Louis chairs.  

Suzanne Kasler

Who wouldn't love this galley kitchen?  Arched ceilings, beautiful light fixtures, high-end appliances and a great neutral colour to boot! :)

House Beautiful

I had to show this kitchen simply for the backsplash.  I LOVE the shiny penny tile!!!!  It gives me the same feeling as a gorgeous pair of Manolo Blahnik's - PERFECTION!!! 

Unknown Source

Let's go Shopping...

Morning!  I just received an email with this discount for Restoration Hardware.  If you spend more then $400 you get $100 off the purchase!  Remember those sheets I told you all about?  This is your opportunity to shop and save at the same time.  Enjoy!

Welcome home!

First impressions are very important!  If you didn't know that then you do now.  :)  So keeping this in mind, we should always be sure our foyer or entrance to our homes is welcoming.  


I love the look of this English style hallway.  I can completely picture entering this house and feeling at home.  It is so inviting - fresh flowers, light and airy feel, elegant but not stuffy.  

Homes & Gardens 

I wish I had a picture of the entire hallway.  This vignette is so elegant!  Silver with a hit of purple.  It might be my new favourite combination!  The wallpaper is from Tracey Kendal l & the lamp base and shade from Graham & Green in the UK.  Why is it everything so cool is made in another country?  Not to say that Canada doesn't produce cool products... I just seem to always fall in love with talent from other countries.  

 Home & Garden 

Again, I haven't shown the entire hallway but i love this picture.  The mirror is perfection!  I have been trying to find something similar to hang above my console table but haven't found one in my price point... which is very limited!  The mirror and table are painted in Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin.  (I think this could be the colour for my new cabinet... I will keep you posted on my progress soon).  I also love the symmetry here.  Gorgeous!

Homes & Garden

Based on this foyer, I could come home to this house anytime!  It's elegant but not too formal.  I have a thing for dark hardwood floors and white risers & staircase spindles.  (p.s. No idea how to make the images larger. I will need to figure this out at some point)

Dream Home Westchester Magazine 

It's getting late so I have only one more image for you.  (That's right...10:25pm is very late for me to stay up on a weeknight.  I'm an old lady who will be turning 30 in 4 weeks. ;-))  Words cannot describe my love for this foyer.  I know I've said it before but seriously, look how beautiful and bright it is!  I love every detail from the coffered ceiling to the painted bench, the colour on the walls, to the black and white tiled floor and french style table.  I think I will have to peruse the website I found this on much further.  

Lesley Brahaney 

Fall Passions

This post is not about interiors.  It's a bit about me and my passions. 

I love the fall!!  "It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."   You've Got Mail. 

I use to get excited to go back to school.  The fall is when friends have more time to hang out (the weekends are no longer for cottages), my favourite television programs premiere, I celebrate my birthday right after my favourite turkey holiday and you can't forget about fall shopping!! :)  I love that you can wear a dress during the day but need a cardigan and jeans for the evening.  It's the best of both worlds! 

I have a fall tradition of watching You've Got Mail. 

My favourite scene is the second last of the movie.  I could probably recite the movie word for word.  I've watched it that many times.  Here it goes.  Tell me you love it as much as I do.  So romantic! 

Joe Fox: You know, sometimes I wonder...


Kathleen Kelly: What?


Joe Fox: Well... if I hadn't been Fox Books and you hadn't been The Shop Around the Corner, and you and I had just, well... met...


Kathleen Kelly: I know.


Joe Fox: Yeah. I would have asked for your number, and I wouldn't have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you and saying, "Hey, how about... oh, how about some coffee or, you know, drinks or dinner or a movie... for as long as we both shall live?"


Kathleen Kelly: Joe...


Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only thing we'd fight about would be which video to rent on a Saturday night.


Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?


Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.


Kathleen Kelly: We would never.


Joe Fox: If only.

I'm such a suck!  It's just so sweet.  :)  I also love the set design.  Kathleen's apartment is incredibly cozy.  Unfortunately there are practically no pictures out there for me to share with you. 

Onto another favourite of mine - Gossip Girl.  Did anyone see the premiere last night?  At first I loved it but then it just got a bit strange.  My sister and I kept looking at each other with a 'what the hell is going on' type face.  I didn't love the story line.  However, I did love the clothes!!  

My countdown to the weekend has begun and it's only Tuesday.  I hope you're all having a great week. 

Fun with chalk!

I love chalkboard walls!  It makes total sense in a kid's room or a play room but I especially love it in a kitchen or office.  It simply makes the room friendlier... more easy-going.  Just picture walking into a kitchen that has a wall that you can write on.  Wouldn't you automatically think 'this is cool!' and feel more relaxed?  


Here it is painted on the pantry door.  Totally makes sense! 

Picture via Google Images

Here it is on the refrigerator.  It fits right in against black cabinetry.  

Picture via Google Images

This chalkboard wall draws attention.  It's a fantastic focal point. 

Picture via Chancellor Design 

Painting your backsplash makes total sense!  It would make cooking with a recipe much easier.  Very cool!

Picture via Cooking Lite 2007

Love the chalkboard painted canvas with the motivational quote. 

Picture via The Good Design 

It makes total sense in an office.  I would love to use this instead of post-it notes.  

Picture via Loving Living small 

Kids love writing and colouring on chalkboards.  Here it is painted as an elephant.  How cute is that?!

Picture via Kidostore 

I love it on the bench!

Picture via Style Files 

Beautiful Bed Linen

Is anyone else exhausted today??  I can't wait to go to bed!  I love my bed, especially the linens.  So it's fitting that i'm writing about bed linens today.  My favourite store to buy linens is Restoration Hardware.  It's pricey but worth every hard earned dollar!!


This is their latest linen - Wentworth Crest.  If I had this on my bed I would feel like a true princess.  I would also wonder why I don't live in a castle.  Don't you think it's fit for royalty!?

I have the Italian Hotel Satin Stitch in white with chocolate brown stitching.  We have had it on our bed for three years and not once have I tired of it.  Ok, I lie but it's still a classic!  It also comes in an ivory base which is gorgeous!  I will probably purchase it one day with the eucalyptus stitch with monogramming.  

I will be purchasing the Italian 600 Satin linens for my future kind size bed.  Sleeping on these sheets is like sleeping in butter.  It's luxuriously soft and almost too good to be true.  

I love the Diamone Matelasse coverlet and shams.  This is what my bed is missing.  It adds another dimension to a monochromatic look.  

 

If you purchase anything, make it this plush throw.  It's normally $59 but is now on for $39!  RUN FOR IT!!  It also makes a great gift.  I'm sure my sisters will agree.

TGIF!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  If you go out and purchase these linens, I guarantee you will not get out of bed for the rest of the weekend!  

p.s.  Thank you to those who have recently commented on my posts.  It absolutely made my week!!  Every post takes thought, so it's nice to know someone appreciates it.  I love writing this blog.  The last three weeks have been a hoot! 

Sarah Richardson

Everyone who knows me (well or not), knows that I LOVE Sarah Richardson!!!  Not only do we look alike and share the same name, we have similar design style.  I admire what she has built.  Her career started in the lifestyle television as a prop stylist and set decorator.  Soon her name became knows and she was in high demand.  It was at that point, she decided to carve a niche in design television with her shows Room Service, Design Inc, Sarah's House 1 and 2 and finally Sarah's Cottage.

Most recently Sarah has created a bold colour and patterned house for the grand prize in the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Millionaire Lottery in British Columbia which is featured in this months Style At Home.  This house is very different from what Sarah usually designs.  She is known for designing elegant, timeless and classic rooms.  You can tell Sarah must have had fun with designing the lottery home below. 

In this project and many of her projects, Sarah looks towards the environment outside to influence her designs inside.  BC is known for it's grey rainy days, deep blue water and snow topped mountains.  Sarah brought those hues into this home.  Below is the bold purple living room.  Originally the colour was in the fabric but when Sarah walked into the nearly complete room she knew they needed to kick it up a notch by painting one of the walls a deep concord grape colour.  I think it brings warmth into this room. 

This dining room is very inviting with its deep blue patterned dining chairs, midnight blue accent wall behind the shelves and the bold blue stripe along the sides of the curtains.  The chandelier is simple so as not to overpower the room or block the outside view. 

I could spend hours cooking in this kitchen.  Sarah used a light stone backsplash with caesar stone countertops.  I love light and dark contracts and hit of stainless steel appliances and pendant lights.

The principle bedroom is a classic Sarah Richardson look using grey and blue.  It's pretty but not girlie.  I love the various layers on the bed and the dangling white glass of the chandelier. 

Sarah has a knack for designing bathrooms.  Her use of various materials (carera marble, chrome, mirror, glass) and patterns (penny round tile, subway tile) provide many points of interest.  Your eye is drawn everywhere!  Waking up in the morning would be very easy if I had this bathroom to get ready for the day in.  :)

All pictures via Style at Home