Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Weekend Tidbits.




It was busy weekend around here. Steph finished coat number 2 on the base cupboards in the kitchen and we put the hardware back on. It looks pretty darn good if you ask me! I'm dying to share but there isn't a lot of natural light in that room so I'm having trouble getting a good photo.

I styled a wedding shoot on Sunday. I've done a few before with the same group of talented women and it was such a fun day. This one is so incredible soft and romantic. I'm dying to see the rest of the photos from the shoot.



For now, I'm enjoying the flowers, left from the shoot, all over the house.



It's slowly starting to warm up here. Hopefully my students will get outside for recess. It's been 6 days! Fellow teachers can understand my plight. Makes for a long day!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sneak Peek.

I did the first coat on the base cabinets last night. I'm hesitant to say I like it just yet but I'm cautiously thinking I'm going to!
Second coat tonight then I can put the hardware back on and really decide!
It's a cold -37 degrees here today in PEI. Yet another indoor day with my students. Yay..:)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Base Cabinet Color.

If you are a regular reader of this blog you may know that I have been back and forth about whether or not I should go with a two toned cabinet look in the kitchen. I have repainted my upper cabinets in a soft white and held off on painting the base cabinets until I was sure about what I wanted to do.



After painting the walls (BM Intense White), I knew that going darker on the cabinets was the right decision. However, then came the next challenge: finding the right color!

I started out less daring in my thinking and contemplated BM Coventry Gray. Then realized it just wasn't dark enough to make an impact. Go big or go home!

I came across this photo of a kitchen designed by Meredith Heron. I searched and searched for the colors used on the cabinets to no avail. I decided to tweet my question, secretly hoping that she may see it and respond. Lo and behold, she did! She was so helpful and provided me with the colors. They are Pratt and Lambert Seed Pearl on the uppers and Stone's Throw on the lowers, in case you were curious!



Of course, since it's never a good idea to pick a color based on what you see online, I went out in search for the chip. Good thing I did because although it's a pretty color, it's not the one for me. Looks quite purple in my kitchen.

Source: decorati.com via Katy on Pinterest

Long story short, I've decided on Benjamin Moore Whale Gray. Is it the right choice? Time will tell!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Updated Plate Wall.

I wish I was sharing my completed kitchen update with you today. Unfortunately, it's dragging along. I had the best intentions of painting my base cupboards over the weekend but it didn't work out that way. I went to my paint store to get my paint on Saturday afternoon and it was closed for inventory.. and closed Sundays.. It wasn't meant to be! I'll get the paint this week and try to get it done one evening.

On a brighter note, Steph got the painting of the walls done and it's so much brighter! We went with Benjamin Moore Intense white. It's a barely there shade of gray, in fact it's almost white. Once I saw it finished, I decided I definitely wanted to paint the base cabinets a darker shade. The room needs some dark to ground the space.

Here is a glimpse of the paint color on my plate wall. I decided to keep the plates that I had hanging there for the last few years and added a few more to perk it up a bit.


Here is a little clue about that new piece of furniture that has been added to the kitchen. There has been a little snag in its completion but I'm hoping to share it all with you soon!


A closer look at some of my pretty patterned plates. They've been collected over the years, mostly from Home Sense and a few from little shops on our travels. I'm still heartbroken that my favorite one from our trip to Quebec City was knocked off by the vacuum cleaner one day. Actually I knocked off 4 that day and that's the only one that broke! Boo..


More on the paint color I chose for the base cabinets tomorrow! 
Please please please let it be the right choice!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Project Kitchen Refresh.

We finally started tackling project #kitchenrefresh this weekend! I had stared at those paint chips and tester spots for weeks, perhaps months. It didn't get started for many reasons; Christmas, indecision, work, lack of sunlight in the evenings and a multitude of other reasons. I should also add procrastination. That could very well have been the biggest reason!


The important thing is that I bit the bullet and bought the paint, which got the ball rolling. I actually let the very helpful lady in the paint department at Home Hardware decide. I had narrowed it down to two colors for the walls and two for the cupboards and let her to make the final call. Sounds crazy to leave it to someone else after contemplating for so long but I would have been happy with either option.



I painted all the upper cabinets yesterday. Not very exciting since I ended up with the same color I had before (ICI Natural White). Unbelievable, however, how much brighter they feel. I hadn't realized just how badly they needed to be done until I got right in there and spied every missed fingerprint and food splatter.


We also spent a good part of the day clearing out the kitchen in preparation for painting the walls. It took longer than I thought and made for a bit of disarray that I can't wait to get cleared away. We're hoping to get the painting done in the next few days.


I've decided to keep my plate wall so I remembered to take a photo of the arrangement before I took it down. This way I can easily put it back up.


Tip of the day: Did you know that when you are painting around glass (windows, mirrors), the easiest way to get a clean edge is to paint right onto it and scrape it off with a sharp blade later? Much easier than taping and you will get a cleaner edge.


I picked up some Friday flowers. I was so happy to see the tulips in the grocery store and couldn't resist them. It means Spring is coming! It was nice to see a pop of pretty among the chaos of the kitchen this weekend.

By the way, I previously posted about whether or not I should paint my lower cabinets a darker shade than the uppers. From your comments (which I so appreciate!), you seem to encourage me to go for it. Truth is, I'm still undecided. I think I want to do it. I mean, why not? But I can't seem to find that perfect shade. I'd love suggestions if you have some!

Have a great week! I'll be back with a peek at the painted kitchen!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

My Love Bug.


I've been trying to keep up with blog maintenace, as per my blog resolution, and finished up my All Things Beaufort page. 

If you want to see adorable non-design related photos of my little love bug, you can head over to check it out. If you aren't interested and find people who are obsessed with their animals a tad annoying, no hard feelings : ) 

Monday, January 7, 2013

A Kitchen Look Back.

I'm a bit torn about my kitchen update. I feel like I should know exactly want I want in there and just do it. I mean, isn't this sort of thing what I am passionate about? I wish someone would just come into my kitchen and tell me what I should do, when in reality, that's actually what people to ask me to do. When I choose things for myself, I tend to over think it a bit.

Let's do a little lookback to nearly 5 years ago when I purchased my home. They say some people have vision and can see past the ugliness. I like to think I did ;)
  • dated brown cupboards
  • stove but no fridge
  • mint Formica countertop (as much as love mint now.. it had to go!)
  • high gloss ceiling, seriously blinding. Due to paint sheen or grease, I'm not sure I want to know..
  • layer upon layer of dated flooring and tile.


Thankfully, the stars aligned that summer and my brother, a cabinet maker by trade, had some free time and came to the rescue. He offered to build me some new cabinets, provided I pulled my own weight, helping out where I could. Lots of help came in other forms as well. My mom was a cleaning machine, Stephane pulled up all the floors (that's when I decided he was a keeper), and my dad did everything in between.

Things started looking up..


 Can you believe that under all that was this:



After lots of elbow grease, new cupboards, lots of paint and new appliances, this is were I ended up. And on a very slim budget, I might add. You can read about the rest of the transformation here.


I've been very happy with the end result for 4 1/2 years now. The cabinets have held up very well and so have the wood countertops. However, it is starting to show its wear. The cabinets are in desperate need of a paint job and so are the wall. Besides, I'm so tired of the blue.

Problem is, I'm unsure what direction to go.

Should I go all white, walls and all?

Source: bhg.com via Jane on Pinterest


What about white cupboards and a very light shade of grey on the walls? (I've narrowed it down to Benjamin Moore Intense White)



Source: bhg.com via Jane on Pinterest

Then there is two tone. I had nixed the idea and now I keep coming back to it. I quite like it.



So here is the plan:

  • Repaint the cabinets (white or with darker lower cabinets)
  • Paint the walls. (White or BM Intense White)
  • Share our new piece in the kitchen that has given us much more storage and dramatically changed the way we use the kitchen. (Soon I swear.. we ran into a couple of delays)
  • Replace the chandeliers? I'm over them but they may have to stay for a while longer and I can live with that.
Hope you enjoyed the look back. I really shouldn't complain at all. It is so different from where it started. I would love your opinion about what direction I should take with paint!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013.. Let's Do This!

Beautfort's new bowtie. Quite a dapper fellow.
It's official. The New Year is here and I am finally getting a post together. I intended to continue blogging throughout the holidays but let's face it. Each year, time with my family playing games, eating, watching old movies, reading new books and generally relaxing trumps lugging out the computer and thinking of something somewhat inspiring.

I've been thinking a lot about this blog and what things I would like to share this year.
  • We have a very exciting demolition and remodel coming up very shortly. Or at least very exciting for me but I'm hoping to will enjoy it as well :)
Want a clue? Here is one of my inspiration photos:
  • The kitchen is starting to show it's wear and tear and needs simply a new coat of paint on the walls and cabinets. Still deciding on colors but hope to tackle it soon.
  • The kitchen also got a new piece of furniture which has drastically changed the way we use the space. Still waiting on a last piece for it, then I promise to share.
  • Speaking of wear and tear, my trusty magic eraser is no longer cutting it. The risers need a new coat of paint and this time I'm going to keep going and paint the whole railing as well. I foresee this being quite a job but I think it will really brighten up the space.
Inspiration:


That's it for now. An ambitious list when you both work full time but doable nonetheless. Come spring, I'm sure I'll have new projects to tag on to the list!

As for the blog itself, my friend Kim did a beautiful redesign for me and I've not been the best at its upkeep. My House Tour page is embarrassingly outdated and poor little Beaufort has his own page without one photo of his sweet face. My resolution is to spend some time bring it up to date.


Speaking of Kim, she recently opened an Etsy shop called Little Lovely Details with her own custom digital art prints. In fact, I was the lucky recipient of this one made especially for me, inspired by a photo I shared of Beaufort in front of the Christmas tree. How lucky am I? I will most certainly cherish it!


You can win a very special print of your own by visiting Rachel Peters Photography and sharing the moment of 2012 you are most grateful for. Go on now.. it's simple!

One more day off before I head back to work. I planned to take the tree and decorations down today but woke up with a terrible sore neck and back. I decided to give up wheat for the month of January and it seems somewhat ironic, that the very day I am to start, I sit here with a warm wheat bag around my neck. It's aroma silently teasing me.

I guess I'll have these little reminders of Christmas around for a couple more days.



Happy New Year!