Another dream

I just had to share this image... In my dream house I will have cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling with crown moulding at the top. Look at how it finishes off the space!

Martha is at Home Depot!

My friends called me Martha in high school. Since it was referring to the organization, crafty, decorating and cooking queen of the world, Ms. Stewart, I was ok with it :) I find myself referencing her quite a bit in my grown up life as well. Cooking, cleaning, designing... everything needs a little help from Martha Stewart! I just found out that she now has kitchen cabinets at home depot! Feast your eyes on these great affordable lines!...

Before and After

I would have posted this lovely kitchen anyway, but the fact that it was a remodel of a studio apartment that was the size of a shoe box makes it that much more amazing! This is a 400 sq. ft. apartment on the upper east side. Can you believe something so amazing could fit in that small of a space? Enjoy...

after

before

House Hunting

Good morning! We have been looking for a new place for the past couple of weeks so I have been super busy! We have come up empty handed so far, but the search is still on! I will keep my game face on and power through without getting my hopes up only to have them let down because we have the cutest golden retriever know to man :) Oh well- she is so worth it. We will find a place located more than 10 feet from the train with more space, a nice kitchen and parking all included- i just know it. In the meantime, we have come across some really nice places for rent that i'm assuming were taken off the real estate market because of our drowning economy. There really is alot out there! What do you look for in a rental? I don't think i'm asking alot with my list...

1. SPACE (more than 1150 sq. ft.)
2. one or two bathrooms with storage (these bathrooms should not include black and white checkered tile or black jacuzzi tubs)
3. an outdoor space (small deck will do)
4. a bedroom that we can walk around in while our bed is still in it.
5. an area where a small home office will fit
6. Hardwood floors are highly desired, but not a must (on the contrary, the carpet should not be muted gray, green or any other drab color)
7. Kitchen- this might be my pickiest area, (and the hardest thing for my husband to understand) but I spend alot of time cooking and entertaining in my kitchen and I would like this to be the nicest entity in the space!
8. Storage- as in closets. Being from Northern Michigan I have collected my fair share of coats. Not to mention my clothing collection that I really need to organize and purge!

Is this too much to ask? On another note, I forgot to post the images I found of the kitchen in "It's Complicated". I fell in love with it when I saw the movie. Very french utilitarian. ( i made that up and have no idea what it means, but it sounds right!) Enjoy...

Innovation: Chalkboard Cupboards

Forget where you put that mixing bowl? Here's a solution... Chalkboard cupboards! Very thrifty.

I can't wait...

To design my own kitchen!!! I have been dreaming of my own custom kitchen well since I put my first metal pot in the microwave in home ec class. (obviously my first cooking experience) I have been helping two people to re-model their kitchens and it's been torture! Both have amazing taste and are using everything I would use for my own kitchen. Here are some inspirational photos I hope to implement some day :)

I just love the clean white palate used here. The glass mosaic tile backsplash is amazing and I am dying for a pot filler! I also really like the different colored island. It creates a different space within the kitchen. This one gives off a vintage feel. I love the black and white ice cream counter marble. Hello natural light! Someone must have photoshoped my silhouette out of the far window drinking my coffee bacause I already see myself here :)
Soapstone (the counter top material used here) is my new favorite countertop! It's like granite but has this great soft feeling to it. The colors are amazing. Oh and viking appliances- need i say more?!