The White Kitchen:

I was thinking this morning how much I miss transforming brown kitchens to white and that I wonder if I will ever want a wood stained kitchen. That thought lasted about one minute. When I look at real estate listings either on my Knoxville mls or on realtor.com at homes across the country I rarely find a wood stained kitchen that I love. So when I find a kitchen filled with darkness I can't help but think (I can't wait to have this kitchen repainted or ripped out ) This kitchen had just been remodeled. I know even my own Mother wouldn't have painted these cabinets and maybe I am adopted.  The backsplash was new as well as the granite tops. The sink was an undermount and the faucet was in the bronze family( also not a family I can relate to) The cabinet hardware were  cup pulls and although I don't love those I didn't want to sand and fill holes so we replaced them with like kind in a polished nickel finish. 

We painted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore white dove in a high gloss as I like a little shine. The walls are Benjamin Moore Natural creme. The counter tops are polished calcutta gold marble and the back splash is Lowes subway tile with a grey grout. 

The sink is a Kohler farm sink specifically for remodels and the faucet is by Rohl in polished nickel. 

Hope you enjoy your Wednesday. I am dreaming of my next white kitchen. 

xo

SJ

New construction don't be Boring

Yesterday was a great day. Having a major design blogger Joni at www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com feature one of my renovations is like being on Oprah or winning the golden ticket ! Joni has a beautiful blog I have followed for as long as I can remember so please check out her blog. It's beautiful and informative. Love her style .

Well now back to reality. Here is a new construction project I want to share. I tried to make this more of a custom home vs a new construction boring as I like to say . I love using marble and this was a gorgeous piece of Carerra with a fabulous grey vein running thru it it's polished vs honed. I have used both and love both equally. I get asked if polished or honed is better at hiding spots and imperfections. I think they both show spots equally. I don't worry about the spots marble is just so beautiful and no other counter top product can take the place of this beautiful marble. I also like to paint my interior doors and here I used Benjamin moore paint in high gloss black. Painting interior doors makes your home look more custom and gives it instant character. This sink is one I searched for and found at www.signaturehardware.com

It's a nickel plated farm sink and it's another great find to add to a home 

It's unique and so much prettier than just an undermount stainless sink.

Add two pendant lights and you have a beautiful look that doesn't feel like new construction. Who doesn't love that !

Happy Tuesday 

Xo

The Butlers Pantry

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am all about a butlers pantry. I go out of my way to incorporate that into new construction and renovations. You can always find some unused space to have a butlers pantry. My definition of a Butlers Pantry is as follows: a great place to house all the dishes,glasses, platters, trays, wedding gifts and miscellaneous items we want to keep. David my sweet and adoring husband knows I have a dish sickness. He let's me keep buying dishes in hopes that one day I will cook. Good luck with that dream. Anyway a buyers pantry can be many things depending on the space. I have added ice makers, second fridges, microwaves, open shelves, glass shelves and the list goes on and on. The Butlers pantry should be a space that is beautiful. A space you can show off and a place you can hide in when you want to get away. My last butlers pantry was a bathroom in a previous life and it was a great butlers pantry as it housed my coffee maker. I could pull up a stool and sit in there with The door closed have a cup of coffee and no one could find me!

The picture below was from a project where we incorporated a butlers pantry into an existing laundry room. We moved the laundry and had enough room for this butlers pantry and a much needed half bath. The space was initially underutilized and we reconfigured and ended up with three spaces ; laundry , butlers pantry and a half bath .

We used stock black cabinets , open shelves, subway tile with grey grout, soft gold sink and faucet , gold library lights and of course a marble counter top. 

Will post the beautiful half bath tomorrow 

Happy Thursday. 

The painted door

When building or renovating I have usually suggested to my clients to paint the ugly white door. Most of us own the builder grade boring interior door. The door usually has 4 or 6 raised panels. Most clients paint their doors the same color of their trim which is some version of white. So Boring! I have painted interior doors Benjamin Moore  high gloss black, Rustic taupe and  Revere pewter, 

Painting doors can really make your home look custom and adds character as if it's been there forever. Most clients are scared to paint the doors but once they do they have loved the look. Remember it's just paint! If you don't like it you can always repaint.

Happy Monday  

Staircases and scuff marks

I love painting stair risers. Not in all houses but in this house the stairs hit you in the face as soon as you open the front door. In most homes if the stairs are wood you have wood treads (the part you step on) and the riser (the part you see in front) personally seeing scuff marks on the white riser drives me crazy! I also am not a huge fan of a big ole oak newel post as this one was originally. 

So a quick and easy fix is black paint high gloss! I love when the spindles or balusters are white so you have a graphic impact of black handrail with the white spindles but these were iron. I left the iron alone and painted the handrail and newel posts black along with the risers.No more dirty scuff marks to look at and a little black is always in style. It's my favorite color hides a multitude of sins when you haven't been to the gym!!!

Anyway, frame some of your kids art with great Pottery Barn frames, Target and Walmart and even Hobby Lobby have great frames. Get all same color mat but in different sized openings. Don't worry if the whole art project can't be seen even a small amount of it looks good. Your kids will love it and it is so fun to showcase. You can add to the collage as your kids do more projects.

Freezing cold here so stay inside and work on your staircase!
Happy Thursday  

Seeing Red

I have to admit I have never had a Red dining room until I inherited this one. I don't like red, I have never suggested it for any of my clients. I don't own any red clothing (because I don't look good in it) I don't own Chanel Red lipstick or even Target brand red lipstick ( I am secretly jealous of women who can wear red lipstick) 

Anyway, red walls with a pickled pine tongue and groove ceiling and some pink porcelain tile in my mind is not a good look. Dark colors make rooms look smaller and I know the designers that I follow will say Red is warm and inviting in a dining room and it makes you want to eat etc. FYI I do not need a reason to eat!!  I like light and white and bright, it relaxes me if that is possible. 

Upon inheriting this room it didn't appear large enough for a china cabinet, round table and side board. Upon painting it Benjamin Moore Natural Creme on the walls in a flat and White Dove High gloss on the wood ceilings it all changed for me. Plus, adding the furniture there was really plenty of room. I can't forget the light fixture and yes I have been using some brass lately but this light just can't compete with the light from Low Country Originals. This light is made using hand strung oyster shells and it is truly beautiful. The two ladies that own and started this lighting company are so amazingly talented this light could make any room look good. 

I am still jealous of anyone that can wear red lipstick but you can keep your red dining room as I am just not interested. 

Happy Wednesday. Happy January. Keep Warm. 

SJ

Don't settle for boring built ins

We could have selected to build the same old standard bookcases for this family room. I suggested we do a custom built in with lower doors with an 'x' design with plenty of storage behind and upper doors with 'x' design, recessed  panels  and a louvered panel above. The upper cabinets have room for a tv and plenty of storage. This type of design provides a cleaner look and no need for displaying items that might look messy and unorganized. The paint color is Benjamin moore Sea Haze with a umber glaze over the top. Great architectural detail to look at when the tv cabinet is closed.

Happy Sunday 

House addict

I am so behind in my blogging 

I have been blessed by being so busy with design work for clients and my own project 

I recently sold my house after a year in that one and have moved on to this one

It is by far my favorite yet 

My good friend JB asked what style is this house I made up the following; New England modern with a hint of Hollywood went to the farm! He said I was full of it! 

Anyway more photos to come of before and after but here is the new iron staircase being built by an awesome iron artist. This house is by far my favorite and hope to move in next week 

More photos to come