Keeping Things on the Down Low

I knew that title would grab you!

Well, I'm actually talking kitchens on the down low - I'm seeing lots of high style kitchens these days with no upper cabinets.  

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Yes, it's sleek, current, open, airy and quite yummy to consider.  But, my practical side pokes me every time I try to daydream about the option.  

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I begin to think about how this trend will play out. Will style trump comfort and practicality?

 Or is this a true lifestyle shift we are talking about here? 

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I guess, only time will tell.

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But my brain simply cannot leave it at that. What's driving this trend?  Is it designers wanting things to be beautiful and sleek?  Is it a need for visual space?  What exactly is it?

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Not sure we will ever really know the answers to these questions.  But, I think it's obvious that our lifestyles are changing and evolving every day.

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I have lots of friends who don't really cook.

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They eat cereal for breakfast and a quick sandwich (if they're even home for lunch); and they eat out for dinner.  They are constantly on the go with their kid's activities; so truly there's no time to cook.  When they have a free evening, they're not in the mood to cook.

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Still yet, I have some friends (not me!) who are extremely health conscience.

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 They do eat at home, but their menus are "close to the garden".  So, there is little to no cooking.  Lots of raw fruits and veggies involved.

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Now, understand, I am NOT judging.  I'm simply observing.  We all know, at some point, lifestyles will dictate the form and function of a home.  This also drives the economy and what people are willing to invest their money in.  It's just that simple.  Just think, at some point in our history, before everyone owned a car, the idea of a garage would have truly been ludicrous.

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So, it begs the question: would it ever be possible to find a home (outside of New York city, of course) without a kitchen?

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Maybe this thought is simply a bridge too far (but what the heck!) - Will we one day overhear a conversations like: 

Susie: How's the house hunt going?! 

Judy: Well, we're still looking.  Most of the houses in the areas we like still have kitchens; and we just don't really need one - too much to keep up. 

Susie: You know, you could always renovate.  We loved the area, so we just took the kitchen out.  It made a huge difference in the flow of the whole house.  Believe you me, any updates you make will only add to your resale value. 

Judy:  You're totally right about that.  I was just hoping for something move in ready. 

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You never know!  My kids constantly ask me in amazement, "You mean there were no cell phones when you were little?  Tell us again about that bag phone that Nana had?  What did it look like?"  Stranger things have happened.  M.

Weekend Randomness and Thoughts on Outdoor Spaces

First a little randomness . . . On Saturday, I was running a few errands and popped over to the Summit to look for a new handbag.  And what did I spy with my little eye . . . 

This guy.

Yelp.  The Mr. Donald J. Pliner.  The guru of comfortable, yet fabulous sandals.  He had a group of women swarming around him three rows deep.  They were snapping pictures, giggling like school girls and drinking lots of champagne.  I was mesmerized by the whole thing!  Oh, and almost forgot, he was signing their newly purchased shoes - I'm not kidding.  I have to say it was a very fun event to just happen upon on a Saturday.  Then on Sunday, we had beautiful weather, great tasting food (I feel like I had a butter IV put in for Sunday Lunch), and time with friends and family.  Very relaxing and fun. 

  Now for some interior design thoughts!  Since what seems like the early arrival of Spring here in Birmingham, I've had outdoor spaces on my mind.  Here are few that have caught my eye.

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In trying to decide why I liked all of these (and some are very different from others), I think I am drawn to outdoor spaces that feel like interior rooms.

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Places with amazing views and preferably of the water.

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Those that evoke a sense of privacy.

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Yet comfort.

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And those that are lush.  This one in particular drew me in.  What an excellent use of a hankerchief size backyard.  It's sleek while still being super green and luscious.

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I also love outdoor spaces with great lighting.  Even at our own house, I love to sit up near our kids play area and look back down at our house in the evening.  All the lights inside create the coolest shadows outside.  Looking forward to doing that this summer, and seeing all the fireflies. 

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I'm also drawn to large containers of plantings and lots ivy growing on walls (which drives me husband crazy - he hates ivy).  

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So, how's that for some random thoughts on a Monday!  What are some of your favorite things about outdoor spaces? M.

The Arrival of Spring

I know the arrival of Spring varies depending on where you live; but I have to say, here in Birmingham, it is full on.  This was our backyard the week of Spring Break (two weeks ago) . . . .

And this past weekend.  

With all this fabulous weather, comes the need for change, and I've been doing just that  - lots of spring styling jobs.  These are simple one to two hour fluffs to give my client's homes a fresh new look for the season.

And since it's on the brain, it's on the blog!  So, here are a few simple ways you can do the same in your home.  Fair warning - when I share some of these, you are going to go, "well that's obvious."
But remember - sometimes the obvious evades us when styling our own homes.

1. Think Spring Color Combinations - there are some color combinations that just don't feel like Spring.   

Fall/Winter (cozy colors)

If possible, edit these out and bring in some fresh combinations for the season.  

Spring & Summer

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Also consider storing any heavy oriental rugs that feel wintery.  Sometimes this trick alone can transform a space.   The best part is when you pull them back out in the fall, they will seem new again!

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2. Think Texture - The texture of fabrics really evokes a sense of the season (whether you consciously realize it or not).  For example, corduroy says Fall and Winter to me.  Same for velvets (if they are in a dark rich color).  In contrast, linen, cotton and even seersucker feel light and airy and say Spring and Summer.   

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Another great trick is to use one simple color for all the accent pillows.   

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3. Lighten up with Accessories - This is an inexpensive way to get a fresh feel in a space.  I always recommend changing out dark accessories for lighter options in a space.  It's amazing what this simple change can do; and it seems white accessories are so much easier to find these days.  Just pop into your nearest Home Goods and pick your favorites.  

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4.  Think Clean Lines, Less Clutter -  What I like to do, is edit most of the pillows from our beds for a light simple feel.

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  I do the same for table tops.  Just store the extra accessories for the next season.
It makes a huge difference, I promise!

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5. Fresh Flowers - Once things start blooming in your garden, you have no excuse!  All you need to do is run out there and snip a few stems.  Don't have a garden, grab an orchid from the market.  They are a bit more expensive, but will last a couple of months and will give your home an instant lift.

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So, if you are thinking you need a bit of Spring indoors, try these tricks!  Hope you're having a great week so far.  M.

The Power of Paint - Kitchen Before & Afters

I have often said that paint can fix a world of interior design mistakes.  You can use it to highlight really great architectural features; or in the case of my kitchen, you can hide a whole lot of ugliness.  

For those who have not had the pleasure.  Here is a Before of my kitchen . . .

And now for the After . . . 

And again. Before.

And After.  It doesn't look like the same kitchen (at least it doesn't to me).

 The color is Ben Moore Grant Beige; and honestly, I think it changes with the light of every hour in the day.  It is looking very warm and green in this shot, but at certain times, it feels grey.  

 In addition to the kitchen, we painted my breakfast room the same color.  You can see how different the color looks in there.  

 Here's another Before picture taken from the same direction.  The dark chocolate color in this before image is called Seal Skin by Martin Senour; and truly, I loved it.  I can't say the same for the maple cabinetry.  Just was not my taste.  

Now, before you start commenting on how you can't believe I painted maple cabinetry, they were not solid.  Instead they were a thin veneer that was just begging to be painted!!!  

The kitchen is in the center of my home, so I have no windows in the space.  This made the chocolate color feel even darker.  I think the lighter color really helped to make the space feel larger and more airy. 

 In addition to the walls and cabinetry, I also painted all the trim the same color.  This is a great trick to make a room feel larger and more cohesive.  When a room has a lot going on (i.e., cabinetry, door casings, windows, etc.) it can feel very chopped up.  By painting it all the same color, it becomes cleaner and larger. 

 I still have a few extra things to do in the space, but I wanted to show you the progress.  I plan to include some simple sheer linen cafe curtains on the bay windows, just to soften the look (it is very private in the back, so I'm going with a sheer fabric) hang some new artwork (maybe those sea fans I found), and some lighting over my island.  I will share all those ideas with you in a later post (would love your thoughts).

 But for now, I am loving the change.  

 Oh, one last thing.  I changed the hardware on all the cabinets.  What I love about these pulls is the size.  I really think the larger hardware feels more current.  These are 7" pulls.  I put my hand on them to give you an idea of the actual size.

In this picture you can really see how the pulls stand out in the space.  

Overall, I am thrilled with the result.

The power of paint never ceases to amaze me.  Even in my own kitchen.  

Happy Monday.  M.

 

Dear readers....as the last few days have given us a taste of spring, we feel the need to change and clean our showroom, as we do a lot by the way.... We have some nice new pieces and decorations as you can see, although our style stays the same, as we love it!

Enjoy my pictures and have a lovely weekend !

Sabine

XXX

Art In The Garden - James Farmer

About a month ago, I was near Auburn for a guest bedroom installation.  After finishing, I managed to grab some lunch, and I snagged a copy of a local flower magazine.  The entire magazine was great, but what really caught my eye was a full page ad for Art in the Garden at Auburn University featuring none other than James Farmer.  

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Are you familiar with James Farmer?  He is considered a Southern lifestyle expert - that includes all things related to entertaining and styling.  The guy's amazing.

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Well, he's coming to Auburn Saturday, April 14th for an evening of sheer bliss.  From what I can gather, he will be creating flower arrangements and chatting it up with guests the entire evening.  There will be a seated dinner and lots of other loveliness.  The proceeds go to supporting the Gardens in the area.  The sad news for is is that we are going to be out of town.  So, if any of you do decide to go, I would love a full report!!

Who knows, he may even be signing copies of his most recent book.  

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Here is information on getting tickets for the evening - Art in the Garden with James Farmer

PS: I'm still digging out from my break.  Why do breaks have to be this way!? M.