Kitchen/Dining Re-Do ---Continued

The make-over continues.... As I continue to refine the kitchen and dining area I decided to change the gorgeous green on the side board to a beautiful chocolate cream.... I mixed some chocolate mousse from the bedroom with some marshmellow from the kitchen to create this luscious color.... and changed the hardware from small pewter knobs to long brushed nickel handles.  I LOVE the result.... it now feels more like a 'sideboard' instead of a dresser...!

And... thanks, Jane, for suggesting the idea of simply unplugging the TV and storing in the closet when I'm entertaining.... I did that this weekend and it worked perfectly!

Baxter's new Bath

It finally happened... my new kitchen faucet was installed today.... oh. my. god.  Gorgeous.  and the best thing is the pressure of the spray... it is going to be wonderful to prep with that faucet... the fruits and veggies will be in water heaven and I can't wait to give Baxter a bath.... !  I'm sure he's going to love the spray, too... 

These seemingly small things, for me, are what all combine to make it right.... I am loving how the space is coming together.  I wonder if I should do a video of it all when I'm finally complete?

Although those who know me well tell me that I am never fully 'done' with anything... that one project merely leads to the next... lol...it's probably true.

What kind of 'project' person are you?
...scatter joy...
lindy

bax's new bowl

CUTE CUTE CUTE ... found Bax a bowl that matches the new dishes and the new colors in the kitchen.... It is the small things that help pull the whole look together and add a bit of whimsy!  Don't forget the small stuff....

What is your color?

...scatter joy...
lindy

Progress????

You know the mess that happens when you are re-organizing and re-decorating??? Well I'm in the midst of just such a mess!

I am seeing progress, however, and here is a bit of a 'before & after' shot of the open shelving in my kitchen...  isn't it delicious???  It's just enough to keep me motivated to work through the rest of the chaos....

What spurs you through your mess?
...scatter joy...
lindy

Plates a Plenty

I've always enjoyed having friends over... cooking, eating, sharing.... and one of the things that makes it so fun is in the presentation.... I admit it... I LOVE dinnerware.... and have some fabulous new finds for the new look of my kitchen & dining area.... here's a sneak peek....

What would you like for dinner?

...scatter joy...

lindy

rugamarole

My current design obsession is the kitchen dining area... so for the next bit of time I'm sure it will also be the focus of my blogging....  I felt as though I accomplished a lot this weekend and yet still had a lot of fun as well... it was the perfect blend. 

I found a rug for my kitchen... it is wool... felted wool.... and baxter approves....  

I think one of the most important things when designing-decorating on a budget is knowing when to invest money in quality pieces and when and where to shop for deals (and still get the look and or quality you are going for...)!  One of my favorite places that delivers on that is Crate and Barrel Outlet.  I'm lucky enough to live in a city that actually has an outlet storefront, but shopping them online is almost as much fun and can definitely garner fantastic finds....  (a few others I'll be sharing with you later this week...).

What do you do to design on a dime?
...scatter joy...
lindy

Lights.... Camera.... AcTioN!

I love being able to say 'I did that' or... 'I made this'.... but sometimes, it's just as great having a handywoman who can do 'it' for me.... my new island pendant lighting for example....  she removed an ugly ceiling fan (err... wait a minute, I forgot, I'm trying to sell it on craig's list... so really it's a gorgeous, beautiful ceiling fan)... and then did some sort of electrical magic to install the lighting!  AND... she installed dimmer switches... oh so cool....  I am loving re-doing my whole place... sort of like 'The Antonio Project' but not.  (My place is much much smaller and it is taking me much much longer than 5 days.... )

What project currently has your attention?
...scatter joy...
lindy

fabric...fabric...fabric

All it takes is a quick trip back to Michigan to add fuel to the flames of design inspiration.... I have a vision.... and of course it includes green in all its fabulous shades with a special emphasis on my current favorite color 'celery-lime' (thanks, Stacy, for the perfect descriptor name....)... here is a preview of some of the fabric I'll be using to create new beauty...

...visions of slipcovers, valances, & pillows are dancing in my head....

What is YOUR favorite color?
...scatter joy...
lindy

5 minute valance

I am loving the process of changing my space to truly reflect me..... and I am closer and closer each day.  There are still a couple areas that are causing me pause.... one of these areas is my kitchen window. 

Because my kitchen and dining area are really one large space I feel as though I can't have competing fabrics (although coordinating or complementary are perfectly fine....) and now that I've found out I can go crazy with a pendant lamp that I've been jonesing for (oh. my. god.  ... I think I just got that reference.... lol) which has a gorgeous shade options and I'm talking retro mid-century modern chic....................................! 

I'll be choosing it this weekend as I help one of my dearest friends celebrate 'It's a Brand New Day' with her big reveal.... visit Stacy O's to read more!

To get me through til I finally figure out what the perfect window covering is, I sewed up this cute little valance with a scrap of fabric... seriously It wasn't even 1/2 yard... lol and it took me less than 10 minutes.  (I didn't even press the seams before sewing... ) and.... it must be said... I'm loving it... ; )

What has brought unexpected joy into your life recently?
....scatter joy...
lindy

Functional Art.... Again!

As you may already know I have a passion for FUNctional art.... it's wonderful to surround ourselves with beauty (however you define it for yourself...) I picked up these wonderful Salad Servers from an artist at a Chicago show.... Each time I use them (several times weekly...!) I smile because of the beauty as well as the memory of the day...

In what ways do you add joy to your day?

...scatter joy...

lindy

Post Again, Post Again, Jiggity Jig!

It's been a crazed summer... I am looking forward to a fall filled with transitions and forward movement. I have made great headway on my space and am filled with all kinds of ideas for decorating it.... I look forward to sharing my thoughts, pictures, and ideas about the the inner and outer spaces I occupy.

Here is a quick art project I created a few days ago... I have been hanging onto these canvases that I want to repaint ... but have paralyzed myself with over-thinking the design.... so to move myself through it, I opted for utilizing some of my favorite decorative papers.

It will definitely work for now....

...How do you help yourself through 'stuck' times?...

...scatter joy...

lindy

pieces of life

It's funny how I've never been particularly drawn (or so I thought) to the new color of my kitchen.... except when I started to notice things that I already had on hand, I have begun to find that combo already in concert working its magic for me... the plate (orla kiely for target) and the hand crafted chain pull (local art fair) are but two examples.... and two more pieces of my collage...

It got me thinking about how often our souls (or subconscious) know long before we do.... we simply need to be aware of the whispers... be open to the possibility.... .... .... & allow...

I am working steadfastly to listen more closely to everything around me.... the energy is amazing.

What are you ready to allow in your life...?

... scatter joy...
lindy

before & after

.... I see most everything in life as a journey.... whether discovering my own 'colors' or the true color(s) that are my kitchen... the more I understand this, the more I appreciate the process... and even when it's 'done' it really is only just beginning....

next up: lose the jetson-esque fan and swap with mini hanging pendants... a few choice pieces of pottery.... and a drum light over the dining table.... the dining table is out of the picture cuz the mound of stuff I'm working through has ended up there for now... lol... although I did make some headway with 4 or 5 Craig's List postings tonight.... yay me!

my space is truly becoming a reflection of the woman I am as well as the woman I'm becoming...

how does your space reflect you or your journey...?

... scatter joy...
lindy

what i did on my summer vacation...

Ahhhh summer vacation... I'm looking forward to a week filled with diy, decorating, cycling, watching 'the tour', grilling, Mmm... delicious wine... and fun. Here's what I've started... I'm about 1/2 way done. Love the color and can't believe I have lived with a color that I hated for 2 years just because I didn't think I could do it... I CAN DO IT...

what real or imagined limits have you overcome... how did you do it?

...scatter joy...

lindy

one step closer

I can be somewhat impulsive at times (I call it 'decisive')... although not always with the best results... so... before I paint a WHOLE kitchen the 'wrong' color, I've decided to go with the advice of friends, family, acquaintances, ... basically EVERYONE, and paint swatches on the wall and see it in the different lighting.

I don't know that I would necessarily do this every time... no, let's face it, I KNOW I wouldn't do this every time... but this time, well let's just say I'm glad I did... the colors as they appear on the wall look NOTHING like their swatches... at least in my kitchen and in this lighting... lol

I have found the perfect color choice and tomorrow the transformation begins (today it's the preparation... aka making the existing chaos even bigger!

Happy 4th.

What new approach to something have you tried recently...?

...scatter joy...

lindy