An Urban Cottage

House Update

2018-10-28T18:58:00.000-04:00

Someone was kind enough to nominate me on Modenus as Top Design Blog/Social Media

influencer so I thought it would a good time to update the blog with more recent photos

of what I've been posting in Instagram this past year.

I'd be honored if you'd vote for me. When I last looked, I was at number 29!

I hear all the time that you miss the blog and while it was fun sharing the renovations while

they were in full swing, there's just not enough time or material to keep it up on a regular basis.

I know that many of you follow me on Instagram, but if you're not an iPhone app kind of person,

here's some images of what'S of been going on around the house.

The entryway hasn't changed at all. I'd really like to paint the trim darker gray but

there are so many coats of paint on the trim, I can't bring myself to just slap another

coat on. It really needs to be stripped before I paint again.

But how do I strip the baseboards without messing up the finish on the stair treads?

When I first moved in to the house, I furnished it with a lot of second-hand furniture

that allowed me to save of improvements and I'm slowly starting to replaced it with a

mix of antique pieces that I've had reupholstered and...

...more modern pieces that I've slipcovered in white so I can swap out

pillows, throws and artwork that change up the look very easily.

In summer, I pare down even more and go without a rug on the floor.

I struggle with collecting and acquiring but I love this photo of the living room

where I've edited down to only a few favorite things.

The former dining room room has been turned in to a study. I found an old mantel

which creates a great focal point for the room and added a few comfy club chairs upholstered

in a neutral herringbone fabric and a more modern footstool covered in steel blue velvet where

I can pile up books and magazines waiting to be read.

I had a bumper crop of Annabelle hydrangreas this year. So fun to make a huge arrangement.

I love how cozy this room has become.

I absolutely love my kitchen. In a historical house, I think it's hard to create a space

that has all the modern conveniences while respecting the age of the house.

I was so, so lucky to find the old store counter that provided the bin drawers and

column details that make up the base cabinets. Everyone that comes in and sees

this kitchen comments on how warm and homey it is. That makes me happy,

Back when I did the open shelves, there were a lot of people that felt the open

shelves would allow the dishes to get dirty and greasy. By displaying items

that are used all the time, I haven't found that to be a problem at all. And from what

I've seen in magazines and other media, open shelves have stood the test of time.

I'm still cooking and baking, trying to perfect my pie crust.

And I love making whole meals on the grill.

Upstairs hasn't changed a lot. I still have the wallpaper that I glazed with

watered down paint to downplay the pattern.

If you're a long-time reader, you'll remember that the upstairs of my house was turned into

an apartment around 1900, so doors were opened up between the three bedrooms that allow

you a view from the back to the front of the house. It's kind of odd quality to

have bedrooms open up to each other but I do love the open feeling it allows.

I've considered closing them up but there's no rush to do this.

I still adore this old green painted cabinet. I'm seeing a lot of reproduction

furniture from Asia that has similarly distressed painted surfaces,

but nothing beats the real thing.

I did a lot of work on my garden this year. The garden needs constant tweaking

as some things suffer and other things grow out of control. I hired a landscape

architect to help me develop a longer term plan for my little outdoor space.

I would like to establish more privacy and move to plants and shrubs that look

good for a longer portion of the season.

The grid at the end of my porch will eventually be covered in climbing hydrangea

and will provide a screen between by space and my neighbor's living room window.

That's a quick little update. I'm interested to know if anyone still visits so let

me know if you were here. I've love to hear from you.

And if you voted for me on Mondeus, THANK YOU!

Restoring Charm

2015-01-11T07:53:00.000-05:00

Remodelista: A Bewitching Old Stone House Old House Dreams

In the Fields Madeline Stuart

I was talking with someone about renovating an old house a few months ago and I came to

the conclusion that my goal isn't always "renovation" as much as it is "restoring charm." One

of the things I love about old houses are the details, sometime quirks, that they have.

Darryl Carter's Living Room

Darryl Carter, same room, different view

Some of my favorite details are shutters and moldings.

(While Darryl's shutters seem more decoration than original details, I like how he's paired

the shutters with roman blinds of the same color as a window treatment. I also notice he

typically uses shutters that cover about 2/3 of the window. I need to add, I love this room!)

Shutters, in particular, are really common on old New England houses.

I wish I could find the photographs of my old condo; it had shutters that

folded back into the wall. I'll show you if I can find them.

This is one the charming old houses in Marblehead, Massachusetts that

looks still has its original shutters.

Shutters are also great for privacy if your house is right on the street.

I believe my house was originally built for laborers so there aren't a lot

of fancy details; in fact, in typical Yankee style, the detailed mouldings

were installed only in the living room where guests would see them.

Now that I've replaced all of the windows downstairs, I thought adding shutters

to all the windows would be a way to add charm and provide a privacy solution

since my house is so close to the street. So last summer I took down my drapes

and rods so I could try living with the windows open and uncovered during

the day. I found that when it's light outside, you really can't see in at all.

I had just a few months earlier, seen Loi install shutters in his Maine house

so I contacted his source, Shutterworks in Lewiston, Maine, to see if they'd (A)

provide me an estimate and (B) be willing to work with me long-distance.

The price seemed really good and yes, if I measured carefully, they would

make the shutters and I would drive up to pick them up so save shipping costs.

Fred at Shutterworks does almost every style of shutter imaginable

so my task was to choose something that "fit" the house. I decided to

base the shutter panels for the windows on the panels in my tiny basement

door which I believe to be original to the house.

Just to make sure I liked it, I asked Fred to make

me up a sample so I could see what it looked like.

And the "Urban Cottage" shutter was born.

I carefully measured each of the windows--three times each--and

sent the measurements off to Fred. I think it took about two months

for building and painting the shutters and I drove up to Lewiston the

week before Christmas to pick them up.

And here they are!

Fred works with a painter so I was able to get them spray painted before the pairs

were assembled. I used Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray.

So my first project of the year is getting these installed.

I'm looking forward to the old New England charm these

will bring to my downstairs.

Happy New Year 2015

2015-01-01T09:56:00.000-05:00

I always think of my grandmother on New Year's Day. She was a very superstitious woman

even though I now suspect many of her beliefs were made up to keep my brother and me in line.

But she was clear about New Year's Day: what you did on this day determined your fate for

the next year. Things such as cleaning the house or doing laundry would certainly doom you

a year filled with endless housework for the next year. I wish she were still alive today so I

could get some clarifications on things such as painting window mullions, blogging, cooking,

or even eating for that matter, because I don't know if these are positive or negative endeavors.

I'm also not sure where she would fall on issue of undecorating the Christmas tree. It certainly

includes a cleaning component. But this New Year's Day has become my traditional day to

undecorate and take down the tree. There's just something about cleaning up, putting away and

cleaning up that feels to me like a good way to start a new year. And, even if she would claim it's wrong, I would argue it's a perfect way to spend a few moments thinking of her.

However you spend this first day of the year, I wish you best throughout the new year!

Merry Christmas 2014

2014-12-23T21:14:00.003-05:00

I had big plans for the Christmas tree this year. I ordered a Silvertip

and had it shipped from California. Itplanned it to arrive the first week of

December and after my office move I was going full-on in to Christmas decorating.

The office move went perfectly and the next day I came down with the flu.

I am thankful that the flu waited until the move was done I was

disappointed I just didn't have the energy to do everything I wanted to.

Silvertip trees grow naturally in layers, very much like

the tree I created a few years ago. Pottery Barn uses these trees

for their catalog, although looking at this post about their trees, it's

clear they must still do some trimming to get that spare feather tree look.

So I've done a much scaled back tree using some things I could easily

get my hands on. It's mainly pine cone garlands, birds, and leftover

flowers from Thanksgiving and flowers and leaves from the garden.

Even though it wasn't the tree I planned, I still love it. As much as

I cherish all my collection of vintage, shiny ornaments, there's something

about using all natural materials that just feels right on a tree.

I hope that everyone is well and preparing for a wonderful time

with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Rooibos Cranberry Sauce

2014-11-30T18:50:00.003-05:00

As I was finishing up my Thanksgiving cranberries and enjoying

a cup of chai, I thought the chai flavors would work realy well with the

cranberries. So I dunked a rooibos teabag in the bowl of hot cranberries

and left it in for about 10 minutes. I was really pleased with the results.

I thought I'd make another batch by making the chai first and using

it as part of the liquid in the cranberries. Here how it goes:

Ingredients:

12 oz. bag of cranberries

3/4 cup of strong chai rooibos*

3/4 cup of orange juice

One cup sugar

Pinch of salt

*Make chai rooibos using 3/4 cup of boiling water with

two teabags of chai rooibos. I used Yogi brand.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes until thickened.

Pour into a bowl and bring to room temperature.

Cover and refrigerate when cooled.

The spices in the chai are subtle but add a warm, almost

floral quality to the cranberries.

I love cranberries and will eat all I can for the rest of the year.

I always make extra and enjoy them on toast (or even on ice cream)

after all the Thanksgiving leftovers are all gone.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend

with their family and friends. Let the holidays begin!

Happy Thanksgiving

2014-11-27T07:49:00.001-05:00

I'm happy to have a few days' break to relax, to cook and share

time with friends and to be thankful for everything I have.

I might even get in another post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Flowers are from my friend Shelley at Bow Street Flowers.)

Around the House, Kitchen Update

2014-11-02T18:20:00.001-05:00

I don't know how I ever found the time to blog so steadily for three years.

It just doesn't seem to be happening lately. My office is moving in about five

weeks and designing the new office, planning the move, building a new

corporate identity and building a new website has really taken up a lot of

time the past several months. But here it is November so I've been

trying to get the house and kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests.

In particular, I wanted to get the floating shelves stained before the holidays so when we

had a few warm days where I could have the windows open, I decided to get them finished.

Above was the before.

And here they are freshly stained to match the old bin drawers.

I'm happy with the color but I think I want to ding them up a litttle

bit and apply some dark wax that I'll leave in the dings.

My mom visited last week so we drove out to Hudson, NY to pick

up a few new things for the shelves. If you haven't been to Hudson, NY,

it's really worth the trip. The town is just packed from one end to the other

with great antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.

My mom also has great knack for arranging things.

I caught her a few times moving things around on the shelves.

I'm sure these will evolve but I'm really happy with how this looks right now.

I still have to paint the windows before I can call the kitchen done but the snow

outside tells me that I'll have a lot of time indoors coming up to get that done.

Hope to show you around Hudson, NY sometime soon.

Happy Fall

2014-09-21T20:43:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that fall has arrived. It seems like July 4th was just a few weeks ago.

But I will say I really enjoyed summer. My job is requiring a lot more of my time and

attention and something really needed to give. I took a vacation from the house even I

didn't take a vacation away from home. I appreciate all of you who left comments or sent

e-mails wondering where I was and how I am. You're all the best!

Backing up a few months I was experimenting with stains to match my old bin drawers.

I thought a good match was somewhere between golden oak and golden pecan.

So a couple of weeks ago, I mixed up a 50/50 mix of golden oak and golden pecan

and just went at it. This was right after I had stained one of the little

floating shelves. And I was pretty happy with the outcome.

And then on to the upper cabinet next to the fridge.

This is the before...

...and this is after.

I didn't want the wood to end up too shiny so I decided to finish

off with just a coat of wax. I've done the little shelf on the left

which you might notice ended up just a little darker than the cabinet

from the wax finish. In the end, I'm happy with it,

Having the upper cabinet stained may seem a little unusual but I

think it's necessary to balance the bin drawers on the other side

of the kitchen. And it's unexpected which I like.

You might also notice that I painted the panels around the fridge

the same color--BM Chelsea Gray--as the lower cabinets.

I really like how this turned out.

I have this constant internal battle between wanting

everything to be edited and spare on one had, and wanting

to display all my collections on the other hand.

Right now, edited is winning.

Next I'll be moving on to the shelves that flank the stove.

And I need to paint the windows. There's plenty of time

to be indoors though coming in the next several months.

Out of Office Reply

2014-07-26T08:14:00.000-04:00

It seems like the world is on vacation. Over the past three weeks

as I e-mail things to clients (this is in my real life, not the blog life).

I get the same thing: Out of Office Reply. While things have slowed

down a bit, I find myself unable to get any time off. A website to build,

an office blog to launch, a new office space to find and an employee

to hire. It could be much worse, I could be one of the hundreds of

overqualified people out of work and looking for an entry-level position.

Yes, it's a blessing to be busy even in the summer.

In my little but of free time, I've been chipping away at the

outdoor painting...lots to do on the back porches.

While the front porch ceiling is sky blue, I've taken

a different approach to the back porch.

I've used semi-gloss Decorator's White (Ben Moore) so it's

an extension of the kitchen ceiling. I love it.

I'm also trying to figure out what to do with the dining room.

Now that the table is in the kitchen--and it's working wonderfully--I

don't really have a use for this room. For now, I centered a gate-leg

table I recently picked up...

..and I've set out a few things that I enjoy looking at.

This changes almost daily.

I've also moved a large painting from the front hallway to

the dining room. It was almost impossible to see in hallway

and at least I get to enjoy it in here while I contemplate what

this room will become. I'm strongly considering a keeping room...

a nice home office...or museum room.

So my apologies for not being around much.

I hope you've all got your out-of-office reply turned on

and are out enjoying summer!

Happy Independence Day

2014-07-03T16:41:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a flag series on Instagram this week and I thought I'd share it with all of you.

I love old flags and anything George and Martha Washington so it's fun to pull them out

this time of year and give them a place of prominence.

Old parada flags decorate the kitchen light.

The Langham Hotel in Boston decorated for the holiday.

Boston City Hall today. It's so humid you can see it in the air.

The Old State House with bunting on its balcony.

The Declaration of Independence was "proclaimed" from this balcony in July 1776.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Arthur is coming up the East Coast and will rain out

the 4th so Boston pulled together and is hosting its annual Boston Pops concert

and fireworks show tonight.

Wishing you a safe and happy Independence Day!

Provincetown Prints

2014-06-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

Blanche Lazzell, Anemone II

A few years back I did a post about white-line woodblock prints. It's a printing process that's

uniquely American; in fact, it was invented in Provincetown so the prints are often referred

to as Provincetown Prints. Unlike traditional woodblock printing where each color requires a different block, this process uses just one block with a tiny groove cut between each section to divide the colors. This method leaves a thin white line separating the colors, hence the name

white-line print You can see a few of my own white-line prints in this old post about my artwork.

Blanche Lazzell advertising print

The invention of the process is credited to Bror (B.J.O.) Nordfeldt and it was developed by a

small group of artists who were in Provincetown (unable to travel to Europe) during WWI.

The two prints above are by Blanche Lazzell who, arguably, has become the most famous of

the practitioners of this process. She taught the printing process to the next generation of

artists and it's still practiced and taught today.

The Provincetown Art Association and Musuem, celebrating its 100th anniversary

this year, is now showing an exhibit of Provincetown prints made over the last century.

I wanted share a small subset of that exhibit, the prints from those earliest days that

show the life and times of people 100 years ago. The scenes, the dress, the styles

and lifestyles captured in these prints is wonderful.

Harvest of Sea by Flora Schofield, 1933

Woman Sewing by Maud Squire (etching) ca. 1915

"The Pianist" by Ethel Mars, ca. 1918

Tea Time in Morocco, Bror Nordfeldt, ca. 1916

The Party by Ethel Mars, ca. 1920

"Mother Love" by Edith Wilkinson, 1914

Figures and a Dog, Ada Gilmore, ca. 1916

This is my favorite one. I've also seen this print titled "Gossip" which I love.

Aren't the outfits great?

Untitled, Mildred McMillen, ca. 1916

This is a great Provincetown scene before automobiles that now line the streets. A horse and

buddy are perhaps delivering fish or ice. The sailboats in the harbor seem to be floating the sky.

This amazing show of Provincetown prints work is on exhibit until August 10th, 2014.

Provincetown Art Association and Museum

460 Commercial Street

Provincetown, MA 02657

www.paam.org

More from the Tip of Cape Cod

2014-06-25T12:16:00.001-04:00

So here we are again where we last left off. Low tide on Provincetown Harbor.

The water is quite shallow in much of the harbor so when the tide goes out, the sun heats the water

and sometime by the end of the day, the water is incredibly warm when the tide starts coming back in.

Provincetown is filled with textures. Weather worn clapboards, shingles and a sculpture

in front of the museum are well contrasted here.

You may remember this house from a post I did in all black and white about

a very gray day in Provincetown. I have to say, it's unfortunate the hedge

doesn't allow a view or path to the front door. I suspect it's a privacy hedge but even

a solid white gate would look better. That's my critique for what it's worth.

I just happened to be lucky enough to be there on the day when this beautiful

Gothic Revival was getting a whitewash. There's so many things I love about this photo.

I think it was Erin from Whaling City Cottage who pointed out on Instagram that the

trim looked like shark's teeth. Isn't it great? I love Tom's straw hat and and the crooked chimney.

And here's Huck, in a great action pose, having been convinced to use a wide brush.

No rollers, no sprayers. Completely old school.

The town has unfortunately become overbuilt but it does make for some pretty nice compositions

of gray shingles and white trim...

...mixed with lots of cottage charm...

...pretty gardens with white picket fences with a view of the harbor from almost everywhere.

Roses seemed to be the flower of the week.

Although Provincetown has been a fishing village for centuries, it's main wharf

is now a mix of fishing and pleasure vehicles.

The beach at low tide.

Provincetown's main street, Commercial Street is lined with shops,

galleries and restaurants.

John Derian's little shop is a hidden gem. It's a cute little shack packed with his signature

decoupaged wares and some great one-of-a-kind pillows, lights and other homes

accessories. Look for it on Law Street right near the center of town.

And the famous Lobster Pot. It's become an icon with all of it's fun vintage signage.

(Note: Get the lobster-avocado cocktail!)

There's a show at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM)

of woodblock prints that represent 100 years of print work in Provincetown.

IT IS AMAZING!

It's open through August 10th so if you can make it, it's worth the cost of admission.

This is a print by Edna Boies Hopkins whose work I love but I'll show you

another subset of prints in another post.

Inspiration

2014-06-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

Photo: Me Painting: Christina Baker

I decided to take a day off work and escape to Cape Cod the other day. I sat in bumper-to-bumper

traffic for an hour to hit the road to relaxation. Funny how that works. I had a great day in

Provincetown seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It's just a two-hour drive from Boston but it's a world away. People you barely know greet you with a hug or kiss on the cheek--something I'd be quite uncomfortable doing with people I see on the subway far more often. But I digress.

I find it relaxing to walk around with my camera and look for compositions to photograph.

I'll share more of my photographs in another post but while I was there, I was posting some of photos to Instragram. Shortly after I posted my photo of Provincetown Harbor at low tide, I saw Christina Baker post one of her paintings called High Noon. I thought my view of the harbor

could easily serve as inspiration for Christina's painting. And I love seeing the two side by side.

Enjoy more of Christina's paintings on her website, her blog and Greg Irby Fine Art.

The weather is perfect which, to normal people, might mean the beach or a barbecue. To me it's a big painting weekend out on the back porches. I have to get back out there.

A2Z Vintage

2014-06-12T11:29:00.001-04:00

For you locals, I wanted to give you a heads up about a new place to

check out. I've talked about Darby Road a few times before--it's where

my "store counter" kitchen cabinets from--but the former Darby Road

warehouse has a new business called A2Z Vintage that carries vintage,

antique and one-of-a-kind items.

I thought I'd give you a tour of their 10,000 square foot warehouse

to show just a little a bit of their eclectic mix of items.

Right outside is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.

These are faux bois columns for a pergola. You can see in a few

places where the beams go in. The tops actually collect water and

drain it down to the bottom. Wish I had a place to use these.

A great piece for an unfitted kitchen. I love the touch of old green paint.

A nice variety of "mantiques."

If your name is Joseph and you have a cafe, here's the perfect sign for you.

A great pair of urns. Notice the fish motif in the second one?

A 1840s painted armoire.

A monumental 1850s English pine cabinet. Just gorgeous!

A great collection of vintage and antique rugs.

I flipped for this antique Heriz. I asked Paul to measure to see if

it would fit in my living room. It does! It seems these rugs were out of style for

a while but have you been noticing them being used more in modern settings?

There was a pair of these great driftwood sconces.

The perfect stool for a princess to put on her glass slippers.

Look at the marble top on this antique Italian-style vanity!

There's also a little bit of mid-Century mod furniture,

lamps and accessories. Perfect for your '50s ranch!

The owner, Jon Ames, has a great eye for paintings.

There's also a nice selection of Asian pieces.

I love this blue color.

Victorian settees aren't really my style but I'd love to see this recovered

on something like a grey tweed or herringbone pattern.

A beautiful little faux bamboo table perfect for evening cocktail.

Baa Ram Ewe!

Okay, so blue damask might not be your thing but look at the beautiful

frames on these Louis chairs! Again, I'd do these up in men's suiting

to balance their feminine curves.

Be sure to check out A2Z Vintage soon to take advantage

of their 20% off Grand Opening sale. Let them know I sent you!

A2Z Vintage

39 Green Street

Waltham, MA 02451

Hours are WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY 10-5

and by appointnment.

www.a2zvintage.com

Summerizing

2014-06-02T13:55:00.000-04:00

I don't know why time seems to evaporate this time of year. The days

are longer but now the weekly chores extend to the outside spaces and

the extra daylight hours easily get filled.

For the past few years, one of my springtime rituals has been taking

down my living room drapes and rods--I still have to do the latter--and

let the sun shine in. I always enjoy this simpler look. My living room

is very small, just 11-1/2 feet square, and taking down the drapes makes

the room feel larger. I'm considering making this a permanent change

by adding shutters to the lower half of the windows and a roman blind at the top.

Bi-fold shutters would fold back to let in the light during the day and

close at night for privacy. I would rarely close the roman blinds on the

top half but they would provide a little color, softness and/or texture.

I'm also planning a new slipcover for the sofa that will lighten up the

room for summer. More on that later.

I recently took a work day off for a carpe diem and I headed

up to Essex, Mass with the Princess of Pillows, Carol from 6Wilson

for a day of treasure hunting and I thought I'd share a few images from

that day. Above is an antique set of Japanese spouted nesting bowls.

I've never seen anything like that. It's amazing they're all in perfect

condition after so many years.

A high-strung quartet.

I have a weakness for old wood and rope.

And if you've ever been to Andrew Spindler, you may

recognize the mammoth succulents he has outside.

And no day in Essex is complete without a stop at Woodman's...

...for a lobster roll and onion rings.

I've been picking away at the painting in the kitchen. I wasn't

in love with the dark color I had chosen for the back of the kitchen

shelves. So after a few new samples, I changed it to Ben Moore

Iron Mountain. I guess it's also Darryl Carter's Vinton Brown.

I think it works nicely with Chelsea Gray

So I've been working on the bits that needed painting a little at a time.

I used the cabinet color around the fridge and painted out the

back of the cabinet with the Iron Mountain. I still need test stain samples

but I needed to get some wood conditioner and more pieces of fir so my

samples are as accurate as possible.

And lots of other projects going on at the same time.

I'm still cleaning out, organizing my basement.

It's not a bad basement for an 1842 house but it's painted

Pepto Bismol pink on all the walls. The ceiling is old post and

beam construction but that was, sadly, painted Virgin Mary blue--

you get the idea--so I got some waterproofing paint by Behr in a

color called "Silt" for the walls and I'll mix up some brown-gray for

to highlight the beams. It will never be a beautiful or finishable

basement but I think I can make it a really cool, funky space.

I'm also totally reworking the garden. My new French doors give me

a different view and I think I want to screen the view of my

neighbor's chain link fence and their view right into my kitchen.

I still need to paint all the new exterior porch work as well as my fence

which doesn't match my house.

So lots to do! My apologies for not being around much but that's

probably the way it's going to be this summer.

Golden

2014-05-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

Still to finish in the kitchen is this one upper cabinet next to the fridge.

When I started planning the kitchen renovation, a few of the things high on

my list were hiding the microwave and adding a TV. Having this little space

tucked next to the fridge seemed to provide the golden opportunity to get both.

I think I mentioned earlier that I was painting the back of the cabinet

a dark color called Ben Moore Deep Creek. I learned in my art

training that your eye goes to the area of highest contrast so the

idea behind the dark color is to "hide" the microwave and the TV.

And then I'll use white pieces of pottery to further draw your eye

away from these things. An interesting experiment if nothing else.

I've quickly staged it with a few things so you see what I mean.

But this little area has also proven to be a challenge.

The original plan was to have a full-sized microwave but my ductwork

guys thought this would be the best location for the heating duct to the

upstairs bedroom which left me only 16 inches for a microwave.

I know they make tiny microwaves that will hold a mug but imagine

how psyched I was when I found a 15-1/2-inch model (Whirlpool)

that still holds a full-sized dinner plate. It's perfect actually.

And deciding what paint colors to put where is driving me crazy...

this side panel on the fridge especially.

It starts out at the floor where I feel it should be the same gray as the cabinets...

...up to the top where white feels right.

If I start with dark gray at the bottom, I'd have to carry that all around

the fridge...

...and quite possibly around the corner on to the wall. Nothing feels perfect.

How would you feel about an ombre treatment?

Anyway, while I mull that over, I'm thinking about staining

the wood of the upper cabinet to match (as closely as possible)

the bin drawers. The two sets of bin drawers are pretty close

to each other so having that upper cabinet match those

would really help balance things out.

It looks like it's somewhere between Golden Pecan and Golden Oak.

If I can make it match, I'll be golden.

Kitchen Goings-On

2014-05-01T14:47:00.000-04:00

Hey, long time, no see!

I made it though my big project. It was a lot of hard work but we really rocked it.

It seems like so long ago, but I really enjoyed reading all of your comments

about the in-the-ground garbage pails. It seems to have brought back a lot

of memories for people and it was fun reading about them.

I've moved my dining room table into the kitchen and it fits perfectly!

The chairs are Ligne Roset Calin chairs that I've had for a long time.

The room needed something modern to keep it from getting too stuffy

and I think these work well. They also have slipcovers that come off

and can be machine washed which I love. So they're not only practical,

they're as comfortable as any upholstered living room chair I've ever had.

I'm missing one of the slipcovers, though, and it's driving me crazy!

Even with the chairs pulled out, there's plenty of room for me to

get around the table to the sink and stove, dishwasher and armoire.

I've finished painting the cabinets and I'm still liking the drawers unpainted.

The drawers look a lot more orange in the photos than they do in person;

I'm not sure why that's happening. Still need to paint the windows but it

needs to be a little warmer so I can leave them open while the paint drys.

It's been so cold here!

I bought these stemware racks from The Container Store. They're made for

under-cabinet mounting and I've mounted them up in the top of the armoire.

Their design isn't the best I've ever seen. I didn't feel they were very

secure so I added a washer to the screw which will work much better.

I used two triple racks, one on each end for champagne and wine glasses and two single racks

in the center to give more room for the martini glasses. The thing I love most is when the armoire

doors are closed, you can't see the glasses at all.

I bought new baskets for the lower two shelves. Also from The Container Store, these are their

large Hogla baskets. All or most of my cookbooks will eventually be moved to an upper

cabinet next to the refrigerator, but for now, they're out of the way. I'll still have lots of

storage space in here once they find their new home.

Since I'm storing some food items in the baskets, and I wanted to keep the

bottom of the baskets clean, I found two plastic trays (also Container

Store) that fit perfectly in the bottom of each basket. These will easily

come out for washing whenever necessary.

I still have a few cabinets and drawers to organize but I'm loving

my baking drawer. Everything I need for the task all in one place.

The maiden voyage of my new stove was to whip up some blueberry scones

for an Easter brunch. I loved having marble countertops to roll out the dough.

These scones are from the America's Test Kitchen recipe...and they're killer!

You, too, can make these and won't believe how awesome you are!

Here's the video on how to do it.

Floundering

2014-04-09T18:27:00.001-04:00

I'm knee deep in a huge project at work that involves some

late nights and weekends and keeps me on call 'round the clock.

Fortunately I'm able to work remotely so I'm not stuck at the office

for so long but it's left me kind of floundering, not wanting to start

any projects. So I move around from a little unpacking, a little

cleaning up in the garden, and a little organizing

I put three boxes of stuff over on the neighborhood "free" table

this weekend and it all went like hotcakes, including a new griddle, the hot

plate from my temporary kitchen, a half dozen Cafe Fanny cafe au lait bowls,

cookie cutters, some old mixing bowls and a few small pots and pans.

An elderly woman scored a brand-new aubergine Staub kettle. Seeing her

makes me feel guilty I ever spent so much hard-earned money on something

to heat water...and then never used it. I hope she loves it.

I've also been tinkering with what goes on the kitchen counters and

shelves. I'm back and forth over having them be spare and decorative or

completely utilitarian. A little mix of both is how I'm liking them right now.

A little shelf above the dishwasher was to be for a few drinking glasses

and/or mugs but I love playing with little vignettes so this what's going

on here right now. I still can't decide what to do with the shelves: paint

them white, light gray or stain them to match the unpainted bin drawers?

So maybe I'm also procrastinating a little bit.

My little garden was trashed by the porch project and after seeing

Loi's garden on his blog, I want to start from scratch. I was out raking

over the weekend and rediscovered this in the corner of the gardne

that I don't believe I've ever shown you. Any idea what it is?

I'll reply in the comments to the first person that gets it right.

This work project continues through May 1st so please don't expect a

lot from me for a little bit. I'll be back soon.

European Country Antiques

2014-03-23T11:46:00.000-04:00

Let's take a tour of European Country Antiques in the Huron Village

area on Cambridge's west side.

The store is at 146 Huron Avenue near the corner of Concord Avenue.

Huron Village is primarily a residential area but within a few blocks of this

intersection are some of Cambridge's finest independently owned shops.

But once you step through the door, you're in a different place and time...

a place that embraces you with its warm honey-toned woods, beautiful

painted antiques just waiting to tell you their personal stories.

The shop's website says the shop captures the authenticity of

true European countryside shops, the ones stacked to the limit with

furniture, where every time you move one piece you discover another.

Many of the antiques are in their original form. Oh, how I wish I

had a place for this large cabinet!

Other pieces, such as this kitchen island, have been built from

reclaimed antique furniture pieces into modern forms. There is storage

on one side, room to tuck a few bar stools on the other, all capped

off with a butcher block top with tons of patina.

There a lots of great lamps, these made from old balusters...

...urns and other architectural fragments...

...lots of great vintage and antique accessories...

...wonderful rustic tables....

...and unique case pieces to display your finest wares...

...all with incredible details.

This is another favorite piece.

A great Scottish chest of drawers.

And a nice selection of mirrors.

This trestle table is from one of the store's custom lines.

Their tables come in two different woods, three different leg styles

and in a variety of finishes.

If you've been searching for that one special piece to finish of a room and you

don't find it here, talk to store manager Angela, or owner Ed Stuart, about the

possibility of making a custom piece designed just for you.

European Country Antiques is about a mile from Harvard Square. On a nice day,

I would walk down Brattle Street to see all the old mansions, particularly the Longfellow

House where George Washington lived for a short time during the Revolutionary war.

Take a right on Sparks Street and walk to the end which is Huron Avenue. ECA is on the

right just past Concord Avenue.

But I would drive so you can visit all the great shops along Huron Avenue. There were

several that were now to me so I can't wait to get over there and explore again.

Be sure to tell them I sent you!

European Country Antiques

146 Huron Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02138

www.ecountryantiques.com

The Kitchen Armoire

2014-03-16T19:08:00.000-04:00

My armoire was delivered a few days ago so I've been busy

unpacking more boxes and moving dishes from the dining room

that served as my temporary kitchen during the renovation.

If I widen the view, you can see the armoire sits in the corner of the kitchen between the

dining room and the French doors to the porch. This makes it convenient both to get dishes to

the dining room table and to put them away when they're unloaded from the dishwasher.

Let me show you some of the details on this beautiful piece.

All of the original hardware is in working condition.

The armoire, I believe, is French and is a "knockdown" or "breakdown"

armoire meaning it breaks down into pieces so it can easily be moved up

the tiny staircase to your pied-a-terre. The block of wood above the raised

panel slides back and forth and actually locks the top and side together.

I love the oyster color of the interior.

I'm looking for stemware racks that I can mount in this upper portion

of the armoire so I can really optimize the storage space in here.

I love the alligatored finish. And notice the mortise and tenon

joint and dovetails on the upper corner. You just don't see these

details on new pieces anymore.

I've put all my dishes and serving pieces in here and still have about

half of the space open so I'm trying to figure out what else would make

sense to store in the lower shelves. You'll notice in the upper photos I

put a few of my English fishing creels on one shelf that I can use for

some hidden storage. I like the texture and color they add to the piece.

I mentioned in an earlier post the piece came from European Country Antiques

right here in Cambridge. I was really impressed with the shop and the service

they provided so, next time, let's meet over there so I can show you around.

Moving Back In

2014-03-09T20:36:00.001-04:00

The grouting is done...and it's white. I have no photos of the process

because it was tough. It's been several years since I last grouted anything

and I've never done such a large area. I wasn't sure how long I would have

the time I started grouting until it set up so I moved quickly. It was difficult.

It was messy. I broke out in a sweat. And I might have cried a little bit.

Once I had about one-third of it done, I stood back and was certain I

made a mistake using white. It should have been gray, I thought.

But once it was all done and I'd wiped off the white haze, the subtle

color difference and texture looked beautiful and my attention went back

to the cabinets which is where I thought it should be.

(I should note I'm not done painting the cabinets.)

This was what the kitchen looked like on Monday night after I'd finished the

grouting and I started contemplating what I'm going to do with the window

casings and sashes. I'm going to paint the French doors on the opposite wall

the same as the cabinets so I think I need to have some of that darker value

on the windows to balance them. Having the dark gray above the white sink

will also make a nice composition I think.

Everything needed to be cleaned out of the kitchen for a final coat on the

floors. I understand that it makes a lot of sense to leave a final coat until

all the work is done--there were a few scratches that happened--but it was a

drag having to keep the cats barricaded from the room while the floors dried.

But all the workmen are out the house and I can start moving back in. I had

to wonder, after living with the bare essentials for the past seven months,

what was in all the boxes that were stacked in my front hallway. I'm taking

a critical look at everything and making tough choices about what I keep.

I'm a hunter and gatherer by nature and giving away doesn't come easily.

I recently discovered my neighborhood had a "free table." Anyone can

drop off or pick up from the free table. It's a great place to drop things off

that wouldn't really warrant to trip to Goodwill or selling at a yard sale.

People leave books, clothes, boots, housewares, artwork, all kinds of things.

Even the worst of things seems to find a new home.

I have some vintage stuff I can send off for sale but a good deal of this

stuff will be going to the free table.

I've never really been an organized person. The house

might look presentable but I have screwdrivers in my sock drawer

and paint cans in the dining room cupboards. I want that to change.

I gathered up all my gift cards and headed to The Container Store

where I got all kinds stuff to pimp out my cabinets. I got several

of these pull out drawers so I can make better use of the space.

In some of the cabinets, I can fit two. I thought

the lid racks would also be good for cookie sheets

and cutting boards.

I wanted to have a pull-out trash and recycling combo

but the bins were so small, the really didn't make sense.

So I got a trash bin and there will be room left over for

a paper grocery bag to sit next to it for recycling.

And I got a few of these dividers for the deep bins

to store smaller pans and cutting boards.

I'm kind of spring cleaning as things move around. After

several months of renovation, the house is just filthy and I

can't take it anymore.

My armoire will be delivered this week and I'm really looking

forward to getting all the dishes, serving pieces and glassware put away.

Tiling, Vol. 2 and Cabinet Hardware

2014-02-25T16:27:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, I conquered the tile cut around the outlets.

This past weekend, I had the supports for the floating shelves to deal with.

I wish I could say I planned it--(I'm just having good DIY

karma right now--but the support rods almost all fell perfectly

on the edges of tile so I could just cut around them.

You'll notice the little stripes on the ends

of the tile. That's some kind of plastic or hot glue that gets

added to prevent the tile from scratching in shipping.

They pop off really easily with the putty knife.

These half circles were fairly easily to clean out with the wet saw.

Not perfect but the shelves will cover my errors.

There was only one place where the rod fell right in the

middle of a tile. They do make diamond-edge hole cutters

that fit on your drill but for $27 I thought I'd try this.

I cut the tile horizontally and then cut the hole in the center

of the cut. It's not pretty the shelf covers it so who will know?

And I saved $27!

Another thing I found really helpful was drawing two

vertical lines that marked the placement of my first

whole tile in each row. Such a time saver.

I'm really loving the reflection of light off the tile.

It really makes the kitchen feel brighter and larger.

As I got close to the ceiling, I decided to put in another

row of the cigar/pencil tile almost like a picture rail.

It was a spur of the moment decision but I think it

makes everything look very well planned.

For those of you that said I should leave the shelves

unpainted, I also see that possibility...but not this wood.

If I wanted to go that route, I'd look for some boards that

were a little more rustic. Maybe I can have two sets

of shelves: Spring/summer and fall/winter shelves.

I can't remember if I showed you the hardware I picked
out for the cabinets. It's all from Restoration Hardware.
The pulls on the left are the Bistro Pulls, the round knob
is the Season Knob and the bin pull is called the
Ornate Square Pull, all in oil rubbed bronze.

The Bistro Pulls are used on the top drawers above

cabinets, and the knobs are on the cabinet doors.

The bin pulls were added to the old bin drawers.

I haven't yet painted the old bin drawers. Once the new

hardware was added, it transformed them. I'm kind

of liking them unpainted. It's a little quirkier which is very me.

I do wish the two sets of bin drawers were a little farther apart

so the unpainted wood was better distributed around the room.

But I have to live with them like this for now.

Tiling

2014-02-18T18:02:00.000-05:00

When I'm not shoveling snow, I like to kick back and install some tile.

I had a three-day weekend so I thought it was the perfect opportunity

to devote the whole weekend to getting the backsplash tiled.

I can't stress enough the importance of planning. You never want

to end up at the end of a row with a tiny sliver of tile. If you don't

trust your math, why not just lay them out along your counter?

(Of course, you should use your spacers.)

I thought I would add a short backsplash on the sink wall

of the kitchen so I did this little mockup with two rows of subway.

The tile will meet up in one corner of the kitchen so I'm adding the

same bullnose to the stove wall so that detail carries through on both sides.

All fairly easy until I got to my first outlet.

I held a tile in place and marked out the sides of the outlet

with a black china marker. Of course, I turned off the power

to the outlets before unscrewing them from the box. One

thing I don't mess with is electricity!

Then I marked the bottom edge of the outlet.

And then drew the outline of the cut I wanted to make.

I bought a wet saw when I was replacing a bathroom floor

in my first condo ten years ago. I recall it was about $100

at Home Depot and it was money very well spent.

It has an adjustable guide that will ensure straight cuts.

I cut down one side and then the other.

But now what?

I decided to make a diagonal cut just to remove a

good amount of the tile I wanted to remove.

Then I made another diagonal cut to remove more.

I didn't quite hit the bottom corner but when I went to

make a second cut, it broke cleanly at the bottom edge.

With the remaining triangle, I made a series of cuts stopping

each time at the bottom edge of the opening. These break

off very easily when you press on them.

All seemed perfect until I dropped it on the counter when

I was setting it in to place. I kind of panicked at this point because

you'll also notice that the tile got stained from the terracotta-dirtied

water from the wet saw. See it in the cracks? I thought I might

have to come up with some other method of cutting the

tile...until I thought of painter's tape.

I mean, this stuff's supposed to lock out paint so maybe its

edge-lock technology would be enough to keep the

terracotta juice from staining my tile.

I left the "cut line" exposed and covered the areas

on both sides that might have gotten wet.

This worked like a charm!

This is my second attempt at the outlet opening with a piece

of tape down each side of the cut and one across the bottom.

This is what the back looks like.

After the first one, they're really pretty easy.

Also note that I cut the tile close enough to the top

and bottom to catch the flange of the outlet but not

close enough to cover up the screw holes. So no spacers

are needed to bring the outlet flush with the tile. But

I did need to get longer screws on some of the outlets.

I stupidly thought I could get this done in one weekend.

But everything takes at least three times as long as you expect.

And I'm not in any rush. So what if it takes three weekends?

Slow and steady wins the race.

I really love that cigar detail a few rows up from the counter.

It makes it look a little more special.

Someone pointed out on my grout post that the ungrouted tile

shows you what dark gray grout would look like.

I kind of like it.

Tile, Grout, Lights and Floating Shelves

2014-02-07T12:13:00.002-05:00

The tile I chose is made by Horus Art, the style is Tiffany in Biancho Crackle.

It's a nice soft white...with a little dash of cream. I thought it was perfect.

But let's talk about your grout feedback. It was really fun.

via SA Decor

According to your feedback about gray grout:

Pro: Wouldn't look dirty

Con: Looks dirty

Pro: Looks like your favorite oyster bar

Con: Looks like a Soviet butcher shop

Pro: Adds interest

Con: Too distracting

Does that clear it up?

There were some of you that have used light gray in your bathrooms

and others that wished they had. Some of you liked both. And one

anonymous comment said if I used gray, our romance was over.

That's pretty serious stuff!

Overwhelmingly, though, most of you said white.

Mill Valley Loft, Remodelista.com

I'm in camp that likes both but I think they each have their place. I see dark

grout as being industrial, even restaurant, perfect for a modern, loft-like space.

One commenter also suggested it's a vintage look and I can almost see it in

a place like The Breakers kitchen in Newport, Rhode Island.

It's also a great way to add pattern in space with clean lines.

Michelle's Mill Valley Kitchen, Remodelista.com

I wanted a nice, clean look that didn't detract from some of the other unique details

I've put in the kitchen. I love a lot of different styles and I'm slowly learning

I don't have to cram them all into one room. So I'm doing white.

The light fixtures are all installed. This is the Circa Milton Road pendant

and in the background is the cutie patootie E.F. Chapman Marine flush mount

in bronze also from Circa. I'm not sure yet whether I'll have a table or island

underneath it. I'm hoping my dining room table will work so I can turn

the dining room into a keeping room/den/library. We'll see.

I chose the Milton Road pendant (by Thomas O'Brien) because

its flutes beautifully echo the flutes in the columns in the cabinets.

I ordered another light from Circa for over the sink but it was very

backordered so I bought a backup which is the Franklin light from

Schoolhouse Electric. I'm not in love with it and, yes, it's crooked. I'm

pretty sure it's the shade, which incidentally fits horribly into the bronze

ring, so Schoolhouse is sending me a new shade. Stay tuned.

In the last post, and a few photos back, you'll remember the blue tape

I put up to mark where floating shelves would go. I wanted to show you

how those were made. Holes were bored into the studs just slightly smaller

than the diameter of the 3/4 inch rebar. And then the rebar is banged in to

the holes. It's extremely solid.

The shelf planks also have holes bored, just slightly larger so

they slide on easier but are still fairly snug.

These will be painted either white or light gray, I'll have to experiment.

Should I do white or gray? I'm just kidding.

I'm off to pick up my tile and white grout.

White vs. Gray Grout

2014-02-05T11:21:00.002-05:00

Domino

Today's a very gray day with lots of white snow falling so let's

talk gray and white....grout, that is.

I've seen a lot of great kitchens using subway tile with gray grout lately.

Alison Cayne's kitchen in the Domino Holiday issue is a recent favorite.

On my "stove wall," I'm planning some floating shelves--I put up some
blue painter's tape just to experiment with their placement--but before
that, I'm going to be installing white subway tile from the counters to the ceiling.

via Our House blog

I've already purchased my tile--a soft white with a crackled glaze--and

I've already made a decision on the grout. But if you look at these examples

of both white and gray grout, you'll see why it was a tough decision.

Crown Point Cabinets via Houzz

via Simply Seleta

via Plaza Interior

Daniella Witte via Skona Hem

Marta Stewart

Anna Kern via Desire to Inspire

Badgley & Mischka Kitchen, Elle Decor

via Houzz

This might be a lighter value gray.

via Apartment Therapy

Are you in the white or gray court...or do you love both?