I heart

I'm simply smitten with brass hardware, here are some of my favorites!

1/2/3/4/5

#2 - I absolutely love this hardware! Jessica has done an amazing job with the designs. I actually just found out we studied design at grad school together, I had no idea she was the genius behind the company and designs!!

AND THE INSPIRATION!

I LOVE Aerin's classic kitch!! Image via Vogue

How great are the brass kick plates too?

via Martha Stewart

Reade more >>

I spy..

Cubic dimensions

Pierre Frey - Kubus

Kelly Wearstler

Reade more >>

Dream House Alphabet: I

I is for Island
When I think of 'I' words for my future home, many words come to mind: Inviting, Inspiring..oh and ISLAND.
I'm pretty sure its safe to say that I'm not the only one who wants an island in their dream kitchen.
Extra prep space, extra storage space, and a whole lot of extra beauty.

This is my dream kitchen island:

via Rue

Stop drooling long enough for me to explain why I love it:

1. Carrara Marble is a MUST. 

The kitchen cousins broke my heart one episode when they said carrera marble in the kitchen isn't practical due to how easily it stains but pshh, not going to let it stop me! If it waterfalls like this, even better.

2. It is all one level.
I'm not a huge fan of when the part where people sit is bumped up...it seems less crisp and modern to me.

3. There is no stove top.
I'm fairly clumsy and accident prone so I wouldn't want a stove top on there. Also, I want a big fat industrial range and oven so it just wouldn't work.

   What would your "I" be? Do you have any picky island preferences like me? xo

Reade more >>

Dream House Alphabet: F

F is For Farm House Sink

Remember in Dream House Alphabet E when I called the foyer an entry way to save my F for something special? Well this is it people. I LOVE the classic look of a farm house sink (also sometimes referred to as an apron front sink).

  ^ Designer Alice Lane proves that you don't have to go uber country with a farm house sink in this beautiful kitchen.

^ Okay, double farm house sinks? Pinch me, this is so gorgeous. I also love the faucet hardware in this image. Delicate and pretty!

Although these sinks can cost a pretty penny, IKEA comes through again with affordable options for us all: 

The double version pictured above retails for around $400, and the single for $250! Oh IKEA, where would we be without you? 

How do you feel about this style of sink? Too traditional or just right? What would your 'F' be?

xox Tiffany Leigh
 ps. Bring on the weekend baybayyyy!

Reade more >>

Helllloooo Herringbone

As if the herringbone pattern wasn't sexy enough used for wooden floors, and as if Carrara marble wasn't jaw droppingly beautiful in a big ol' slab...just look at them COMBINED in a herringbone Carrara marble back splash:

Via Style at Home

I love it! Definitely filing this in my kitchenspiration folder. Another back splash that really caught my eye recently is this glass one:

Isn't it gorgeous? Modern but still classic in its own way. It reminds me of jewelery. Sparkly and lovely.
Hope you all had a lovely weekend (or are having one, if you're in Canada and are enjoying an extra day off for the May long weekend!)
xox
Tiffany Leigh

Reade more >>

A Kitchen Freshen Up

I've been working with a client on a quick kitchen freshen up.  We have selected a lighter wall color to go with their fabulous glazed cabinets.  Then we decided to tweak it a bit more with new lighting in the breakfast area and over the island as well as new hardware for the cabinets.  Here are the options I sent them . . . 

I love to give my clients options for their space.  The best part is they really can't go wrong with any of the picks!  It takes the pressure off and allows the client to truly be part of the process. 

This couple already pulled the trigger on one of the options.  When they are completely finished implementing the plan, I'll show you the results!! 

Any guesses on which option they chose? M.

Reade more >>

Power of Paint - An Update

If you recall, I recently completed a total transformation of my kitchen using paint and new hardware.  Here is the "After" of my kitchen.  If you want to see the "Befores" and the entire post about it, click here.

via

Following my post on the power of paint, I exchanged emails with Deborah, a blog follower in Madison, Mississippi.  She saw the post and was inspired to paint her own kitchen.  She was so gracious to share the before and after images of her space with us!  Here is the Before of Deborah's kitchen . . . 

She already had a great cabinetry color and decided to paint her walls the same color.  Look how much larger the entire space looks with the new wall color.  Wow - love a great before and after!

The previous color was P&L Arabesque which is a lovely rich color (I can totally see it as an accent color), and the new color is P&L Light Coffee.  This space opens into her keeping room, so she continued the color into that space as well.  Another "Before."

And the "After" (notice how the artwork really stands out now on the neutral wall).  It looks fantastic!

  Thank you, Deborah, for sharing these with us.  I hope they inspire other followers to think about freshening up with paint in their spaces.  It's one of the least expensive ways to get major impact! M.

Reade more >>

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.  

via

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.  

via

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? 

via

I guess, only time will tell.

via

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?

via

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.

via

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

via

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.

via

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

via

 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.

via

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.

via

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

via

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. 

via

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.

Reade more >>

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.

 

Reade more >>