Artwork

I peruse One Kings Lane and Joss & Main often, but I have yet to purchase anything from it yet.  Not that I don't want to, but I always have pre-buyers remorse, especially when it comes to buying things online.  It is just too simple.  But, as a result and over course of time, I have accumulated some some fave artists.  

Gray Malin (view his awesome work at www.maisongray.com)

Chicago Harbor

Coogee Beach

Snowmass

Kevin Russ (found here at www.society6.com/artist/KevinRuss) 

Horse Friends

Mt Rainier

Street Walker 

Teton Tips

Three Meadow Moose

Amy Hamilton (also found at www.society6.com/artist/AmyHamilton)

Moose

Red Deer

Finish the House ... ?!

I got home from work yesterday and after finally getting through the whole mattress ordeal (long story) and having some space back Hubs says matter of factly "we need to work on finishing the house".  In context with the situation and what we were looking at at the moment - a pretty empty guest bedroom which is pretty much Grouper's room and Hubs closet - that meant filling some rooms with furniture!  Uh, yes please.  But, of course I know that is a verrrrry long process.

I would say, at least furniture wise, our bedroom is next on the list.  And, headboard/bed frame first so I can finally feel like a grown-up.

What I am working with (Grouper goes to bed super early, this was at 8 PM).  A nice new mattress but an ugly box spring (that at least needs a bed skirt)....

Here are some of my inspirations....

Colette Bed from C&B

Alison Headboard from Ethan & Allen

Fairmont Bed from Ethan & Allen

Quincy Bed from Ethan & Allen

I am still pretty split down the middle on overall type of bed  - wood bed vs upholstered bed.  I love the intricacies of the Quincy Bed as well as the softness and simpleness of the Colette Bed.  Now just to find something cheaper

Cabinet Hinges Conquered

I searched high and low this weekend (online) to find polished nickel overlay hinges.  Sadly, I couldn't find anything.  I couldn't even find hinges that cost gazillion dollars, not that I would pay that.  So, I settled on satin nickel hinges in hopes that it will match.  We went to Home Depot on Saturday (of course) and I looked at how much HD's hinges cost.  I was happy to find out that they pretty much cost the same as online at all the discount places so I picked up (3) 10 packs of the Liberty Self Closing Overlay Hinge.

Once we were home I could't wait to to get those suckers installed.  Unfortunately, the existing holes didn't line up exactly with the new hinges.  Womp womp.  The exterior side lined up (thank goodness) but I had to redrill new holes on the inside of the cabinet door.

Scribing the doors for new holes

Drilling and screwing in the new hinge

All the doors with new hinges!

Yeah baby, new hinges!

Another set

Lets just say it wasn't all 'fun'.  I had my fair share of breakdowns when the cabinet doors were not level once installed.  It took lots of patience and a fair share of foot stomping to get me through those minutes (or hour?).  Luckily Grouper was only witness to the breakdowns.

Sparkey's At It Again

Sparkey aka Hubs (a nice name for an electrician courtesy of my bff).  He's the electrician, I'm just the laborer, but I listen really well.

Here's where we are in the basement.  Lights, switches and outlets are pretty much wired!  That's right. Hubs says we are about 90% complete.

Switch at Stairs ... It keeps me from falling

Guest Bedroom and Closet

Thumbs Up, Yeah! 

Family Room on Left, Stairs on Right

 Now for the next part.  Replacing the rag wire upstairs.  This is quite the tedious process as it requires that we re-feed new wire blindly up through the wall to the existing switches and outlets.

Pulling the existing wires out

 

And here is what we are left with.  New wires and lots of holes to patch...

 

Cookin' Up More Kitchen Ideas

As you know from my last post I am up in the clouds dreamin' about the kitchen.

Lighting updates are needed big time.  We have this god awful ceiling light - it kinda looks like a spaceship or a saucer and that isn't the worst part, it is a fluorescent light.  Yikes.  I never turn it on ... when I say never, I mean n-e-v-e-r.  I rely on a nice recessed light over the sink and the stove light to get me through.  And, that recessed light needs to be replaced with the perfect pendant light.  Here is what I am thinking ...

Our existing light totally reads un-identified space craft ...

And what I am thinking in its place ... each type comes in both finishes

The Springfield Linen Shade Light

The Urban Loft Ceiling Light

Now, lets be honest, recessed lighting would be fab, maybe one day ...

The recessed light that will be replaced ...

... with maybe one of these?  All the below are from Restoration Hardware

If I go all nickel

Or maybe bronze with a coordinating flush mount?

The milk glass would tie in the white cabinets and white subway tile nicely

Or all glass?

Another milk glass option

And, just for good measure, might as well talk about the rug desperately needed in the kitchen.  Stripes it is, and in blue.  Right now I am loving this rug from West Elm

{via}

Too bad I haven't been able to find those cabinet hinges I need yet ...

A Kitchen Stalled : Hardware Hunt

Since the end of June little has been done in way of the kitchen update.  It hasn't been on purpose.  One itty bitty or humungous reason are the darn hinges.  After doing some online research and seeing some hardware in stores, I've decided on polished nickel hinges and bin pulls - I like the shiny warmth of it all.  Knobs are still up in the air ... maybe something a little different and that doesn't match the nickel motif.  But, for the life of me, I cannot find polished nickel overlay hinges.  Since this is a kitchen reno on a budget, we are re-using our cabinets (which I have painted) and need hinges that pretty much match the existing.  I have found satin nickel hinges from the Home Depot, which are a great price but don't have enough of the polished look I want.  Arg.

But, details, details my friends.  Lets get back to what I am going for and the 'real' hardware I am loving.

How Nautical does this get!

Anthropologie Compass Knobs {via}

And I love the square-ness of these bin pulls.  I thinking of using these on both the lower doors and drawers and between 4" and 6" long like my inspiration picture

Restoration Hardware Deluth Bin Pulls {via}

Inspiration Picture {via}

But alas, I am holding out until I get the correct hinges ... keeps me in line ;)

Inspiration : Bathroom

I'm back.  Vacay was fab, work was busy, this weekend was beautiful.  Back to the swing of things.

I will say that the bathroom updates (and maybe a reno?) are definitely toward the bottom of the list of 'to do's', but that doesn't stop a girl from dreaming.  While eating my Kellogg's and reading the latest Crate & Barrel magazine I came across something that knocked my socks off.  Blues, grays, and whites are what I have been thinking about for the bathroom.

The first two images are from C&B's latest mag - white subway tile and gray grout looks nice, some blue walls, and a white and gray shower curtain.

The next image is Bower Power's new laundry room and they lovely blue paint - Kerry Blue by Martha Stewart.  I am always drawn to 'deep' blues but I like that the Kerry Blue keeps it 'peppy' and light.

{via}

Tucking these away in my 'idea book' for later.