black + white + art + kitchen perfection

Prepare yourself for some serious kitchen envy.

What do you do when space is limited and the views are so-so?

Paint it white, pare it down and add your own eye candy.

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Is it hhhhhot where you are? 

We've just cancelled our plans for the beach today because we can't even BREATHE out there.

The boys have been trying to work on the blisteringly-hot-south-facing-deck through this heat wave, 

and it's progressing a little slower than anticipated as a result -

but we gave them the day off, as well.

I lost the battle for having the decking laid in a herringbone or chevron pattern like this -

apparently the budget would have doubled, as it would have involved changing the structure.

I'm really starting to dislike that dirty "B" word!

But at least it's on a diagonal :)

And there is the beginnings of shade - yay!

Hope you're having a lovely, air-conditioned day :)

Pinstriping in the Kitchen

it's all in the details...

I love how pinstriped walls and black uppers pick up on the stove detail in these kitchens.

from Jeff Andrews Design.

(I expect we'll be hearing more about him shortly -

 he's the chosen designer of the Kardashians :)

Crushing On Color: Jules from The Diversion Project

The Crushing on Color series is where we get a little glimpse 

of what colors make our favourite bloggers hearts aflutter...

today I am super-excitied to bring you Jules,

from the seriously cool blog The Diversion Project.

If by some rare chance you have missed the spectacular collection of homes she profiles on her blog..

you need to set aside a chunk of your afternoon, break out some bevvies, and prepare to swoon.

Hi, I'm Jules from The Diversion Project. 

When Anne-Marie asked me if I'd like to take part in her Crushing On Colour series, 

I kind of thought for a split second 

"is this a trick question?" 

I mean first of all who wouldn't jump up and down with a welcome back Kotter hand in the air

 to be part of this fabulous fun and then second of all I had to stop

 and ask myself, 

"do I actually do colour?!"

But reading further down the sweet email I snorted when I read

 Anne-Marie's words "And, yep, black and white and wood and concrete count as colors :)".

She knows me too well!

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So I thought, cool, black white wood and concrete, I can do that kind of colour! 

But then I thought there must be more to my colour radar than that. 

So looking back through the inventory of things that grab my eye I noticed quite a bit of turquoise,

 a very healthy sampling of grey (yep, I concede, on the cusp of black and concrete again),

 but then suddenly - gold. 

My love of shiny things and refined glamour shone through.

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And in so many ways, 

from blind-your-eyes-mirage-in-the-desert to 

burnished umbered mellow patinas in a Milanese kitchen.

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Whether it be metallic gold or golden tones, I love the way it can transform a room. 

The soft shimmer often transfixes me when I spot it in a room, no matter what form it comes in.  

But of course golden velvet just might have to be my most favourite form of all.

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Thanks so much Anne-Marie for having me over for a little show and tell, 

and for letting me believe that "black white wood and concrete" is an actual colour!

Although, we may need to blend that out a little to "black white wood concrete AND gold"






- Jules

Thanks Jules!

I loved  that you chose to focus on gold, 

because I always have to mentally fight to separate gold from flourishes and roccoco,

and you've shown it in such a modern way, that it leaves me a bit speechless.

When I need a bit of killer imagery, 

something textural and tactile and sexy,

I always head over to The Diversion Project.

You should go :)

New and Old Meet in Black and White

One of the most wonderful thing about old homes is the character they contain.

Sometimes this becomes obliterated by renovations and decoration,
but it's fantastic to see the successful collaboration of old and new elements
in the home of Industrial Designer Kristina Stark.

The kitchen cabinetry may be new,
but open shelving and baskets keep it from
overpowering the gorgeous original wood stove.
Walls, trim and ceiling are white, and with no visual breaks, this space looks cavernous.

A coat of dove grey paint brings new life to tired floors,
terra cotta tiles will endure a lifetime of use.

What a restful space to slumber in.
The home owners must be morning people - no curtains!
I wish they put lovely deep windowsills like this in all the newer homes -
plants perch happily here in almost every room.

I think this is the star of the home.
One of my favourite rooms, ever!

I love every single thing here - that SPECTACULAR ceiling,
the bold, crisp stripes of the bed and carpet,
and the presentation, placement and scale of that yummy vintage art.
Does anyone know where you can buy those posters?

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It's a beauty, isn't it?
Rare that you find an old home with such a perfectly modern vibe.