Paint Your Kitchen

 

 

(After)

 

 

(Before)

 

When I took this photo we had already removed all of the top cabinets. A bit embarrassing, but you had to see what they looked like before. Our kitchen is a square with three doorways. Very tiny and most of the time it's dark.  We absolutely had to paint it.

 

(During)

 

Each cabinet door had to be removed along with all the hardware.  Then each one was sanded, cleaned and layed out for painting.  We decided to keep the 1980's brass hinges, they have a nice patina to them and brass is so back in style.  The glass knobs were picked out months ago from Anthropology.  I couldn't be happier with the glass knobs, brass hinges, grey painted cabinets and stainless steel appliances.  Our kitchen makes me happy now. Every morning I smile. It's clean, fresh and stylish. No longer in the 80's and fits us and our house just perfect. 

 

 I do have this to say, if you are hesitant to paint your cabinets, don't be. It was such a rewarding project for us. Hard, tedious work, but totally worth it. 

 

 

There is more I'd like to do to my kitchen, but that is for another day and another dollar.  This has been such a simple transformation. 

 

We used Benjamin Moore's Grey Owl in a semi-gloss for both the cabinets and the walls.

 

 

Land of Nod Modern Dollhouse

Hands down the coolest doll house ever.  So cool that I'm pretty sure someone made it for grown-up me to play with.  I want to insert myself in that photo above. Smiling. Laughing. Playing house.  

 

Now all it needs are some cool vintage pieces, dollhouse size. 

 

 

Or maybe some modern art.

 

 

And what's a home without a hipster family?  If that was a Portland family, dad would have a full beard.  And one of the little girls would be wearing a tutu with rain boots.

Buy it here.  Cause it's awesome.

 

*All photos are from Land of Nod.  Visit their website here.*

Our First Turkey

How was your Thanksgiving? I was excited for ours this year, we cooked our first turkey. Both of us were new to this endeavor. There we were standing over the kitchen sink with our raw naked turkey, my husband's hands reaching in for the neck. Out it came and he says, "Ooo that stinks" and I say "I don't smell anything". Feeling a little protective of my turkey and the fact that I didn't want my day potentially ruined by a bad turkey, to which he replies "oh that's you that I smell". "Very funny" I say.

We searched that cavity, hands and wrists deep inside the empty interior of the raw turkey. Ribs and bone, bumpy and cold and empty. Totally empty. "No giblets?" we thought "well this one doesn't have any" (because we are special like that). So we moved on. Bathed it in butter and seasonings, put up the foil tent and slid it into the oven for four hours. Four hours and repeated basting's later, we had quite a gorgeous bird. (See below)

With all of the fix'ns. No, I'm not southern. Just sounded good.

After all that searching and thinking we didn't have any giblets. They were there the whole time, chill'n in a plastic bag in the back end of the turkey. Did my mother gasp in horror that we cooked the turkey with them inside? You bet. Did it matter that we did that? Not one bit. This is my favorite part about cooking. You really can't ruin it. And you learn from your mistakes. So next year...Our turkey will be even better!

We shared one big table in the living room with a side of football.

But we really all came together to celebrate each other and this little guy. Our little ray of sunshine and joy. I'm so thankful for him and for all of my family. Life is amazing.

 

 

Target Ottoman Make-Over

 

 

 

The original ottoman as purchased from Target

 

The new ottoman!

 

 

It wasn't quite as simple as I had thought, but I did it and I'm so glad I did.  It makes such a huge difference in the room.  

 

Still want to do more:

 

Paint the walls, new rug, get the fireplace in working order and sew a roman shade for that window you see above...

 

I love owning a house. So many possibilities!

I stumbled upon a flea market AND a vintage furniture shop today, that I didn't know about. I mean really? I used to work at my friend's vintage shop in downtown Portland.  All the time people would come in and say, "how long have you been here?". I would reply "Um (I use that word too much) two years!" And I would think in my head "where have you been!".  But today, here I was saying the exact same thing, only this shop has been there for three years. Whoops! Nicole, where have you been?

I had so much fun, it was a beautiful sunny day here, warm but cool and I was there early.  Reminded me of all the flea markets I used to frequent in So Cal. Sniff. Sniff. I came really close to buying a set of 4 matching mid-century dining chairs. Really close. And then I panicked and practically ran out of the shop. I came home and came up with a new solution for my dining room.  Sooo glad I didn't purchase the chairs. But I really felt inspired by this shop, Seek The Unique.  It made me realize that I have other options for this dining room of mine. I don't have to do 4 matching chairs.  But, I have a new table, so vintage chairs would make it feel more comfortable. It's all about the balance!

Here are some photos of my dining room.  This one is with some chairs that we like to use. They swivel and are comfortable. They are just the wrong color. What if I paint them? Black legs and turquoise seats. What do you think?

 

The other thing I want to do is change the paint color again.  I picked this out while I was pregnant.  I can't stand it! And the location of the vintage lamp has to change. What do you think about a bench with the two chairs? Ok, paint the room, swag the lamp, paint the chairs, find a sweet vintage bench with lots of character and change the drapery rods.  Whew! I got some work to do!

Here is the room without the chairs, mmmm...possibilities!

 

 

Vintage Finds

I woke up this morning and thought I had to go to this antique store in Lincoln City called Little Antique Mall.  That's how it works, sometimes I get this itch and it tells me, "go and do!".  It's always good to listen.  And I found some things I've been looking for, so it was a success.

Like these little metal accent pieces. This one is particularly cute, in great condition and was once used as an ash tray holder.  Now it's perfect in small spaces like my house for holding drinks and magazines.  It's light weight, practical and stylish.  Also, unlike most modern accent tables it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Bonus!

Great 70's plastic chairs-huh! At least that what era I think they are from. I don't know, but I like them.  They are colorful, clean-lined and would make great desk chairs in a kid's room.  What would you use them for?  I contemplated getting them for our dining room but they just aren't quite right.

And finally, the piece I have been searching high and low for...a plate to cover a hole left in our front door after I removed the mail slot.  I'm most excited about this find.  I had no idea if I would ever find it and here it is. Matches perfectly with the existing hardware on the door.  My front porch has gotten a make-over. I'm super excited about it and looking forward to sharing it with you.  So more to come on that one.

P.S.  Did you realize how different the top three items are from the last one?  That's because my personal style is 50's/60's with lots of color and my house was built in the 1930's.  The front door has an original brass mini door that opens as the peep hole so you can see who is at the door.  The decorative brass plate should work as a perfect match. 



Lovely Neskowin

We are enjoying a long weekend at our family's beach house in Neskowin, OR.  It's a quaint little spot on the coast with one restaurant, a small store, one hotel and private residences.  Most folks in Oregon are familiar with Lincoln City.  Neskowin, not so much. 

It's so adorable, if you were to blink, you'd miss it.  Here is the market!

An over exposed photo of the rugged Oregon coast from the beach at Neskowin.  I'm still navigating the complicated workings of my DSL camera.

More lovely wildflowers...

My dream beach abode! It has a spectacular view of the coast with all of the sleek grey lines a girl could want in a home.  This is the modern in me.