Volume 36: November
We are Grateful!
As we are knee deep in the holiday season, we want to take a moment to wish you all the joy and fun that this time of year can bring. It's not always easy, so I hope you are connecting with loved ones with special time for celebration and reflection.
Growing up in my small Italian family, our holidays were centered around our meals. One of my favorite things to do during the holidays was to go to the Italian deli, grab a number and wait for the magic to be cut, prepped and sliced from behind the counter. My younger brother and I would crunch on the breadsticks they handed out to keep everyone quiet and patient as we waited. It worked as they were yummy! It's a memory that makes me smile and remember my loved ones that are no longer with us to celebrate.
What's your favorite holiday activity? Or one holiday you look forward to more than the others?
As the holiday season is prime time for entertaining, the kitchen often becomes the center of these gatherings. Whether it's baking cookies, preparing a festive meal, or simply gathering to enjoy each other's company, we are often huddled in the kitchen.
We've recently had the pleasure of completing a couple of kitchen remodels for some wonderful clients. If we've had the opportunity to speak about our design projects, you may have heard us talk about how much we love the diversity in our projects. It may be subtle at times, as kitchens have common features, but each one has specific elements for each family. Maybe it's a tile, maybe it's a color, maybe it's a view out the window....maybe it's all those things...
Kitchen with a view
This kitchen was a true delight to work on with a retired couple updating their forever home. We started by opening up the passageway from the dining room into the kitchen which allowed for more natural light and better access for multiple people to be and work in the kitchen together.
The new space showcases the large single basin sink under an existing larger window than in its previous location. Repositioning or augmenting the windows would prove cost-prohibitive with the brick exterior of the house so we worked with the existing kitchen layout.
For cabinetry, a beautiful Pacific Blue color was chosen for the lower cabinets, and Irish Linen for the uppers. The new Shaker upper cabinets were able to reach the ceiling by removing the soffit. We added small intentional cabinet details that play up the traditional style of the house. Those include the shiplap detail on the vent hood and at the end of the lower cabinets and an applied upper door.
For flooring we chose sheet vinyl in a neutral color palette as hardwood floors were not an option due to cost and the maintenance they would likely incur because of their 60lb. chocolate lab. The new flooring blended well with the adjacent original hardwood floors while fitting the budget and the paws of their beloved rescue dog.
An induction range was specified for its safety features and easy maintenance. Ease of use was also supported with the microwave drawer.
In addition, the passage door to the adjacent laundry room was upgraded with a full lite detail. Further supporting their request for a more open and bright feel in the kitchen.
The varied feature tile was placed on the range wall to balance the ever-changing landscape seen outside the windows. This porcelain tile, inspired by Japanese pottery, allowed for an unique pattern and was a fun group effort as we worked together and laid it out on the floor prior to installation.
Green Inspired kitchen
Here is a sneak peek of a recent completion for a 1930s home that was stuck with a '90s remodel. Our directive was to bring back vintage charm coupled with the modern conveniences of today. Keep an eye out next month for our full before and after reveal.
christmas trees
This year we are proud to again support the charitable efforts of Providence Home and Community Care through their O'Christmas Trees auction and events. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary of this festive event.
The theme for our tree this year is "Christmas Memories". Come down to check out the trees, stop by and say hi, and maybe bid on a tree of your own during one of the events December 2-4.
As we approach the end of year festivities, we wish you a season filled with happiness and cherished moments. Happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays to come!