Wednesday, February 29, 2012

#3 I'm Shopping for... A Range Hood

We're presenting a design to our clients for a kitchen redo in a couple of weeks & I'm really excited about it.  This kitchen needs to work with the other spaces we've already designed in the home so it will be sort of a relaxed natural-feeling space with a little graphic edge   It will have lots of textural elements that you just want to touch and a big mix of materials & finishes for a casual practical & warm vibe. I'm now getting down into the details of the kitchen design and an important one that truly affects the mood of the whole kitchen is the range hood. 

{Kitchen by Darryl Carter = looooove!}

When perusing through images of kitchens whose range hoods appeal to me, I noticed that many of them had range hoods that stood alone vs. ones that were flanked on both sides by cabinetry, which is what we'll need for the kitchen we're redesigning.  While I think stand alone range hoods are A-mazing (on my personal wishlist one day) they don't always fit into existing kitchens because of space & storage needs, so I've been on the hunt for a pretty yet practical solution for our range hood that will need to be flanked by cabinetry.

One of the things seen a lot in "real life" kitchens is the microwave with exahust fan below it over the range:


{image source here}

While this is completely functional & works for a lot of people (I've had it myself in the past & I think almost everyone in my family has it too) it doesn't create that gorgeous focal point we need for the kitchen & the vibe is totally different.  It doesn't have as much of that "working kitchen" feeling we're after. (And the small cabinet above the range hood isn't really adding a ton of storage space.)

Another thing seen a lot in typical kitchens is the mini vent hood above the range topped with small upper cabinets:

{image via pinterest}

Again, I think it's really functional, (and looks great here in the adorable kitchen above) but it still doesn't have the same impact as a full fange hood.

...Although I have to say that in the high-ceilinged kitchen below with the larger cabinets above the hood, it's making a pretty big statement but I think it's more due to the massive wall of cabinets & the impact they're making.

{image via houzz/ pinterest...  couldn't find original source}

...But anyway, in the kitchen we're working on, I'm really looking to do a full hood that will be flanked by upper cabinets.  I've been collecting inspiration images & thought I'd share.  The first group up is of angled metal hoods.   For this kitchen, because we want to mix a variety of finishes, I like the idea of doing a metal hood.

Below is a picture of a shorter hood mounted up at the ceiling.  This kitchen actually looks like it might be shorter than 8 feet to me...


{Image from bhg.com}

Here's a photo of a hood mounted at the ceiling again, but this one is longer.  I think for our clients' kitchen that the longer look will work better as I want the hood to make more of a statement.

{metalmastersnw.com}

 This curved copper hood flanked by glass cabinets is gorgeous: 

{Southern Living}


I also really love the curved sides of this hood (below) but our clients' kitchen isn't quite big enough to handle this:


{image via pinterest}

The next group of metal hoods swoop down in an arc & I think would work beautifully even in smaller kitchens.  Here's another copper one:


{From segretofinishes.com}



I love the look of this kitchen.  The hood is perfection to me.
 
{sooooo gorgeous by Jim Howard featured in House Beautiful}


Here's a shorter version...  SO beautiful, but again, I think we need a bit more length in ours:

{image via decorpad.com}

This hood (below) has a little stainless stell shelf below it which is so pretty, especially with the lights on:

{image via alifesdesign.blogspot.com}

This hood blends right in with the wall & I think it could work for a seamless look between cabinets:

{redonline.co.uk }

This angled wooden hood is really interesting:

{atlantahomesmag.com}



 Again, I love these massive  hoods (below).  They look particularly good when inset into the wall like this.  I love how they carried the hood over the countertops too instead of just the range.  Interesting trick to get some drama without the height.


{Hosue Beautiful}

Here's another inset beauty, except this time in wood:

{Better Homes & Gardens}

 The next few hoods are painted wood to match the surround cabinetry.  It's a classic look:


{image via houzz.com}


Looooove this curve:


{Kitchen by James Michael Howard}

...And don't pot fillers just make a kitchen look so perfectly practical?  "I want that!"


{image via decorpad.com}

I love all of these wooden hoods, but like I mentioned, for our clients' kitchen, I think we need a separate material for the hood.

{image via justinetaylor.tumblr.com}

The standard chimney hoods would work perfectly.  I think they look amazing between cabinets: 

{image via The Decorista}

This one (below) is narrow and I love how this style calls attention to the tile backsplash:

{Better Homes & Gardens}

Here's another one and I think they work beautifully for smaller kitchens:


{House and Home....  mm mm mm!}

..And one last one in black, which would work perfectly for us.


{Elle Decor...  We are including very similar wood tones in our clients' design & I looooove this!!}

Anyway, I think adding the right hood can really make a kitchen and take it to the next level so I want to be sure to get just the right one.  What do you think?  What's style of hood would you pick for your dream kitchen? 
xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

ps-  If you are in the DC/ MD/ Northern Virginia area, our good friends Eddie Ross & Jaithan Kochar are coming this weekend for the DC Flea!!  They have a few spots left & I had the most amazing time when I went a few years back.  It's sooo worth it & they are so much fun.  They are some of our most supportive & loyal friends and if it weren't for my husband & I going on that flear market tour with our then-baby-Christian, we might never have connected with these amazing guys.  To read about the flea market tour & sign up, click here.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Some Vintage Cheer

I found a vintage table runner back in December while shopping the antique stores for Christmas.  I really liked the colors in it, they seemed so cheerful.

It is in great shape and seems to be begging for a summer tablescape.

Right now it will have to wait patiently while we spruce it up for spring.  The mug is Lenox, Opal Innocence Carved.

Have you made any great vintage finds lately?
Sherry
 I will link this to:
A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
White Wednesday  at Faded Charm
What's It Wednesdays  at Ivy and Elephants
Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations
Tea Party Tuesday  at Sweetology 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea  at Antiques and Teacups
Your Cozy Home Party  at Cozy Home Scenes

Love this Milk Bottle

You know those little things you find that are really no big deal but just make you so happy? They get you just a teensy bit more excited to do some sort of mundane thing?


 
Well, I found this adorable little milk bottle at Target the other week.    I've been filling it up at night so it's all ready to go for breakfast & because of this little bottle, I get to sit down so much quicker in the mornings & the table looks prettier.  Instead of standing at the bar fixing cereal for the kids with the gallon, I can just plop the bowls on the table with the cereal and SIT without having to go back to the fridge for more milk for seconds.  (That may not sound like such a big deal , but I'm pregnant and it is to me in the morning ;)   
 


It holds enough for a few bowls of cereal and a couple of little glasses of milk which is just right for us.  I've been using it for other meals too.  (Normally we have dinner all ready & we sit down & have forgotten our drinks & one of us is back up getting drinks.  Pretty much always.  Well, with the magic milk bottle (it's getting higher up in importantance to me as I write this post) we can just set out the glasses when the table's being set and plop the milk bottle on the table.  (It stays cold for a while too!)    I love this thing!!

I might have to go get more of these.  I'm not sure how many I'd need to empty a gallon... 

ps- I can't believe I just wrote an an entire post about a milk bottle, but I guess that's what blogs are for, right?

xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Along the Garden Path....

source: bhg.com via Sherry on Pinterest

I have been dreaming lately of my garden, with no lack of inspiration over at Pinterest.  The pins I am sharing today are a visual laundry list of things I would love to accomplish/try in my garden this year.    Above, it would be nice to create a little path somewhere....


I would like to use my galvanized containers this year.  Thanks to my Grandparents, I now have four!


It would be fun to try one of these fairy gardens.  Shirley has made a really cute one  in the basket above.


I have created a little romantic border like this by my fence.  This will be the first year to see it bloomed out.


Hubs has started on a 12x12 concrete square patio.  Ours isn't this pretty, but it is coming along.  I really like how dramatic little 12x12 concrete pavers can be.

source: flicker.com via Sherry on Pinterest

 And...last but not least I would love to see the roses take off spilling all over the border.  I would also love to add a David Austin rose.  This rose is 'Glamis Castle' by David Austin.

What are your gardening goals this year?
  Sherry
I will link with:
Pinning and Singing Party with Natasha at 5 Minutes Just For Me
Sunday's Best Party at My 1929 Charmer

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Home Sweet Home #55

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week has flown by.  I started with some spring cleaning and then here we are, it is Thursday already!  Well, we have officially started the Easter season this week so it is time to show off an Easter project.  

I saw something very similar to this over at Jeanne d'Arc Living .  Their eggs were covered in vintage newspaper.  I had some vintage sheet music that I found thrifting ( a stack of it for $7).  I thought it would be nice so that is what I used.  

Supplies needed for this project:
vintage sheet music
styrofoam eggs
Mod podge
scissors
paintbrush
large button pushpin

Instructions:
  • Cut the sheet music out into triangles and quadrilaterals sized to fit the surface of the egg.  (test this out first, some my be way too big)
  • Hold the egg form and starting at the top, "paint" with the Mod Podge.
  • Apply one piece of sheet music at a time, covering the egg and the top of the sheet music with Mod Podge.  Smoothing it as you go with your fingers.  Bumps don't matter, but smooth what you can.
  • Cover the whole surface of the egg fast enough that the Mod Podge doesn't start drying and getting sticky on you.  
  • To dry push the finished egg into a push pin with a large button top.  This forms a stand for your drying egg.  
  • Let it dry overnight and your done.
Now, I would like to feature some posts that got my attention from last week's Home Sweet Home!  

Deborah at The Fairfield House showed off a bathroom remodel that was gorgeous!  


Decorate With a Little Bit showed off her master bath and this lovely recovered chair.

 Carolyn at Aiken House & Gardens showed off her gorgeous vintage china.

Kelly at Eclectically Vintage showed off her fabulous newly remodeled kitchen.  

 Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!   It is wonderful to have you here!
Sherry
I will join these ladies today:
 Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
Thriftin' On a Thursday  at Savvycityfarmer
Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:
Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  
Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!
My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)
Now let's see your beautiful homes!