What is on my mind....

via Decorpad....via House Beautiful

via Charles Edwards lighting

unknown

via Decorpad

via House Beautiful Peter Dunham

Any guesss?????

Elevations, inspiration, lighting scheme.  All on tracing paper.  I LOVE tracing paper...and how it makes my hands black (and sometimes my nose too!)

inspiration, my client loves these cabinets.

Very similar in layout to the kitchen I am designing.

THIS is what makes me happy (aside from my family, friends, health...etc:)  I am in it, in it deep, and loving every minute of it...YES, I am talking about my client's kitchen renovation.  We are down to the studs....one of the most exciting times in renovating...although my client just says, "Put it back together, PALEEASE!!!"

This is when the house 'speaks to you'...tells you what needs to be done....like we HAVE to have coffered ceilings now...bummer:)  Or that we gained 6 inches on one wall (that we needed badly, because of where the coffers will lay out)....Marc (the cabinet guy) and I both just looked at each other and said "knew we would find it somehow!)

I created elevations about a month ago,  things have been tweeked a little bit, but are coming together quite nicely.

The stove wall, 2nd iteration....measurements have been tweeked.

I have been working with the cabinet builder, Marc, which is so much fun.   I mean he is on it....with his Ipad, CAD  and everything...talk about loving to work with someone in the twenty first century. We literally sat on the phone (while I was driving to my parent's house on Friday) and hashed out the design, one cabinet at a time.  I have found that I have my Dad's analytical mind (measurements and all), and had a snapshot of it in my head and just designed and tweeked while driving, pulling measurements from my head.... can we say multitasking!  Normally, I am on the other side, at the computer while some one else dictates what will be changed....kind of fun having the tables turned:):)

This is when I hit my magazines and the internet.  Seeing how others have solved a problem.   Yesterday, I was looking at only coffered ceilings and how they meet up with the cabinets...did you know there are so many ways to make this happen.  A picture really is worth a thousand words, and really helps the client and the contractor visualize what you were thinking.  (have I mentioned before I LOVE my magazines). 

just one example....without the decoration. This photo is from a kitchen's magazine from 2 years ago!

We also came up with the lighting plan....this always makes me sweat a little bit....hands shake.  I think it is a little bit of nervous and a little bit of excitement.   We have had to do away with a window to make more room, so lighting is incredibly important....I have also found a way to maximize the window that we have.  So excited about this one...but, that my friends is for another post....gotta keep you interested!



Have a wonderful day...it is just gorgeous here!

My kitchen..you can read more about the renovation here...I did a "renovation in week" series.  Kind of summed up the kitchen reno, and what we learned...which was ALOT!  I also learned that this is what I LOVE to do:)

I have my first "client"!!!  She read my little ad, had no idea that I was striking out in the world of interiors.  She had seen my kitchen, known that I did the design and managing of the project, and said "will you help us with our kitchen reno!"  I said YES OF COURSE!  We have had our initial meetings, done a few initial drawings, and they are soon to start the demolition process for a kitchen.  FUN!  You NEVER know what is going to be behind those walls.  (they are knocking a couple down).  I CAN'T WAIT!  I will also be helping them with the living, dining, and keeping room interiors. We both wore green to our initial meeting, need I say more!!

They are doing a kitchen renovation of a galley.  I personally love a galley kitchen, they are truly functional, are easy to maintain, and if designed right can be quite functional for a bigger family.  If you think about it, many of the big island kitchens work in a galley format.  My kitchen was a galley style that we converted into a larger kitchen, but the function of the cooking/cleaning/fridge space still continues the galley work style.  I think that is why I love to cook in it so much, it is so functional! (the cleaning is another story!)

MY galley before...I know, right?????  My how things have changed!

DEFINED: A galley kitchen is a parallel, two-walled kitchen whose long and narrow walls are filled with cabinets and appliances. You can walk through the center as if it is a long hallway.

Via Southern Living

via Southern Living Idea House

via Better Homes Beautiful Kitchens designed by Kathleen Navarra

via House Beautiful Ina Garten's Pied a terre in New York, I bet the food that is turned out in this kitchen is phenomenal!

via Amy Meir Design one of my new favorite Designers