"Is That A New Window??"--A Perception Changing Kitchen Re-Do

I love the unexpected things people delight in after a room is completed.  Like the perception that there is a "new" window in this kitchen....although it isn't new at all,  just newly appreciated!

This kitchen, new in 1991, was quite the hang out for family gatherings...but the owners couldn't figure out why no one ever sat at the table --the place in the room with beautiful sunlight & the best view.  Everyone instead always gathered around the peninsula--crowded really--with the view of the door to the garage, of all things. They acted as though that big space behind them didn't exist. I know this to be the truth, having squeezed in there myself on many a Christmas Eve, since this is my step-father's kitchen.

Here was the eating area before....

You can see the old kitchen was dissected by the peninsula....

and seemingly half of the space in the room was never used. Just silly.

My family asked me if I would help them figure out how to make the kitchen work better (my favorite thing to do!) and they had lots of thoughts and questions about what might be the best solutions: Should the cooktop in the peninsula be removed so it wasn't in the way while entertaining? Maybe a high top table would make the eating area more attractive to people?  What elements of the current kitchen could be retained/re-used?

When I sat down to work on the space on paper, I knew I wanted to stretch the room along its length, making it seem bigger, creating a better focus when looking into the room from the adjacent family room, highlighting its architectural features, and, of course, putting the existing space to its best use. I am very happy to say that now the project is done, there are rave reviews, and every inch of the kitchen is well used and loved.  Whenever someone is in the kitchen, they now find themselves sitting, relaxing, and enjoying the view out of that "new" window.

The existing tile floor was in great shape, so it was left in place and we worked the palette for the new room around it. I think the new complimentary wall, cabinet, and countertop colors give the old floor a fresh and updated feel....once again, it is hard to believe it was there all along.

The kitchen sink remains in the same spot, as does the refrigerator....

 but now with the new island, the cook has his or her own space while still being able to visit with those who sit on the other side of the counter.The separate cooktop was switched for a slide in range, creating more counter space and working more efficiently for how the family actually used their kitchen.

I hope that seeing all of these possibilities inspires you to creatively think about rooms in your own house. What features does your house have that aren't currently being enjoyed to their fullest? What  already works well?  What can be given a whole new or new purpose?  Even if you aren't in the market for a big renovation, small changes can bring about big results.

Branching Out

A few weeks ago, I had the surprise and honor of being asked to help design the tables for a bar mitzvah for a dear friend's son.  I love doing new things, and learning that the theme for the event was going to be centered on TREES...wow! Couldn't wait to get started!! Here is a picture of the prototype that I threw together as we prepared, using somethings I had on hand, and the materials that Mary Ellen, my client and friend, had purchased previously. 

We arrived early that Saturday morning, convinced the friendly but somewhat imposing police officer at the borough building to lend us the key to the adjacent hall, and swung open the doors to the space needing our attention.

I forgot to wear my photographer's cap that day, but nonetheless, I have a few shots to show a bit of how the finished product looked.

I wanted to evoke the feeling of a forest floor on each of the tables, so we used a number of elements to bring a lush, textured collection for each arrangement.  Using river rock, live plants, a variety of mosses, small votives, and tree branches that Mary Ellen had gathered from her own yard, each table received its own vignette.

We had decided to use a tray on each table to pull the arrangements together. The ones that Mary Ellen had found were a textured glass, and to me they were reminiscent of a little creek burbling by.

The side table which was used for place cards and gifts, had its own treatment with sanded manzanita branches, burlap table cloth, and a big hunk of an oak tree. 

Here is the table with the branches lit.

And the room ready for a celebration!

Mazel tov, Steven!

Flowers of Freedom

It has been so cold. It has been so icy. It has been so WHITE everywhere for the LONGEST time.  When I got up yesterday morning, I felt compelled to go get a little slice of spring and bring it home with me. I am having a few ladies over this evening (can't wait!) --seems we were all reading the same book, so why not discuss it over a glass of wine?? All the more reason to go to the flower market.

The book that we will be discussing, Martha Beck's Steering By Starlight, talks about thinking of the things you do during the course of your day, and rating them by how they make you feel, "shackles on" or "shackles OFF." Well, I don't think that it is any surprise that working with flowers is a complete SHACKLES OFF activity for me, that further leads to SHACKLES OFF feelings each time I walk past them in the house thereafter.

Doesn't it just make you want to stick your nose in it and breathe deeply?

Ahhhhh.....

I had so much fun assembling the arrangements, and putting them all through the house.  I tucked some in my little wall pocket vase next to my kitchen sink...

on the kitchen table...

and I was sure to put some beside my bed....a real way to pamper oneself!

And, of course, in the dining room where I will be hosting tonight's get-together.

Almost makes me not mind having to go out and shovel some more snow off the drive before everyone arrives... Almost.