Succulents in a Suitcase!

Look what I found last weekend at Sienna Antiques in Petaluma.

Although this cement planter isn't an antique, I didn't care because I immediately had plans for it.

Cast from an old suitcase, this thing weighs a ton! I knew it would be great planted with succulents. But first, it had to find a permanent home as it is too heavy to move around.

I decided to put it on this outdoor coffee table. The top is marble, which is great because there are drain holes at the bottom of this container. I don't have to worry about protecting the surface.

After planting the succulents, I got the idea to tuck in some lichen covered branches.

I added the stone candlesticks, brought in a few linen pillows, and voila!

I'm so happy with the final result!

Can't wait to sit here this evening and enjoy the new table top vignette, the view and a glass of wine with hors d'oeuvres.

Mr. A and I are taking a few days off and staying in the country until tomorrow. It's nice to have the time to do a little project like this, and just putter around. We're enjoying this unusual cool summer weather which is nice for working outside in the garden.

I'm joining Susan today at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

Then on Tuesday, I'm joining Marty for Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life.

Also, I'll join Tiffany at Making the World Cuter for the first time.

On Wednesday, I'll join Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Thanks Ladies for hosting!

The Evolution of Our Kitchen

Our kitchen has gone through a couple of mini remodels since we bought the house eleven years ago.

In 2001, we replaced the tile countertops with this granite. It was honed St. Cecelia. Eventually, I realized that I wanted polished, so now it's kind of polished, but not quite!

I could never figure out why the previous owners didn't center this cooktop! It has bugged me forever! I ended up creating this backsplash without a center focus, so as not to attract attention to the stove's placement. I fantasize about ripping it all out and putting the largest commercial range possible here!

The little cabinet on the wall used to be pine. I recently painted it white.

The island was also pine and I painted it black. Why you ask? Because the pine was dated (circa 1989) and really beat up.

When the countertops were replaced, I had this farmhouse sink installed. I still love it!

At the time I painted the cabinets, I also replaced the double ovens and dishwasher with stainless steel. The old appliances were at the end of their life, and I love stainless!

I replaced the panels on the refrigerator with stainless too.

The family room is just off the kitchen. My kids keep trying to talk me into getting a sectional sofa! But, they don't live here anymore, so I'm sticking to this traditional arrangement!

Notice the Charles Faudree book on the coffee table. I have to say he is my biggest influence when it comes to how I decorated this space.

The fireplace also used to be pine with embellishments. I took off the "gingerbread," sanded it and painted it black to tie in with the kitchen island.

This photo shows how it opens up to the eating area and the backyard.

Our casual dining area. When we bought the house, there was a flush mount light on the ceiling. I couldn't wait to hang a proper chandelier. I also hung my collection of majolica plates above the window.

So there you have the evolution of our kitchen! We plan on selling this house in a couple of years so it doesn't make sense to do any thing more. But! If we stayed here forever.....I would definitely replace the countertops! I just love Carrera marble! Next house.....

I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Also to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.

Thanks ladies for hosting!

Designed to Sell

Friday, was the completion of a project I've been working on.

I was brought in to help get this home ready to sell in just a few weeks time.

The homeowners have lived in this house for 26 years, raised three children, and are ready to downsize and move on to the next stage in their lives.

Five years ago, I designed their living room. I had a red living room at the time and the homeowner fell in love with it. So, she got a red living room too, as well as new floral sofa and plaid club chairs and a new rug.

We also chose the yellow and red toile wallpaper for her dining room at that time.

Here is the dining room today, staged to sell. I updated the look with a grain sack table runner and burlap on the buffet. New plants from the wholesale nursery complete the room.

Here is their kitchen with the original cabinet perfectly preserved.

The rest of the kitchen was recently remodeled with cherry cabinets and granite countertops.

A close up of the original leaded glass cabinet filled with the homeowner's beloved Mackenzie Childs glasses.

There is a lovely tumbled marble backsplash.

A den at the back of the house opens to a lovely deck and pool.

I brought in the seagrass rug, coffee table, burlap skirted table, and plants, and had the walls painted Benjamin Moore's Hilton Head Cream.

Miss Molly doesn't know what to think of that seagrass rug!

This was the homeowner's son's bedroom. A new coat of paint, seagrass rug and a lot of pillows from Pottery Barn changed up this room nicely.

The downstairs vintage bathroom was given a coat of deep blue paint. New shower curtain, white towels and a rag rug give it a crisp nautical look.

The upstairs master bedroom also got a coat of Hilton Head Cream paint,

a new seagrass rug, and all new bedding from Pottery Barn.

The sitting room was transformed from an office with built in cabinets. Now it can be visualized by a buyer as a nursery or sitting room.

Miss Molly loves the new bedding.

There is a vintage master bath too. New paint, new white towels and shower curtain give it a spa like feel.

The backyard has a lovely pool and spa. It was spruced up with new deck paint and the bricks were power washed. We filled lots of pots with geraniums and staged the table for an al fresco meal.

Recognize the placemats and dishes? This photo was taken before the finished product as there are now geraniums as a centerpiece to complete the table.

It's not easy selling your home, especially after 26 years. A lot of effort went in to preparing this house to sell. But we did it, and we hit our target date too.

So Friday, the sign went in the front yard, the homeowners left town for the weekend and my friend Maureen held the first open house.

The price? $1,750,000

For more photos and a professional virtual tour, click here.

I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

My Biggest Design Challenge Yet!

Number One Son moved in to a San Francisco studio apartment in the heart of the Mission District. He asked me to help him "decorate" his new space. It is my biggest design challenge yet! This is the kitchen, which is actually kind of cute.

The budget? A Big Fat Zero! So, we shopped my garage for cast-offs!

This is the 10 x 14 foot living space. What I put in this room had to multi-task.

I like that there is a half wall dividing the living area from the kitchen. It makes everything feel so much larger. There is a decent size closet, but a very tiny bathroom.

This is the breezeway that leads to the apartment. I felt good that a locked iron gate keeps everyone out except the tenants who share this little hidden area.

At the end of the breezeway is a private courtyard which is shared by all 4 tenants. My son already has plans to plant an herb garden for his culinary pursuits.

So here are the "after" pictures. The rug was a cast-off of mine, but perfect for him as it isn't floral! A twin bed does double duty as a sofa when guests visit. There are three large square cushions to lean against the wall.

The oak dresser was a splurge. $125 at a local thrift store. It will multi-task as a lamp table and a buffet if he entertains. The ottoman can be called to duty as extra seating. The small bookshelf will eventually hold his collection of books.

Next to the half wall is this small table with two chairs. Perfect for dining or working at the computer.

The kitchen has a nice built-in bookshelf for his many cookbooks and jars of spices. He is very excited to cook in his new kitchen, although the oven doesn't work and the refrigerator has an ice box that is full of ice!

It is hard to believe that this little studio apartment costs $1150/month! Actually, for San Francisco, it is a bargain.

I feel good that I was able to come up with just the right amount of furniture to not only serve a purpose, but look good too. There are plans to paint the walls in the living area and hang some art, but for now Number One Son is settled in and loving his new apartment!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Be sure to visit the other participants for more before and after photos.

Dinner with the Sinclair Sisters

What a small world! My friend Heather is sister-in-law to Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes in Houston!

Heather was visiting Leslie when we were there, so for our last night in Houston, we were invited to Leslie's home for wine, and later dinner at the best Mexican restaurant I've ever been to! That's Leslie on the left, Heather on the right. How cute are they?

We were greeted at the door with a "Big Fat Houston Welcome:"

This grand stairway and the very hospitable "Sinclair Sisters."

Maureen and Heather toasting. What a fun evening! Six women, all glad to meet each other, sip wine and share our common love of design and antiquing.

We were so happy to get a tour of Leslie's home, starting with the kitchen. The cabinets were finished in a lovely sage green. I love how she mixed the different finishes, especially for the cooktop, giving it a feel of a large piece of furniture.

Here is her living room. What a visual feast!

This is a close-up of her fireplace mantle that of course has a wonderful Segreto Finish.

The ceiling has an intricate stencil pattern. No surface in Leslie's house goes untouched!

In many ways, it is like her laboratory!

She is such an artist. Here is an example of turning a typical mahogany four poster bed into a work of art.

I was loving the linen bedcovering Leslie had made for her bed as well as the aubusson pillows.

I couldn't believe this built in cabinet was once white! She gave it an old world finish, complete with faux marble top!

This trumeau mirror and daybed is in the master bathroom. Gorgeous finishes in here too.

Like this lovely mural which surrounds the bathtub. What a nice way to take a mini vacation to Italy!

This is Leslie's office. The walls are lined with framed projects and magazine articles. Photos of her with the late Patrick Swayze and Beyonce. She has worked so hard to build her business. Just this month, her work was featured in House Beautiful and on the cover of Veranda. Please visit her website for more examples of her work here.

Thank you Leslie and Heather for a fun evening. And thank you Leslie for inviting us four California girls into your home. I look forward to your visit to California so we can reciprocate!

Because Segreto Finishes is such an example of transforming furniture and surfaces into works of art, I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.