A New Purpose For The Wet Bar

 Sometimes I ask myself, why I kept the wet bar in the family room when we did the remodel.

Was it because there was one there already?

It seemed logical at the time.  But we've never used the dishwasher and the refrigerator is nice, but not necessary.  

I've always had difficulty staging this space.  

A bar is set up, along with glassware, but it just doesn't work.

My friend asked a question that got me to thinking:

"What if you used this space as a flower arranging and potting space?"

She suggested that I put the bar in the bookshelf on the opposite side of the room.

She also suggested that she come over and do it for me!

All I had to do was gather everything together...

 ...Like the concrete urns outside.

Bring them inside, fill them with orchids and flank them on either side of the sink.

Why didn't I think of that?

 She brought baskets to organize the drawers with tools, moss and gardening supplies.

 Then she started to organize and stage the zinc shelves.

Vases, planters and books were added.

Luckily, I had quite a few books on gardening and flower arranging. 

The more she added, the more the space took on a whole new purpose.

Now when I bring home flowers from the grocery store, or even the flower mart, I can just bring them straight in from the garage to this room.  Everything is at the ready to make my arrangements and centerpieces.

But what about the bar?

It's now across the room in the bookshelf!

I actually like it better!

I found little lamps from Restoration Hardware Baby that are perfect to illuminate the bottles and glassware.
 It's so romantic with them on at night.

Aged brass trays from Pottery Barn are perfect for holding the glassware and carafes and fit perfectly on the narrow shelves.

I'm loving the change in the family room!
A big thanks to my friend, organizer and stager extraordinaire.

Indigo Blue Love

It seems everywhere I look these days, I see lots of blue.
Not just any blue, but indigo blue.


Pottery Barn embraced indigo blue this spring with a new collection of plates and I'm in love!
No, I haven't purchased that platter, but instead just admiring its beauty in the store display.


Looking around the Burlingame Pottery Barn, I see indigo pillows...


...even blue and white buffalo check bedding.
They are definitely on trend!

I ended up buying a shibori indigo blue table cloth.

It's a nice touch for spring, don't you think?
I'm loving indigo blue!

Terra Cotta Floors In The Kitchen

The latest issue of Traditional Home features a kitchen with antique French terra cotta floors.

I'm kind of crazy for this floor, to say it mildly!

I actually toyed with the idea of terra cotta floors in our San Francisco house.

My idea was to tile the foyer and have it continue into the kitchen.  

Not quite sure why I abandoned this idea, especially after seeing this gorgeous kitchen in Trad Home.

This floor in Elle Decor featured kitchen is another example of a crisp white kitchen, anchored by a terra cotta floor.

Although the Traditional Home and Elle Decor kitchens looks fabulous with all white cabinets and white marble, notice how the floor above looks with charcoal cabinets and soapstone counters in this laundry room, designed by Gerry Smith of Remodelista.

Hexagon tiles are my favorite because the shape reminds me of honeycomb.

The variegated colors, along with the shape, gives the floor an old world feel.

Antique French tiles are the best source in achieving that old world look, but there are knock-offs as well, being produced in Mexico.

Years ago, I saw this home on a kitchen tour and I've never gotten it out of my head!
Perhaps that's when I fell in love with terra cotta tile.

The homeowner, Jamie Kidson preserved the integrity of the original kitchen using vintage tile as well as marble and white subway tile.
I'm still smitten with this room.

I absolutely love this kitchen, featured in Vogue. It looks like it's in a rural French farmhouse with its organic design and feel.

The random placement of rectangle tiles is easy on the eye and goes well with the rustic elements in the kitchen.

I am saving this photo from Country Living to my "Asti Kitchen" pinterest board.

I've been researching ideas and collecting inspiration for a future remodel.

This is the look I'm going for:

Terra cotta floors and black cabinets, soapstone and marble with white subway tile backsplash. 

Whether I choose hexagon or random squares, the floor has to be terra cotta! 

Oil Paintings In The Kitchen

Displaying vintage oil paintings in your kitchen is a nice way to add warmth and character to your decor.
I especially like still life paintings in my kitchen, like this painting of grapes sitting on the counter...


 ...and this little oil of a basket of cherries on the shelf with my white ironstone.


Looking online for more "oil painting in kitchens" inspiration, I came across some wonderful examples.
I love this painting of a copper pot mounted on a wall of marble.

 One of my favorite kitchens is this one.
The green cabinetry with marble and brass is absolutely magnificent and so original.


Adding a gallery of oil paintings is genius!

 
Designer Lauren Liess created a gallery wall in her kitchen that caught my eye.
I love the combination of portraits and landscapes.  

A couple of bucolic landscapes really stand out in an otherwise simple and clean kitchen vignette belonging to Catherine from In the Fields.  

No wall space?

Line up your art collection above the cabinets for added visual interest.

This black and white kitchen belongs to Janet from The Gardener's Cottage.  It is warmed up with the seagrass rug, crystal chandelier, bamboo shades and yes--the little oil painting over the range hood.

Just darling!

It's not hard to find vintage oil paintings like the portraits sitting on this open shelving.

Whether you prefer still lifes, portraits or landscapes, as long as they speak to you, you can begin an art collection to be displayed in your kitchen. 

Keep in mind, they don't have to be perfect! 

I'm always checking out antique stores, resell shops and garage sales for original art.

What do you think?

Would you display vintage oil paintings in your kitchen?

Happy Valentine's Day

A romantic dinner for two.

One setting for Madame...

...the other for Monsieur.

We'll be celebrating Valentine's Day in style!

What are your Valentine plans?

White Ironstone Love

 My love affaire with white ironstone began when I found this "pure butter" slab years ago at a home store in Sonoma.

I was smitten, and immediately tried to find more.

The problem was that I had no idea what to call it as I tried to locate more slabs on Ebay.

Dairy slab?  Bistroware? White ironstone with lettering.

Eventually, I found more!

One online store that still sells them is Joanne Hudson Basics.

Though, not inexpensive, their reproductions are still a bargain compared to a true antique.

A huge inspiration for collecting white ironstone came from this photo of a pantry from Joanne Hudson.  I would kill for this pantry--and the ironstone too!

 Eventually, I broadened my hunt to include white porcelain that had black wording.

 Sometimes I find them at Homegoods or Marshalls.

Sometimes, on Ebay.

Luckily, I've even found ironstone like the bowl above in antique stores.

These pieces were found in an antique store too.

They are quite old.

Recently, I discovered that West Elm carries white ironstone bowls and canisters, reasonably priced.

I'm loving this set of graduated bowls.

The whole collection is wonderful!

They work well in a black and white kitchen and go with just about everything.

Those bowls are calling my name!