Sheltering In Place

 We've been ordered to shelter in place, here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It's day three and I'm still wandering around the house aimlessly trying to process this new normal.

There are so many questions....

How long will we be quarantined?  

Is it safe to go to the store if we run out of supplies?   

What's going to happen with my hair?  

Will I go gray now?  

What the heck are we going to do while shut in?

Well, after thinking for three days about this, I made a to do list.

Catch up with all the Netflix shows.

Sit by the fire and read.

Take the dog for a walk at least twice a day.

Putter in the garden.

Turn off the news and spend time together with the pets.

Take our time to cook nutritious meals.
(Mr. A's specialty.)

Sit at my desk to study and be inspired.

It's especially important to practice self care at this time.

Light candles.

Listen to music.

Take a walk.

Eat a balanced diet.

Meditate.

Write a blog post about sheltering in place.

I feel better already!

Are you sheltering in place or self quarantining?

Please let me know how you are coping.

We're all in this together.

The Guest Bathroom Reveal

The hallway bathroom, or the guest bathroom also got a complete remodel during the renovation.

Not just replacing tile, but relocating all the fixtures, as well as the doorway entrance.

Here is the before photo.  

The vanity is now where the tub was, the toilet is now where the sink was and the shower is where the toilet was.

 

I sacrificed a bathtub for a larger shower with a built in bench, using the same Carrara marble subway tile as the master.
I chose a simple hexagon floor tile in marble as well.

Here is the in progress photo.


We ended up also replacing the window with a smaller window with obscure glass.

I only had 57 inches to work with for the vanity.

I chose a navy blue 49 inch vanity from Signature Hardware, complete with marble top and sink.

I really wanted to give a nod to the nautical theme in here.

Hence, the seashell mirror and ship painting over the toilet...

...and a rope mirror over the vanity.

Ideally, this bathroom would be an ensuite to the guest bedroom, but there was no way we could make that happen.

The guest bedroom is just across the hall from the bathroom, so I made sure to coordinate them.

Navy walls, ship painting and paisley bedding create an illusion of an ensuite guest quarters.

I call it ensuite-ish.

Sources:

Vanity:  Signature Hardware

Bath and Sink Faucets:  Newport Brass

Toilet:  Kohler

Marble Tile:  Carraramarble.com

Sconces:  Circa Lighting

Mirror:  Homegoods

Bedroom Wall Color:  BM Van Deusen Blue

Duvet:  One Kings Lane

Bed, Rug and Nightstands:  Pottery Barn

Lamps, Paintings and Shell Art:  Vintage

Dog:  Maltese Terrier Mix

The Powder Room Reveal

  I was bound and determined to carve out a powder room when we bought this house.

I dreamed of creating a little jewel box room with fabulous wallpaper and a marble sink.


This is a difficult room to photograph which is why I have't shared it yet.
So here is the big reveal!
The marble sink came from RH and fits perfectly between the 36 inch wide wall.

 Of course the wallpaper was my jumping off point.

It's called Raphael from Sanderson.

I mounted the sconces on the side walls, so it's nice that they have half shades.

I already had the mirror!

 Opposite the sink is the toilet.

I found the floral print at a little shop in the wine country and love how it contrasts with the wallpaper.

I had so much fun designing this little jewel box room!

To see how this space began, all the way down to the studs and plans:

"The Open Concept Plan"

Sources:

Sink:  Restoration Hardware
Faucet:  Newport Brass

Mirror:  Ballard Designs

Wallpaper:  Sanderson, "Raphael"

Sconces:  Perigold

New Curtains In The Kitchen

 When the kitchen/family room curtains were installed last week, it was like Christmas!

I love how they finish the room and bring everything together.

Here is the same wall without the curtains.

As you can see, something is missing.

I chose off white linen for the custom made drapes because the white picks up the background of the botanical series in the room.

It's also a nice contrast to the grasscloth.

With the drapes finally installed, the kitchen remodel is complete which is a nice feeling!

My Organized Pantry

 My pantry is a jack of all trades!
 It is a food pantry, a dish pantry and flower arranging pantry, depending on what door you open.

Behind Door #1 is our food storage.
I like to corral extra drinks, pet food and miscellaneous food in baskets to keep everything looking neat and organized.  Cookbooks and small appliances also live in this cupboard.

Baskets make everything look better, don't you agree?

Between Door #1 and Door #2 is a wet bar and wine refrigerator.

The glass bistro shelving is an opportunity to display some of my glassware collection.

The sink also allows me to arrange flowers which brings me to Door #2!

Behind Door #2 are all the vases, flower pots, moss...

...and candles and candlesticks.

I put the candles in a shallow wicker tray so they're easy to see.

Likewise, the glass vases look better when they're all corralled on a tray.

I love bringing home flowers and having everything at my fingertips, as well as the sink close by to help create arrangements.

Behind Door #3 is where I store my dishes.

Not all my dishes, but a large percentage of chargers, majolica and miscellaneous dish ware.

Sets of flatware sit on the floor.

In between Door #3 and 4 is currently a bar cart, but eventually it will be replaced with a desk.

And finally, behind Door # 4 are more dishes and glassware.

This cupboard is still a work in progress, but I made it as neat as possible for this post.

This room has been my salvation!

It served as a temporary kitchen when ours was being remodeled.

But also, it allowed me a place to store so much of what I've collected over the years.

I've said many times, it was a major factor when we bought the house.

I love how it's just off the dining room, as well as the kitchen.

If we ever have a dinner party, the pantry room, wet bar or whatever you want to call it will come in very handy for creating a tablescape.

Want more pantry inspiration?
I'm joining 9 other bloggers today who are sharing their pantries and organization tips.
Be sure to pay them a visit!
Classic Casual Home
After Orange County
Driven by Decor
Rough Luxe Lifestyle
Modern Glam
Most Lovely Things
My Sweet Savannah
Northern California Style
Sheri Silver

New Kitchen Reveal

Our kitchen was finally completed in November and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

I have to say, I was a little nervous with the black backsplash choice, but in the end, I wouldn't change a thing. 

 

 The countertops and backsplash are honed granite which mimics soapstone.  I designed the curved stone behind the stove to highlight the copper pots.  

 The grasscloth wallcovering was always the plan.  I've had it for a long time and luckily there was more than enough to wrap the entire kitchen and family room walls.

I especially love how it works with the backsplash.

 At the opposite end of the room, we hung the tv on the wall with the pine buffet anchoring it.

Gray herringbone chairs flank the buffet.  

A soft leather sofa faces the tv.

I had the electrician install the library lights not knowing what would end up on the walls.

I found these botanical prints to fill up the big wall which was too shallow to put a piece of furniture on it. 

 

The new French doors will be dressed with white linen drapes offering both privacy and respite from the afternoon sun.

I remember a day when all metals had to match.  It's still being done, but I chose to mix the metals.  There's the polished nickel hardware and faucet mixed with the gilded island pendants and sconces.  Brass library lights, bronze door hardware, and don't forget the copper pots!  It all works.

It's hard to believe this project is finished! 

Sources:

Cabinets:  Brookhaven

Cabinet hardware:  RH

Sink:  Kohler

Faucet:  Newport Brass

Stove:  Wolf

Dishwasher:  Bosch

Refrigerator:  Fisher & Paykel

Microwave:  Sharp

Countertops and backsplash:  Honed "mist" granite

Wallcovering:  Jeffrey Phillips grasscloth

Sofa and chairs:  Pottery Barn

Bar cart:  Serena and Lily

Pendants and sconces:  Aiden Gray

Library lights:  RH

Botanicals:  OKA

It's Starting To Look Like A Kitchen!

 How happy am I that the cabinets were installed last week?

Absolutely thrilled! 

Not only were they installed, but the crown moulding also went in.

The countertops were templated and are waiting for the black granite.

What's that on the side of the cabinet you ask?

After much indecision, I decided to put sconces on the cabinet sides, instead of over the window.

 

The range hood also went in.

Kind of like the nose on the face, it just completes that wall.

Except for the backsplash...

Here is my backsplash inspiration.

I know, it's a lot of black, but I'm obsessed with this idea.

The stone will only go under the cabinets, but under the hood, it will transition like this.

I plan on hanging a pot rack just under the hood and hang copper pots.

Things are really moving along fast now.

The floors are scheduled for next week!

Stay tuned....