Own Your Style: A Cheerful Winter Wardrobe

The first couple months of every New Year is my favorite time to 

clean and organize my closets.

Is is yours too?

No room is off limits.  

Kitchens, bathrooms and pantry's are usually full of weird odds and ends

 that end up in the garbage pail.  

Why do I always have an extra can of pumpkin?

and what's up with all the red pepper flakes?

Clothes closets are always challenging because it's sometimes hard to giveaway a beloved skirt or handbag that might be the item you wish you had saved down the road. 

 Remember that denim skirt you made from a pair of jeans Sophomore year?  

Yea that one....don't ya wish you still had it?

BTW....just for laughs google: home made jeans skirt...no words can describe these skirts

 how about the tooled leather thingy from Cabo circa 1993

(clearly a case of too much Cerveza)

  I actually have seen furniture that I have sold/consigned or donated show up in antique malls.  

Always a weird feeling....especially when I see the prices!!

I recently consigned two side tables....which I received $250 dollars for....not too shabby 

about a week later I ran into them (hello tables) in a rather upscale antique mall

priced at $1250

really? 

weirder yet, I looked inside to see if I had left anything!

even weirder, the shop owner said 

"can I help you with anything?"

to which I answered:

"yes, I would like to buy these amazing tables for

one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars"

just kidding about the last part 

but I did peek to see if my book was still in the drawer

 Last year I did a major purge and it felt really great.

So this year is more about organizing the things I wear over and over again 

and updating accessories and basics 

I tossed a few pairs of old boots, which was actually kinda hard ; )

truth:  I rescued a pair of Frye riding boots at the very last minute....I felt like I was saving a dear friend from certain disaster.  

They will eventually find their way back into the donation box.  

That's what boots do....they go walking

I did purchase these

this is a beautiful basic black boot that hits just below the knee,

they look great with everything and were soft and comfortable right out of the box...always a plus because I'm just not into blisters any more, I don't care how awesome the shoe is!

not sure if you can still find this boot 

it's the Suzie boot from Sigerson Morrison

always a staple for me are light weight running/walking shoes 

which look great with jeans and khaki's

These are New Balance 711's 

love these in black and the other fun colors

hoarder alert...I own 3 pair! 

I wear my fave vintage Donna Karen Collection (circa 2004) cashmere coat with everything...

it even looks good with pajamas ; ))

 love this coat from Theory

It has a wonderful menswear appeal

 Invested (luggage is an investment) in some new duffels 

and totes from Filson

In addition to being beautifully made these should last forever...

probably much longer than I will want to keep using them, cause forever is a really long time

 I love/need a big cross body that I can open up and see everything I've thrown in there 

and this one can double as a weekender in a pinch 

Will someone please write a post about purses and analyze why we put so much stuff in them...

it's truly amazing.

It's as if we women were taught at an early age that the ability to cram your entire life 

into a smallish bag 

(which you will then carry around you neck until you need surgery)

 is part of growing up...but I digress

I love white and cream in the winter too and found some great Levi 501's in white

these are a boyfriend fit and a bit distressed 

super cute and comfy

found these at Macys.com ...I think they were around $50 dollars 

add a few more lovelies like a great big chunky black sweater

and a floral scarf and your sure to feel cheerful

even in the rain

Eddie Bauer

Cath Kidson

other items:

Sunnies: Krewe

Watch: Longines

Jeans:  Polo

Blue boyfriend shirt:  Polo  

I didn't use links but you know how to get there ; ))

xo

The Kitchen Considered, Chapter 3: Going Grey

 The kitchen is moving right along...in fact it is finished!!!!
but I haven't had much time to share the details
so here we go:

Once the cabinets are installed, the majority of the
construction issues and design decisions

 have been worked out

 One of the hardest decisions I needed to make on this project is what color to paint the cabinets...do I stick with the tried and true white
or try something different?

after all it's only paint right?!

We mocked up about 6 different color ideas 

ranging from a dusty chalky white
to a really dark grey

I looked at colors from Benjamin Moore,
Restoration Hardware, Martha Stewart,
Dunn Edwards and Farrow and Ball... etc etc

who knew there are so many beautiful greys to choose from

It was interesting how the Restoration Hardware greys
almost looked purple
 next to some of the other paint companies we looked at

 In the end I chose this really nice true medium grey
 from Farrow and Ball

 called Lamp Room Grey

My 2nd choice was another Farrow and Ball color
Pavilion Grey

The walls will be painted Benjamin Moore
White Dove

There will be two types of stone used,

 Soapstone which is almost black once it's oiled 

and Carrera marble

The slabs of Carrera used for this project
are more grey, than white, which was what I was looking for

 I think the grey cabinets will be very interesting

 with the stone choices

The color on the right is Farrow and Ball
Cornforth White
which looks amazing with Carrera marble too

I will definitely use this color for another project

 Once the cabinets were installed,
 I realized that there was an opportunity to add another
large cabinet for additional pantry storage and cook books...

so we re-worked the large cabinet to the right

 I think sometimes people are hesitant to change things as the work progresses but in the end always insist on what you really want, even if it causes a delay,
because doing

 a kitchen is a huge important  project....
and you might really regret not having that little extra "thing"
you really wanted
in the end

We have really taken time with planning electrical options as well,
because I will have lamps on the floating shelves
and in the servers for ambient light....

can you guess which lamps?

 Soapstone is quarried at 3 centimeters
which is thicker than granite and marble but it is  very soft
 and can crack along the lighter grey variations in the slabs

 Often fabricators will add mesh or metal
to the back for more stability

Soapstone typically gets a simple eased edge
but can be fabricated with different ogee edges
if you like that look

 On the opposite end of the kitchen, where the table will be,
 I designed two servers and a storage bench,
which will have cushions and pillows

 The servers are topped with Carrera and have ample storage above and below for linens, party platters, candles and all of the other spill over items
that any kitchen usually has

The marble got a fancier edge detail too

I designed a center island on wheels
which will have a Carrera top as well

 Here we are with the stone installed
and the Lamproom grey color
going on the cabinets

 The big stainless farm sink is really great and
definitely
 a contemporary statement,
 but this is a modern country kitchen

I know what your thinking right now...

"why did she do stainless and not a big
Shaw's porcelain sink?"

Because it's been done over and over and over again!

I did price out doing the sink in soap stone
but there are always
 issues with drainage and leaking
 so I picked the stainless


And I love the idea of metal with this black stone

 There will be pendants above the sink
with the rest of the ceiling lighting being
semi flush with prismatic shades

a total of 11 fixtures

 A large slab of Carrera will go
behind the stove between the shelves
and the range hood is brushed stainless like the sink

When I took these photos we were on about week 5 or 6
and let me tell you
I have about had enough of microwaved casseroles for a life time...not to mention washing my dishes in the garage was starting to become sort of "normal",
how scary is that?



Hope you liked the tour!



I will share some more kitchen details on upcoming posts


happy remodeling

 kelley

The Kitchen Considered: Chapter 1

A kitchen renovation is right around the corner

so here are a few inspiring kitchens

I apologize for not having the name of the people or 

publications involved with these photos, 

but most have shown up somewhere in blog land...some over and over again

Which tells me they are simply wonderful kitchens!

Designing your kitchen is perhaps the most important room in a home renovation.  How many houses have you walked into, whith a great kitchen and it just makes your heart skip a beat!

I know right!

Sooooooo....

Here is what I am thinking about my kitchen design:

Most new kitchens have very few upper cabinets and lots of open shelving

White tile seems to still be strong 

as is stainless steel

Grey is definitely on the list!

The kitchen above is a favorite for sure

Country kitchens are lovable still

Lots of interesting center islands

Beautiful windows are on the list

Dark stone is pretty wonderful

Farmhouse sinks 

are 

still happening

A pop of color....maybe?

Reclaimed wood used in unexpected ways

Interesting pendant lighting

 is a "must have"

Long and spacious countertops

if you have the room

Family friendly

Definately not boring!

Favorite movie knock offs... 

still going strong...just ask your cabinet maker!

Celebrity chef knock offs too...

Who doesn't still love Ina's kitchen?

Just plain wonderful kitchens

every where I look

where to start?

What is your favorite?

I'll take the one above today

&

Let's have a cup of coffee together !

Happy Monday

xo

Kelley