Kitchen Before & After

While these photos certainly don't demonstrate the most dramatic of transformations (not yet, at least), the new paint job in my galley kitchen is definitely an improvement! I've owned this house for five years and have repainted nearly every room except the kitchen...mainly because it needed the most work and felt the most daunting. Take a look at these before shots- peeling paint, mismatched finishes, a dull color to begin with, a ceiling that scared/scares me...

Oh my gosh- it gives me anxiety to look back at it! It was time for a change...a big one at that. So onto the Benjamin Moore site I logged and began to weigh my options digitally. I initially was leaning toward more of a greige but quickly realized that this space needed more cheerfulness after such a dull, drab green existence. 

The color Beach Haven with a Mascarpone trim won out in the end. Beach Haven is a great sandy beige with just a hint of yellow. I liked that it brought out the lighter tones in the travertine tile and kitchen counter...not that I picked those out to begin with but sometimes you gotta work with what you've got.

Now where to go from here? All of the drapes in the kitchen were handmade by moi just a few weeks after I moved in five years ago. They were my first project but they should probably be switched out now. I also keep referring back to Jessie Epley's fabulous home feature on the Glitter Guide. Her kitchen was such a cute and well decorated space. As you can imagine, I'm now in the kitchen styling zone...

1- Backsplash Tiles/ 2- St. Tropez Fabric/ 3- Chiang Mai Dragon Fabric/ 4- Perforated Ginger Jars/ 5- Sink Set/ 6- Painted Spoon Rest/ 7- Tea Towel

So now we officially enter phase 2, styling the space. I can't wait to show this little kitchen some love and give it the attention it deserves. Maybe then all my work will be done...probably not though. ;)

OKL Purchase

So I bought this today...

from One Kings Lane. And I'm excited. 

I've been on the hunt for an end table for a looong time. Currently in my living room, one actual end table exists while a plant stand sits next to the opposite end of the sofa. In fact, the only actual end table in the living room is a rattan hand-me-down from my parents that I promptly painted glossy black. Mistake? 

Regardless, it's time to work on stylin' up these babies. Since this bamboo butlers table won't play host to a lamp- a floor lamp will partner up with it- there's more room to play! 

Now what to dress it up with?

Rattan tray/ Vase/ Cabinet of Natural Curiosities/ Chiang Mai pillow/ Trina Turk pillow/ End table

Are you a member of One Kings Lane? If you aren't and want to be, leave me a message!

***Special note: I do not own this vase nor do I plan to spend $1500 on one. The pottery is Santa Fe is too beautiful not to share but splurging on it is not in my future.

It's All Greek To Me

via Jonathan Adler

If you've read my blog in the past, you may have seen my post about a dining room re-do.  I can report that nothing has happened, so far, except a bunch of brainstorming. Sigh...isn't that how all creative genius begins? Yes? Maybe?

In these brainstorms, sometimes, I think a semi-gloss navy wall paired these fine friends would do the trick:

personal photo

How can you go wrong with a Scalamandre, Schumacher, Ben Moore equation? True, the old bank account would get hurt but the result is pure perfection.

Other times, I think a Greek key partially wallpapered wall would be subtly stylish- just applied from the chair rail to the ceiling. This pattern can be subtle in taupe and grey or bold in black or any of the 30 Ben Moore color wheel options they match. How fun is that idea? 

 via Decor Pad

 via Decor Pad

via Decor Pad

And I'd be lying to you if I told you a lattice work wood didn't pop into my mind a time or two...maybe just on the ceiling, maybe just along the walls...

via Pinterest

Katie Lee Joel's house designed by Nate Berkus via Pinterest

Maybe on the ceiling AND the walls?

 Mix and Chic via Pinterest

At this point, the decision remains up in the air. How do you feel about wallpaper in your house? Or textured appliques? Or dark, glossy paint? I have very little experience with it all, personally, but do appreciate a strategically placed pattern any day of the week!