Wouldn't You Just Love To...

House Beautiful 2011 Kitchen of the Year with Tyler FLorence

prepare a Sunday brunch feast on that butcher block island?

And those swing arm lamps all in a row over the sink. Don't even get me started.

Such a dream. Do you have the kitchen of your dreams?

What is one indulgence you'd love to have in your kitchen?

Everything But The Kitchen Sink.

Farm House Sink?

House Beautiful

Fiesty Design

Bright Bazaar

Or Classic Undermount?

Pinterest

Sea Grass Interiors

Pinterest

This & That - full butcher block install tutorial here

Young House Love

Which do you prefer? I'm still out to lunch on this one. Both styles are so beautiful!

I Want To Move In.

On any given day I could gush over Jenny's post from the day before. Time and time again, her projects are a perfect mix between the innovative and the classic. Her look is identifiably fresh and current, yet remains loyal to the principles of classic design. To sum it up, every time I view her work, I want to move in! Here is her NYC kitchen where she lives with her husband and three little girls. Gorgeous!

Moody shades of blue and black are lightened and brightened by pops of white

The "island" blows me away. Jenny repurposed a thrifted dresser they've had for years.

A few coats of BEHR's Night Shade and some white trim transform the piece.

And the Carerrra marble top? Jenny removed it from a $70 antique coffee table....

How well am I hiding my jealousy at the present moment? :)

Look at the transformation!

From the original...

...to a new chipboard back...

...the painter's tape to create perfect white lines...

...and Jenny used a cup to create perfect rounded edges on the white trim...

And don't even get me started on the Kilim rug, bright pink peonies, and orange LeCreuset in the background. Styled to perfection Jenny!

My Home Tour: Kitchen Details.

I forgot to share some of my favorite details yesterday when I posted about my little kitchen. Although very minor, they make the space feel a little more special and a little more me.

(A detail of my chalkboard in good use. Transporting me somewhere in the middle of summer. A can of chalkboard paint will only run you around $10, and I bought mine at JoAnn's with a 40% off coupon. For just over $5 it's provided lots of happiness.)

(White chalk is the color of choice around here, but when I'm out, pink will have to do.)

(Lining the inside of cabinets is a great way to add color to a space that needs a little pop. In my case, I wanted to change the cabinets in the only way possible. Although the tie-dye is a bit over the top, it works since I adopted a more is more attitude in the space.)

(Love the way it looks with my favorite Anthropologie bowls. The mug is from Anthro too.)

(I posted a few helpful tidbits inside my cabinets. Facts such as conversion charts for cooking measurements and a proper place-setting diagram could all be googled in a minute or two, but having this information handy has proved useful. And it makes me feel so very Martha Stewart.)

(Just incase you were curious.)

Thanks for stopping by! See you tomorrow!

UPDATE: A reader brought it to my attention that I didn't explain how I did the lined cabinets. I used fabric and Tacky glue, a small dot in all four corners (since I'm renting and didn't want to do permanent damage). I found the fabric at an estate sale for about $5 and it was enough to do all cabinets. Very easy!

Paper works well too! Check out the second image in this post for another beautiful example: http://athousandlaughingstarfish.blogspot.com/2010/10/quadrille.html

I would love to see pictures if anyone tries it! You can send them to heidi.atlsdesign@gmail.com. Can't wait to see your work :)

My Home Tour: Kitchen.

Kitchens should be open and airy. Filled with beautiful cabinetry, an envy worthy backsplash, and pendent lights to drool over. Materials such as butcher block, Carrera marble, subway tiles, and dark wood floors should all at least be considered.

Sadly enough, none of those elements make a guest appearance in my tiny galley kitchen. And since it's a rental, and a temporary one at that, I am unable to do any renovating. That's correct, that means I can't even paint the cabinets a milky white, and replacing the old, dirty and all around hideous linoleum is a no-no.

With that said, I kind of love my kitchen. It'd bright yet cozy, has a very eclectic vibe, and is filled with so many fun memories and new-recipes-turned-old-favorites tackled with my boyfriend. Memories of friends stuffed into that tiny kitchen are some of my favorites. And while I can't wait for a future kitchen filled with all my favorite yummy elements, I'll always look back fondly on this one.

Come on in! Can I get you anything? :)

(Notice the floors are completely covered. You don't want to see the ugliness that resides underneath.)

(The black area behind the sink is chalkboard paint. This is my favorite element of the kitchen! It's great for grocery lists, fun quotes, and little love letters :))

(I found a vintage menu from The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI, aka one of my favorite places on earth. I recreated it on canvas and love that it reminds me of that magical island every time I'm cooking.)

(Vintage knife set I attached to a basket I had no other use for.)

(Those sparkly sponges were found at Home Goods and they make cleaning -something I'm not so fond of- a little bit happier. They remind me of a favorite vintage clutch. Fresh basil in a tea cup smells good and is easily accessible when cooking.)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day :)

And remember, if you want help in your home, I offer a range of design services.

Contact me at atlsdesign@gmail.com for details.