Altadore I in full swing...

Seriously so busy, can't.see.straight. Why is now that I decided to give up the sauce till we leave for Maui next month? Oh well, it is what it is and I made a promise to myself so I am sticking through it, thanks mostly to the massive amounts of coffee I have been consuming as of late. Altadore I is in full swing, hardwood is being laid as we speak, the tile has all been ordered, and the finishers are starting the cabinetry today. Here are a couple of concepts I have going on in there...

One of the walls in the kitchen is above, well, my rough, very rough sketch of it. And below are my selections for this area of the home. OH, and haven't been this excited about a kitchen since our own...and I think I am MORE excited about this one, how is that possible?!

Counters: Caeserstone in Raven

Back splash: White sub-way with dark grey grout

Perimiter Cabinets: Lacquered Benjamin Moore White Dove

Island: 1/4 sawn vertical grain oak with custom stain

Cabinet Hardware: Richeleu

Lighting: Visual Comfort Boston Functional Wall

I'll share more with you as I get caught up, I will admit the boys are still waiting on me for some mill-work drawings (bad Melissa), so excuse me while I do that! Mel xo


  want more? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram under verandainteriors

Dream home...

Wanna see what my dream home looks like???

Head on over to La Dolce Vita today to see. I am so honored to share this with you on Paloma's blog, hope you like!! Mel xo

  want more? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram under verandainteriors

Apparatus

So you all know my obsession with lighting. Well, it just became even larger since I found Apparatus, one of a kind fixtures made from salvages components. 

Ridiculous, right?!

all images via apparatus

I would love to see more of their creations. Each one is individual and oh so stylish. If only I could get my hands on that first one for one of our Altadore projects...that would make me a very happy girl!!! Hope your weekend was wonderful and you are sticking to your 2012 resolutions. I am very happy to say that so far (8 big days) I am following through with them, that puts a smile on my face. Mel xo

 want more? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram under verandainteriors

For my girls...

I hold my friends very close to my heart, maybe it is because I have never been one to have a Rolodex filled to the brim with them. But once I let someone in I promise to cry with them, make them laugh, and be there for them...even if it is 3 am. Some of my best girls have come across bumps in the road & when I saw this quote I thought of them...

via pinterest

You know who you are, you know you are loved, and you know I am right here for you. 

Mel xo

want more? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram under verandainteriors

Recipe: Banana Bread

 I promise you this will be a hit and a recipe that is requested all the time. Give it a shot, you will NOT be disappointed!

 1 C. unsalted butter (room temp)

2 C. sugar

6 ripe mashed bananas (3 C.)

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 1/2 C. white flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. kosher salt

1 t. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350

Cream butter & sugar together until it is light & fluffy.

Add in bananas & eggs, mix well until combined.

Sift together dry ingredients, slowly add into wet mixture and combine, do not over-mix.

Pour batter into either 2 loaf pans or 1 bundt pan that is lightly greased.

Bake for 60-70 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy!!!

Hope you love this as much as we do, the boys get SO excited when I pull bananas out of the freezer (great way to save old bananas, just thaw in the skins before using, they will be watery but that is OK). Hope your day is off to a great start, I know mine is with a slice of this and a big ol' cup of coffee! Mel xo

If I had a...

If I had a

via Apartment Therapy

I would have it look something like one of these, from light to dark...

 via ModernHepburnTumbler

 via happyliving.uk

 

 via pinterest

 

 via myidealhome.tumbler

 via myparadissi

via etsy

Or maybe I could just take all of these, squish them together and make the perfect space for me! Do tell, which is your fave?? Mel xo

want more? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram under verandainteriors

Come fly with me...

Come and check out this 737 that was re-fabricated for an Australian bachelor (sorry ladies, he is married now, I guess the plane sealed the deal). The standard 737 can accommodate 120 passengers, this particular one, 13, think of the leg room!

 I think I would enjoy blogging from this spot, wouldn't you?

 via Interiors

This beast was designed by Alberto Pinto, I am going to add him to my rolodex for when I win the lottery. For now I am off to buy my ticket and daydream about this on my next commercial flight. Mel xo

2012 resolutions

 Here is my list to start the year, I figure if I put them all down and make them official then they will stick. I'll let you know if my theory works.

 via Design*Sponge

There really is more than black & white, right? I started off with a pink sweater yesterday, oh, and a purple tank during my workout this am...off to a good start. 

 via j crew

 I am needing to focus more on myself. My skin, exercise level, and vitamin intake has been lacking to say the least. This is the only body I have so I better treat it right.

 vitamins | clairsonic | NeoStrata | Spin Bike

With the hubs and the cute boys that keep me moving & laughing.

 via etsy

 My house is usually pretty damn clean, it has to be. I have clients, trades, and potential customers coming here a lot, and sometimes I only have a 10 minute warning. But my goal is to go to bed every evening to a clean home. Waking up to a space like that will help me start the day off in the right direction.

via pinterest

 

This one is something I need to work on and one of my very dear friends Erica keeps working on me with this. So I am listening Erica, positive thoughts about myself and my work.

via

So that is my list, what is on yours??? Let me know, like I said, maybe making yourself accountable for them will force you to stick to it. Here is to an AMAZING 2012!!! Mel xo

Over the hill & through the woods...

That is where I am today, in the blog world and in the real world. First off I am visiting with Toby over at Because It's Awesome, because, well, she is awesome & from Missouri!

Here is a little peek at what I am chatting about on Toby's blog today...

And secondly we are off to Missouri for the holidays. I will be a few hours south of Toby in good ol' Springfield but I would love to meet up with her pretty face one day, maybe this summer! Hope you are ready for the last few days of the year and if not, put on the coffee and get movin, I know I need too. Mel xo