Simply Stunning

Image via Houzz (Designer unknown)

Have a wonderful weekend!! Mel xo

And a day late, but as they say, better late than never!

 

Fridays Favorite

Fridays Favorite for today you ask?? Progress, that is what is my favorite thing for the day. Most importantly progress on our next home. Drawings are off to the engineers and the lot has been cleared for the driveway and house location. Come a take a little tour with me...

Here is the entrance to the property with the driveway cut in. We will need to bring in massive amounts of fill and bring the road up but I do want to maintain the natural landscaping along the driveway. To me the trees are priceless and we are trying to keep as many of them as possible.

Here is the view of the driveway location and what the front of the home will be facing. I am so happy that we were able to save the large spruce trees and so many aspens. While we were out on the site today I just stood there and listened to the sound of the wind running through the trees, there really is nothing more relaxing.

I love this photo since it puts the scale of the trees into perspective. This is what the back of the home will face, just beyond the trees there is a pond...can you say pond hockey in the winter??

Since I took all of these with my handy iPhone I wanted to share a few more that I took with my favorite photo app, Hipstamatic, it is so fun to play around with, almost as much fun as digging in the dirt like the little men in my life love to do!

Here is hoping you can make some progress in a project you are working on this weekend!! We are off to the farmers market to gather up some yummy food for dinner, lots of out of town guest will be here this weekend and they deserve a feast! Mel :)

Knock Knock

In honor of the train-wreck show, Real Housewives of DC (that I might enjoy) I thought I would feature a home from the DC area. Here is a cute little charmer I found in Georgetown that was built in 1941 and could be yours for a lump sum of $2,475,000.

I love the brick on this exterior, along with the foliage. But I really would love to see the home to the left with the shutters, I think that would really put the cherry on the icing.

It is a blanket of white, beautifully finished hardwood floors, and an ample amount of natural light.

The options for furniture placement in this area are endless, and I love those French doors.

While this small galley style kitchen makes me a tad claustrophobic I am impressed with the appliance selection. Kudos for the integrated refrigerator.

The 2 windows in this area are sure to make the small kitchen feel larger and not so confined.

I love that marble sink and wall mount faucet.

White & chrome, bright & airy, clean & crisp.

The use of the tile from floor to ceiling will help this room feel larger and it is just so beautiful.

This is really what sold me on the property, the backyard.

I am not one to discuss politics...but I would here!

A peaceful retreat in a big gritty city.

All Images via realtor.com

Now I am sure you are busy tomorrow night, but if not, be sure to watch a few seconds of the show on Bravo. It will only make you feel more sane. Mel :)

Thank you Ava Living...

Thank you Ava Living for highlighting one of my kitchens in the weekly feature! If you are not familiar with this site yet check it out. I know it will take off and be a great resource for designers and clients alike.

With the option to search images by room and even color you will fall in love with the concept. Have a great day!! Mel :)

Another year, another summer, oh so fun

It is so hard to believe that another summer at our cabin has come and gone already. We could not have asked for a better time; a lot of joy, some sorrow, but all in all it was an amazing time and a lot of great memories were made. Here are just a few...

The boys out on the boat...and both smiling.

M loved hanging out on the dock, he was always on the hunt for fish in the water.

I love this pic I took of W, his sweet face and beautiful eyelashes.

Breakfast on the patio before our fishing attempts.

W & Rob on one of the many early morning fishing trips on the dock.

This pic of W & Papa is another fave, the sun setting and playing in the creek.

Some of the family after way too many bottles of wine. Notice the brother through the glass on the left...he had enough.

And this pic I took yesterday, I told W to go and soak up the view, and that is just what he did.

We are off to hop on a plane and head back home, time to get back to reality. Enjoy the rest of your lazy summer days and I will be back in a bit, once I get settled in and caught up.  Mel :)

Simply Stunning

Decided to start a weekend post called Simply Stunning, just an image, nothing else. Enjoy!

Image via Valerue DeRoy Interiors

Happy weekend! Mel :)

Fridays Favorite

 So I have a crush, it has developed over the summer while we have been at the cabin, and it is on Adam from Man vs. Food. I know I know, that show is rather absurd but I am addicted to it. He is just too funny and I love how he proposes marriage to any woman that can eat.

While most of the challenges make me want to never eat again (and I have to wonder how he can still eat steak after consuming over 70oz in one sitting) we have gotten some great ideas from the show. One of them was from an episode in Denver, a hamburger with nothing on it but cream cheese and diced jalapenos...seriously, it is great!

If you get a chance watch the show on the Travel channel, you will be in aww of the food some people consume but you will also laugh and possibly develop a crush like I have. Enjoy your weekend and be safe out there! Mel :)

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White marble, do I dare??

I have long admired white marble counter tops in kitchens, whether it is Bianco Carrara, Calcutta Gray, or Arabescato Vagli, they are all stunning. It is classic and a if you get the right slab, a piece of art. Do I dare use it in our next home?

 Image via DecorPad

My first concern is the most obvious, the maintenance and care required. To put myself at ease I am picking up a larger sample from our supplier to keep in our kitchen for the next few weeks. I need to see how our life in the kitchen will blend with it, so I will be introducing it to coffee, wine, citrus fruits, and oils, all the things I tend to spill on occasion.

Image via DecorPad

My second concern is the tone to it, it is a very cool material and since we live in a climate with limited warm days and little sun in the winter you have to keep in mind the tones and warmth that the materials in your home carry, I don't want to feel like I am living in a sterile environment.

Image via Lucas Studios

Finally the size, I must make sure that we can get a complete slab for our over sized island. It also has to be the perfect slab, not too much gray and good movement with the veining.

Image via DecorPad

So tell me, if you have used white marble in your kitchen I would love to hear your experience with it, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks so much in advance and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Mel :)

Knock Knock

Thank you Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects for this amazing home in Napa Valley, at just over 10,000 Sq. Ft. I know that I can make it a nice cozy home. It will also accommodate all of my family, and that in itself is a feat. Enjoy this tour...

We can enjoy a bottle of Anomaly inside or by the fire on the patio, which would you prefer?

I love the rustic feel with the exposed wood beams and weathered ceiling, such a great environment for a game of Apples to Apples or Cranium.

I love this and I really have nothing else to add, except that I would love t create beautiful food in this kitchen surrounded by family & friends.

I love how the ceiling detail is carried through to the bathroom as well, and notice the Nanna Wall in the background, wait till you see what is there...

I think this is my all time favorite shower, no fancy shower heads and body sprays required here!

And here is what you will see as you depart the property from the rear view mirror (in a cute vintage Mercedes convertible), hope you enjoyed your time.

I love virtual entertaining, the main reason...I have nothing to clean up! Here is to a great finish to your week. Mel :)

Gotta love my cleints...

I really have the best clients ever. Between the ones on the Internet and those that we are building for I am just surrounded by fabulous people who all have very specific and definite taste, no one is alike, and that is what keeps me on my toes! Yesterday I received an e-mail from my clients that we are building for. I asked her to send me her inspiration for the kitchen so I can get started on the design process. Here is what she sent me...

Image via Houzz

 

 Image via Houzz

Image my own

Now can you see why I adore her? I am going to be tossing the idea at her for beautiful gray vanities for the mast bath, simple white marble counter tops, possibly a nice clean lined free standing tub, beautiful mosaic tile flooring, and shiny chrome accents to finish it off. After seeing her inspiration I am even more inspired to get this going!

We are enjoying a massive heat wave during our last week at our cabin, 101F is the expected temp today. We will not complain once since I know in a matter of weeks we could be shoveling snow back home. If you are in the heat take a moment to enjoy it, if you can. Mel :)

Another cabin project...

Rob has been obsessed with getting the exterior of the cabin in order, his latest project was our fire pit area. Here is what we had before, a weed infested area with gravel tossed around....

After ordering up some beautiful local flagstone we (and I say we lightly) got to work on getting it all put together...

Since the weeds grow incredibly fast here, and we are only here for a limited time in the summer we decided to mortar all of the spaces to make it a maintenance free area...

In place of the traditional stone fire pit we decided to pick up THIS fire ring from Home Depot, makes it easy to move into the garage when we leave. Now that it is done we can enjoy a great glass of wine or a fun night of smores by the fire. And HERE is the link to the site we used to purchased our chairs from, you really can't beat the price!

I am off to get Rob a Motrin, it looks great but his back isn't feeling the love. Have a great day!! Mel :)

For more great before & afters check out the blog party @ Between Naps on the Porch & House of Hepworths

Fridays Favorite

What is more wonderful than snuggling on the couch or in bed with adorable little ones to share a great story by my favorite author, Dr. Seuss?!?! Right now Myles favorite book is One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. He walks up and says 'fish book', I can't say no. I will brag that I do know the entire book by heart now...I know most of them by heart actually.

My own personal all time favorite Dr. Seuss book is Oh, the Places You'll Go. It was given to me on my high school graduation by one of my sisters, it has been a treasured book ever since. I read it to Rob on our first date, given it as gifts myself, and one of my brothers personalized it as his way to propose to his amazing wife. 

Even Dr. Seuss rooms are appealing, as long as they are simplified like these from Pottery Barn...

If it is Cat In The Hat, Green Eggs & Ham, Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You, or If I Ran The Zoo take a moment to read it with a little one, a loved one, or even by yourself. It is Friday and the perfect way to wind down is with a good read. 'From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.' Have a fabulous weekend!! Mel :)