Linda's Kitchen: Ahh, the joys of restocked cabinets!

And so, my kitchen cabinets are finally painted (woot!) and I'm no longer picking through grocery bags for food and measuring cups. The joys of clean, organized and freshly painted kitchen cabinets cannot be overstated, let me tell you!

A little recap. My kitchen makeover has been basically a Sunday afternoon project. So, I've we've (can't forget my fantastic volunteer staff!) been working since August.  Here are the nasty knotty pine cabinets that I started off with. Lovely, no?

Lot's of cleaning and priming ensued.

I painted the insides of the cabinets with Farrow & Ball Cooking Apple Green (with thanks to Brooke Giannetti at Velvet & Linen for the inspiration!) This is Brooke's living room below, I just loved the backs of the shelves. She used F&B's Verte de Terre, which I looked at, but eventually I settled on Cooking Apple Green as it was a little less gray.

So, here is a test section of the Cooking Apple Green - which I am totally in love with!!  I also tested the idea of upholstering the shelves in burlap. The main reason (aside from trying something new!) was that the shelves are nasty particle board, which I thought wouldn't take the paint well. The results of the wrapped burlap shelves was mixed - some areas were nice an tight, but other's not so much and the end result wasn't as tailored as I wanted.

I was also thinking I needed to line the cabinet insides with paintable paper - again because of the liberal use of cheap particle board. However, in the end with good priming, they looked best simply painted.

As for the exteriors of the shelves, while I veered wildly back and forth between a black paint or a lighter green, I ended up compromising with myself and went with two Benjamin Moore colors: Essex Green with Black Forest Green as the second coat. Both coats were sanded with a fine steel wool with "holidays" left in the paint to achieve an aged look. I also wanted to keep the shine to a minimum. This paint is an exterior trim paint, so it should stand up well to kitchen wear and tear.

Here are the cabinet doors all finished and lined up waiting to be re-attached to the cabinets! Although I have a very small kitchen, there are still seventeen doors! And only two drawers. Don't ask.

Of course, the final element with the cabinet doors is the hardware. There are so many beautiful choices out there! I decided that with all the work involved in painting the cabinets, they I deserved something special!  After all, my manicure was sacrificed for the cause!!

In August, I was at an event at the Roomscapes Luxury Design Center in Rockland, MA (see post here) and fell in love with a set of crystal knobs on display.

I thought that glass knobs were a great idea to add sparkle and lightness to the dark cabinets (not that they look bad on these beautiful cream cabinets either!).  So, I started searching for the perfect knob for my slightly distressed, but not too shabby or 'kountry' kitchen cabinets. Something that bridged the divide between upscale and, well, budget.

There are some seriously beautiful cabinet knobs out there!

Swarovksi "Baldwin" knob - at $38 per knob (on sale). Total for 20 knobs: $760. Considerably more than what I've spent on the kitchen to date. So, nope.

These totally over the top Cache knobs and escutcheon's sport Swarovski crystals and are fabulously jewelry-like. And, honestly, at $30 per set, not bad. But, not the look or price tag I seek.

These Quartz Crystal knobs are pretty, but still, at $20 each, we're looking at $400 for the kitchen. 

These very pretty German Crystal knobs are beautiful and I love the facets - sparkly! Currently priced at $15 each, we're in the $300 range for the knobs. 

These Restoration.com glass knobs are lovely - elegant and simple. At $11.80 each theyre a $230+ budget item.

Vintage inspired "Astoria" knob at $6 each. $180 for entire kitchen.

Of course, glass knobs come in a variety of fabulous colors! These from Looking in the Attic are also about $6-7 per knob. Pretty, but I don't like the visible post.

So many choices, so little budget.  So, of course, when looking for a bargain, I headed over to Ebay and found these pretty little vintage inspired knobs:

Love them, love everything about them. And since I couldn't decide, I picked two different styles and are using them both! Here is a link to the oval knob , unfortunately, I can't find the link to the flower, but it was the same seller. At less than $2 each, the final cost was a trés budget friendly $50 for the whole kitchen, including shipping.

And all put together!

There is still a lot more work to come. The soffit over the cabinets needs to be painted, as do the walls (not shown in pic), and the backsplash needs to be dealt with. And, all new appliances are coming in a couple of weeks, courtesy of Ferguson Appliance.  I think the stainless appliances will be a nice balance against the dark cabinets and I'm looking forward to my checkerboard floor NOT being reflected in the shiny black dishwasher and stove fronts!



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Ten Things About Me

One of my new favorite bloggers - Greet LeFevre of Belgian Pearls blog has tagged me to share ten things about myself. I feel like my life is a pretty open book and I don't have any deep dark secrets to share, but here goes:


1. I play the flute. My first love was music and I hold a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance. I teach flute students each week in a local public school and at the moment have 17 private students ranging in age from 5th - 10th grades. I love teaching - the kids keep me on my toes and also keep me playing! I am performing in a Christmas concert in a few weeks, which I'm looking forward to. Below is a recording of a recording of a recording (in other words, please forgive the sound quality) from a concert I performed in my town. The piece is called "3 Carols for Christmas".

       

   
   
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2. I've been to Paris 6 or 7 times, but have never been to Washington, DC. This is a photo I took from the cafe at the top of Printemps department store in January 2008 when I attended Maison et Objet.

3. I sew. When I was younger, I made many of my own clothes from winter coats to suits to jeans to ballgowns. Now, every time I try to make clothes, I make a mess of it. But I do still sew pillows and sometimes small window treatments. This project below was for a segment on local TV station WHDH called "Room for Improvement" where people wrote in looking for help with a space in their home. I did this master bedroom on a budget for a nice local couple.

4. I suffer from "I-can-do-that-itis", but I do not knit. I pretty much try any kind of craft project, except knitting. This is a detail of a group of decoupage wall tiles that I made last year after seeing some similar on another blog.

4. I prefer photography to other art forms and my favorite local fine art photographer is Anne Henning and I have two of her pieces. The one of the left with the pink fuzzy umbrella was taken in Paris in front of the oldest umbrella shop in the city. The one on the right is a landscape of Tuscany. Of course, this quick snapshot does not do justice to these painterly photographs that are printed on watercolor paper. Just amazing.

5. I cry easily and often. In truth, I tear up at least once per day. Both when I'm happy, frustrated or just moved by something beautiful. Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" makes me cry. So did Van Gogh's "Starry Night" when I saw it at The Musée D'Orsay - I just stood there and balled like a baby. And I've never been a Van Gogh fan, but something about seeing the iconic piece in person was incredibly powerful and moving.  Interestingly, Norman Rockwell makes me tear up as well.

6. I'm a twelfth generation American. My ancestor - Nathaniel Merrill - came over with his brother John from Essex, England in 1633 and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, which is north of Boston. Of all the places I've lived (and it's been many), Newburyport was the town that has most felt like home to me and one day I know I'll move back there. I lived there from 1995-2000.

7. I know nothing about sports and care less. Except that my maternal Grandmother's uncle, Tim Keefe (1857-1933),was a professional baseball player and is the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a pitcher and played for the Mets, Giants and the Phillies during his career. And, he was nicknamed "Sir Timothy" because of his gentlemanly behavior.

8. I'll never live in a neat and orderly home. I'm just not that person. Wish I were, but I'm not. I'm organized, but still cluttered.

9. My favorite color is green - any kind of green, any shade, ever since I was about 5 years old. I have to stop my self from over-doing the green. Although, interestingly, I haven't used tons of green in my decorating work. My second favorite color is pink - a fact I've only recently accepted about myself.

10. I'm an extrovert, yet shy. I can talk or perform in front of a large crowd without being nervous (well, not too nervous) but walking into a room with a small group of people who I don't know well?  Horrors. I still go to business events thinking I might turn around before I get there. Usually, I go inside. And then have a great time.

So, that's a bit about me. Thanks to Greet for asking me to participate.  You can read about her 10 Things here.

And now I must turn this around and ask some others to participate. I've decided to ask bloggers who I don't know much about personally but enjoy their blogs. We can all learn about them together!

1. Lisa Porter Collection
2. Everything L.E.B. 
3. Boxwood Terrace
4. Windlost
   
5. French Garden House
6. Holly Mathis Interiors
7. Completely Coastal

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Evolution of a floral arrangement

Last week, I wrote about the big gala for the New England Design Hall of Fame. I was lucky enough to snag one of the gorgeous floral arrangements which were done by Winston Flowers.

My camera got a workout with this arrangement! I love the combination of deep red roses, burgandy calla lilies, deep rosy orange lilies, deep red brain flower (is that really the name?? icky), the drapey red flower (don't know the name) and purple/blue/green hydrangea.

So, it's been a week and while most of the flowers in the arrangement are still glorious, there is a kind of tiring out of the arrangement.  So, I was thinking that it was time to disassemble the large arrangement into some smaller ones to kind of freshen things up.

Meanwhile, I popped into a local Salvation army store yesterday and came across this small silverplate flower bowl/candle holder piece that's maybe 8" wide by 6" high. For $4.99 and a little elbow grease (very tarnish) I have a sweet little addition to my silver/floral display collection. 

It also has a handy flower frog set inside.

I'll also be using my silverplate tea pot purchased last year at the Hell's Kitchen Flea market, made famous by Eddie Ross.

And, so I started taking apart the arrangement. It's quite a feat of construction!! Most of the flowers were held in place by a webbing of chicken wire set inside the bowl. Some of the lilies were too short, so they used the little water viles attached to the stems and tucked inside this amazingly dense arrangement.

And, the empty bowl with chicken wire, which I'm going to hold onto for the future.

And here are the results - from one large arrangement has come three smaller ones. And very flowers were actually thrown away.

 

(And for those of you following my kitchen reno, what do you think of the new painted cabinet interiors? I still need to get the shelves painted, but this is a sneak peak of the paint color etc!)




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A 1920's estate in Milton, MA

 DeShazo Estate view from the gardens - photography by Jean Donohue, courtesy of FBN Construction

New England Cable News (NECN) Dream House just aired a two part segment on the fabulous DeShazo estate in Milton, MA. I've been lucky to have attended a few industry events at this spectacular 1920's brick mansion and thought I'd share the video and some still photos of the property. It truly is like stepping back to another time. The house is 11,000 square feet and has thirteen working fireplaces, original wrought iron work, a circular stair, carved wood ceiling and original butler's pantry.

Click here to view part 1 and part 2.

 

 

Photo by Linda Merrill for IFDA

Photo by Linda Merrill for IFDA

Photos by Linda Merrill for IFDA

 DeShazo Estate gardens. Photo courtesy of FBN Construction.

 DeShazo Estate view from the gardens. DeShazo Estate gardens. Photo courtesy of FBN Construction.

Edited to add:

My friend, the fabulous photographer Jean Donohue sent along some interiors photos she'd shot of the house. I've tried to take inside pics, but failed miserably. Yep, once again, the professional is really the way to go!

Click on the pics for a larger view! If you'd like more information about Jean or her photography services, please email me and I'll pass you her contact information.

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Gratitude: The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

Flanders Poppy tile - Verdant Tile Company

Courtesy of Bee MacGuire
Obtained From TheMcCrae Museum of The Guelph Museum 

My Boy Jack ~ Rudyard Kipling

“Have you news of my boy Jack?”
Not this tide.
“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

“Has any one else had word of him?”
Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind —
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!

This 'n that

I was interviewed for a story about working with an interior designer that appeared on The New York Times online. Thanks to Camilla McLaughlin spoke with me, Susanna Salk and others about the process of working with an interior designer and what we bring to the process of designing one's own home. Specifically, my virtual decorating service was profiled. Click here to read the entire story.  Fun!

Sad news came today that Hachette Filipacchi announced the closing of METROPOLITAN  HOME magazine. The December issue will be its last. Sadness. Ironic given the line on the cover "Comfort & Joy". Sadly, Editor-in-Chief Donna Warner and her staff will be let go. According to the press release, they will be putting all their juice into Elle Decor.  We interviewed Margaret just last week on The Skirted Roundtable and spoke with her specifically about how her thoughts on the continued success of ELLE DECOR. Very interesting. You can listen hear.  My thoughts go out to Met Home's editor-in-chief if twenty-six years Donna Warner and her staff. The streets seem paved with displaced shelter mag workers these days. 

 On the kitchen front, I have the first coat of paint on the cabinet fronts (Ben Moore's Essex Green) and ceiling (F&B's Cooking Apple Green on the ceiling and inside the cabinets - it's fantastic!!). The second coat on the cabinet fronts will be Ben Moore's Black Forest Green, with a little antiquing thrown in. The cabinet doors are all finished (yay!!) and I'm just waiting for the new knobs I've ordered to come in. Very excited to show you those!  )In case you're wondering, the soffit above the cabinets is going to be finished to match the rest of the walls in the kitchen.) The photo above shows the spaghetti dinner I cooked for Rob (my volunteer staffer is back on the job!) and I - while the paint was still wet!! Nothing like boiling water right underneath the wet paint!!

Speaking of cooking, this space is going to look a lot better with these babies:

And finally, Grayson Handy, whose book FLOWERS FOR THE HOME I reviewed yesterday shared with me a couple of additioal pics of his dachsund Romeo, whom I've developed a huge crush on. So, I thought I'd share the cuteness. Photos by Ellen Silverman.

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Saturday afternoon: Painting, tea and reading!

So, with the time change, Saturdays are so short!  My kitchen makeover is moving slowly along and my "volunteer" staff has been AWL (absent with leave) for the last couple of weeks, so I've been on my own. I've done a lot of painting and today I finally tackled the backside of the cabinet doors. The front sides are all done (the big reveal to come soon!). With the light rapidly going away, painted (Ben Moore Black Forest Green) away outside on my back deck.

It's quite chilly today so by the time I was done, I was ready for a little pot of tea and warm apple spice bread.  I also got caught up on some reading. I've never heard of this Luxe Interiors + Design magazine, but it came in the mail today, so I flipped through that, Elle magazine and the new book Flowers for the Home by Grayson Handy. Totally gorgeous!

The nice folks at Rizzoli had sent the book several weeks ago and I've been drooling over the cover alone!

I've done some floral arranging, but I'm hampered by the complete inability to remember flower names and how they need to be treated. So, while I know what I like, I really do leave the work to the professionals. If I need an arrangement for a client or a shoot, I describe what I want in terms of color, texture and size. 

"Flowers for the Home" isn't just a picture book with pretty photos of pretty flower arrangements - although Handy's arrangements are beautiful and Ellen Silverman's photography is to die for! The book is broken down into locations that have inspired the author: China, England, France, India, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, the American South and Tropical Rainforest. He then breaks down each section into regional inspirations, a color palette, a signature arrangement (with instructions in the back of the book for how to make that arrangement - flower by flower) and a resource section.

Of course, France always inspires me.

Okay - all together now: awwwwww  (btw - Mr. Handy's dog Romeo is the spitting image of my dachsund, the late, great Tiny from my childhood).

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in floral arranging, or even just beautiful photography!



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