Displaying posts from January, 2009

Chesterfield makeover

Posted on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 by KiM

Georgia wrote looking for some inspiration for a project: “I have inherited and begun to restore a lovely old chesterfield couch belonging to a recently deceased great uncle. It’s a labour of love and I want to love it and pass it on after me. Do you have any images of restored chesterfields? I think I want to step away from that men’s club vibe and modernise it somehow with the covering… any input would be amazing. I think I’m heading away from tufting though, in an effort to modernise and simplify (the upholsterer gave me the biggest smile when i decided this, less work for him). I’m not having much luck locating images of nice revamped chesterfields (leather or otherwise) without the tufting… do you know of any?”

Now I don’t have a photo of Georgia’s chesterfield, but the photo below is what I always envision when I hear the word chesterfield. Leather, black (or brown) with thick rounded arms and lots of tufting in the back.

Mikkel Vang

I was a bit disappointed I’ve got to say that she may forgo the tufting, because I think the tufting is the best part, but if it means keeping your upholsterer happy and your wallet a bit thicker… Anyway, it was difficult finding photos pf chesterfields without tufting, so below I’ve included a wide variety of photos to inspire Georgia. Some aren’t quite chesterfields but they have fabulous upholstery, and some are tufted but you’ll just have to imagine the upholstery without the tufting. I am envisioning velvet, maybe charcoal grey for it’s versatility since this is going to be a piece passed along. I do have to say that the first one below has to be one of the most incredible chesterfield-like sofas I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure about the lavender but the unfinished style is totally knock-your-socks-off drop-dead gorgeous.

Angus McRitchie Lucinda Symons
Sean Myers Domino
Suzy Hoodless The Rug Company
elledeco Joe Schmelzer

A party in my drawers

Posted on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 by KiM

This blog chronicles my entire kitchen renovation from start to finish. Greentea Design has provided me with their solid wood kitchen cabinets, and I’m taking care of the rest.

If you’d like to be brought up to date, check out my kitchen remodel blog for an archive of previous posts. I posted recently about the hatch door created for access to the basement, and now, how I’ve organized and made use of all the wonderful cabinetry.

Yes folks, there is a party happening in my drawers. My kitchen cabinet drawers that is. All TWENTY FIVE of them (27 but 2 under the sink are just drawer faces). I cannot begin to explain how exciting it was to organize this kitchen, especially those drawers. I have never had a kitchen that had adequate drawer space. This kitchen has so many that despite all the drawer-type kitchen stuff I have, I still have 2 that are essentially unused (I had to find things to put in them because the thought of empty drawers unnerved me). It’s allowed me to be more organized than I have ever been in any of my former kitchens, and I enjoy cooking so much more than I ever have. I’ve even been taking photos of the meals I’ve prepared. This weekend I am having my family over for dinner for the first time since the reno has been completed. I am so stoked to show it off. And I know they’re all dying to see it in person finally.

I thought for one of my last kitchen posts I would show you how much space these incredible Greentea cabinets have and the party that is going on in my drawers. Because let me tell you, having a drawer dedicated to spices is a party in itself!! Sorry if this is a little long-winded, but I felt compelled to document all of it (in the hopes of calming my level of excitement perhaps?)

Let’s start with the pantry. I adore this unit so much. When I sell the house, I have to take the pantry with me. It’s a stunning piece of furniture, I’ve got to say. And I must mention that since all the cabinets have sliding doors (except the uppers), they are SO easy to remove which allows you a clear view of everything inside. Great for cleaning/organizing binges.

Here is the top section of the pantry, which houses essentially ALL of my dishes (alot of which need replacing) and glassware.

This is a door to the left of the top section of the pantry. It is PERFECT for housing baking sheets and anything else flat, especially useful for me because my range (where I would typically put those items) does not have a drawer for storage. It also has a little secret drawer inside, which I figured I’d stash money in for pizza nights (Jo is laughing right now because she knows how much pizza I consume).

Below is the first row of drawers in the pantry. It houses knives, small kitchen gadgets, a drawer dedicated to the cats’ food bowls and cans of wet food, chopsticks, and my growing collection of wooden spoons.

For more photos, and to leave comments, click HERE.

Sisters with talent

Posted on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 by KiM

Sarah Cihat, ceramist and home designer in Brooklyn, NY emailed us the following:

“I wanted to pass along the work of my sister, Suzanna Ivey. She is an interior designer in my home state of Tennessee. One of her photographer friends took some images of her latest work and I wanted to send it along for consideration. I’m very proud of her and love that we both are creative women from the same family working in the home design field.”

Now how sweet is that? I was more than happy to plug Suzanna’s work on Sarah’s behalf. They are both very talented women (Sarah’s Rehabilitated Dishware line rocks!). While the home below is a bit more traditional than I tend to gravitate towards, there are so many elements to note, like the green walls in the first photo (my boyfriend and my twin sister have both used a similar shade in their homes), the beautiful window treatments throughout and WOW, that glamourous bedroom (LOVE). Thanks Sarah, and Suzanna! (These gorgeous photos were taken by Sarah Dobbins – check out her site, and her blog).

NYC apartment tour

Posted on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 by KiM

Over a year ago artist, stylist and designer Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo of ABCD Design emailed us with some photos of her home that her and her husband were renovating. We were happy to post them, and to my delight, she emailed photos yesterday of the completed renovation! To quote ABCD: “now that the renovation is complete, we are moving on to a new project”. HUH??? When you see the photos below of this phenomenal NYC apartment, you too will be asking how she could possibly leave this. There’s nothing I don’t love about her home. It’s an eclectic mix of styles that works so well together, bold use of colour throughout that stands out against the white walls, the dramatic artwork, those to-die-for hardwood floors, and don’t get me started on that kitchen and bathroom (I’m pretty sure I had a dream recently about that exact bathroom). Thanks for sharing these with us ABCD!

This is the great room (*sigh*…a great room would be really great) where ABCD works, and she and her husband Scott live in the back section.

I love her home so much that I wanted to include more photos that she took over the holidays that show other angles of the spaces. Just more eye candy. DELISH.

Schoos Design

Posted on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 by KiM

Based in West Hollywood, California, Schoos Design is where the stars go to get hooked up with incredibly decorated homes. Thomas Schoos’ first residential project was the home of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett (!!!). I am so in awe of their portfolio – it’s glamourous, bold and everything is oversized, which I LOVE because it makes such a huge visual impact. There are oversized chairs, couches, shell mirrors, pendants, artwork….