Reader’s Remodeled Kitchen

 

BEFORE:   Reader’s kitchen before her remodeling.  Actually, this kitchen is truly charming as is.  That stove!!!!  It is the owner’s grandmother’s original Chambers!

 

Emails, I get emails!!   I recently got this email from a reader in Ft. Worth, Texas.  Here’s what she had to say:

 

I love your website and pored over Kitchen Design elements for months. I wrote you once about using white marble. I wanted it but was worried about caring for it. You were so nice and wrote me back and told me to go for it - get what I love - life is short. So I did!  I put honed Absolute Black on the one side and honed Carrara on the other. Our kitchen is still small -we could not get more out of the space, but we gutted it, made the door to the dining room larger, new electrical, new Pella windows, doors, hardwood floor to match the rest of our house. Out with my grandmothers Chambers stove and a new "baby" Viking to fit my small space and other new stainless appliances, THE gorgeous Shaw sink, polished nickel Perrin and Rowe bridge faucet, new cabinets, hardware and light farmhouse lights. I took all my furniture out of my dining room that I hated and we added another window. I hung some little sconces from Wisteria- best I can do till I get more money.  I guess in 10 years they will say - remember all those white marble kitchens? I think I will never get tired of it.

AFTER:  Here is the same view – hard to believe it is the same space!!!  Notice the owner used black granite and white marble together!!

 

Looking the other way – at the sink area.  The space is very small, but it is very functional.  I prefer small kitchens myself.   By using a combination range instead of a cooktop and wall ovens – the homeowner saved space. 

 

I love the cabinetry and the hardware.  Of course, the Shaw’s sink and the Perrin and Rowe bridge faucet are my favorites.  I used those two elements in my own kitchen.  I think they are so gorgeous.

 

The dining room opens off the kitchen. 

 

 The dining room used to be red, but the owner painted it a light yellow.  The chairs are from her grandmother and there are two different styles – repainted white, they blend together.   The prints had not been hung when she sent me these pictures.

 

I love the white marble and I love the stainless appliances.   I said that I chose my appliances for their pretty handles and it looks like the homeowner did the same thing – I love the handles on her refrigerator and the dishwasher. 

Thank you so much to the homeowner for sending in these pictures!  You did a great job!!!!

A Giveaway To End ALL Giveaways!!!!

 

OK, I’ve been teasing you about this giveaway to end all giveaways, and here it finally is.   Above is a picture of my neighbor’s house that I worked on this year.  The giveaway item is located in this room!  Which item would YOU like the giveaway to be????  Hmmm????  Care to guess?

 

 

 

Here’s a clue.  The giveaway item is located in this picture!!!  Care to guess, now???

 

 

 

 

OK OK OK!!  Here it is!!!  The giveaway to end all giveaways is this lantern from BROWN, located in Houston.  It’s the exact lantern I used in my client’s breakfast room and it is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!   The lantern comes in small and large – and the winner will receive the LARGE one – with a retail value of $1,500!   How nice is that of Jill Brown, owner of BROWN?????   I am still stunned by Jill’s generosity.  Well, not really.  Jill is one of the nicest peeps I know.  Truly, truly nice.  She has this aura of niceness that surrounds her face, I swear!!!  

 

 

Remember when I did a story about Jill’s unique and wonderful house HERE?

 

 

 

Jill’s store BROWN is one of my favorite haunts in Houston.  

 

 

It is filled with things she buys overseas in Belgium and France along with things she finds in the United States.  Some merchandise is antique, some is new. 

 

 

You never know what you will find in her shop.  But it will be fabulous, that’s for sure!  Jill designs her own incredible lighting line – something she specializes in.

 

 

Last year she had a party for Garden & Gun magazine.   The decorations were wonderful!  Read all about that party HERE.  I love that painted floor!

 

 

The best part of the Garden & Gun party were the party favors that she placed on BROWN’S front porch, set up like a country store.   She’s so creative and generous!!  I took home a few of the gifts myself!  hehe. 

 

 

So, how do you go about winning this $1,500. lantern?   Simple.  Just go visit Jill’s 1st Dibs store.  Look at all her things for sale, and pick out something you would want – money no object!  Come back and leave me a comment telling me which object you would choose!  That’s it!!!

I’ll pick a winner on FRIDAY!!!   So hurry up – visit her shop HERE, then leave me a comment.  That’s all you have to do.   NOTE:  If you post anonymously, be sure to leave your email address, just in case you win.

Good luck – and Jill:  thank you sooo very, very much, from the bottom of my heart!!!!  I love you!!

To visit BROWN’S web site, go HERE.   To enter the contest, first visit Jill’s 1st dibs store HERE.