magazine musings and such

this past weekend we spent a relaxing yet productive weekend at "the camp". i spent days marking things off my infamous "list" and enjoying the seasonally cold weather. we even received snow {yes i just said snow} on friday night. we heard the snowy-rain during the night hours and in the morning the only evidence that snow actually fell was in the bed of stephen’s truck. {which quickly disappeared once the combination of sun and a quick drive to the local grocery store melted it all away – boo}
i sure do love living in the south, but MAN i wish it snowed more!!!

the local grocer – one thing i love about small towns – not only does everyone in the entire store know each other by first name {employees and customers alike} but they carry your groceries to your car for you. i always feel weird bc im kinda the do-it-myself type, but after five or six years having “the camp” in this same small town, i have grown to appreciate the simplicity and quality of the service. you just don’t find it like that anymore {listen to me, i sound old}.


not only did i have time to knock things of the list, but this weekend i also found time to peruse through the large pile of catalogs and magazines i have been hoarding recently.

and in the materialistic {but wonderfully fun} spirit of the season, here are some things that caught my eye:

Anthropologie:
ok usually everything. next time i win the lottery i will purchase much of my clothing from this store. but until that happens, i will just sit back and indulge in their lovely, dreamy catalogs.

{clothbound penguin classics – i have been lusting after these since first sight. it doesn’t help that they are EVERYWHERE – blogs, magazines, internet, catalogs, etc. you CAN actually judge these great books by their beautiful covers $20 each}

{from O’Keefe necklace – i love this look, if only i had somewhere to wear it…unloading the dishwasher? yea that’s a good enough reason for me :) $48; torsade tee $48}

Ballard Designs
great affordable magazine of housewares.  sometimes it can be a bit hokey and mainstream, but i have really been enjoying them recently...they are stepping up their game.  always fun to thumb through

{spruce alphabet wreath – one day when time/ desire allows i would love nothing more than to use only real, living wreaths. but for now, my faux ones work just fine and help whittle down the decorating stress every year. plus, they make these faux ones so realistic these days. cute and trendy AND affordable $45}

 {crewel floral indoor/outdoor rug – love crewel details and the colors are not only festive but would look great year round $59-$89}

{no item in particular, i just love the look of wreaths indoors – where you can actually see and enjoy them all the time. another thing i aim to have/do one day in my holiday future}

{mercury glass pedestal and candle holders – all the rage in décor these days and especially appropriate during the holidays. ive seen these everywhere but these were the best price $15-$45}

{Marcello barstool – i need a project where i can use these. i absolutely love them! $359}

Coastal Living
one of the only home/design magazines left and i LOVE it.  i used to depend on my mom's subscription and have Coastal Living cram sessions during the summer months at the beach, but i broke down this year and finally got my own subscription.  now i get tastes of the coast any time i want!

{p.28 Becky 100% silk tunic – love the color and trendy coral pattern. don’t love the price so much J }

NO PIC

{grrr i couldnt find the picture of this page and my scanner isnt hooked up but if you want to see what im talking about, go grab a coastal living or thumb through your own! :)  p.60 hmm i love so much about this – the white clean kitchen and painted gray bar, fun patterned roman shade, high gloss rich warm paint and classic Madeline Weinrib rug in the dining room… but most of all i love the wall of doors that open allll the way. how great are those? talk about bringing the outside in}

{p.98-103. because i like to eat. and my favorite food is hors d'oeuvres. i consider it its own food group. and im a coastal girl who appreciates fresh seafood. scallop spinach spread? hot crab and shrimp dip? curried coconut shrimp balls? peppered pancetta wrapped shrimp? is your mouth watering yet?}

Restoration Hardware
 

{almost everything. so purdy. and so so pricey.  another catalog that is really stepping up its game}

whew! that was fun :)

McAlpine Booth & Ferrier Interiors

in honor of my sister's last day of her internship with this amazing firm, i thought i would post my favorite pics from their portfolio, as some delicious eye candy for your friday:

there are so many things to say about the perfection in so many of these photos, but the beauty has left me speechless....

Happy Friday!

Mobile Bay Magazine :: The Website

recently, several of my posts have been featured on the Mobile Bay Magazine website. {click HERE to see the most recent: an interview about the kitchen renovation featured in the previous post}

it is such an honor to be featured, and even though it may not be an actual publication in the "hold-it-in-your-hands" sense, it counts as being pretty darn close in my simple mind :)

i debated on whether or not to post about this, but i am happy about it, and i do want to bring some publicity to this great local publication. also, i wasnt aware until recently what a wonderful resource their website is. it is packed full of great information for locals, as well as for those who just wish they were locals - ha!

i love where i live!

photo: Mobile Press Register

go mobile!

{and thank you Mobile Bay Magazine}

i've heard it has been said...

that it is kinda hard to be an interior designer, have a website {for work}, and not have any of your work on it. hmmmmm....i think "they" are right.

so, without further adieu, i give you a nearly completed recent project. {minus light fixtures and draperies}. {you can see other "progress" pictures here}

the project consisted of an existing kitchen, breakfast room, and a small "playroom" and full bath attached to the kitchen. the kitchen layout was not working for the client and was in need of updating.

we demolished, well, everything back to the studs and created a brand new space. the small breakfast room was replaced with a sitting area, or "wine room" for the clients. we opened up the wall between the kitchen and playroom, removed closets that were blocking the view of the gorgeous backyard, and replaced with a bank of windows. the attached full bath was replaced with a half bath, and a walk-in pantry was added.

the existing kitchen did not have much usable counter space, and had an odd corner pantry where the freezer was kept. we removed the pantry and added a cased opening between the kitchen and existing playroom, making the kitchen feel more open and have better flow to the new breakfast room. the appliance placement in the existing kitchen was also not cooking-friendly {as the client was always "running laps" around the island to get something out of the refrigerator and back to the sink and/or cooktop}

the island actually got larger in the new plan, but the new kitchen has appliances placed in "zones" {with the "cooking triangle" not interrupted by the island} and actually "makes cooking fun" {as quoted by client :)}.

im really excited about the results and cant wait to add the final touches {some of the more fun touches if i do say so myself!!}

ill give you some before and afters, just because i enjoy them so much:

before:

after:

before:

after:

before:

after:

before:

after:

before:

after:

and some more afters:

wine cabinet i designed - the center part is actually a large wine refrigerator; the cabinets are built around it

closet under the stairs {that used to house client's wine} was turned into a powder room

new half bath in breakfast room {wallpaper we planned on had to be nixed, so space needs to be painted...it will not be left primed as shown!}

{and i promise to be better about photographing my other past and future work...i need to get out more with my camera!!...if that is even possible!}

credits:

contractor: BW Construction

cabinets: Tucker Cabinetry

floor plan, cabinet design, interior design: Natalie Roe Interior Design