My One Renovation Splurge…

Let’s face it.  My renovation is largely budget driven when you consider that 70% of the budget will be spent on things you can’t see like electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.  So when it came to finishes, we had to keep things simple and economical so no high end splurges on anything.

One area, though, I absolutely insisted on a splurge are my kitchen appliances.  So much so, I am purchasing them myself and not running the cost through an already strapped budget.

I settled on the AGA suite of appliances: range, fridge and dishwasher.  My decision really centered around the range.  I had a list of must haves and for the most part, the AGA Legacy Series of ranges checked of every box on the list:

  • 5 burners
  • dual fuel
  • two ovens
  • vintage look/feel
  • the proper finish option

Regarding the finish, it was important to have a finish on the appliances that melted in with the aesthetic.   Since I am creating a great room that makes the kitchen, dining room and living room into one area, I really didn’t want to go the trendy stainless steel route. The high contrast that the stainless steel finish would create between the appliances, antiques pieces, kitchen cabinets and furniture would fight the harmony I am trying to create so I have chosen an antique white finish for all three pieces.

Fortunately, AGA was also having a year end special whereby if you purchase the stove and fridge, they tossed in the dishwasher for free.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

 

Cindy

Antique white finish, two ovens and five burners.

Antique white finish, two ovens and five burners.

Broiler.

Broiler.

Two ovens and a broiler; convection heat.

Two ovens and a broiler; convection heat.

French Doors and bottom freezer.

French Doors and bottom freezer.

Full size deli drawer and filtered water dispenser.

Full size deli drawer and filtered water dispenser.

Simple styling with integrated, hidden controls.

Simple styling with integrated, hidden controls.

Discovery – Vintage Kitchen Reproductions

Kitchenalia is my latest passion.  I recently scored a lovely French herb chopper and an antique garlic or potato masher.  Sometimes, however, the real thing is a tad expensive.  I was mining the web and found two sites that offer reproductions at a much reduced price over its antique counter part and I thought I would share them with you.

Original English butter slabs can run anywhere from $1200 to $2500.  Or you can find a reproduction English Butter Platter from Joanne Hudson for much, much less (click on the picture to go directly to the product/site):

Reproduction of an English Butter Slab.  Other styles are available.

Reproduction of an English Butter Slab. Other styles are available.

 

Original French wire ware cooling racks can cost upwards of $150 or so, if you can find one.  However, a reproduction of an old wire cookie rack from Donna Hay is very reasonable (click on the picture to go directly to the product/site):

Reproduction of an old French cookie rack.  It comes in two sizes.

Reproduction of an old French cookie rack. It comes in two sizes.

I get tremendous joy (and use) out of both of these items and look forward to having them a part of my renovated kitchen.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

I needed a little Christmas…

 

Glittery little wreath ornaments on an old, mottled mirror.

Glittery little wreath ornaments on an old, mottled mirror.

Getting in the Christmas spirit has been a little hard this year.  I am firmly ensconced in what I affectionately refer to as the size 7 shoe box apartment while the renovation is going on.

About the only thing I could think of to make me feel a little better about it was to do some nominal decorating for the holidays.  Something that was enough to make me smile, but didn’t require a lot of effort and could be accomplished on a small budget.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,
Cindy

A pensive looking Samantha curls up on the bed for a nap.

A pensive looking Samantha curls up on the bed for a nap.

Little Annie in her favorite spot.

Little Annie in her favorite spot.

Simple ironstone basin set on top of a fresh greenery wreath.

Simple ironstone basin set on top of a fresh greenery wreath.

IMG_8437 (2)

Vintage, hand blown ornaments in a wire basket, setting softly on  a wreath on my coffee table.

Vintage, hand blown ornaments in a wire basket, setting softly on a wreath on my coffee table.

A lovely mid century lamp on an antique textile with a lovely holiday candle for aroma and ambiance.

A lovely mid century lamp on an antique textile with a lovely holiday candle for aroma and ambiance.

Keeping it simple with a wreath hung above the bed.

Keeping it simple with a wreath hung above the bed.

A little nook in my apartment with a simple wreath, some candles and a lovely quilt with lovely festive colors for some contrast.

A little nook in my apartment with a simple wreath, some candles and a lovely quilt with lovely festive colors for some contrast.

 

The Prettiness of Ugly


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We are at a bit of a standstill with the renovation until we get our permits approved.  So when I went by the house this weekend, I didn’t expect much would be different.  And I was right.  But what little had changed was choice indeed.

The six or seven layers on the kitchen floor were pulled up and to reveal original hard wood floors.  They don’t look especially great right  now, but everyone loves a Cinderella story and these little ugly ducklings have a shot at becoming pretty.  What a sweet surprise!

My contractor believes we can salvage the floors in the kitchen.  All the floors will be refinished in a honey pine tone.  They will be a nice, warm contrast to the exposed ships lap on the walls which will be painted white as part of the renovation.

 

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom have of the pic are the floors that were already exposed.

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom half of the pic are the floors that were already exposed which are in serious need of refinishing.

Here is a general sense of the feel I am going for:

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring.  This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring. This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

A Lovely Mess


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The Guest Room

The last few weeks have been stressful, to put it mildly.  Closing on the loan, packing, moving and settling in to a tiny apartment.  It’s fair to say that I am a nester and being in limbo is not my strong suit.

I needed to see progress on my house in order to feel like this is all for something.  In this case, moving forward, or progress begins with stepping back and deconstructing.

Week #1 has begun with demolition.  And it’s a lovely mess.  I am beyond thrilled to see that under all the sheetrock was ships lap.  Original to the house and of its time, it really needs to shine.  We are keeping it exposed for the renovation and will eventually paint it.  We’ll harvest, patch and repair where we need to and fill the whole house with it.  Wood walls.  Warm, comforting wood walls.  What a simple path to happiness.

Here are the pictures from the first week.  Please join me on this journey.

Always,

Cindy

FullSizeRender (17) FullSizeRender (16) Looking towards the stairs. Another kitchen shot. Layers of subflooring scrap through. I wonder if there are wood floors underneath. FullSizeRender (21) FullSizeRender (22) FullSizeRender (19) FullSizeRender (15) FullSizeRender (14) FullSizeRender (13)

A Country Christmas


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Tin Lanterns with the twinkly of real candle light.

Tin Lanterns with the twinkle of real candle light.

For the first time in twelve years, I won’t be decorating my little cottage for Christmas.  So I thought I would dream a little bit and bring you Christmas style from others.  These have a strong Scandinavian influence which is no accident…it’s my favorite Christmas style; simple and restrained.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

 

A simple tree in an old galvanized bucket.  My favorite kind of tree stand.

A simple tree in an old galvanized bucket. My favorite kind of tree stand.

The beauty of the red barn with bright white trim just sings Christmas.

The beauty of the red barn with bright white trim just sings Christmas.

White table with a smattering of red for the Holidays.

White table with a smattering of red for the Holidays.

Save for some candles, a plain tree that looks just lovely.

Save for some candles, a plain tree that looks just lovely.

Lovely tree sculptures seem simple and are pretty as well.

Lovely tree sculptures seem simple and are pretty as well.

Classic Swedish grey with high contrast red for a stunning display.

Classic Swedish grey with high contrast red for a stunning display.

A few berries in  a bucket and simple garland swag across the window.

A few berries in a bucket and simple garland swag across the window.

Unfussy, barely there Christmas style looks effortless.

Unfussy, barely there Christmas style looks effortless.

A simple make-do heart wreath from garland.

A simple make-do heart wreath from garland.

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Traditional candle chandelier.

Traditional candle chandelier.

Country stairs simply adorned that say "Welcome."

Country stairs simply adorned that say “Welcome.”

Outside, Inside


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Farm table loaded with treasures.

Farm table loaded with treasures.

Part of my renovation includes editing my furniture and collections. Replacing old pieces with different ones that will fit the space better and not having quite as many antique small wares.

To that end, I had a tag sale. As usual, I tapped my good friend Vince Maggio, merchandiser extraordinaire, on the shoulder to help me sell my goods.

What struck me when he was finished merchandising everything is a) he made them look better on my lawn then they ever did inside my house and b) the outside looked better than the inside.

I think if I pay attention to how he does it, I can learn how to arrange things better in my home, when the renovation is completed.

Bravo, Vince…thank you for your hard work and efforts, it helped make the day a smashing success and everything went gone, gone, gone.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Some great lanterns headed for a good home.

Some great lanterns headed for a good home.

The art of arranging is re-arranging.  When something goes, everything gets refreshed.

The art of arranging is re-arranging. When something goes, everything gets refreshed.

Simply framed; stunning when grouped together.

Simply framed; stunning when grouped together.

Utter Simplicity


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Plant stand, turned upside down shows old wear and tear.

Plant stand, turned upside down shows old wear and tear.

Hello Old Friends,

It has been a while!  I have moved out of my house for the renovation and am firmly ensconced in my new digs, although I am not fully settled in.  More about that in another post.

For now, I am posting something I should have posted this summer but didn’t have the time.  Some of you will remember an upside down plant stand for a vintage ice bucket champagne holder.  I walked by it one day and thought “wash stand with vintage towel” so I grabbed some cotton twill and fashioned a towel holder and used a lovely old mirror and voila.

I hope you find some inspiration in the simple things.

Always,

Cindy

Stunning on it's own, as is.

Stunning on it’s own, as is.

 

An old ironstone pitcher, basin and vintage towel.

An old ironstone pitcher, basin and vintage towel casually slung with a towel bar fashioned out of make do cotton twill.

Using things I had, around the house just as I found them.

Using things I had, around the house just as I found them.

It’s been a while, old friend.

A constant rotation of vintage items make them seem fresh when the context of seasons changes.

A constant rotation of vintage items make them seem fresh when the context of seasons change.

Folks…I have been remiss in posting lately.  Life is very busy right now and now that I have (finally) chosen a contractor for my renovation, the next month will be off the charts busy between closing, packing, storing and finally, a tag sale to get rid of many things I don’t want or won’t have a place for, post renovation.  Then I move into a rental cottage and hopefully, it will be somewhat less stressful once the work starts.

For now, however, I am just trying to keep things easy at home.  Where as this time of year, I would be doing a lot of things to the exterior of the house for the summer and also creating a lot of craft projects, I am purposely foregoing all that to keep life simple.  So it is easy, breezy summer for now.

I have just added a few summer touches to the house.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

I just love vintage alabaster lamps because they easily fit the neutral palette and are still very reasonable priced online and in antique stores.

I just love vintage alabaster lamps because they easily fit the neutral palette and are still very reasonable priced online and in antique stores.

A table with a canvas top was the perfect size for my found vintage, European bulb trays.  A very rustic and rough hewn element against the more refined alabaster lamp and vintage white pedestal pottery.

A table with a canvas top was the perfect size for my found vintage, European bulb trays. A very rustic and rough hewn element against the more refined alabaster lamp and vintage white pedestal pottery.

My design books are never very far away.

My design books are never very far away.

Vintage tin on a shelf

Vintage tin with a bouquet of dried, white berries and pencil starfish with tarnished German Glass Glitter.

Vintage Linens and Ironstone

Vintage Ironstone Pitcher and basin with a vintage, hand embroidered linen runner. Perfection!

Vessels with maritime rope with mercury glass globes

Vessels with maritime rope with mercury glass globes

Ah…Finally. The Plans & The Look.

The Look.

The Look. Besides the natural light…the most striking thing about this picture is the extraordinary use of the batten board walls.  I will be using the batten board sheeted material which is generally used for exterior siding.

 

White and Light.

White and Light. While this design shows white walls and ceilings, my walls will be white but the ceilings and the floor will be anchored with raw pine.  Much to think about!

 

Folks, my posting has been pretty spotty lately.  It’s mostly because I have packed up a lot of my DIY tools and supplies in anticipation of my upcoming renovation.  To that end, we have a ta-dah moment.  We have two things: The Look and The Plans.

The Plans are completed and embedded below.  My wish list is about a page and a half long, but here is a condensed version:

  1. Add a fireplace
  2. Change the front door from two French style doors to a single door
  3. Deck the back yard
  4. Gut the kitchen
  5. Insulate all the exterior walls
  6. Update electrical
  7. Add a bathroom upstairs
  8. Add a dormer to the upstairs bedroom bringing it to code and allowing it to be counted as square footage
  9. Build out the garage
  10. Replace all sheetrock with horizontal wood planking
  11. Update bathroom fixtures in current bathroom
  12. Interior/Exterior Paint
  13. Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Here are the drawings:

Main Living Floor Plan

Main Living Floor Plan

 

Second Level Floor Plan

Second Level Floor Plan