Non Colour Colour

February 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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I was meandering through Pottery Barn a couple of weeks ago and saw a lovely looking book on their clearance table.  So lovely was the cover, I was compelled to pick it up and thumb through it.

This kitchen was featured on the inside cover and later in the book.  It sold me. I bought the book.

If I had a tiny, little cottage to get away to, this is the kitchen I would want.  Simple. Unfussy. Calm.

I love the way they use the architecture of the old building to play into the aesthetic. I also love the neutral tones of the fixtures and kitchenalia.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

 

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French Farmhouse Window

February 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

This gem will be used in found condition. With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface.

This gem will be used in found condition. With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface; it will be installed as is.

For the renovation, I have been searching for architectural pieces that I can use in found condition that will reinforce the age of the house.  With all the new construction, I have made careful design decisions that will keep the old cottage feeling old.

One piece I came across from one of my favorite downtown McKinney antique dealers, is the old French Farmhouse window.  It will have a place of prominence in the house.  It is in the direct line of sight as soon as you walk in the front door.  It will be set, with its current worn finish against a wall of white plank boards in the kitchen, above the kitchen sink.

The kitchen sink, by the way, will be an old zinc trough.  I believe the pairing of the old window and trough sink will be lovely reminders of the age of the house.   I have seen them at a number of dealers at Round Top, so I’ll add it to my list of things to get:

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The cherry on the sundae will be an old brass wall mounted sink faucet…if I can find one.

As I was looking on the Houzz website this weekend, an old French farm house kitchen caught my eye.  When I clicked on the link and saw pictures of the entire house, I spied a window very similar to mine.  I am in heaven.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

Beautiful French farm house bedroom. I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed. But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

Beautiful French farm house bedroom. I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed. But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

The window looks very similar to the one I bought from Chase Hall in downtown McKinney, pictured above the post.

Capture

 

 

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A Lesson in Renovation Mathematics & Updates

February 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

I had about sixteen feet of unused attic space.  Part of that space is allocated for the HVAC unit.  That would leave about ten feet where I was just going to throw down some plywood and use as attic storage.  Then I had this thought, since we are doing all this other work, why not just build out the space?  It wasn’t structural, so (I thought) why not just add the insulation, some electrical, sheetrock and bippity boppity boo…I have additional square footage.  How much more money could it be?

Fast forward…things are not that simple.  Some engineering is required, the electrical is a bit more complicated, add duct work and we’ll need some additional hardwood flooring.  So my incredible contractor (who really is a great guy) got the numbers together and to build out this additional 120 square feet, it will come to about 45 per square foot.  But it would appraise much higher per square foot handing over some instant equity.

We had some windfall monies from parts of the renovation that we over budgeted, so those monies will fund the build out of the 120 square feet of attic space, keeping us within budget.

Bippity Boppity Boo is right.

Updated pictures from the progress from this week.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always.

Cindy

xoxo Garage Before 2015-02-01_20-02-54 2015-02-01_20-04-17 2015-01-25_9-44-24 2015-02-01_16-38-01 2015-02-01_16-48-30  2015-02-01_16-50-192015-02-01_16-20-29 2015-02-01_16-22-07 2015-02-01_16-23-14

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I am being framed…finally

January 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment

-- Download I am being framed...finally as PDF --


I went by this weekend and got some additional photos and took some measurements.  As the various spaces are being framed in, it gives me a better sense of the size of the rooms once the renovation is completed.

It’s not much to look at…but it’s progress.  The ugly way, way before the pretty.

I hope you find some inspiration.

xoxo

Cindy

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My One Renovation Splurge…

January 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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.

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Discovery – Vintage Kitchen Reproductions

December 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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

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Discovery: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker

January 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment

I have become quite keen on a new cooking show on Food Network, Farmhouse Rules.  Basically, anything with the word Farmhouse always catches my attention.  In one episode, they made cocktails using a mason jar cocktail shaker.  I was hooked…I had to have it.  A little mining the internet and voila.  I found the website: http://www.masonshaker.com/

With this new gadget, I am looking forward to experimenting with simple syrups and flavor components to create really great cocktails.

I hope in the  New Year, you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

 

Savory and refreshing.

Savory and refreshing.

Mason Cocktail Shaker.

Mason Cocktail Shaker.

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The Little Paris Kitchen

January 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Rachel Khoo, literally in her Little Paris Kitchen

Rachel Khoo, literally in her Little Paris Kitchen

I stumbled on a lovely little show on the cooking channel, hosted by Rachel Khoo.  She lives in a little (and I mean little) Parisian flat and hosts a cooking show from her kitchen which is literally the span of her arm’s length deep and wide.

I would imagine that out of necessity, she would naturally gravitate towards simple cooking because she doesn’t have the storage for kitchen gadgets and a plethora of cooking accoutrements.  Rachel is probably a better version of my younger self.  I love the way she uses an old chippy, antique enamel bowl to do a lot of her mixing.  She has used it in several episodes.  She doesn’t even have a proper stove or oven.  She has two burners and a counter top oven and she manages to use them very well.  Not only that, she ran the smallest restaurant in Paris from her apartment.  French dinner for two by an English girl.  Brilliant.

She is confident enough and refreshing enough to show a clip in her show of a French Butcher who didn’t particularly like her version of steak tartare.  I really appreciate someone who knows the best things in life are often the things that fall outside the lines.

So intrigued was I, that I purchased her cookbook on Amazon (here is the link) and have made five recipes so far.  Three turned out great, two…not so much.  But the recipes that didn’t turn out were my errors and I will try them again, until I get it right.

One recipe I tried was “Nids de Tartiflette” or Cheese and Potato Nests.   A simple and rustic recipe with wine and french cheese, it was really lovely and easy.  Rachel Khoo is really onto something if she is determined to de-mystify French cooking and do it the way the French do at home.  I had great fun with these recipes and great result.

The mystery out of French Food prepared simply.

The mystery out of French Food prepared simply.

 Nids de Tartiflette

Click on the title for a link to the recipe.  Here is a snap of my result. Insanely delicious.

Cheese Potato Nests (Nids de tartiflette)

Cheese Potato Nests (Nids de tartiflette)

 

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The $1821 Kitchen

January 20, 2013 by 4 Comments

It seems appropriate to re-post my very first blog article that I published almost a year ago.  I still love my “new” kitchen.  I hope you enjoy the transformation and find some inspiration for the new year.

Always,

Cindy

After.

Demolition.

More. Free. Labor.

I’m in love with my cottage.  However, the kitchen left much to be desired.  I have lived in the house for almost nine years, and only done minor painting to the cabinets and had the floor professionally done a couple of years ago.  In October,  hankering for a change, I wanted to re do the kitchen in a really impactful way under two important conditions: a budget of $1500 and cosmetic changes only.  I had to work with the existing flaws of the kitchen.  No ripping down sheet rock, no moving electrical junction boxes, etc and nothing structural.

I just longed for something simpler.  For a while, I wanted everything on display.  Scouring antique stores, ebay and flea markets…everything had to have a great container so it could be on display.  But too much of having everything on display starts to feel cluttered and the kitchen never felt clean…even though I clean on a regular basis.  Plus it was kinda exhausting making sure everything was always looking perfect because it was all out in the open.  Some closed door storage and major editing was in order.

Truth be told, I met only one of those two goals.  I went over budget by $321 because of taxes, delivery fees and unforeseen product substitutions that were more costly.

Still, it is a darn good kitchen for the money.  It is a very personal kitchen, not just because I did the work but because it navigates the way I do.  Having lived in the house for almost nine years prior to this undertaking, I inherently knew and understood what I wanted and needed out of the kitchen.  I am not sure I would have the same harmony with a kitchen that I designed and built without having lived in the house first.

I did all the work myself in 14 days, but I have to share that my wonderful neighbor, Darlene Kirksey, spent a day helping me install the counter tops which were too heavy for me to lift on my own and my ever helpful yard man, David Keel helped me with demolition on Day One.  Props to my lovely friend/neighbor Kathy Burt for bringing me a sweet surprise of dinner from my favorite burger joint since my kitchen was torn up and I was way too tired to fix even a sandwich.  Lastly, I need to thank Gus Tinajero, the GM at IKEA and his assistant.  He worked, in good faith to get me the countertops I wanted and offered GREAT customer service.  Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting several individual projects within the renovation:

  • Beautiful spice storage using lab bottles (click here)
  • DIY Pendant Lamps (click here)
  • Re-purposing an upper cabinet as a lower cabinet
  • Re-engineering a four drawer cabinet for the better
  • New life for old cabinet doors (click here)
  • DIY roman blinds (easy peasy for anyone, even a beginner)
  • Pantry Pride (click here)
  • Organizing recipes with a deconstructed book

Here are the before and after pictures.  It’s a little hard to tell in some of them, but the after pics are shown directly to the right of the same spot in the before pics. For additional kitchen and home tour pics, click here. Let me know what you think!

Remember to click twice to bigify!

Love Always,Cindy

As a post script, I am submitting this article for consideration for a feature in Cottages & Bungalos.  Stop by the blog when you have some time, there are some terrific entries already:

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[hana-code-insert name='Half Banner' /]

 

[hana-code-insert name='cottagesbungalos' /]

 

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My First Giveaway!

October 1, 2012 by 6 Comments

Update: Winner to be announced Monday, November 5th!

As a post blog article note, many people are using the “like” button posted above this article in order to be eligible for the giveaway.  The like button on this page only applies to this article, not the blog fb page.  In order to be submitted for the giveaway, please click on the Facebook icon above, which will take you to The Leaning Cottage fb page where you can hit the like button that is associated with the page.  Thank you for your patience in allowing me to clarify!

I see Giveaways on other blogs all the time, so it would seem it is time to have one of my own.  The giveaway period ends on October 31, 2012.  There are two ways to win: add yourself to my subscriber list and confirm (subscription request is on the right hand side of the screen, in the sidebar) and/or “like” my page on Facebook.  Current subscribers and current friends on The Leaning Cottage page on Facebook are automatically entered.  You’ll get one entry for a subscription to the blog and one entry for liking my blog page on Facebook which means you can have up to two chances to win.

What will you win?  You will win the following spice rack, which includes a handmade wood shelf, 24 spice jars with custom labels, two large and two small vintage style amber lab jars for extracts, also with labels and a pair of vintage Kerr Jelly Jars for salt/pepper storage.  The giveaway does  not include jar contents such as spices and extracts.  You supply those:)

The Leaning Cottage Giveaway

Please pass this information along to your friends!

Until next time,

Cindy

 

 

 

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