Please come in ...

The inside of this home is decorated very much like a magical garden party. See it for
yourself at the 5th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour on October 13th!

Do you ever drive by someone’s home and just wish you could see what it was like on the inside? House tours are a great antidote to satisfy our how-do-other-people-live curiosity. Late this summer I had the opportunity to visit some amazing homes in the Wenham area along with special event coordinator Cynthia Novotny of the Wenham Museum. Part of my duty as co-chair of their upcoming Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour included checking out some of the homes that will be opening up their doors on Saturday, October 13th to share an insider’s view of their newly renovated kitchens. Homeowners, designers and design/build professionals will be on-hand at various locations (9 total) to answer questions on how the end result was achieved. I have been on the tour in years past, and have really enjoyed seeing these magazine-worthy spaces in person. In fact, some have since been published. 

Below are a few sneak peeks of what you will discover on this year’s tour of distinctive kitchens ...

This bountiful kitchen garden is just outside of a vintage American home designed and renovated with energy efficiency in mind. The family is very mindful of their carbon-footprint, resisting the urge to use a clothes dryer and living without air conditioning (yet the house was very cool even in August when we visited). The homeowner, Kat, actually dug up a handful of red-bliss potatoes from her kitchen garden for Cynthia and myself to take home. I have to say, they were the best potatoes I ever had! I took them home, boiled them, then mashed them with a bit of real butter plus sea salt. They were so good!!! Inside the home is very welcoming and well planned, with a “boot room” as she calls it at the entry (or a mudroom for some of us), counters from Cumar Marble and Granite, and kitchen faucet from Designer Bath/Salem Plumbing Supply. After the tour, I will share some photos from inside, but I don’t want to give it all away yet. You really have to feel this house for yourself ... it has that quality that older homes possess that cannot be recreated in new homes, regardless of how well they are built.

Also in Kat’s garden: artichokes and brussel sprouts.

At her front door: sweet potato vine

Another home that I got to view was the work-in-progress of kitchen designer Karen Swanson. I took this photo of her standing in the kitchen that she wanted on the tour! This was also in early August. Checking in with her recently I was told she is almost finished (why can’t my renovations go this quickly??!!) While we were there, she showed us her plans and described how she envisioned her new kitchen to be. Below is an updated photo from the space. I love it already! And wait until you see her butler’s pantry. It has a surprising punch of color not to be missed! If you want to read a bit of her background story on her design process, follow along on her renovation blog. She has been very busy with her design work, so the posts aren’t as frequent as she would like, but anyone going through the decision making ups-and-downs of a kitchen project will appreciate reading what even a seasoned designer has to go through to achieve her heart-of-the-home vision. 

photo credit: Karen Swanson

photo courtesy Lisa Kawski

Blue and white kitchens will always be a New England favorite. This open floor plan kitchen designed by Lisa Kawski of LMK Interiors is a beautiful example of a space geared toward spending time with family, guests and pups in an environment that is comfortable for all. I really like the placement of the TV by the island. Great spot to watch Master Chef, Cupcake Wars or Ina Garten. I am looking forward to seeing this charming space in real life.

photo credit: Michelle Bailey

A few other friends of mine have kitchens on the tour. Visit the facebook pages of Wilson Kelsey Design, Meadowview Construction, and the blog of Howell Custom Building Group to see their sneak peeks. Viewing the spaces in person, however, is a great way to get a feel for what makes a kitchen design work both aesthetically and functionally, so I highly advise taking the tour. Tickets are on sale now ($15 in advance, $23 on October 13th). I also recommend packing a boxed lunch to eat while traveling during the day long journey (doors open at 11am and tour ends at 4pm) from one incredible kitchen to the next. I will be visting the kitchens with a group of friends so maybe I will see you en route?  

What do you need in a kitchen?

Would you like to start the day grabbing your cup
of coffee at a built-in coffee bar? My favorite part
is the cork backsplash. Very eco-chic.

This weekend, my sister-in-law Susan and I went shopping for kitchens. We are technically now in a race to see who can put their gutted kitchen back together first! She and her husband (with the help of their sons) just dismantled their kitchen over a week ago. If you have been reading my blog, you know mine was hauled away during let’s just say warmer weather.

Can you fall in love with a piece of stone? I love the
water-color like pattern on this brownish-gray granite.

While ours was barely hanging on by the hinges (in fact many drawer fronts had been glued back on repeatedly, some unsuccessfully), her big problem was an inefficient, dated layout (part of my problem, too) and not a lot of square footage (okay, that was also our problem). As they say, people always end up in the kitchen, so if the kitchen is small or hard to move around in without getting in the cooks way, then that can start to wear on you year after year, especially as our little ones become tall, hungry ones.

This kitchen featured cabinets made out
of sustainable bamboo. By adding a
farmhouse sink with a mosaic tile backsplash
done in a traditional running board pattern,
this Asian-inspired modern space
looks more early-American in style
(and feels “like home” to me).

While my kitchen has been relocated temporarily into our dining room, Susan is fortunate to have a second kitchen located on the third floor of her home. Having to cook and serve meals by heading up two sets of stairs each day (for Susan) or preparing family meals in shifts because the toaster oven can only fit so much on the tray (that would be me) is hardly an inconvenience when you think of what is happening in Japan right now. Even so, I will be very thankful when I our modest sized kitchen is back where it belongs, and I can cook and clean without tripping over extension cords and we can all sit down to eat a home-cooked family meal at the same time.

These cabinets look like they should be in my
100+ year old farmhouse. I love that they
are recessed, furniture-like, with a colorful
interior and vintage inspired hardware.

As I said to Susan, even if you have all the time in the world to wait to get it done (she is thinking by the fall or the holidays) it can be very unsettling to walk past a room that is down to the studs. It just doesn’t feel like home. When I see the footage of the homeless Japanese who are now living, eating and sleeping together in shelters, are missing loved ones, and no longer have their belongings or a place to call home, it truly puts everything in perspective. I have everything I need, all I am missing is a full sized stove. But soon I should be able to get out and use the grill again, so that will add some variety to our evening meals : )

With that said, I hope the photos on this post taken during our visit to Family Kitchens in Salem are helpful to you if you are planning your dream kitchen, or are a virtual field trip if you are in the mood to daydream. I think the name of their business says it all – our kitchens are a sacred room in which to honor our families (and ourselves) through nourishment. While bells and whistles are nice, what we basically need is an efficient space to easily prepare the meals that keep us healthy – and comforted – in our homes.

Do you like to watch cooking shows or the news
while you prepare your meals? A built in television
(or wall mount) will free up valuable counter space.

Do you bake a lot and need a place to store a large
mixer? If moving heavy equipment back and forth
is difficult for you, this might be a good option.

Is a martini bar a luxury or a celebration of the
unique design elements that are available?

Do you have ceilings that have seen better days

or would you like more light bouncing around
in your room? Tin might be a nice solution.

Does imagining a walk on the beach make you
smile? If yes, then this stone tile would be one
way to start your day off on the right foot.

Family Kitchens
262 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
978.745.7700

Thanksgiving arrangement

My favorite spot to decorate in my home lately is the antique buffet in my foyer. You may have seen it recently in the YouTube video that I was asked to submit for the Design Sherpa “What Inspires You” contest.* This is one area in my home that is not completely surrounded by construction happenings! We are still working on the master bedroom project, which puts the kitchen/first floor powder room/ mudroom project on the back burner until we get the bedrooms/office situation straightened out.

We are getting very close though, and I am by nature incredibly patient, so it is all good. When this always-in-construction-phase is finally complete, it
will become a distant memory, and then I can
decorate to my heart’s content!

For now I am happy to have my vignettes.

Even a small bud vase with a single bloom can
provide a positive moment in a day.

But don’t worry – we do have a temporary kitchen set up in our dining room that is fully equipped with standard appliances and stocked cabinets, there just isn’t space for a stove. Looking on the bright side, without an oven, I will not be expected to do any holiday cooking from now until Christmas ; )

It will be nice to be the guest for the next two holidays instead of the host, and for that I am thankful! And living without a working kitchen seems like a minor inconvenience when there are so many people who are struggling to feed their families, not just during the holidays, but every day. Those are the people I worry about. I think about the people who are out of work or underemployed. I think about the people who experience the holiday not as a day off, but as just one more day without adequate means to provide for one’s family. But that is a post for another day ...

I hope your week is filled with people you cherish,
in comfortable surroundings, enjoying delicious
food, much laughter, fun and relaxation.

xoxo
yvonne


*P.S. To see who won the Design Sherpa “What Inspires You?” contest, click here. While I did not come in first place, I was happy to have been included in the top ten of the 100 “inspired” posts : )

What makes a kitchen beautiful?

Personal touches add character
to any kitchen, large or small.

This past Saturday, I spent the day touring some beautifully finished kitchens that were featured on the Wenham Museum Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour while dreaming about finishing my own remodel-in-progress. All of the homes were in the Wenham, Manchester, Beverly/Prides Crossing area of the North Shore. Each was uniquely special in its own way. I did not get photos of every home on the tour, but I did get some shots that illustrate what I think makes a kitchen interesting, often regardless
of budget or materials chosen.

Artistic touches and pops
of color are engaging.

Displayed collections add personality.

Painted cabinet interiors are a great
way to show off what is inside.

Remember this custom surfboard island?


Creatively styled spaces that are bright and
cheerful make for great conversation.

A well-edited color palette plus open shelving
for everyday items are easy on the eye.

Exterior views that are pretty and thoughtful
can compliment a kitchens interior.

Great lighting plus room to entertain
will encourage large gatherings.

Clutter-free counters and well-organized
storage both looks and feels good.





Well appointed spaces with equally enchanting
adjoining rooms create visual continuity.





Comfortable areas to entertain that are
filled with organic materials and natural
patina add warmth and charm.





Take home style tip: a simple bouquet
of flowers will dress-up any kitchen.




My favorite kitchen item seen on the tour?

A large stainless steel farmhouse sink.
This tops my list as a must-have for my new kitchen.
What favorite items are on your list?



Read more about this event
(and see some professional photos)
by clicking here.

This Old House on the North Shore

Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s This Old House, graces the cover of North Shore Magazine this month and will speak tonight as Honorary Chair of the North Shore Design Show. He will be highlighting 30 Years of This Old House and will share what is on deck for next season. For tickets, contact the Wenham Museum. I will be there for the wine and cheese reception, and will have pad and pen in hand, hoping he can answer some of “My Old House” questions!

There is nothing more satisfying than putting that last decorative detail in place for a designed space. Last Friday, after hanging this window treatment (with the help of the tallest guy I could find -- thank you, John Margolis of ICA!) in my room at the North Shore Design Show, I was finally able to step back and admire the end result. Then I took about a hundred pictures, headed home to get ready for the
Preview Party and discovered this ...

My kitchen and first floor bath were gone and my husband was responsible! Don’t worry, he is a licensed contractor and we had been planning this renovation for a long time. I did not think it would coincide with my participation in the design show, but at least we are on our way to a new and functional space! I bid a fond farewell to this vintage Harvest Gold General Electric Double Wall Oven ...

I listed it yesterday on Craigslist ...

and sold it for $50.00 by lunch time. It still works like a charm (we relied on it without fail for at least five Thanksgiving dinners!) but it was time to go. Now the fun begins, like redesigning the space (come back next week to view our new layout) and choosing materials and finishes. Anything will be an improvement from this kitchen that dates back to around 1970, but considering the fact that I have waited so long for this renovation (when we moved in we hoped it would last for 5 years, it has been 6) there are definitely some items on my list that I do not want to go without. I will share more about that list next week. Here is one item that might fit in nicely with the design plan for our Colonial farm house kitchen ...

Franke Farm House Series Kitchen Sink


Now it is off to the museum to meet some of my design friends who are coming in for a visit to my space (which will be exactly as I left it
... so refreshing!)

More later,
xo yvonne

Improvements that make me happy ...

Our new refrigerator has arrived.

And so has spring!

Old magnets still work on new fridge!

Happy to see the sun shining
again in New England!

Now that the warmer weather is here (please stay!) we are ready to move on to the demolition of our 1960’s kitchen. How happy I will be to take a sledge hammer to that room! We got a decent 6 years out of the kitchen that came with this old farmhouse, but it is no longer functioning as the work-horse of the home should (especially for our large and always hungry family!) Even though living with our outdated kitchen has tried my patience — and has reduced my cooking efforts from Martha Stewart-like to just getting meals on the table — I am kind of glad that we waited so long to get to this part of our renovation process. With all of the great design ideas that I have been exposed to online and in magazines, I am more than ready to start this project! For now, our new refrigerator will be temporarily located in the dining room, so that we can make a new home for it in the adjacent kitchen. I am also happy to report that stainless steel blends very nicely with the gray blue of my dining room walls!

Magnets and mantras ...

We are in the market for a new refrigerator. The one we are using is well over a decade old and has been badly abused by four little people. I am not kidding. My mother-in-law has the same one, bought at the same time, and it is in pristine condition. Ours looks like it has gone to battle. Even the fruit and vegetable drawers have taken a beating. And recently the handle has been stripped down to the studs (I didn’t know refrigerator handles had studs but apparently they do!) My husband and I were planning on purchasing a new fridge as part of our kitchen remodel project that we have been talking about forever. Well it is time. I am hoping that the new and improved food storage unit has one feature (besides being extremely durable) ... I need to be able to keep magnets on it. I know, some people think magnets on a refrigerator aren’t very sophisticated. For me, I love to enter someone’s home and see who and what is important to them in their daily lives. Plus it is a great place to put all those quotes I am so fond of! Stainless steel models are notorious (or celebrated?) for not being able to hold a magnet to them. I will let you know if our new model remains a clean slate or becomes a vertical scrapbook.

Small change ... big difference

This sassy little bench is a huge improvement from ...

its previous forlorn state (what was I thinking??)

Getting ready for company is a great motivator for many of us to freshen up our living spaces. There is nothing like hosting a party for a couple dozen guests to want to start all over again somewhere (or everywhere!) With the holiday season just around the corner, I thought I’d share some great before and afters from my client files that show how easy it is to make a big difference by changing a few things.

The main flaw in this good-size kitchen was a domineering set of outdated cabinets. Newer black appliances stuck out next to the lighter oak of the woodwork. My clients, anticipating a future renovation, wanted to spiff it up in the meantime.

By painting the long line of upper cabinets a light creamy yellow (closer to the wall color) they are not as heavy and boxy-looking as before. The bottom cabinets got a fresh coat of a bright colonial blue (self-priming Aura paint from Benjamin Moore did the trick) which is similar in tone to the black of the dishwasher and oven, helping them recede into the background. Shiny new hardware and a pretty toile fabric at each window helps to update this kitchen from “I am living with this” to “I am loving this.” Even the vintage stove top looks stylish now, as does the red sink (blue, red and yellow are a great, primary color combination).

The homeowner of this family room addition was looking for a pop of color. Her collection of red and blue glassware inspired my suggestion to define the space above the built-in bookcases with a deep, rich red. To get her visually on board, I provided a computer mock-up of the space with the new color ...

Here is the newly painted space which is pretty close to the visual I provided. With Thanksgiving company coming, we did a furniture shop to find the new sofa, chair-and-a-half and ottoman pictured in the after shot above (and at the store below).

A chair-and-a-half is one of my favorite must-have pieces. It is perfect for curling up with a good book or snuggling with a little one to read a story. Two adults could also share the space (if they are in the mood, that is!) I actually have one of these love seats of my own that will be re-invented soon (it has undergone one-too-many transformations into a fort over the past few years). Check back around Christmas (?!?) to see my master bedroom relocation, which is where my favorite chair will be placed (out of harms way!)

Here is my soon-to-be-new master before ...

And here it is just about ready to be insulated ...


A note of warning to all of you out there lusting after old homes ... my husband and I fell in love with this 100-year old fixer upper, I think mostly for the “before and after” potential that we saw in it. If I had my chance to do it again, I would have bought it before having kids (not with 3 toddlers and a baby on the way, again what were we thinking???). Fixing it up with four little ones under foot hasn’t been the we-can-do-it adventure I hoped for! Although when this Cinderella-before-the-ball house is finished, I am sure we will forget all of the blood/sweat/tears/money that we poured into this renovation-without-end. Until then, I will have plenty of before-and-after-content to share with all of you : )