Where To Begin?

My super duper awesome cousin came to visit over the long weekend and to help me unearth my Dining Room.  It had become the dumping zone during the move and it was very, very scary.  So scary that I just couldn't bear to clean it up alone.  I feared it would forever stay that way because I'd walk in there, and literally just turn around and leave.  It was B-A-D, but now it's a Dining Room again.  Free of dog kennels, extra drapery, headbands, random towels, and a dead cockroach. I still have a few tiny piles of things to sort through and the garage to clean out, but for the most part, I'm unpacked!

Which means I might actually be able to start one of the many updating projects needed over here at The Little Stone House.  There is so much work to be done and it can be a little overwhelming deciding which area to tackle first, especially when new HVAC units, new gas lines and various plumbing repairs keep eating into the very little budget that I do have.  There are obvious areas that just wont happen for a while because they are cost prohibitive (kitchen remodel...master bath and closet remodel...and many others), but there are a handful of spaces that with a little ol' blood, sweat and tears, The Mister and I could probably tackle them ourselves.  We aren't really DIY-ers, but we are going to have to learn how to be with this house!  And since we plan to live here for many years, time is on our side.

I'm fairly certain the back hall will be the first space to fall victim to my becoming a DIY-er.  Wouldn't you agree, or do you love vomit colored indoor/outdoor carpet, dingy baby blue painted walls and a truly ugly track fixture.  Doesn't track lighting just scream English stone architecture!!  Sheesh...  I only walk through this hallway about 27,000x a day, and so it might greatly improve my attitude if it were prettier.

(yes, I see you Swiffer mop)

So on to some ideas floating around in my head (aka my New House Pinterest board).

Without a doubt, I know I want to recreate this for the walls of the back hall.  I adore this and already have a few empty frames and screens, so I'm on my way!  Just need to paint and hang the frames.

And looky here...I hung a few things I had hanging around just to see if I am going to like this idea.  I definitely think so!

Next up, lighting.  Because there is no true attic to speak of in this house, a flush mount fixture is what I need.

I really like this one, because I think it would look nice with the wall treatment, and the price is reasonable, but is it too nautical looking???  It's a front runner though.

I could splurge on a single strip of Aldo Bernardi L'Impinato with two or three of either spot. 

I like these from Circa Lighting

And these too

A more industrial fixture from West Elm

Hmmm...maybe I should consider the flooring first?  There are lots of little spaces here created by numerous doorways, so I would prefer to add wood floors to tie into the main part of the house and the kitchen which also have wood floors.  But, I'm not sure I want to go to all that trouble and expense right now.  So perhaps a temporary selection?  And temporary meaning "mightbeforever" in our house.

Even though it's hideous, our existing indoor/outdoor carpet is quite practical.  No worrying about dirty grout lines, easy to clean, relatively inexpensive.  Flor tiles would be fun?  Anyone ever used them?  Easy install, or so they claim.

(sorry about the picture quality...can't make them bigger without being distorted.  Check out the last image via the link above.  Looks just like seagrass!)



I've even considered using VCT tiles.  Had them before in my laundry room and loved it.  Easy to maintain, endless patterns to create.

Or, brick pavers?  Loved this floor in a stationery store I visited in New Orleans recently (pardon my feet).  I'm not sure my skills are worthy enough to tile just yet, but I do really like this look.  Feels authentic to my house.

This one is beautiful too.  And I especially appreciate the dark grout, knowing that my floors would get alot of wear. 

As always, so much to consider.  I think I will tackle the walls first and see if that dictates what lighting and flooring I should choose.  The problem most definitely lies in the fact that I like so many different things.  I probably wouldn't go wrong with any of these choices.  It's the over-thinking on my part that makes it difficult!

What have you used in high traffic areas? Would you be willing to try something with a bold pattern in a smaller space. Something lively? Or keep it simple? Would love to know your thoughts.
  
So next weekend (gotta clean out the garage this weekend), I have a date with paint.  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.  I'm sure there will be hilarious stories to tell...I've never, not once, painted. 

Happy Friday, y'all!

I Want a Kitchen That Doesn't Look Like a Kitchen

...or at least one that doesnt look like the everyday kitchen.  And what's that look like you say?  Well, to me, a "non kitchen" kitchen has some of these elements below.

1.  No upper cabinets - either with or without open shelving:

2.  Antique cabinets, bookcases or factory racks used to store items you normally would in upper cabinets:

(that lantern is fabulous, no?)

 

3.  Pots and pans within reach, and everyday utensils clustered on the countertops:

4.  Reclaimed wood used to fabricate lower cabinets:

(I'm still trying to figure out these lower cabinets...maybe concrete frames with wood cabinet door?  Who knows, but i LOVE it)

 

5.  Natural light, and lots of it

 (even though this kitchen has upper cabinets, it is stunning!) 

6.  Non-standard layout:

Now let me say this...I am NOT much of a cook, so it really wouldn't bother me if my refrigerator, cooktop and sink weren't aligned in the perfect triangle.

 (range in front of the window adjacent to seating area)

Freestanding ranges

Even built-in or paneled, refrigerators always just look like a big box in the space to me. Yes, we all eat...and yes, I need to preserve food, but I really dont want to see my ugly refrigerator. Put it in the pantry...unless of course I could snag this beauty! Then I'd put it on my front porch for ALL to see!  Wowzers...

7.  Architectural elements

Fireplaces, stone walls...something that eludes to the fact that maybe the space you are currently using as the kitchen once wasn't a kitchen at all?

There is much to consider- no upper cabinets, repurposing cabinets for storage, more furniture, less appliances, lots of light and a little hint to the past...that all works for me!

Um, because right now, all I got is the natural light!

What about you?

(Sources here)

Do you know Aldo?

Aldo Bernardi, that is...

This is Aldo Bernardi:

And so is this:

And so is this:

I had the pleasure of specifying Aldo Bernardi lighting for a project in Crested Butte.  When it came time to select the lighting fixtures for the kitchen, we ran into a road block of sorts...and a concrete road block to boot!  You see, this 1970's condo was in need of desperate renovation and the kitchen was dimly lit.  We needed to add as much light as we could, but a concrete ceiling was going to prove that to be a difficult task.  So, I contacted Jill Brown (if you are in Houston and havent heard of her fabulous store, Brown, you might want to check your pulse) to see if she could custom make pretty, exposed conduit that I could track around the space and add lights where needed.  Regretfully she said no, but only because she didnt need to custom make it...she had that source available already through Aldo Bernardi!  Whew!!

And y'all, this stuff is so incredible and was exactly what I needed for the project.  But what is equally as fabulous is Carol Ollier, the distributor for Aldo Bernardi.  Carol and her husband, Aak, are delightful and helped every step of the way, even when there was an installation problem.  They interpreted my crazy chicken scratch and suggested the items needed to make the grid.  It's a wonderful line and I am hoping to use it again soon!

From this...oh my goodness, be so afraid

Via this:

To this...LET THERE BE LIGHT!


And when I win that lottery, I think I want these for my front porch:

For info on ordering Aldo Bernardi, please contact me above...happy to help!

Have a great weekend!