Showing posts with label kitchens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchens. Show all posts

Design Blog Love

Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day! I took an unintended blogging break but did manage to find time to read my favourite blogs – funny how that happens. I thought I would share some of my favourite posts from the last few weeks – all well written, with beautiful images and very inspirational. If you are a design blogger, you probably have seen some of these before.

1) Holly at Things That Inspire writes the most informative, well researched posts about interior design. Not only that but she is the most generous of bloggers. A few weeks ago, she linked to my blog on her facebook page and my readership increased dramatically during that time. Thanks again Holly! She is in the process of working with designer Suzanne Kasler to design her new home, which is going to be extraordinary from the sounds of it. I loved her recent post on glass front cabinets which has images of beautiful kitchens (I loved them all) including this one by Nathan Egan Interiors.

whitekitchenNathanEganInteriorsviaTTI

2) Speaking of Suzanne Kasler, her office was recently featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. See photos via Greige here.

Kaslerofficeviagreige

3) Braebourne Farm is a blog full of pretty rooms. Recent posts on white linen and dressing tables had me at hello.

dressingtableviabraebournefarm

4) Lauren at Pure Style Home wrote a post about the transformation of her home over the span of a year, a year in which she also had a baby. All the before and afters are shown for your viewing pleasure in one post. I love her entrance where she framed 30 sketches from the book Da Vinci’s Notebook. The antique gold frames are a refreshing change from black or white frames and the random manner in which they are hung is both interesting and quirky.

PureStyleHome

5) Layla at The Lettered Cottage wrote a post titled “Easy, Affordable Ways to Add Character to Newly-Built Home” using before and afters of her home to illustrate her point. She took a new home void of personality and created a comfortable and charming home with a cottage vibe. The photos and tips are inspirational to new homeowners who don’t know where to start and what they can do to personalize their standard issue builder’s home.

TLC

6) Remodelista did a round-up of outdoor umbrellas and shades and I especially loved this one (if you had trees to secure it to). The price point is reasonable especially when compared to a retractable awning which can costs thousands of dollars.

squareshadsailviaremodelista

7) Remodelista introduced an Architect/Designer’s Directory (US only) with links to sites of architect and design firms featuring stunning projects like this kitchen from San Francisco based Gast Architects.

remodelista

8) Little Green Notebook showcased a number of inspiring living rooms in her post on the placement of pillows (cushions.)

phoebehowardviaLGN

9) The home of Michael Angus, owner of Angus and Company in Toronto, a decor shop filled with antiques and decorative items is featured in a recent Canadian House and Home video. What’s great is that it is a rental, above his store, but the use of architectural elements like panel moulding, antiques and mirrors makes it feel like a comfortable home full of personality.

H&HMAngus

10) Sue at the Zhush posted a beautiful collection of window seats here.

windowseatviatheZhush

Client Project: Dream Kitchen on a Budget

In a previous post, I spoke of my love of Ikea kitchens. I also have mentioned, just a few times, the classic appeal of white kitchens. This client wanted not only to update her small kitchen but also make it more functional.

kitchenbefore

ikeakitchen1

Christiekitchen2a

Christiekitchen3a

Christiekitchen4a

The only change to the layout was to move the refrigerator to the opposite wall with a narrow pantry for all her food items. This gave her a 5’ run of counter space for food prep where previously she only had about 2’ to the right of the sink. We also saved on counter space by installing a new microwave above the range.

We gained additional storage space by extending the cabinets to the ceiling. This also gives the impression that the ceiling is higher than it is.

We added symmetry to the room by installing glass front cabinets on either side of the window. The client can display her pretty dishes. A new white subway tile backsplash is timeless and works well with the white cabinetry.

My favourite part is the counter which is a quartz in a beautiful grey brown colour (it’s not quite grey, yet not quite brown). We replaced the dated, small ceramic floor tiles with cork which is environmentally sustainable as well as soft on the feet and legs.

We replaced the lighting with an inexpensive pendant from Home Depot and one of my favourite ceiling fixtures from Robert Abbey. My client says it looks like a cake! We painted the walls a soft blue grey.

I loved working with this client and she LOVES the transformation of her kitchen from boring beige to classic white. (I will add additional “after” photos once I receive them from the photography student who took this one.)

I’m taking part in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and The Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming. Head on over to see some great Before and Afters.

metamonday

underthetablelogo

If you need help with a kitchen reno or any other design project, please contact me at vanessa@vanessafrancis.com.

Ikea Kitchens: Budget friendly and stylish

I love Ikea. I love their furniture styles, accessories and price point. And I love their kitchens. You can’t beat their pricing and 25 year warranty. I recently completed a small kitchen reno for a client using Ikea cabinetry and it turned out beautifully. Stay tuned!

On Sarah’s House 3 which is currently airing, Sarah Richardson installed an Ikea kitchen and painted the upper cabinets, lower cabinets and island three different colours. I thought it looked great especially the sunny yellow on the island. This country kitchen is fresh and current.

ikeaSarahR


 ikeaSarahR2


ikeaSarahR3


This kitchen is from Sarah’s House 2 and again she used paint to transform these Ikea cabinets. 

ikeaSarashouse2

I think that one of the reasons why design shows choose to use Ikea cabinetry, other than their great price point, is their quick availability.

On Colin and Justin’s Home Heist, Ikea cabinetry was used more often than not. Check out their site for the unbelievable before and afters. I really don’t know how they managed to find these homes but the transformations are brilliant! This first one with Ikea cabinets painted a beautiful turquoise is my favourite.

353.JPG


 ikeacolinandjustin4


   ikeacolinandjustin


 ikeacolinandjustin2


 ikeacolinandjustin3




 ikeacolinandjustin5



Design Editor Cameron MacNeil’s Ikea kitchen is featured in a House and Home video:

ikeaH&H2

This is the winner of Ikea’s $25,000 Kitchen Makeover contest. You can view a video at House and Home. Notice the fabric on the chairs? They used Ikea drapery panels – genius!

ikeaH&H3

This is one of the finalists in House and Home’s reader design contest.

ikeaH&Hdesigncontest

And one last simply beautiful Ikea kitchen from House and Home.

ikeahousandhome

There is no excuse not to have a beautiful kitchen. Get it done now before Ontario’s HST comes in July 1st! Stay tuned for a kitchen before and after by Vanessa Francis Design.

Pretty French-inspired Kitchens

Some ideas to bring a little French flair to your kitchen.

I absolutely love this kitchen with its schoolhouse pendants, marble counters and black and white hex floor tiles. The drawing of La Tour Eiffel is the perfect backdrop to this modern bistro kitchen.

frenchhouseandhome

The next two images pair rustic tables with sparkly chandeliers – the tension is what makes these rooms brilliant.

frenchH&H4

frenchH&H5

All images from Canadian House and Home.

A Backsplash of Colour

As a follow-up to my previous post, here are some kitchens with colourful subway tiles. In contrast to neutral and classic white/off-white subway tiles, these tiles are the showstoppers of the kitchen.


Style at Home


Suzanne Kasler


House to Home


Metropolitan Home

Keeping it Simple...Subway Tile Backsplashes

Subway tile backsplashes provide a finishing detail to a kitchen that is clean, crisp and always current. While flipping through a few old kitchen design magazines (prior t0 recycling them), I noticed that the kitchens that still looked current today were the ones that had simple, white/off-white subway tile backsplashes. Kitchens with square ceramic tile backsplashes or intricate tile details with various tiles looked dated and so 2000 and late. Below are some images to inspire you.


Living etc.


House to Home


Domino


via Decorno


House Beautiful


House Beautiful


House Beautiful


House Beautiful


Canadian House and Home


BHG


BHG