Four Kitchens

Staub's cast-iron Dutch oven // Marble pedestal // Quartz wine stopper //  French chef's kitchen island // Ceramic egg crate // Olive wood paddle board // Marble utensils crock 

One of my goals this year is to stop living off Lean Cuisines and start cooking.  I've always loved cooking and baking but I just never had the energy to whip up a new recipe when I got home from work.  Now that my office is a whopping 3 steps away from my kitchen I've been cooking up a storm!  I've really enjoyed posting about some of the recipes over the last few weeks but all of this cooking has left me with a serious case of kitchen envy.  So, with that said, it only feels appropriate that I share some of the spaces and kitchen essentials that I've been obsessing over lately.   

For me, it's all in the details. The first kitchen is defined by stainless steal cabinetry and an absolutely breathtaking chandelier.  The second, warm tailored cabinetry with highlights of brass accents and rich olive wood cutting boards and walnut stools by Organic Modernism. The last two play with ideas of storage and symmetry. Massive islands define the spaces while upper cabinets blend seamlessly into milky walls.  Note those beautiful sabot-adorned legs. Breathtaking! Not your everyday high gloss, over designed kitchens. Simple, restrained, delicate. 

Which one is your favorite?

(Images T Magazine // Rundell Associates // Harper's Bazaar)

Factory Pendants

Vintage Car Factory Pendant | Grey English Cotton Mill Shade | Dunlop Factory Pendant | Green Enamel Factory Pendant  | White Czech Factory Pendant | Restoration Hardware European Factory Pendant | Massena White Pendant | Black Convex Downlight | Green Vintage English Factory Light

I'm having a major moment with vintage factory lights.  As I mentioned before, my sister recently purchased a condo and if I have my way she'll have two of these shiny enamel lights hanging over her peninsula.  She lives in a modern building so these lights will toughen up the space and add a much need pop of color. The emerald green light pictured above is my absolute favorite, it reminds me of the ones in this kitchen designed by Buckingham Interiors, but I also think the charcoal gray would look fantastic against her white walls.  Decisions, decisions....which one do you like best?

(Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9)

Why Don't You?

...add dimension, texture and warmth to your kitchen by displaying your cutting boards?  The ladies of  Dehn Bloom Design created this artful arrangement in the pantry of the SF Decorators Showcase using color blocked cutting boards from Lostine (one of my new favorite finds!) and vintage boards from Big Daddy's Antiques.  I just love the way the painted boards play-off the Spinneybeck leather pulls and the Restoration Hardware Toledo Bar Stools -- it feels very MARCH SF, don't you think?

If you're looking to add to your cutting board collection then I suggest picking up a few of Lostine's leather handle reclaimed wood boards or these vintage beauties from Jayson Home.

(Image by John Merkl)

I'll Take it...

Um how amazing is this kitchen? I spotted it on Christine's always glamorous blog Bijou and Boheme and instantly added it to my dream home file. Quadrille's Bali Isle wallpaper is one of my favorites and I just love how designer Jill Unger paired it with Quadrille's Petite Zig Zag fabric, a Madeline Weinrib Mandala flatweave rug and Restoration Hardware's rustic Trestle Salvaged Wood Table.  Blue and white is a classic color combination but it feels so modern here with the different shades and patterns. 

My only question...who is Jill Unger? Because I don't know about you but I definitely want to see more of her work!

Smitten | Hamilton Design Associates

I was gathering inspiration for my very own gallery wall when I came across this space in Hamilton Design Associates' portfolio.  Talk about the perfect mix of art.  The various mediums, sizes and frames add interest and depth to the collection and I love how they arranged the art so that it hangs directly over the traditional wall paneling - it completely modernizes the look and feel of the space.

And lets just take a minute to discuss this dining room and kitchen.  How amazing are those striped chairs and wicker stools - does anyone know who makes them?!?  I'm obsessed with the handle detail and think that these perfectly tailored guys are just what my Portland, Maine project needs.  HELP!

Side note:  Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging comments yesterday!

The Perfect Pantry

Yes, you read that right...this is a pantry, a pantry that is larger than my parent's kitchen and perfect because it's covered in a wonderful wallpaper designed by David Hicks for Clarence House called The Vase. I love this wallpaper in all of it's colorways but especially the yellow and white combination seen here. I'm using it in the guestroom/possible nursery of the house I'm designing in Maine. I mean really, who wouldn't love to wake up to this cheery paper every morning!?! 
The guest room "before" shots...I'll share the rest of the design soon!

(Image via At Home in Arkansas) 

Saarinen in Milan

I was searching for more apartment inspiration when I stumbled across this amazing kitchen designed by Dimore Studio in Milan. Obviously I initially obsessed over the white marble Saarinen Tulip Table however what caught my eye was the beautiful time-warn brass island.  I mean, look at it, isn't it just beautiful?  The patina of the oxidized brass plays off the muted grey walls and the green and mustard accents creating the perfect color palette.  And doesn't it look gorgeous against the worn out rust-colored cupboard?  All the elements - the fabrics, styles, furniture and colors - are layered creating a room that is truly original.  This is the feel I hope to create in my new apartment - a space where everything was chosen for a reason and has meaning...I'm a sucker for anything that shows age.

(Images: Emanuele Zamponi for Yatzer.com)

French Favorite | Café Chairs

Time to let the sun shine in, it’s Friday!  Any weekend goals for your home? Mine is to find a new apartment — preferably one with a dining room or kitchen island so that I can complete my new year’s goal of eating dinner like a lady (not in front of the tv). I filed this images away as inspiration for chairs that might work well with a small bistro table — ideal dining for two.  A French favorite, these classic rattan and rilsan café chairs can be seen on traditional bistro sidewalks and terraces throughout Paris.  I'm in love with their bold colors and beautiful weave designs.  Chic, chic, chic.

Marshall Watson and Ashley Whittaker

Peter Pennoyer

John Oetgen

Victoria Hagan

A few sources in case you too have a hankering for a bit of Paris:

Maison Gatti Bistro Chairs: Available through Annick de Lorme and Cafe Society

Poitoux Rattan Chairs: Available through, Glacseat.com

TK Collections

Beaufurn

Candy Colored Kitchen

This candy colored kitchen designed by Penny Drue Baird is so scrumptious I could almost eat it!  It was love at first sight when I laid eyes on this kitchen in the May issue of Architectural Digest (the entire issue is amazing).  The combination of white lacquer cabinetry, thick statuary marble counters and candy colored walls gives off a fresh feel that I just can't get enough of — but it's the large snowflake sputnik chandelier that really stole my heart.  I can picture myself sitting in the corner banquet watching the morning news while sipping on my morning coffee.  Do  you love it as much as I do?

Image: Simon Upton photograph scanned by moi from Architectural Digest