kitchens & being thankful

Hey Brandi, this one is for you.....


So last week I was writing about kitchens and how I'm thinking that we will be seeing a lot more of rustic wood kitchens soon.  Just like life:  you say something then you see it everywhere....

In Southern Living & House Beautiful this month I saw examples of this.  Southern Living featured a kitchen with loads of reclaimed wood and House Beautiful's cover is a natural wood tone as well.

I do kinda hate trends, but they are inevitable.  And this is my prediction for the next few years, at least.

This is from Bobby McAlpine's book via South of Market

And this rustic island is actually the inspiration for our client's kitchen:

And another kitchen from House Beautiful....rustic walls.

I am very sorry it is sideways  (there is no way to rotate after uploading, right?)  If you turn your head you will see the wood island and the wine barrel chandelier.

I love this look, though, because I think it will stand the test of time.  (I also think white kitchens will, too!)  I recently watched Woody Allen's Crimes & Misdemeanors for the first time--and I was in awe of how timeless and not dated Woody Allen's character's NY apartment was.  It was natural wood.  It looked so simple against all of the hard, angular '80s decor in the rest of the film.

But what I also think we will be seeing more of is tables in lieu of large islands.  I think because of our downturned economy and because of the "trend" to eat at home and eat locally (which I hope is here to stay!!  I wish I would never see another McDonalds again.), having a warm & intimate eat-in kitchen is something that is definitely not going away anytime soon.

a cozy eat-in kitchen (sorry--don't have the source.  Please email me if you do!)

And even though this kitchen is white, you have so much warm wood with the ceiling and the table (and no large island!)  (House Beautiful or Elle Decor?  forgive me I forgot.)

Another shot of the House Beautiful kitchen.  

(I promise to take a picture of my mom's kitchen when she lets me.  She has a table in the middle instead of an island and it is kinda fun to sit at the table and prepare a meal together...and easy on the legs.)

And if we are dreaming about eat-in kitchens....I can envision a warm, wood kitchen with this Currey & Co. green pendant over the table:

This farm table

(White Flower Farmhouse)

And this table surrounded by these....

Design Within Reach

It may sound tacky, but I know it would be lovely.

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I want to say I am thankful for all of you this Thanksgiving...and I am also thankful for some true friends I have been lucky enough to discover through this blog (Sherry, Ally & Seleta).  Sherry is even coming over to help me clean up before the shoot--who does that?

Have a great week and I will see you back at the end of the week with a new blog!  With client now asking to see a portfolio, I figured it was time for a little makeover.

Happy Thanksgiving.....Julie

(Also---anonymous:  our kitchen shelves are 12 inches deep, and Dina, yes, please come to the design blogger dinner!!  It is open to design lovers, too :)  If you ever have a question make sure to give me your email address so I can respond.

Rachel McAdams' Glam Living Room (imagined)

The other day I was asked the question, "What kind of rooms do you dream of designing?"  

I couldn't help but admit I do dream of decorating rooms where the sky's the limit with resources and freedom.

I have loved Rachel McAdams ever since The Notebook.  She just has something--beauty, humilty, and that smile.  

I can't wait to see her new movie Morning Glory.

Here is a living room I imagine for a young and single starlet.....(she is single, right?  I can't keep up)

I know there is a lot going on here, but sometimes I think a room can handle a lot if you keep the colors fairly muted and neutral.

The mirror and the shell sconces on the top right would go above her mantel.  

The bookcase/cabinet in the back would be covered in the white and gray floral wallpaper you see on the top shelf.

The ceiling would be the blue/gray paint color you see on the far left.  I would paint her window panes the deep Orion Gray (Ralph Lauren paints).  

The walls would be BM's Decorators White for that crisp, true white.  The twist is I would have them be high gloss (similar to the picture below from Decorpad)

In the picture moulding beneath her imagined chair rail in her living room would be filled with the deep gray floral wallpaper you see on the left of the design board.

Oh, and these would be her floors!  (below, from Greige)

Hope you had a good Halloween!  We had a blast...Chris carted two little firemen around the 'hood.  These years when they are young are so precious!

If you want help creating the room you dream about, I can help you by creating a design board just for you & your family.  ($150 or $250, depending upon the room--you can view my design services on the tab above under the header.)

One more matter of business--Lavish! has added Jillian St. George from HGTV.com to our session panel.  I do hope you are coming.

All the best......Julie

Yellow and Gray Love: guest post by Abby and her Boys

Hi! This is Abby from abby & her boys, and I am just thrilled to be guest posting for Julie today! When I found her blog I felt like a broken record, because every comment was "I LOVE IT!" She has great taste! Don't you think?

Yellow and gray are everywhere right now. I think it is such a beautiful color palette, both calming and sophisticated, but I admit I have been resisting. But then I saw this and fell in love:

I am officially giving in to yellow and gray!! Here is the inspiration board I created, starting with the bootie. I could not stop! Just click on the board to see each item and the source.





Have you given in to this trend? How will you be bringing yellow and gray into your space? I'd love to hear what you think!
Thanks for spending some time with me today!
abby

Thanks so much, Abby! Please visit her warm and fun blog at Abby & Her Boys! Julie