The Butler's Pantry

While the kitchen will have it's gray walls and glossy white cabinets and it's black matte Soapstone counters, I want to kick it up a notch in butler's pantry. I'm thinking of either black or charcoal cabinets and white walls and a little bling.

Draper-esque cabinet door?!? I can't WAIT for the kitchen re-no.

Love the silver leafed ceiling and "disco ball" lighting.

I like the thought of a glam butler's pantry because when you walk into the house the butler's pantry is straight back and within full sight. I think it should provide some eye candy.

Gray Kitchen

We have started painting the kitchen and I must say picking a gray has proven to be a little challenging. The first color that I chose was Olympic Flagstone:

 
It looked really great in the can but was reading a little blue on my walls...

Actually this photo that's opposite the windows.. it looks like a gray / lavender. But over by the windows, it looked gray / blue. It was giving me a Country Cottage kitchen feel and I wasn't feelin' that.

I've learned that taking lighting into consideration is very important. While this color doesn't work in my light filled kitchen, it would probably look great in one of that bathrooms that doesn't get much light. It would look like a rich gray, just like the swatch on the can, in a spot that isn't compromised by the natural light. I must say, this house is making me a student of everything.

Either way, I had to go. I liked the color but not for my kitchen. I wanted a true gray that didn't lean toward blue or green.

I felt so bad because the painter had almost finished the walls but I was cringing every time I would look at it. It had to be changed and quickly. I remembered that I had some paint samples of grays and wanted to see if any of those would work. So we swatched:

The first swatch was SW Classic French Gray... too dark. Might use this for my daughter's room though.

Next up BM Stonington Gray... I think it's a winner but I have to see the other two colors.

The third swatch was BM Silver Fox. It didn't look silvery nor foxy. It looked like like a medium taupe color with a slight green undertone. NEXT!!!

The final swatch was BM Revere Pewter (bottom right), that read a little taupe-y too.

We have a winner.... love the Stonington Gray. It reads true, it's not too light, has just the right amount of depth, it looks great in our kitchen. Can't wait to see it on all the walls.

Now that that's over, I can focus on new cabinet pulls and window treatments.

Santa Baby

If I could have one thing for Christmas, (besides world peace, ending hunger and disease) it would be to have a fabulous backyard with a small pool. I would be overjoyed.

Simple yet perfect.

Beautiful and serene.

Love!

A lush oasis.

Love the color of the water.

A vacation in your backyard. That's what I want for my family.

LOVE the raised pool surround. Never saw that before.. it would be great extra seating.

*sigh*

So pretty!

I wonder if I could turn my carriage house into a pool house?

Great Gift Ideas

Sometimes shopping for others can be so hard for someone like me... I want to keep everything for myself. For instance here's a couple of gifts that I'm pondering..

Who doesn't love an Infinity scarf? I adore them. Here's a fab scarf with some serious glam factor going on from Etsy.  An Infinity scarf with fur and a rhinestone detail. If I buy this, I KNOW I'm gonna wanna keep it for myself.

Then, I found another all fur Infinity scarf...

I know this would be loved by anyone who receives it. Again, if I buy it, I'm gonna wanna keep it.

No, only is it bad with clothing items but household ones as well. I found this insanely fab candle:

Encapsulated in a 14K gold plated crocodile on black textured vessel created from fine Limoges porcelain paste, the candles exude the intoxicating scent of pink champagne.

Designs are completed with a fitted lid that has a lid handle plated in 14K gold! All candles are presented in a luxury gift box.

And yup, you guessed it! I will definitely keep it if I buy it. 

This candle is bananas! The 14kt gold plated gold trim, the faux croc pattern and the 14kt gold plated crocodile on top! I would never want to light it but if I did.. I could still use it on a vanity or tabletop. So chic.

If I don't get it together, this will prove to be a very costly Christmas.

Wishing Upon A Star

I'm wishing upon a kitchen renovation star for this kitchen.

I just LOVE it!! That chandelier is killing me softly.

It's Vogue

I wish I had heard of this product a week ago.. it's called TableVogue and it takes a functional but plain looking folding or card table to FABULOUS in one awesome, tailored swoop!

TableVogue is a table cover designed to provide a secure, tailored fit for your folding tables. This is perfect for me because:
1) I can't sew
2) Sometimes a regular table cloth just isn't quite the crisp look you're going for.

I love that you can use it for almost any occassion.. it's tailored look is timeless and classic.

I may host a small wedding at my house and this image gives me so many great ideas.

I wonder if they will come out with more colors and/or patterns. A pink and orange Ikat would be nice as would a shades of blue Ikat, a black and white striped would be great too.

This would make a great Christmas gift for the hostess with the mostess in your life.

Black Christmas Tree

I'm thinking about doing two trees this year... I hadn't considered it until my friend suggested it during her visit for Thanksgiving.

I will be ordering my champagne gold Christmas tree this weekend. I can't wait to see it in person and decorate it.

I've also pondered the idea of getting a second black Christmas tree and I'm simply LOVING that idea.

How freakin' cute?!? I think it would look awesome and pop against my Moonlight White walls.

SWOON!

I think it's incredibly chic! I love this last pic with the matte, shiny and black glittered balls and the "blingy" garland.. it's perfectly perfect. A touch of white and silver brings the look home.

Yup, I may have to order a black tree too.

Are you doing a non traditional tree? What do you think of a black tree?