Some Like It Hot...

I know no one ever believes me when I say my kittens are unlike any kittens I have ever known.  They are bad.  There is just no other word for it - just bad.  They are into absolutely everything.  Open a box - a kitten jumps in.  Open a dresser drawer - a kitten pops out.  And don't even get me started on the refrigerator.  My husband and I actually have to sign language one another when heading into the kitchen but somehow they know.  What gets me is the fact that, on the rare occassion when you slip past a sleeping kitten, you'll only find him sitting in the refrigerator when you open the door. 

They run, they jump, they climb, they chomp, they shred and they terrorize. 

I pine every day for the time when will they simply settle down (and sleep the 23 hours that a cat should sleep) and every day they only seem to speed up. 

I have always wished for a perpetual kitten and now I have three.

Now, you are probably wondering why I titled this entry, "Some Like It Hot" - well, take a look at the photo below.

What's that you ask? 

It's a jalapeno. 

Why does it look so funny? 

Because it's skin is full of hundreds of tiny little teeth marks.

Whose tiny little teeth marks you ask.

Pick one, there's three to choose from.

And one likes it hot.

 

Deja Vu - Another Kitchen Makeover!

Many of you will remember the kitchen I blogged about, in January of this year, well - no sooner did we finish that lovely kitchen did my clients decide to sell - we moved in February, sniff sniff.  However, there is a silver lining - I just completed my second kitchen renovation for them and I wanted to share some of the pictures.
Take a look!

The "Before"
This is a very nice kitchen, but my clients, as you will recall, like light - lots of it - and this kitchen is lacking a window, so this time, even though the finishes will be very similar to those used for the kitchen renovation just 10 short months ago, we'll go just a little lighter and open it up.



and it's out of there...

Demo has begun!!

Already making progress, the new island is going in!
We decided to go with one large flat surface rather than tier it. 
- which offers much more work space and keeps kitchen feeling open.



Extra large drawers, left and right of the range, will provide lots of room for the homeowners array of pots and pans.
One of the beautiful features when doing custom - bigger drawers!!  These are 45" wide.





Viola - we're done - how's that for the magic of editting!
The new island, all on one level (no tiering) providing adequate prep space and opening up to the adjacent dining room.

I tweaked my color choices for the cabinetry as well.  This time I used "Aesthetic White", Sherwin Williams, for my perimeter cabinets and "Smokehouse", also from Sherwin Williams for the island. 



The granite choice this time was softer and didn't have the veining as in the White Fantasy used last time. 
This time I chose Ivory White, also known by Kashmir White.



And once again, we wanted a darker, richer floor - so we changed the floors.  Since this is a condo, we couldn't use a solid hardwood (which would need to be nailed down), but still wanted the look and feel of natural wood, making the choice of walnut engineered flooring (which could be glued) a perfect compromise.

No room this time for two SubZeros, so we decided to buy one and make a statement - this time a 48"! 



I was even able to locate the same pendant lights as last time. 
Down to the very last details, my clients feel right at home.

I did decide to mix things up a little and chose a different backsplash choice - this is a 6" x 12" glass tile with a stone herringbone inset.  It's a perfect compliment to the granite - simple and stunning.

Getting Graphic

Afraid of commitment?  Can't make up your mind whether to use wallpaper or paint - Think Blik! 
Blik is a company featuring removable wall graphics at more than affordable prices.  I happened to pull up my Living Social deal for today and was reminded about Blik, so I thought I would refresh myself and catch up on the latest wall graphics - there's something for everyone!

About Blik

 



Great for a child's room



I love a sock monkey!

Can't decide on a headboard, this one is removable!

Just a little (noncommittal) graphic detail

Perfectly simple

This is the one I'm getting - love the wolf - now, where I am going to use it is another matter...



Okay, would this be too much in a powder room?



Crazy Quake Day!

Well, imagine the surprise the east coast experienced today with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, felt all the way to South Carolina and as far north as Canada.

It shook the building I was in, in fact, I thought the building was collapsing given that it felt like it was listing towards the Potomac River. 

I am glad that didn't happen!

I am nearing the finish line on one condo renovation and after stopping by for a progress check I headed off to a second jobsite, within the same condo community, to meet with another client and review some new art purchases.  I was sitting when I felt the rumble under my chair.  I couldn't understand just what her cat was doing under my chair and then I saw that the art on the wall started to sway and then I felt the building starting to rock - okay, this was no cat under the chair. 

Only lasting for a few seconds, the wave under the earth passed and we all looked at each other wondering what had just happened.  While she was turning on the news to find out, I headed back to the first condo to check in with my tile installers.  I found them sitting outside on the brick wall looking pretty dazed.  They had been in the elevator when the quake happened - they said the elevator started to sway and rock back and forth - and I thought I was startled. 

Not even close.

I returned to my home to find the cabinet doors in the kitchen open and the armoire doors open, yes - I am still a designer with a TV in an armoire - and dare I say, a box TV - yikes!  I probably shouldn't tell you that I have 2 armoires with box TV's in them...  I do have a flat screen in the bedroom, but I digress.

Anyway, I can't find a one of my three kittens.  I am looking through the house, calling their names, straightening the pictures on the wall and shutting the doors and not a kitten to be found.  I go into my office and see that I lost two of my rabbit figurines; a picture fell off the wall, hit the top of the bookcase knocking the little figures and smashing them to pieces on the floor. 

Now I am sure to not see a kitten, cause I am coming through the hallway with a vacuum - a well known "kitten deterent".  Anyway, I got everything tidied up when I see a little face coming up the stairs, then a second and then the third.  Kittens have survived their first eathquake.

Of course, I checked on them before I started vacuuming, but it didn't sound nearly as interesting as I was telling my story.   

 

Birthday Blog

Today was a wonderful day - spent with wonderful friends. 
It was my birthday. 
Almost.

Actually, last Tuesday was my birthday, but you know how the July 4th holiday goes.  It gets a little hectic and consequently hard to get everyone together.  But today on the other hand was quieter and perfect for celebrating...
me.

I've never really had a party before, when I think back on it now, so today was really touching.  I was celebrated with a lovely birthday luncheon. 

There was a chubby rabbit topiary perched at the end of the long table waiting patiently for the guests to arrive.  There were festively crafted bunny cookies dipped in chocolate with brightly decorated blue eyes waiting to be taken home, nibbled and shared.  There were colorful balloons tied to a chair - signalling for me to take my place.  In front of me were lovely flowers with a card reading that I was the greatest wife in all the world (instructed to be delivered in time for my arrival by my husband as a surprise - the greatest husband in the world).  And cute little Rabbit Runn Designs ink pens tucked at each place setting as a party favor.

I am honored.
I am speechless.
I am teary-eyed.
I am touched.
I am lucky.

I am having the best birthday ever.


Thank you to Becky and Rosemary who together hosted a very special day and to all the friends who joined to make it even more so.
xoxo

Rabbit Finds

Okay, my anniversary and my birthday are right around the corner and my husband has already started sleuthing to see what I might want.  He tries to be subtle and often shows me stuff in magazines and catalogs to get my reaction and typically finds at least one rabbit to add to the gift giving.  This time I thought I'd beat him to it and do a little treasure hunting myself - here are a few unique rabbits that caught my eye. 

Honey, are you reading??

Rabbit Wall Tile from Etsy.com -
this would be perfect in my office - just getting ready to paint the walls my new favorite green similar to the one of this tile.

Leaping Rabbit Wall Tile
From Etsy.com



Rabbit Sitting on Spotted Chair
OMG!  This is so cute!  I love rabbits and I love furniture - so how perfect is this?
 - also from Etsy.com

Garden Rabbit
I love the look of this one, from Ballard Designs!

                                                                               




Personalized notepaper



Bath Inspiration

I am getting ready to embark on another master bathroom renovation, I love renovations by the way, and I love tile, in case you couldn't tell.  So, needing a little inspiration I looked back over a few recent projects to get some. 

Enjoy!



This bathroom was added to an unfinished basement in Alexandria.  The shower is 9' wide x 5' deep and with dual rain heads, it's a great place to soak after working out in the home gym.  Double bowls, bright lighting and generous proportions keep this bathroom from feeling like it's in a basement.



A combination of textures: "sisal" porcelain 12" x 24" tiles, set vertically, and finished with a gorgeous blend of deep blue and copper glass mosaics.  Tile available through Architectural Ceramics.

Not pictured, but off to the right of this knee wall, is an independently operating hand shower, in case you just need a quick rinse and not a full shower. 



Showing the dual rain head showers and each with their own drain (second drain behind the knee wall).



Another renovation in Alexandria's Mt. Vernon area. 
This renovation was for two young brothers and we chose to use tile abundantly - which helps mom keep things tidy with two active children.  Each child has his own sink and vanity space, but share a clothes hamper centered behind the door between both sinks. 




A photo showing the mix of tile in the bathtub/shower area. 
Tile available through The Tile Shop.





And I am at it again!
This bathroom renovation started life as only a little cosmetic facelift and ended up progressing into a much more substantial project.  As a secondary master bath in a condo, we decided to remove the bathtub and opted for a walk in shower, since the primary master has a large soaking tub. 
Since this is a condo, this was the perfect opportunity to use a molded shower floor -
you never have to worry about leaks and it retrofits a bathtub perfectly!
 Notice the little corner shelf placed low - it allows the client a spot to rest
her foot while she shaves her legs



We added the knee wall to offer separation between the vanity and the toilet; while adding a touch of privacy, not to mention giving a reason to showcase more of the fabulous tile my clients chose,
available through The Tile Shop.

The original bathroom vanity was 84" long and only had one small sink in the center - so while we were at it, we purchased new cabinetry to accomodate two sinks. 

I will share some more photos once the granite is installed!

A close up of the travertine and glass mosaic blend tile. 
This blend is called "Cape Cod", (The Tile Shop)