KITCHEN IDEAS:REMODELING ON THE BRAIN!

April 11, 2012 lucy williams

I'VE HAD SEVERAL KITCHEN INQUIRIES LATELY SO I HAVE BEEN OBSESSING ABOUT THE LATEST AND GREATEST DESIGNS OUT THERE!

ONE KITCHEN REDO IN PARTICULAR IS FROM A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE IN NORFOLK BUILT IN 1926...STILL HAS SOME OF THE ORIGIONAL CABINETRY AND EVEN A BUILT-IN IRONING BOARD.....LOADS OF CHARACTER BUT THE HOMEOWNER NEEDS IT FRESHENED UP. THE CEILINGS ARE 10 FT AND I REALLY THINK CABINETS UP TO THE CEILING WOULD MAXIMIZE STORAGE SPACE AND BE BEAUTIFUL.....

THESE FANTASTIC KITCHENS HAVE REALLY INSPIRED ME!

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.houzz.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://paloma81.blogspot.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.guehnemade.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://greigedesign.blogspot.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.houzz.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://www.housebeautiful.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF http://theinspiredroom.net/

PORCH SPACE: FINE TUNING FOR SPRING ENTERTAINING!

April 8, 2012 lucy williams

AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF DELIBERATING THE BEST BACK PORCH FURNITURE SCENERIO (I AM SO SO SO INDECISIVE WHEN IT COMES TO MY OWN DECOR-UGH!), I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANTED AT THE FAR END OF THE PORCH.....PORCH SWING? 2 CHAISE LOUNGERS? 4 CHAIRS? WHAT DO I DO?????.....FINALLY SETTLED WITH 2 ALL WEATHER WICKER CHAIRS AND AN OTTOMAN-SOOOO COMFORTABLE!!!......WAS THINKING ABOUT A PULL DOWN SHADE BUT THIS PALM PLANT IS AN EXCELLENT SUN BLOCK IN THE LATER AFTERNOON!

AND I TOOK MY BALLARD DESIGNS TERRIFIC TRIO SKIRTED TABLE OUT OF MY OFFICE BECAUSE WE NEEDED ANOTHER TABLE TOP FOR OUR EASTER EGG HUNT PARTY....WORKED OUT GREAT-MAY LEAVE IT??

HAPPY EASTER!!!

April 6, 2012 lucy williams

EASTER IS SPECIAL FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT FOR MY FAMILY, IT'S MORE EVEN MORE REASON TO CELEBRATE! MY DAD WAS BORN ON EASTER SUNDAY AND HE MARRIED MY MOM.....WHOSE NAME IS "BUNNY"........THIS PIC CRACKS ME UP!

photo courtesey of http://dogsoftheinterwebs.tumblr.com/page/7

BEFORE AND AFTER: EXTERIOR FACELIFT

April 3, 2012 lucy williams

THIS IS MY HOUSE.....THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT IT-DID I LIKE HOW IT LOOKED? HELL NO!!! UGLY UGLY UGLY!!! BUT, I KNEW IT HAD FANTASTIC POTENTIAL...AND I LOVE A PROJECT....AND WE ONLY WERE IN TOWN FOR 24 HOURS AND WERE PREPARED TO PUT ANYTHING UNDER CONTRACT!!!

FIRST, WE REPLACED THE WINDOWS AND TOOK OFF THAT YUCKY ALUMINUM STORM DOOR! WE REPLACED THE FRONT DOOR WITH A LARGE GLASS PANEL DOOR BECAUSE WE NEEDED ANOTHER "WINDOW" IN THE ENTRY.

NEXT, WE PUT ON A NEW ROOF AND NEW GUTTERS...HATED GETTING RID OF THE COPPER ONES BUT THEY WERE IN HORRIBLE CONDITION.

EVENTUALLY WE PAINTED THE BRICK AND GOT A PRETTY NEW LANTERN. I ALSO TOOK A WEEK OFF TO DIG EVERY SINGLE BUSH IN THE FRONT YARD (IM INSANE BUT IT WAS A GREAT WORKOUT AND I LOVE TO REARRANGE PLANTS AS MUCH AS I DO FURNITURE!) I REPLACED THE OLD WITH SOME NEW STUFF THAT I AM ESPECIALLY FOND OF...IE:ENGLISH AND AMERICAN BOXWOODS-LOVE THEM!

IN ADDITION TO A KITCHEN AND FULL BATH REMODEL, JUST RECENTLY ADDED ON A FAMILY ROOM, MASTER SUITE, AND BACK PORCH SPACE....AND I LOVE IT! ....ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE IS MUCH LARGER, IT STILL MAINTAINS THE CUTE COTTAGE FEEL AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY HERE!!

PS-SORRY FOR THE WORDS ON TOP OF THE PICS-NOT A GOOD BLOGGER!!!

CURB APPEAL: MAKING YOUR FRONT DOOR THE FOCAL POINT!

April 1, 2012 lucy williams

we all want good curb appeal right??even if you think your house is ugly, you can at least dress up the entry area so your eye goes to the good part!

okay, the door is what we want to look at and we want lots of good things to frame it out...it's all about making your eye move to the right places!!!
pretty door is #1 and if this is not possible, at least remove the ugly ie: metal storm doors, etc. add a nice doormat-i like overscaled ones!
now let's frame the door with planters on each side with either topiaries, or planted boxwoods (depending on how much sun you get-sculpted hollies love sun, boxwoods dont).....variagated ivy draping out is fabulous along with some impatients-love it! and if you dont have a green thumb, a kimberly queen fern is always nice in an urn!!
if you have a front porch, frame it out with some landscaping to support the focal point (being the front door!)

here are some great examples of well thought out front door areas that are beautiful!!!