Kitchen Lighting

Okay, as with everything for our home there is a story. First you have to visualize this image. I am going to the house to just let Amanda go be with Daddy. I had a long day and she was still full of energy and she wanted to play and I wanted to lay down and just die (okay sleep). I walk in to see Mark (previously noted as our dear friend and Tara designer) drilling holes into the beams above the peninsula; on the floor I see, new lighting. Yes, my hubby loving man that he is, took his life into his hands and made a huge leap of faith that I would like whatever Mark picked out. He actually bought the kitchen lighting without so much as discussing it with me. Then he took it further to begin to install them without consulting me. Tell me this man isn't the bravest soul on planet earth since King David with the Giant! Well the good news is that I LOVED them. So he lived to see another day! Mark has been on target with everything so far so it was the safest bet he could have made but tis man does like to live on the edge of survival. That said, let's have a look at their purchases shall we?

This one here to the left is for over the peninsula. It coloring is consistent with the coloring of the Chandelier in the entry way and the globe (if you can call it that) is consistent with the ones under the bridge. It has a nice glow. I do love them. There will be two over the peninsula. I just want to say that once these were installed for a few days (they didn't stay up long as they could get in the way) Jeff came to the house to "help" Kenny. Walked right into one of them and bent it, only Jeff, poor Jeff. Well Kenny got it put back into shape and all's well that ends well!

Second purchase is this incredible light here on the left. Again it is unique and consistent with the other pieces. Realize that I say consistent but not Matchy Match. We like things to go together but not be identical.

The feel to this house is very earthy and that is the main theme every purchase needs to be in tune with that. I think that we all have worked really hard at getting everything to work within that premise. I know you will all love it once you get a chance to see it all together.

What amazes me is that all the individual things we have picked up over time have all come together so wonderfully. Then again we have the best of the best as a builder!

Kitchen In Progress!

Okay so as you all know, Kenny hasn’t wanted me to load any of the photos from the kitchen build. Well he said I could load some. First I have to warn you, I took these with my cell phone so they aren’t the best. However, I will get better ones this weekend for all of you to see.

This first one is early on in the project. You can see the Sink base at the far left of the shot right under the bay window. Then the next cabinet is the Trash bins, yes bins, there are two trash cans in there. We will have one for trash and one for recycling. Pretty Green of us wouldn't you say!

This is the peninsula what you don't see is the stoves that will be to the left of that first cabinet then the corner unit, and the large cabinet. At the end of this grouping will be a curved book case. On the back side of these cabinets is another set of cabinets, 12 -15" in depth. Talk about storage!

What do you all think of the floor? It is a great little variegated tile. It has the dark brown, tan(ish) color and the gray also. It ties everything in so nicely.

This is a rather dark photo but it's what I got at the moment. This is where the fridge will go. There is a side panel to enclose the fridge then a cabinet above and the upper and lower ones to the right. In that corner, if you can see it, is the master piece that Kenny created to hide our plumbing pipes. Looks like it belongs, right?


This photo shows the scene from the angle of the Dining room. So if you were in the Dining room this is what you will see. Now the lights will not be like that! However, you can see that the dishwasher is to the left of the sink base (to the left of the window). Also you will note that there are no cabinets on the window wall. Just like I wanted, I will be adding shelves at another time. Also note that the stove bases are in place along the wall on the right.
This here is the Bar area. Do you see that tiny looking bowl on top? That little item has caused a great stir around here. We bought that to give a great feel to the powder room off the mud room, off the kitchen. It is a "not large" but nice sized hand hammered copper vessel sink. Oh My God do I love that sink. Well one thing led to another and Mark (dear friend and assistant designer, okay I'd like to think I am the lead designer but he can lead me by the nose anywhere and I have followed) suggested (oaky decided and convinced us) that it had to be used in the bar area. Well then that lead to the question, "if you have a copper sink in the bar area, part of the kitchen, what kind of sink should be used as the MAIN sink?" Well we decided, yes we, Kenny and I, actually Mark wasn't too sure about this one but he went with us, on getting a hand hammered Copper farm sink. Oh My God, is it the best thing we could have done. I will post photos of that in place and it is incredible.

Okay did you all notice the different cabinet colors? Well, the Stoves and the Sink all are bump outs. They will have furniture posts on either side to complete the effect. The Bar is also the different color on purpose. The idea is for these pieces to really look like furniture that has been used/repurposed for the kitchen. Originally, they were going to be blue, however, Kraft maid stopped selling blue (milk can blue that is) so there was a change in plans. I have to say, I wasn't too sure about the platinum glazed color but Mark picked it out. Now the reason he did that is because I was too blinded by not getting the blue that I wasn't really very open to anything new. When they came out of the box, I was sure I didn't like them, but what was I to do? I gave my power and control to Mark and there they were in the kitchen so I had to just make due. Well, once they were put with the tile and the other cabinets....I LOVE THIS LOOK!! Once again, Mark was right. So that is the story of the two toned cabinets! Hope you like it, if not or you’re not sure, trust me....in person it is incredible.

Okay I have a few photos of the lighting but I have to find them and post them next. I hope you enjoy this like I do.