The Un-Kitchen Kitchen

I'm not really into cooking (I have trouble making Rice Krispie treats), but I love a great kitchen and I love it when designers challenge our ideas of how we use a space and the items that are found in that space.  So today I have some "un-kitchen" kitchens to share with you.

First up is this is a great kitchen/dining/living space by Ruard Veltman. 

A prep sink is located in the cabinetry on the left and the stove top is on the right. 

This is the pantry just off the kitchen.  It houses the oven, large sinks, refrigerator, and small appliances and serves as a prep/clean up area. 

The idea is to prep in the back and then cook while your family/guests hang out at the dinner table.  What an interesting way to solve the problem of guests seeing your cooking "mess" in an open kitchen.  Not sure how this would function on a day-to-day basis, but I like that the layout is completely out of the ordinary.

Next up is this beauty by fellow Alabamians Richard Norris and Mark Leslie.

This space was originally the dining room and the designers used that as inspiration when planning the kitchen.  They hung an overscale mirror above the stove and designed the cabinetry for the sink to look like a buffet with artwork and sconces above.  For the island, they selected an oval top that mimics the shape of a dining table and included a large chandelier.  I love how this makes the room feel less like a utilitarian space and way more glamorous than an ordinary kitchen. 

I'm pretty sure I'd make way more Rice Krispie treats if I had either one of these gorgeous kitchens.

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Bathroom Reno

So, I have lived in my house for four years and we are finally getting around to renovating my itsy bitsy teeny weeny master bathroom.  It is sooooo small and sooooo depressing.

(Yes, I confess that is my unmade bed in the background)

Are you very depressed now? 

Did I forget to mention that I share this bathroom with my husband? 

Yes, that's right, two people use this bathroom every single day. 

We could have enlarged it, but I would have to lose my super large walk in closet, and that just ain't gonna happen.

So, here is the good news.  We have completed demo and I have a plan to perk this place up.

Am super pumped about this and cannot wait to show you the progress!!!!

 (as soon as we make some, that is)

Barn Light Electric

Check out these beauties from Barn Light Electric:

      

The best part is that you can customize your fixture by choosing your finish, glass, mounting, and wattage.  Here are a few inspiration photos:

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Exotic Tile

The July-August issue of Veranda featured this article: 

Which reminded me of the tile in this photo:

Which is in this kitchen by Shannon Bowers featured in House Beautiful:

The tile used on this backsplash was reclaimed from a French chateau and sourced from Chateau Domingue.  This kitchen was the inspiration for my kitchen makeover (photos will be posted soon) and I was DYING for some tile like this (you know how you get an item stuck in your head and you obesess about it forever, that was this tile for me).  But since there aren't any chateaus near my house, a trip to France was out of the question, and Chateau Domingue was out of my budget, I found tiles from Casa Talavera instead.

The best news is that they are only $1.45 for a 4" tile!