That Kitchen ...

Mixed into the fold of photos in yesterday's Space to Fill post, was this kitchen:

 

It struck a chord with me, and with a lot of you. I got 31 emails, (so far) asking me if I knew who was responsible for designing the space. At the time, I didn't. The joy and fault of sourcing things from Pinterest is that while you're exposed to millions of images, the origin of the image may not exist. In fact, in the case of this kitchen, it was a veritable rabbit hole of pin after pin after pin - none of them leading me back to the person responsible for such beauty.

 

In fact, I wasn't able to find the designer's site until I came across the image in a completely different search, and then walked almost backward into their other rooms. The company, Twist Interior Design, is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Owner of Twist, Sandy LaMendola decorated the home that architect Jeff Tritch designed, and builders L.Cramer built in Edina, Minnesota.

 

 

In this expanded view you can see more of the kitchen, including the limestone counters on the distressed cherry cabinets, the two cabinetry faced sub zero refrigerators that flank the beautiful custom cabinetry in that gorgeous green. The beams and ceiling timbers are all reclaimed in Minnesota.

 

These two photos are by Susan Gilmore and were featured in a magazine spread in June/July of 2010 in the Minnesota local, Midwest Home.

 

Now that I feel like I have credited all involved, I have to say that I am only sorry there aren't more photos of this lovely kitchen out there. Vignette shots, different angles, etc.. While I've looked at each of the designer, builder, photographer, and architect pages for more of this room, it seems to be a bust. There are, however, more photos of the 11,000 square foot house on Sandy's HOUZZ page, here.

Green Kitchen Cabinets

I know you're thinking about this, maybe scratching your chin, wondering where in the world this came from ... and I'll tell you - it's something I've been working on for a while, so yes, it does sorta come out of left field, but I felt now was a good as time as any to break the seal on this baby and start talking about kitchens again.

Plus, not for nothin', I'm kinda shifty like that.

Ooo ... a puppy, no look over there something shiny!

Squirrel!

 

But I digress.

 



We've been "working" on our kitchen for a long time. Too long. It's stalled and stalled, for one reason or another, and I'm at the point now where I'm either going to finish it - or burn the place down. And since they don't let you blog from jail (do they?) I guess the latter isn't gonna work!

Ok, so here we go. Kitchen cabinets. Green. Yes? Oh just you wait!

Design by Martha Mulholland

 

When I saw this kitchen, I knew, instantly that it was the kitchen for CDLV. It felt all at once comfortable and appropriate, beautiful and utilitarian, gracious and industrial. A prissy kitchen, you know the kind, just wasn't going to work in the bastardized craftsman meets dutch colonial house that we loving call Casa de la Vanderdogan. It needed to be earthy, it needed to look old but function as new. It needed to "flow" with the rest of the house, but not feel decorated as much as designed. When we move, the people who luckily get to call CDLV whatever they're gonna name it, should walk into that kitchen and feel "at home". For me, this kitchen does that ... and then some!

 

The color is Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray, part of their Historic Color Collection. Now, I know you're thinking Artie said this was green, and it looks green, but it's called Amherst Gray? So, I did what I know you're about to do!

 

Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

Alright, so it's clearly a gray green. A bit sagey, a bit olivey, a lot greigy ... a gray by any other name (GREEN!). I hopped down to Benjies and picked up a sample, took it home and tested it out. It was nice. But not quite the green I had in mind. So, I took it with me to Home Depot, initially to have them play with the tint. That's when I found this:

Witch Hazel by Behr

 

This was just a tad bit lighter, and a tinge more green. Exactly what I thought I was looking for. So I took it home and tested it out. NEAR PERFECTION! I find that the coloring of the cabinetry in the photo, which is what I was drawn to immediately, is much closer in ACTUAL color to Witch Hazel. Of course, I did what anyone would do, and googled Witch Hazel to see if anyone may have been crazy enough to use this on kitchen cabinets ... and guess what!

 

Design by Lauren Leiss

 

Blogger, Designer, Fabric-tress Lauren Leiss used it in her old kitchen prior to their new move. Again coloring changes from photo to photo - the joys of photoshop, right? In this photo, the same kitchen - different little artist, shows what I think is a much "truer" photo of the color:

 

 





Are you seeing the difference? Everything about that image up top looks yellow, doesn't it? The beadboard, the green of the cabinets, the ironstone ... this I think is closer to the real deal.  So, I got to thinking about the colors. Here I have BM Amherst Gray and Behr Witch Hazel. Both are great, but neither is perfect. What if I mixed them together!?

VOILA!

Problem Solved!

I'm calling it CDLV Green. You can name paint when you have it custom color matched. Did you know that? Oh yeah! Name away! And the good thing is - you can go to your local Home Depot and ask them for CDLV Green (I know you want to) and they'll pull it up out of the throws of their fancy schmancy computer system - and you can have your own CDLV Green Kitchen Cabinets!

 

So, now I've got the color - it's just a matter of doing the work! Which not only includes painting, (why would it!?!?) I have to take the doors off the hinges, add some molding detail, patch holes from the old hardware, sand, paint, sand, paint, seal, add new hardware (already picked that out too!) and then plop those babies back into place, hoping that I did it all the way I was supposed to, and it all fits as it once did. Yeah, easy peezy!

 

So that's what I'm doing this weekend. What are your plans?



 



 

Almost Normal ...

Lewiston Tour of Kitchens and Homes 2014 Client

Well, the weekend is over - and so goes another year of the Lewiston Tour of Kitchens. This year, I had the ultimate pleasure of not only working on a new house, but making a fabulous friend with the beautiful homeowner and her family. We had a great time, and while we were not voted Best of Show, I have to say that it was one of the most worthwhile experiences of my time with the Lewiston Tours. 

This house marks my retirement from the organization, freeing up my winters and summers to work on my own projects, both at home and for other clients. More photos to come ... but as I wind down the weekend with the beginning of the "work" week, I wanted to touch base and tell all of you that things are almost back to normal ... more posts coming soon! 

Barn Progress

Christmas is right around the corner, really - it's speeding through here like a freight train. I realized this weekend that the Lewiston Home Tour is less than 3-weeks away, and I'm not even nearly ready. Just when I think I've made headway - something happens that sets me back. 

Thankfully, this weekend sweet, sweet Meg from Oliver and Rust came all the way from Canada (it's really only 20 minutes) to help me out with some kitchen styling. Now to qualify, it wasn't a real kitchen, and rather one I was able to fake thanks to the help of Kinetic Kitchen and Bath lending me a display kitchen, and utilizing some storage shelving and an existing work bench. 

Here's how it all started: 

This little saltbox addition has paneled walls, and is a bit more narrow than the barn. It's still quite a large space. I knew when I first saw it that it'd make a beautiful kitchen/dining room - so, with a little help, here's what we have so far: 

I know - you're all tired of these iPhone pictures - I am too! I keep forgetting my camera at the house, and the with the loads I've been making from our basement I probably haven't had room for the camera in the car anyway! 

I promise I'll have better pictures next week of the whole space. Til then, enjoy these which although not great, showcase some excellent styling by Meg of Oliver and Rust on that shelving unit, using things from my basement and garden! She is SO talented. I took the "island" and the kitchen counters. I think we worked it out! Still need to bring in a rug, a basket, some decor on that wreath, a much larger cutting board ... see - never ending! 

Happy Tuesday! 

Run Over and Check Out Meg's Post on the Barn

Winner of the LoveFeast Pumpkins has been notified by email! 

LOVE ... Christmas Cookies

A little virtual yumminess to enjoy ... Happy Christmas Eve to all!