A Transformation In Our Den

Hi everyone!  I love Thursday evenings because that means tomorrow is Friday -- WooHoo!    My friends at work used to call Thursday "Friday's Eve."  I always got a real kick out of that.  :)

Beginning the Kitchen Reveal

I'm so excited to finally reveal the first part of our new kitchen!  Those of you who regularly read my blog have seen pictures of this cabinet in various stages of construction, but this is the first time I've shown the finished product.  We waited so long to be able to have our kitchen re-modeled, and then the actual work itself took four months; our contractor was working another job during the week, so he could only work at our house on weekends.  The cabinet and tile man and the granite guys were able to work during the week, so eventually, it all came together.  I've been doing the happy dance for weeks now.  :)

Kay's Kitchen

Hi everyone!  I want to share some pictures of my mom's friend Kay's new kitchen.  Kay and my mom are both retired now, but they worked together for over twenty years.  They and their other girlfriends from the office still get together every year to celebrate birthdays and Christmas.

Kay was kind enough to welcome me into her home and let me take some pics of her sparkling, new kitchen.  It really looks like something from a magazine or HGTV.

Kay lives in a 1960's era house, and she is gradually re-doing it, room by room.  I plan to visit her again and take pictures of the rest of her home for another post.  But for now, here is Kay's pretty, white kitchen.

Kay explained that there were no cabinets or counter tops on this wall prior to the re-model.  The space was open and intended to be used as an eating area.  Kay had the contractor add these cabinets with an open shelf for her microwave oven.  All the cabinets are new, custom cabinets.  She had some of the left-over granite made into a cutting board for the counter top.

She requested that the contractor design this curved area for the counter top so that she could put a stool there for eating.  I love this idea!  You can see her hardwood floors in the above picture.

Kay went with a stainless sink and refrigerator in her new kitchen.  I think stainless looks great in an all- white kitchen. 

 

I really LOVE her shiny subway tiles!

Kay had the existing cabinets above her sink replaced with these floating shelves.  She said now she doesn't bump her head on the cabinet doors, and she can display her white dishes.

I love the way her lights throw shadows on the wall above her plates here.  Isn't her green plant cute on the end of the shelf?  Kay said she liked the contrast of the rustic clay pot with the pristine white shelves, back splash and dishes.

I didn't think to write this down, but I believe she said the name/color of her granite is "White Cashmere".  I love the magnetic strip for storing and displaying her knives.

This is such a cute, French art poster.  Kay's son and daughter-in-law are both veterinarians, and they gave her this poster print.  I think it's charming and perfect for the style of her kitchen.

Contemporary track lighting was installed overhead, with brushed nickle mount and trim to blend with her cabinet hardware and faucet.

I used our small point and shoot camera, but I was really pleased with the quality of these pictures.  I think the main reason for that is the combination of track lighting and good natural daylight in her kitchen.  The photos were taken in mid-afternoon.

Kay gets natural light from her window and door, which look onto her back yard.

Kay had a local sheet metal company make the metal back splash for her stove.  She explained that she still has to get her hood and vent fan.  Once that's installed, this piece will look more in proportion to her stove.

Another cute art print from her son and daughter-in-law :)

Kay found this small silver tray at a thrift shop and used it to keep some of  her cooking condiments (and a small silver-framed photo) next to the stove.

A few last photos of the kitchen...

I couldn't resist taking a few pics of Kay's living room -- or I should say, one wall of her living room.  She had a contractor build a new mantel and bookshelves for her fireplace.  He matched the dental molding on the bookcases to that of the mantel.  So classy!!  In my opinion, bookcases or built-in shelves are one of the most wonderful additions we can make to our homes.  Books really make a house a home, and bookshelves are great for displaying other keepsakes and objets d'art, as well. 

I really love the glass doors and doorknobs on these bookcases.  Her flat, tile hearth and white, painted brick fireplace are like the one we had in our 1920's home in Greensboro many years ago.  We didn't have the bookcases on either side, though.  I would have loved those!

Kay found this great bench/ottoman at a thrift shop.  When she looked under the seat, she saw that it carried the label of a fine furniture store in our town that had gone out of business some years ago.

She found the fabric on clearance and had the bench re-upholstered.  It looks great in front of her fireplace, and she said it provides extra seating for visitors and family.  I love the black-painted legs.

Thanks so much, Kay, for inviting us into your home, and sharing your beautiful kitchen and smart design ideas!  I had a great time!

I'll show pictures of the rest of Kay's home in another post.  Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed the tour.

**Addendum to this post:  I know this kitchen looks so new and clean and immaculate; we could easily wonder if it ever gets used for, you know, actual cooking.  The answer to that question is -- yes.  Kay is giving a dinner party for 13 of her neighbors this coming Saturday evening.  I e-mailed her to ask about the menu.  She wrote: " I plan to serve chicken pie, Honey Baked Ham, lima beans, garden salad with homemade dressing, and sweet potato souffle.  Dessert will include orange crush pound cake and Scotch chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.  Most everyone is elderly and I know they prefer comfort food.  I will have little spring bouquets on each table."  What lucky neighbors you have, Kay. :)

I'm joining the folks at Potpourri Friday, hosted by Honey at 2805 and the Home Sweet Home party, hosted by Sherry at The Charm of Home.  Won't you please join us? 

Denise

Historic Reynolda Gardens

Last month I posted pictures of some Snowdrops and Daffodils that I photographed in Reynolda Gardens last year. I took those pictures exactly a year ago this week. You can see them HERE.

I want to share with you the rest of the pictures I took that day. Reynolda House and Gardens are about 20 minutes from where we live. There wasn't a whole lot in bloom at that time (late February), but you can still get an idea of the style and layout of the gardens.  This is a photo-intensive post, my friends.  There were so many pretty things to see, and I couldn't bear to leave any of the pictures out.

Pink flowered Cherry trees are just bursting into bloom...

...

...while the Saucer Magnolias' pink buds are still closed.

I love this rich, vibrant shade of pink. 

Cheerful,  sunny, yellow daffodils.

I'm pretty sure this is Candytuft --

White Pansies with yellow centers...

More Saucer Magnolias.

 

 

Someone's soaking up the sun.  :)

The pictures below show the 1913 Lord and Burnham greenhouse and conservatory, which I think is an integral part of these gardens.  These pictures don't do this building justice; it really is beautiful.

This is still a working greenhouse.  Some examples of what they do here are gardening classes taught by local Master Gardeners for adults, as well as programs for school students.  In the spring of this year, the gardens will offer a rose care clinic, and the greenhouse will have a tomato plant sale offering hard-to-find heirloom varieties.  In addition, every spring the Friends of Reynolda Gardens host a spring plant sale of specialty annuals and perrennials, including herbs and vegetables.

Bunches of daffodils waiting to bloom.

You can see the manor house through the trees in the distance.  I'll post on that later.

Do you see the cottage in the background of this picture?  It reminds me of a woodcutter's cottage in a children's fairytale.

Here's a closer view.  I love the shape of the roof and the hinges on the door.

Precious Snowdrops...

 

 

...and some holly berries to remind us of winter.

I'll leave you to enjoy the remaining images.

It's really not hard to imagine I've just taken a stroll through the gardens of Downton Abbey.  Later in the spring, there will be Roses, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Redbuds, and English Bluebells blooming here.  A beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

If you're interested, you can read more about the history of Reynolda Gardens HERE.  Reynolda House was built in 1917, and the gardens date back to that same time period.

Thank you for your visit, and I'm joining the following:  Potpourri Friday, hosted by Honey at 2805, Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, and Seasonal Sundays, hosted by the Tablescaper.  Thank you, ladies, for hosting!

Denise