A bright, white, beautiful kitchen

"Simple and white" was homeowner Julie Holloway's mantra for her kitchen renovation, and it's one I hope to have the means to adopt one day as well.  I adore white kitchens, they look so clean and bright!

Check out Julie's gorgeous Atlanta area kitchen (and some more of her gorgeous 70's home)

For some reason I have a lot of trouble finding bar stools I like, especially in a more open layout where they have to work well with the living room furnishings as well.  I think the brushed stainless steel ones look good.  What do you think?

One thing Julie manages that I don't think I could is open shelves instead of cabinets.  It would force me to get matching dish sets, which is good, but it means only I would ever be putting the dishes away, cause my sweetums wouldn't have the patience to stack everything perfectly.  He'd rather wash dishes by hand than unload the dishwasher!

I adore the dining area - everything about it - chandelier, table, mirror, shades....

Here are some shots of the rest of the house.

 At first I thought this was a home office, but now I realize that maybe that mirrored piece isn't a desk...Regardless, love the space.

Oh la la...white and dark wood - how I love thee!

Julie is co-owner (along with Anisa Darnell) of Milk and Honey Home, check it out, you'll love it.  All the images seen here belong to Milk and Honey Home, and some were featured in the Nov. 2011 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.


this post in partnership with Lakeland Furniture

Kitchen Remodeling Inspiration

Is your kitchen in sad shape? Well, the amazing styles and variations of Cliq Studios Kitchen Cabinets will definitely inspire you to at least think about taking the first step to giving your kitchen the TLC it deserves. If you aren’t able to remodel right now, or are happy with your kitchen, then just sit back and enjoy the eye candy.

I don’t really know too much about cabinetry, but even after browsing their site for 20 minutes, the idea of having to order, select, and design cabinets for a kitchen seems much less daunting. The Cliq studios site literally walks you through every step. I was really surprised that they give very detailed advice by having pages such as “Design Principles,” “Needs and Lifestyle,” “Work Triangle,” (an important aspect in kitchen design), and “Creating an Idea File.” They also really pride themselves on their free design service, where a designer will guide you through the process of kitchen design from beginning to end.

The cabinet ordering process seems very clear and comprehensive as well. The fun part is all of the styles and colors of cabinetry you have to choose from. They have a plethora of door styles, wood species, designer paint options, and hardware to choose from. Below are a few screenshots of the ordering process.

Most importantly to me, and I’m sure to most consumers, are photos of actual customers’ kitchens and reviews. So, below are photos of REAL kitchens belonging to Cliq Studios customers.

A Savannah kitchen

I also love the backsplash of this kitchen, and the 2-drawer unit to the right of the dishwasher.

Once I own a home, and if I ever get to model a kitchen to my needs, I will add a built in shelf for cookbooks.

A Chevy Chase, MD kitchen (I live in Chevy Chase, too!) You can probably tell I really lean towards white cabinetry. I never really realized that until I reviewed all of the photos I pulled for this post!

In summary, if you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, bath, or laundry room, Cliq Studios definitely looks like a studio you should consider for your cabinetry needs! Do any of these kitchens speak to you?

All photos via cliqstudios.com
 
*disclosure: this post is sponsored by Cliq Studios

For the love of old houses...

I LOVE old houses - so much charm, history, character, and individuality.  A lot of maintenance too - but the pay off is worth it.  I grew up in an almost 200 year-old colonial on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  Hardwood floors with as many ups and downs as an old country lane, old glass windows that gave you "wavy" vision when you looked out of them...I have a special place in my heart for old houses.

Here are some great examples of how savvy homeowners have turned their oldies but goodies into even better...ies...from the master of old houses, This Old House..


The 3 images below are from the home of their Reader Remodel Contest, a 1920s Colonial Revival in Orlando, Florida.

 The kitchen was my favorite part of the renovation.  I love white cabinetry...and the space is so bright and airy..

The family worked hard to keep the soul of the house in tact...

LOVE the board and baten door...


They also featured lots of great 1 room makeovers.  Here were some of my fav's

Before:

contractor grade cabinets make me cringe...

After:
Gorgeous - love the floors...

The kitchen below isn't too far from what my parents are dealing with now in their 70s rancher...

pretty amazing transition huh?  Check out the sconces above the stove hood...

This living room is possibly my favorite redo - I think the fireplace is simply fabulous.  Love the built-in's too.  Only thing I might rethink is the rug.


Do you like old houses?  Have you ever lived in one and undertaken a renovation?

If you want to read more about these makeovers go to This Old House or pick up the July 2011 issue...

*disclosure: I received a copy of This Old House July 2011 to review as a sample