Pink Fire Pointer January 2010

The Best In Kitchen Remodeling

Since the kitchen is a high traffic area on a regular basis, creating a functional layout is key when planning your kitchen remodeling ideas. When creating your kitchen remodeling ideas you should think about the available space you have and then get creative.

Using Kitchen Remodeling Software

Most of the kitchen remodeling software is very user-friendly; the steps are as easy as 1-2-3 or A-B-C. A typical or conventional kitchen remodeling, if patterned in the past decades should have the "triangular" basics, wherein the sink, refrigerator, and stove are on triangle angles with a big space in the kitchen center, so that it would be easier for the mother or the woman of the house to move around.

Making a great small kitchen remodeling design points you to the many different cabinet designs and surface patterns providing your small kitchen a superb sense of space. Whether you design the kitchen yourself, work with a kitchen remodeling contractor or home center, formulating a plan will be the first step. Another pro to remodeling your kitchen is the fact that you will, essentially, be getting a new kitchen.

Any remodeling idea for a small kitchen must address the following issues: counter space, storage, built-ins, and pantry. When planning on a kitchen remodeling project, the budget is the first thing to consider. Whether you've got a big budget or a small one for your kitchen remodeling project, it's wise to try to make sure your spending doesn't spiral out of control as the process continues.

Don't worry if it will take time for you to create and sketch out your plan or model, great and perfect kitchen remodeling ideas have to be developed, because it has to be perfect and valuable to you and your family. Also ensure that your kitchen remodeling ideas are not that far-out or far-fetched, align it in your family's lifestyle and daily activities; this would give you a brighter plan on your kitchen design and style. The interactive kitchen design remodeling design plans distinctively are real-life award winners, and with its innovative process, the entire plan is certain to please with its client-driven method.

After all the information is collected you can begin to put all the pieces together, and figure out how you can balance your kitchen remodeling project desires with you budget restraints. Once you've finally decided on the general picture of your remodeled kitchen, then find the best yet affordable kitchen remodeling services in your area.

Though remodeling a kitchen can be a huge disruption to the homeowner, the finished product will quickly erase the brief inconvenience. If you have a large kitchen remodeling project you will need to set up a temporary kitchen a different part of the house. One of the many other pros to kitchen remodeling is one that you might not necessarily have thought of before.

Ready?




Retreat is at Seattle's 
Sunday January 31 2010
Right Now!
Starts in: 3....2....1...

Rose Garden Design

What is the best way to design a rose garden?
The variety of roses you select are dependent on the space you have available, if you only have small area then perhaps miniature roses are the best bet. Standard roses require more space and climbing roses also need space so that they can stay healthy, so they need to be planted at least 8 feet apart.
Once you have determined the varieties, you can then decide on the colors. Roses are available in a host of colors, yet the old breeds provide roses that are easier to care for as they are sturdier. You could design our rose garden in patterns too by planting different varieties including different sized roses with miniature roses in between. You could use a variety of colors and alternate them to create a pattern or you could stick to one color and choose different varieties so that the pattern created is not so much in the color but in the different textures. Many people choose roses that will compliment their house color, or they use their home as a backdrop in order to make their rose garden stand out.
First Thoughts
When you plant your roses you need to make sure each species is spaced according to its specific needs, that your planting is symmetric, and will eventually offer an aesthetically pleasing picture. Try not to plant haphazardly as a rose garden is best when it is kept simple and in geometric patterns or in an ever decreasing or increasing circle.
Rose Flower Garden
Roses can be difficult to grow yet they are some of the most beautiful flowering plants to have in a garden. Being able to segregate a section of your garden for the intent purpose of planting roses will offer a wonderful focal point to your home.
Are you looking for a Custom wood doors for home? See this site. It may be hard to envision your future rose garden design just by looking at your layout and you may decide to make use of home garden design software which offers not only suggestions on layout, design and plant use but will also offer you finished 3D pictures of what your rose garden will look like. If you aren't quite happy with that design you can play around, move items and make changes until you are satisfied. Most landscape design software will allow you to track your future garden as it matures and will offer you scenes of it in yearly increments so that you will get an idea of what your garden will look like say 10 years from now.
There are a host of rose gardens around the world that are decades old. One in particular can be found in the gardens of the White house. Planted in 1913 in colonial style, this rose garden continues to impress visitors.
Tips for designing a rose garden
Without doubt making use of roses in a garden landscape will lift any garden to another level, it will soften the exterior of a home and make it appear more graceful. A rose garden will accent a home and garden and it will welcome you and invite you to spend time outdoors amongst the unique heady scents that only a rose can produce.
Finding the perfect rose for your rose garden boils down to finding the right rose bush for the terrain and for the climate. Roses come in a variety of classes and each class offers its own characteristics that serve as ornamental or architectural features. Tea roses for instance can be trained to cascade over walls and arches and are famous for their profusion of blooms. Walls find a perfect architectural accompaniment with climbing roses while the Floribunda rose produces a vibrant splash of color with its large sprays of blooms. Or perhaps the iceberg roses with their delicate fairy like petals are what appeals to you.
Roses also offer themselves as hardy and versatile ground covers which brighten with wonderful colors and give off strong scents. These types of roses are ideal for planting between taller roses or even in trees.
The object of a rose garden is to provide texture, color, shape and scent. There are so many different types of roses that they can be mixed with a variety of other roses and still look like they were meant to be together.

An Exquisite French Manor in Utah

Earlier in the week I promised you a tour of a wonderful newly constructed house in Utah. Built by a reader of WD and her husband (who previously worked for Christopher Peacock Kitchens). The house is an wonderful example of true craftsmanship.
We were able to get a private sneak peak into this home which they refer to as the "French House". The home is currently for sale, and unfurnished.
More often than not designers spend large amounts of time bringing interest and depth to plain rooms. I think it's important to show how wonderful and warm a home can look, even unfurnished, for you to have a true appreciation what good architecture and craftsmanship can bring to a space. Even empty this home is stunning.
The main entry, though not grand in size is really beautiful. Notice the key details here: herringbone floors, hand forged iron railings, exquisite moulding details and a beamed ceiling. Beyond we see an interesting curved hallway.
Here is a close up of the reclaimed hand hewn barn beams
Of course when the builder is also a world class cabinet maker you know the kitchen will be the jewel of the home and this one is gorgeous! It has a very Christopher Peacock feel, but I think this particular kitchen has even more personality. I love the front X detailing on the center island. Also notice the coffered ceiling. I also like the choice of light fixtures!
Notice the the first center island has a soft curve to it, which was harder to see in the picture above. Having a conversation at a curved island versus a straight one is much more enjoyable. You should always try to incorporate even a soft curve in a kitchen island if possible.
I love the subtle diamond shaped marble tile backsplash. As expected the kitchen is outfitted with top of the line appliances.
The first island has been thoughtfully designed with a step down so guests can't view a messy sink. The second island is topped walnut for food prep.
Here is a close up of the corner detailing on the island! Wonderful!
A close up of the walnut top - notice its tongue in groove and bread board sides.
Coffered ceilings continue in the Living room, which also has a stunning fireplace and surround. Can you imagine how wonderful this home would look furnished?
The dining room with French doors and interesting moulding details
The family room continues the coffered ceilings. I love the fireplace! My imagination is going wild furnishing it in my head!
The curved staircase is just stunning - hand forged iron railings are beautiful.
A quick peek into the master bath which reveals a coveted zinc soaking tub.
This porch off the Master bedroom is one of several porches to take in the spectacular mountain views.
Notice that the outdoor detailing and stonework are as elaborate and thoughtful as the indoor detailing. This shows just part of the back of the home. See the mountains on the right.
Here is a side view - a lovely landscaped path - notice the copper gutters and cedar shake roof. More spectacular mountain views.
I adore the charm of these shutters!
No detail was left out. Look at the close up of these iron fleur de lys.
Even the garage was not overlooked. I love the heft and depth of the stone outside the garage. Look closely to see the herringbone brick detail in the driveway.
This gorgeous house is a spectacular example of craftsmanship. It was recently on the local "Parade of Homes". For more information on this home and to see
the real estate listing click here.
For more information on the iron work and railings click here.

Tips for Choosing Log Furniture

If you aloof adulation that rustic look, and are assuredly accessible to assuredly buy log appliance for your home, there are a cardinal of “rules of thumb” that can advice you in authoritative acceptable choices.

Begin by because the all-embracing appearance of your home. Do you accept a log home that is overwhelmingly rustic? Or are you gluttonous to add a rustic blow to one or added apartment of a added accepted home?

Size is Everything

Homes that affection ample logs, ample ceilings or are ample in accepted crave a altered acidity of rustic appliance than their added accepted counterparts. If ample logs accomplish up the walls of your room, or you accept a broiler fabricated from monster rocks from Montana, you’ll charge a massive log attending for your appliance as well. Otherwise, your log appliance will assume askew and insignificant.

Even if the home for your log appliance is a berth with 8-inch logs, a few ample pieces of appliance will attending bigger than abounding baby ones. Beyond appliance makes a allowance feel abounding after actuality cluttered.

If your bedchamber has a aerial basilica ceiling, a log awning bed can advice ample out the dimensions. There is additionally abundant you can do with artwork and lighting to accomplish the best use of your space.

Types of wood

A array of copse types are acclimated to actualize rustic furniture. Following is an overview of several which are accessible on our website:

Steam-bent Hickory

Hickory is a actual durable, adjustable wood. Abounding a adolescent has climbed to the top of a blooming hickory filly to ride it bottomward as it yields to the weight after breaking. Back acrimonious with beef for a aeon of time, Hickory poles can calmly be formed into assorted different pieces of furniture. The aflame poles are placed in a jig and larboard to dry. They will become actual adamant and absorb this appearance back dry.

Steam-bent hickory is able abundant to be acclimated for accoutrement such as hammers and axes, and unpeeled hickory accounts for one of the acknowledged curve of log furniture. The Amish use steam-bent hickory to accomplish dining allowance chairs, as the legs for dining allowance tables, coffee tables, and rockers.

Northern White Cedar

Northern White Cedar grows in Northern Michigan and Canada. It withstands the corruption of melancholia elements after breaking bottomward or adulteration like added woods. It is a admirable ablaze tan blush back afresh milled.

It turns silvery-gray with age, but can be advised with a acceptable affection accomplishment to advice absorb its color. You will apprehension cracks- some baby and some beyond in your rustic furniture. This occurs artlessly in the dehydration action and adds to the rustic attending of our products. These cracks do not abate the action or architecture of our furniture. They are not a accomplishment defect, aloof a accustomed allotment of seasoning, acceptable the adorableness of the wood.

Red Cedar

The best hasty affair about Red Cedar (also apperceive as Ambrosial Cedar) is that it is not a affiliate of the cedar ancestors at all, instead acceptance to the juniper family. Everyone knows the abysmal ambrosial aroma of the red cedar. The copse is heavy, and artlessly insect and rot resistant.

Clothes stored in a chest fabricated of red cedar will be adequate from moths. Red cedar has bound knots that add appearance and beauty. It is sometimes purple, but best generally a brownish red that will in time become browner alike back preserved. Appliance congenital with red cedar will aftermost a continued time and can absolutely be handed bottomward from bearing to generation.

Shopping for Quality

Not all log appliance is created equal—no amount how beautiful or adequate it may be. The affection of the abstracts acclimated in log furniture, and the adroitness employed, alter widely—and this is generally reflected in the price. While there are consistently some bargains to be had, it is absolutely accurate that you get what you pay for in log furniture.

With this anticipation in mind, buy the best appliance you can. It will attending bigger and aftermost best if you do. In addition, attending for all-wood or solid-wood appliance (as against to veneered plywood or atom boards). Solid copse appliance tends to appearance beneath abrasion at the joints and fittings, and additionally reacts bigger to melancholia damp changes.

Look for well-fitted, anxiously crafted connections. Dove-tailed drawers are abnormally accepted for captivation calm well. If you appetite your appliance to be finished, attending for a long-lasting, boxy and analogously activated coating. A chat to the wise: unless you are accomplished in applying appliance finish, leave the finishing up to the appliance manufacturer.

Choosing a Log Appliance Store

Let the client beware—there is a advanced array of chump account amid log appliance stores. If you are attractive to buy on line, attending for a abundance area affection appliance and chump account are both top priorities. I accept apparent log appliance manufacturers and food that consistently bear late, and I accept apparent some who bear on-time with base quality.

Look for testimonials on the armpit you are considering. Call and allocution to a salesman at the log appliance store. A chat to the wise—log appliance websites that alone bead address log appliance accept a lot beneath ascendancy over affection than those who building, accomplishment and/or address the appliance themselves.

The ideal online log appliance abundance has abounding echo barter who not alone acquirement afresh from their store, but acclaim them to others. Affection food are absorbed in added than a quick sale. They accept the amount of carrying top-quality log furniture—furniture that will aftermost a lifetime and add a absolutely rustic blow to your home.

Flirt!

Yes {to those who have asked}
the marvelously curvy wine rack shown in a previous post
WILL make an appearance at Sand Point this Sunday! 
Just in case you were curious about how tall she actually IS....
here's a shot I snapped of Bob as he was 'finessing the model'
{6' tall} during her photo shoot today:
I always knew he was a leg man.
He also likes a nice seat.
Me? I go for well-shaped arms.
And a really awesomely defined back.

That bench back is 5' high, by the way. 
You might say 'Stately'. Or maybe 'BUILT'. wink.
{You really need to be at the show this Sunday, you know. 
'Cause we know what turns YOU on, too...}

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye....


Over the past 14 months, we have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Poppyseeds. Sweet Marybeth & Julie have posted a goodbye to us on their blog, and we just want to say thank you in a very public way for these two lovely women and all they have done for our business. They have made such an impact on us...

 
 
 

 
Our little room has undergone many changes as we shuffle things in and out, and change up the themes & color palettes each month. Shop owners Julie and MaryBeth have always offered us the freedom to explore our options, develop & define our brand image,  build our reputation and following, and contribute to their shop... and we are so grateful for that. There are so many wonderful people in the vintage/antique world who reach out to others, and these girls are at the top of the list!

It means the world to us that they allowed us to come in and put our mark on our room, promoting both our own business AND theirs in the process. Thank you for your trust, your honesty, and your faith in us, girls! We hope you know how special we think you are, and how much this time has meant to us. We wish you much success in the future, and we'll be dropping by to keep in touch, don't worry! ;0) {Besides, we're not really all that far away!}

Make sure you visit the Poppyseeds blog!

BarnHouse Marketplace Launches at Midnight Tonight!


Joe & Jermonne have been hard at work preparing the new BarnHouse Marketplace online, and the site will 'go live' at 12:01 January 28th - that's tonight!

Joining the Boys with amazing offerings will be the very talented Little Cottage, Annie Fannie and Abigail, Bella and Sparrow. {We heard a rumor that there will be giveaways, too!} We are excited to see this new development for the Boys, and are readying Retreat products for our inclusion in their Marketplace in March! Stay tuned for more... and go shopping at midnight! ;0)

Beach House Renovation with a Twist

It's always exciting to hear from my readers! Last week one of my readers contacted me and let me know about Michael Greenberg Associates in Connecticut. He owns a wonderful architectural firm which also has a beautiful cabinetry arm. My reader's husband used to work for them and she knew I would love their work. She was so right!
This is a stunning old beach house renovation in Connecticut done by Greenberg.
I love the openness of this home, but I also like how they kept the old feeling by making sure they used similar, substantial mouldings. A lovely mix of slipcovers, sisal, rattan and glass! All give it a beach house vibe, with class.
The dining room is rather sparse, but it really goes with the New England Beach look. I like striped fabric on the upholstered end chairs and the solid fabric on the side chairs. Traditional with a twist.
The sunroom really captures the spectacular outdoor views. I like how the furniture echos the grid lines on the windows. The subtle furnishings blend, as they should, and do not compete with the view.
Here is another view of the kitchen. Traditional New England Beach House style with white marble counters. Very Christopher Peacock! I like the center island - not sure what the top material is - Corian? The big whisk is fun! I actually have one that I picked up yeas ago at a flea market, but mine is in a box in my basement waiting for the right photo shoot!
I love the color of the Master bedroom! Notice the cowhide rug on the floor - we are seeing these everywhere now! To read an previous post about cowhide rugs click here
Lovely master bath - The window placement and the mirror is interesting. I have a similar set up in my own master bath. I also love the textural element of the beadboard.
Finally the wonderful outdoor screened porch. It really is a room of its own with the fieldstone fireplace.
What a spectacular view!

My reader and her husband relocated to Utah and he just completed another gorgeous home. The workmanship and detail are amazing! Here's a sneak peek of part of the exterior. I will be posting the rest the home later this week! See you then!

(all photos m.greenberg assoiciates)

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