Style VS. Trend Stop the MADNESS!!
Mood Board for our new Kitchen, The colors are not quite what they are in person, the teal has a bit more blue than this sample, but you get the gist.
This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and something that comes up with almost every new client. Follow Pinterest, Houzz or HGTZ and all the new trends can dazzle you and suck you up into the vortex. It’s one thing if you want to follow each and every trend with your wardrobe, hopefully, that is a much smaller budget than a home remodel so a bit safer. If you chase every trend and “color of the year” you will not be happy and unless you have the budget of a Kardashian, you’ll be broke. I always tell new clients to stick to the classics and what is true to your heart and your house will come together. By staying with the classics and what you truly love, sometimes you will be on-trend and sometimes you won’t. The thing with the classics is that they keep coming back time and again. I live in a Modern Farmhouse, so cliche right now I could scream. My house was built 20 years ago, long before anyone outside of Waco knew of Johanna Gaines. So, for the time being anyway, I am on-trend. Once that trend goes away, I will still be in love with my house, because I stuck with what was true to my spirt.
In remodeling our kitchen this has really come to the front of my mind. So here is how I decided. It is imperative to me that anything that comes into my house is made from natural materials. Nearly every stone person I talked with tried to talk me into Quartz. I just can’t do it. I know that it is so much easier than marble and “gives you the same look”. Sorry, I don’t buy that. NO one is being fooled into thinking that Quartz is a real stone. I am also a Realtor, so I can’t help but look ahead to resale and I believe that in a very short time Quartz is going to have the same appeal that Corrian does today. If you can’t find granite that you like and marble is too much maintenance, then try quartzite. If quartzite is not in your budget how about concrete or wood is also a beautiful alternative. Then I asked myself, “does this bring me joy”? The other question I asked myself, has this “fill in the blank” been around for more than it’s 10 minutes of fame? My grandmother and great grandmother both had big, white, cast iron, farmhouse sinks. I’ve had cast iron sinks in the past and loved them. When mine was installed last week, I could not wait to do dishes. I use Method Sea Minerals dish soap that smells just like my grandmother’s kitchen, and I was instantly a little girl helping grandma wash dishes and listening to the ladies talk. Just because something is on-trend, at the moment, does not mean it’s a bad thing, the classics always come back and will be in style at different times in our life. White kitchens are having a shining moment, but they are timeless! For my kitchen, I’ve gone with a very dark teal (one of my top 3 favorite colors) on the lower cabinets and white on top with a white tile backsplash from counter to ceiling in the kitchen. The pantry will be all white cabinets with a teal backsplash and teal cement tile floors. The counters in both will be White Princess Quartzite. I am so excited I can hardly stand myself!
One more tidbit, beware of shopping online, it’s too easy to just click and buy and suddenly you have filled your house with $50. items that you don’t love and don’t go together. Save your money and only buy what you can’t live without. By saving all those 50 dollar bills, you will be able to afford that amazing art piece that will make you smile every single day. I love Marie Kondo’s method of literally holding on to an object to see if it sparks joy in your heart. The place where I stumble with this is with family items. I don’t often buy things I don’t love, but oh boy, when someone passes down Great Grannies anything, it’s hard to get rid of those heirlooms. I must admit that I do have a few boxes of items that I just can’t bring myself to part with, I don’t keep everything but sorry Darling Daughter I’m afraid that will be your job someday.
Paris Design Week
this is design week in paris, similar to fashion week only better, in my opinion. for those not familiar this is where designers from all over come together to display the latest ideas in all things design. i’ve never been but just looking at the pictures gives me all kinds of inspiration. an interesting theory i once heard. when the economy is not doing well, people tend to gravitate towards more neutral color palettes, (white, beige, grey, greige) when the economy is doing well people are willing to be a little riskier and start taking chances again. if design week is any indication, the economy is doing very well.
im obsessing over wall murals
if you’re not quite ready for jewel tones these softer colors feel like you are under the tuscan sun
absolutely my favorite color right now, river blue 2057-10
jewel tones just feel luxurious, this is reminiscent of benjamin moores color of the year 2017 shadow (2117-30)
0f course there was still plenty of neutrals including blush a forever feminine color
blush, a forever feminine color. my own office is head over heels (af-250)
a great way to update without tossing all of our neutrals is to pair it with this great earthy green try benjamin moores cushing green (HC-125)
A New Master Bath for ME!!
This will be my very first time LIVING through a major remodel. I’ve watched plenty of others struggle though the months it invariably takes to go from demo day to move-in day. I am working on the plan plan now and it has evolved and morphed many times over. It started with this beauty.
I think it is dramatic and elegant, while still be earthy and timeless. Husband did not agree. In fact he said, “no, no, no”. If it were up to him he would do an all white bathroom. While all white is simple and understated, it has been done to death! I cannot live in an all white bathroom, I would feel like I was walking into God’s bathroom. I’m going to keep this one in my back pocket for some client with a more adventurous spouse.
I went back to the drawing board and came up with this plan, much simpler while still having some drama but keeping that very clean color pallet.
What I love about this plan is that the wallpaper has a 6’ repeat! Because of subway tile being so linear I want the other patterns to be very organic. I love the cement tiles! I could have them everywhere. BUT, they must be cement! NO PORCELAIN. To me the porcelain version look like they have been Xeroxed, which essentially they have been. The glass tile will be 3x12 and the white Hex for the shower pan is also cement and is 8x9. I love a bit of natural wood in every room and walnut is one of my favorites.