A Bright New Day! (And A Bright New Kitchen)

Okay, I know you've been on the edge of your seat since Friday. So, here's your payoff.

What better way to start this posting than with a picture of Bob Ballard, the "cabinet wizard" from Environstudio who crafted and installed the cabinetry and trim for the remodel. Compare the bright white cabinets and the beautiful soft green paint color, and how it brightens the whole feel of the kitchen.

As in the dining room, I love the way the rich dark flooring makes the cabinetry and trim stand out just that much more!

This is another good example of how you can create a kitchen that is beautiful, functional, and totally appropriate for a home of any vintage.

Face Blurred to Protect the Innocent

We looked at some pictures of the beautiful completed dining room at this project yesterday. Well, here it ain't so pretty.

When this home was purchased by our clients, it came with what was undoubtedly a very serviceable-though dated-kitchen. Dark cabinets, fluorescent strip lighting,old appliances and laminate counter tops. Definitely looks like a job for Super-Chip! Working hand-in-hand with the homeowners, Chip came up with a bright new kitchen plan that is far more functional and efficient. That, coupled with exquisite cabinetry by Bob Ballard of Environstudio, worked to create an amazing new space.

Here's what the homeowners moved into.

Anxious to see what was done with this one, aren't you? Well, sorry to leave you with a cliff-hanger on a Friday afternoon...but isn't that what all the best programs do...?

Don't miss more "after" photos on Monday!

Dining Room Redo

I wanted to show you some before and after photos of a recent project we've been working on. In future postings, I'll show you more of the kitchen and landscaping which were our direct design projects...but if you're like me, I know you'll enjoy seeing some of the "fluffing" that happens after the construction.

Here is a before photo of the dining room. As you can see, the home had existing beautiful mill-work window trims, door openings and wainscoting. "All" that was needed was new paint, wall covering, rich flooring and furnishings! (Yeah...that's all!)

Okay...almost overnight, ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan! Well, maybe not overnight. I especially like the rich window treatments against the tone-on-tone striped wall covering. And against that dark stained floors....oh so nice!

Can you not just see yourself seated around this gorgeous table, dark outside, chandelier twinkling, champagne flute in hand...? Oops...sorry. I gotta snap out of it!

By the way, this is one of the homes that will be featured on our Autumn Home Tour on November 8th. You can find details at www.intspacesinc.com/home tour

Last Minute Details--or Something Like That!

We're doing all the last minute (whether we like that or not!) details to get ready for our Design Studio open house this weekend. As you can see, the porch is almost completed, and the pergola has gone up over the door, matching the detailing of the pergola over our patio.

Painting is almost done. Hardware was installed on the garage doors....for a few minutes! After looking at it for a couple of days, Chip decided he didn't like the placement of the door handles. So, off they come! (Nobody bothered to ask me where they should go when they were installing. What's up with that?!) Not to worry. The holes were quickly filled, and will be sanded and painted over tomorrow. Then, the handles will be re-installed, and of course everyone will be happy! (2 steps forward, and 1/2 step back...but that's still progress! Am I the only one that lives with one of these ...?)

Now if we could only get the house painters to finish. (Anybody remember Elton from Murphy Brown??) The last thing that they did last Friday afternoon was put a second coat of oil base paint on the front and back porch...about 2 hours before a huge downpour. You know what they say about oil and water, right? So, try again! We're gonna get there, I just know it.

Shade Garden Gone Wild

We're closing in on the construction phase of our new studio, and it was time to spruce up the garden. What we are experiencing in our garden is a two-fold problem that can be common in any garden, but I think possibly even more so in the south, where there is no real winter.

Our trees and many of our shrubs in the garden have grown quite tall. This means lots of shade, and lots of bare space under the branches. Under-story planting can be tough since some areas of our garden would almost be considered "forest floor" in their shade level.

I chose a couple of plants that should do quite well. I also asked Joe Argentine to make sure that I could get fairly mature plants. If your new plants are too large, it can be next to impossible to dig holes large enough when you're working around existing root systems. On the other hand, if they're too small they might fail before they get up into the light. The Viburnum suspensum that I have used along the studio wall and fence is a staple in Florida. Very hardy in shade and full sun. By now, it almost rings the perimeter of our lot, so I consider it an anchor plant.

The short feather plant, Asparagus meyeri or "Foxtail Fern" has a wonderfully soft look to the foliage, and I really like the texture.

Also, the bright green color-almost chartreuse-really brightens the space down at that level. The cleaning up and replanting also really shows off the great branch shapes of the Lugustrum.

All in all, I was a happy gardener at the end of this planting day!

Your Questions Answered

This week we're doing our "Can We Help?" section on a Friday.

A reader in New Orleans sent some pictures and asked for advice. He is in the situation of needing to replace the dishwasher and wanting to make some changes to the kitchen, but definitely not ready for a whole kitchen gut and redo.

In trying to make a change with impact, and still leaving most existing components, the first suggestion would be paint. It's cheap and it's easy. (That's if you don't ask the painters who just had to paint our kitchen cabinets....5 times.) I suggest trying a warm brown or tan for the walls that would go with the trim piece around the existing counter tops. Then, probably a lighter shade of the same color for the ceiling.

They have 2 large windows, and I suggested ditching the cold, white mini-blinds, and trying Roman shades in a matchstick or bamboo. These would immediately add a lot of warmth and texture to the room. Also, if there is access for electric in the ceiling, a couple of pendant lights would really give the room some personality.

As we all know (only too well!), one redo project can often lead to another, and another and... After paint and blinds, I would step back in this room and try to evaluate, "Is that enough for now?" If not, there are companies such as Granite Transformations that can put granite right over existing counter tops. I have no experience with them, but am interested in seeing how it works. (Hey New Orleans reader, wanna be a Guinea Pig??) Also, repainting the cabinet doors would be nice, but if they're not wood, getting the paint to stick and not chip under wear might be an issue.

Paint companies such as Benjamin Moore now make sample sizes in many colors so bring a bunch home, try them on the wall, and look at them several times during the day in different light. You can make a personality change, in the blink of an eye. (That's the kitchen...not you! You're perfect just the way you are!)

Studio progress

Well, we're coming down to the wire. Yes, it may still be a "thick" wire, but we're getting close to the finish line at our new studio. The porch is going in, which means no more leaping trenches and wading through sand to get in!

Here's our Carpenter Doug pouring concrete for the porch supports

You remember what your mother always said...."A dirty carpenter is a happy carpenter!"

The next day he is doing the framing and posts for the railing. Yes, I know it's tiny and doesn't need a railing, but hey, we're all about the details, right?

And no, those are not the actual floor boards. Doug just put these down for us to have something to step on until the real McCoys go in!

Finish in sight...I can almost smell it. Or wait...is that smell the kitchen painting that's been going on in the house now for a week....oh,more on that to come!

A Word From Our Sponsor

Hey, just wanted to let everyone know (or remind you!) that we are having an open house at our new design studio on Saturday, September 26th.
We'll be opening the studio for all to see, along with our home and garden. Even better, we'll be serving drinks and h'ors d'oeuvres! What can be wrong with that?

All are welcome, and feel free to bring friends.
Saturday, September 26th
914 S Oregon Avenue, Tampa
6:00-9:00 P.M.
(813) 251-8862 for details or directions

One Grecian Urn...Two Grecian Urns...

Okay, these are NOT Grecian Urns. (And, for those of you who are theatre-trivia-challenged, that is a very silly reference to The Music Man.)

In a previous posting you saw this landscape shortly after installation, and the brick pads awaiting these 4 great urns.


Well, true to the word of Michael Jones at Pondscapes, they arrived, and were picked up by Joe Argentine Landscaping. I really love the way they blend with the plantings and fountain. Next step is the planting. More fluff!! This will be done by Missy as a housewarming/welcome-to-Tampa gift from Interior Spaces. (Woops...I may have just spoiled that surprise.) I'll get more pictures once the planting has been done.

No Devil In These Details

As is the case with many projects as this remodel gets near the end, all of the beautiful details begin to appear.

You've been following as the painting, resurfacing, landscaping, cabinetry, etc, came together here. Now for the fluffing! One of my favorite embellishments on this project is this rich wall covering in the powder bath.


A difficult angle to capture, and I assure you my photo doesn't do this gorgeous paper justice. The deep red is almost a purple, and in the glittering light of this "not too dainty" little chandelier, the gold actually looks like gold leaf! A wonderful little marble-topped vanity (not pictured) pulls this all together.

So, I said no "Devil" in these details...but maybe a little evil sprite! I've been anxious to show you pictures of the installed appliances...but, there were a couple of problems.

As you can see, the dishwasher is in, and all is well. (Blue stretch wrap over stainless front until last minute.) But the amazing 6-burner stove doesn't quite slide into the allotted opening. Just a matter of simple adjustments by the cabinet makers, but until then, you'll just have to imagine what it will look like in place! (Along with me.)