Saturday, March 30, 2013

Decorative Glass in the Kitchen

Decorative glass used in remodeling has become so popular over the past few years that I thought I had seen it all.  But NO! I'm excited to introduce Shahab Shokouhi, my guest author today, discussing and showing fabulous ways to use glass in the kitchen.  Enjoy!

 
Kitchen Remodeling via 
Kitchen overhauls are not the easiest remodeling jobs out there, but there are definite trends you can utilize to make your kitchen look stylish. In this post we are going to look at various examples from back-painted glass backsplashes, to glass kitchen counter tops, to kitchen islands, all of which will make your kitchen a modern cooking oasis! Glass backsplashes and colored glass panels are a perfect way to not only add light and a beautifully modern shine to your kitchen, but color-coordinating is also extremely easy.

   
Different Colored Glass Painted Kitchen Backsplashes via 
At Dulles Glass and Mirror, custom-colors are offered based on most major paint manufacturers including Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams color codes, as you can see above.

   
Green Glass Backsplash via 
There are many styles of glass backsplashes. You can get a whole glass panel custom-cut for your kitchen wall, or you can use individual tiled glass backsplashes like above. And if you're looking for a bit of a modern flare, there are a lot of backlit options when it comes to glass in the kitchen.

   
Textured Backlit Glass Casing Island Countertops via
Above is a glass casing kitchen island countertop with backlights. Similar to glass backsplashes with installed LED lighting, this island is decorative, functional, and injects a unique vibrant light into the kitchen; the ultimate in modern technological decorative flare. Another common, often overlooked style of glass in the kitchen are glass kitchen cabinet doors.

   
Glass Kitchen Cabinet Doors via 
Glass kitchen cabinet doors are perfect to show off your most interesting of items, giving your kitchen a contemporary look. If you're looking for a more traditional look, white colored backsplashes are available as well.

   
White Colored Kitchen Backsplash via
Often times with back-splashes, it's a good idea to match your switch-plates and outlets to the color of your backsplash.

   
Hand-Made Glass Countertops via
When it comes to the kitchen, there is a lot of functional hand-made glass art available, like the hand-made glass countertop above. There are glass art houses that are creating masterful glass kitchen countertops, producing a one-of-a-kind look that will clearly turn heads. 

   
Kitchen Island via
Not everything has to be a full-on overhaul. One easy way to add a new bit of flare to the kitchen is a kitchen island. While this one pictured is a very high-end and rustic kitchen island, there are a lot of kitchen island options available for you. From the DIY low end IKEA models, to designer models, it's absolutely the easiest way to add countertop space to one's kitchen. Follow these trends and your kitchen will be a brighter, easier to clean, and more productive cooking space.

About the Author Shahab Shokouhi is a Writer at Dulles Glass and Mirror-- a manufacturer of commercial and residential glass products including glass table tops, vanity mirrors and glass sheets.

Susan here again! I can't decide if my favorite is the Textured Backlit Glass surrounding the island OR the Rustic Kitchen Island with a glass insert on the top.  I think I'm going to have to go with the latter.  I love contrast!!  Ready to use some glass in your kitchen now? Tell me your ideas!

Toodles! Susan


MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Spring and Petite Wonders




I recently saw this wonderful, dainty floral arrangement while on a trip to New York.  There were so many things that caught my eye: it's petite, but full presence, the contrast in hues, the desaturated color of the large grey green leaves contrasted with the intense chroma of the dainty, frilly fuchsia flower petals.  This one little presentation has so much richness, and best of all...it won't get in your way while eating!

So, of course, I had to ask the Garden Guru, my mother-in-law Deb Brown, the best way to duplicate this little dandy on your own.  Her suggestion:

"It looks like several frilly carnations for the center wired together at the bottom. I would say look to your houseplants and trim the ends from trailing philodendrons or pothos this time of year.  In summer, you could cut a few leaves from perennials.  Or any time, you could pick up a small bunch of floral greenery at a grocery store florist -- or wherever you buy the carnations.  I think the fun part would be the creativity involved.  That little arrangement or bouquet could be made with other flowers as well as carnations...a mound of mums, for instance.  And in June, one luscious peony, surrounded by contrasting leaves."

Spring will be here...eventually...really!!

Susan
MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected

Thursday, March 14, 2013

IGH Living Room Progress: Mantel going UP!

Happy Spring!

Details are coming together in an Inver Grove Heights living room I am updating.  Let's look!

In this corner, we added grommet style curtains using Robert Allen and Schumacher linen fabrics and a new olive green Hickory wing chair with nailheads. I love this Schumacher linen with the oversized paisleys but chose to use it only on the large floor to ceiling windows on either side of the fireplace so we could keep the focal point on that wall. I put Robert Allen linen solids on the patio door, but connected the draperies with the rust colored border at the top. Linen just hangs so beautifully, it's one of my favorite fabrics!


We added a new Charles Ray sofa, but I decided to keep the coffee table my client had inherited from his mother.  I just love the oversized feel of the piece, the carved details and those bulbous legs are so fabulous!  We highlighted the details with gold leaf and gold Rub n' Buff...thanks to Candice of Textural Hues!!  We're also adding cabinet doors to the bottom half of the built in bookcase behind the sofa.  There's one on either side of the dining room entry.  Now they'll look like built in cabinets instead of built in bookshelves. Still need to redo that piano seat...it's in progress!

And yet in another corner, you can see we've painted the rooms' walls and ceiling with new Ben Moore colors and added this luscious Hickory chaise in a soft grey/blue.  This fabric is soooo soft, you can snuggle right in and watch the wildlife right outside the window. The homeowner already owned the espresso colored faux fur throw, but I think it's perfect on the chaise and grounds the colors in this corner.

Back to the other corner, you can see the old mantel from a chunk of cedar and the graduating bricks holding it up.  I am not a fan of protruding bricks in fireplaces, and it truly doesn't work with our revamped style...too retro, too 50's/60's looking, so...

 ...we are going to cover them up. We could have possibly knocked them off, but we didn't want to risk weakening the entire fireplace structure. The above corbels are hollow, acting as caps, to go over the protruding bricks and hold up the new larger mantel which will wrap around and tie right into the window casing on either side of the fireplace.

Here's my fabulous woodworker, Walt from McHenry's Custom Furniture & Cabinets refining the fit on the new mantel.  Now to paint it to match the trim, and install.


Keep posted!!

Susan


MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Peacocks In Decor!


Today I have a wonderful guest post from Mari at Arcadian Home. I think she's selected some of the best images ever on peacock decor! I'm dedicating this post to my good friend Joy...I don't know anybody more peacock crazy than her!!  Let's read on...                                            

                                                 ____________________________________


Hello, everyone! It's Mari here from Arcadian Home blog, a beautiful place to find lots of decorating inspirations, including table decor, wall art and interesting lighting fixtures of all sorts. I'm so excited to be visiting Color Me Lovely with a guest post about peacocks in decor. Today's post was inspired by Susan's wonderful auction find of an antique white peacock print by Jessie Arms Botke. You can see it here. To celebrate that found treasure, I've pulled together eight images of rooms with beautiful peacocks as focal points. Please enjoy!
Designer Jeffrey Bilhuber placed this preserved peacock on a pedestal as the focal point in a lovely blue Manhattan apartment living room. Peacock blue accents pop in the midst of paler shades of blue.
This painting of a white peacock on a black background serves as a lovely focal point above the deep pink velvet settee in a traditional living room.
A contemporary peacock painting in brilliant blue is the center of attention at the head of this wrought iron canopy bed. Turquoise buffet lamps with large black shades (only one is visible here) are perfect atop the bedside chests.
In this inviting pale gray and green dining room, a contemporary peacock painting serves as a colorful focal point. A blue and white rug gives the space an understated coastal feel.
This living room with wonderful global style includes a colorful preserved peacock near the fireplace behind the deeply tufted gold velvet sofa. Moroccan tables merge beautifully into the design that also features sleek metal modern tables.
An eclectic bath has two peacock elements -- a pretty painting resting on the floor against the wall and the window shade in a floral and peacock patterned fabric.
Elle Decor brings us this lovely green dining space with two preserved peacocks, one is white as seen in Susan's antique print.
A gorgeous peacock mural is stunning in this glamorous pink bedroom with clear acrylic four-poster bed. The only thing I'm missing is a really glam modern pendant light hung in the center of the room. What a great space!

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

 What do you think of these peacock inspired interiors? Leave us your comments below and be sure to check out our website for more home decor and lighting inspirations!

Was I right??? Awesome images, huh? Being the ultimate animal lover I am, I would never, ever condone killing and stuffing animals purely for purely pretty decor. The stuffed peacocks are absolutely stunning, so if you want them in your home, please, please check your sources and make sure they lived a long, lovely life and died of natural causes. Many thanks!

Later 'gaters! Susan


MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected