Sunday, November 2, 2014

Around the House, Kitchen Update


I don't know how I ever found the time to blog so steadily for three years.
It just doesn't seem to be happening lately.  My office is moving in about five
weeks and designing the new office, planning the move, building a new
corporate identity and building a new website has really taken up a lot of
time the past several months.  But here it is November so I've been
trying to get the house and kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests.


In particular, I wanted to get the floating shelves stained before the holidays so when we
had a few warm days where I could have the windows open, I decided to get them finished.

Above was the before.


And here they are freshly stained to match the old bin drawers.

I'm happy with the color but I think I want to ding them up a litttle
bit and apply some dark wax that I'll leave in the dings.


My mom visited last week so we drove out to Hudson, NY to pick
up a few new things for the shelves.  If you haven't been to Hudson, NY,
it's really worth the trip.  The town is just packed from one end to the other
with great antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.


My mom also has great knack for arranging things.
I caught her a few times moving things around on the shelves.


I'm sure these will evolve but I'm really happy with how this looks right now.

I still have to paint the windows before I can call the kitchen done but the snow
outside tells me that I'll have a lot of time indoors coming up to get that done.

Hope to show you around Hudson, NY sometime soon.

78 comments:

  1. I envy your darling home projects being done! I wish I was a bit more handy so I could dig into projects like you have. I have about 20 more doors to paint before we tear out a bathroom.

    I must say, your vignettes (and Mom's) are perfection.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kerry. You seem to have you hands full with your blossoming art career. I'm so happy to see you gaining traction. You're very talented!

      Delete
  2. Gosh, it all looks so pretty! How far a drive is Hudson NY?

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    Replies
    1. Linda,
      It's about three hours. Maybe a little less if you don't get lost. We stayed overnight which made the drive okay.

      Delete
  3. I love how it is coming along! Is Red Chair Antiques in Hudson? I used to visit it in Peterborough, NH and remember her telling me they were moving to Hudson. Gosh I might have to plan a road trip!

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    1. Lila,
      Yes! Red Chair is there and Jocie has an AMAZING shop! It's really one of the best shops in town and is almost worth the drive to visit her alone. But there's plenty more to see.

      Delete
  4. It always amazed me how much you get done around the house while you have a full time job, and blog. Especially after I started blogging myself and realized how much work it is to put together an original content! Your open shelves look lovely with the white pieces. I live in upstate NY (near Lake Ontario), but never visited Hudson NY. Can't wait to hear more about the place :)

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    Replies
    1. Yuko,
      I grew up near Lake Ontario just west of Rochester. I would be quite a hike from there to visit.

      Delete
  5. Isn't this weather terrible? I thought of you w;hen the snow was falling last night. Your mum has a flair for sure. I love your kitchen.

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    Replies
    1. Deb,
      I was headed up to Maine yesterday and I turned around after 20 minutes. It was pretty bad, especially for the first snow.

      Delete
  6. Hi, Steve,

    It's good to see you back at the blog — we were about to send out a search party! Your kitchen is looking great, and I've been admiring the wonderful choice of the lamp with the Greek key. I wish I could get one like that at a slightly smaller scale for the Pompeii Room!

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      I was lucky to find that great lamp on One Kings Lane in their vintage section. I love it and have never seen another one like it.

      Delete
  7. Your kitchen is smashing. Would that I could be your sous for Thanksgiving.

    I would be a willing slave to beauty.

    xo J

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  8. Hi, Steve. Great to have you back (at least for now). It's always a pleasure, no matter how often or infrequently you appear. Antiquing, Mom, and lovely stuff for the kitchen ... perfect!

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  9. The kitchen is looking beautiful.... It's homey and chic. I think banging up the shelves a little is a great idea.

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    1. My contractor told me about a woman that was hired to bang up some cabinets on a job he worked on many years ago in Santa Fe. She arrive with a big ring of keys and tools and various pieces of metal that she banged on the wood rhythmically like some ritualistic dance around the kitchen. It sounded fascinating.

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  10. Your kitchen is really great. Congratulations!

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  11. hudson is a favorite of mine, can't wait to see your snaps.
    well steve looking good! agree that darkened dings will be perfection. guessing the topiary was one of your new finds, looks too fresh, or you are that GOOD
    cheers from england
    debra

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    Replies
    1. Debra,
      Ha! I had just gotten the topiary the day before at Snug Harbor Farm up in Maine so I haven't had a chance to kill it yet.

      Delete
  12. The patina (moss) on that flower pot is perfection. I miss your posts.
    natalie

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  13. I understand what you mean regarding time to write, I went through the same thing end of last year and the early part of this year with a build out and an office move, now comes branding, it's hard to think beyond it. Anyway, I love the shelves and like your idea of the "dinging", it'll bring it to another level. I love Hudson, haven't been there in a couple of years and was just thinking the other day how we need to take a ride and it's beautiful this time of year. Love your finds, especially the soup tureen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The buildout and office design is kind of fun. It's so much easier to make decisions for some reason. The branding is tough but I think I found a good company to help me. It's the website that's killing me. I have so much content to write it's daunting.

      The soup tureen was from a little place in Maine and was only $28. That's cheap, right?

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    2. A steal. I have a beautiful French antique soup tureen which my Mom bought for me many many many years ago and I always felt bad because I think it was quite expensive, of course I treasure it.

      Websites are soooooo tough. We hired an agency to redo ours last year, yuch, so we're doing it again, I still haven't gone to every click. Daunting is right!

      Delete
  14. Love, love, love the first photo with all those wonderful McCoy planters with Greek key design. I have one just like it ... but only one. Makes me want to search for more in that style/color. Everything looks great. Good luck with your new office.
    Claudia

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    Replies
    1. Claudia,
      I'm not surprised you like my McCoy. I've been collecting the white Greek key planters for a few years. I look on ebay and etsy and have set a price limit on what I'll spend for them. They're fun to collect because they're not expensive.

      Delete
    2. I'm looking on Etsy now and am overwhelmed by some of the beautiful McCoy pots available! I love so many of the patterns and colors. I could have a hundred of these pots, but I have no space for them.
      Claudia

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  15. looks lovely steve. are you happy with the way the kitchen works now? it is gorgeous!

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    Replies
    1. Janet,
      I absolutely am loving how the kitchen works. Although it's not big, it's more counter space than I've ever had before and I adore all my appliances. It's actually changed my life crazy as that sounds.

      Delete
  16. Fabulous kitchen!
    http://inkandlacedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

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  17. Snow?!?!?! Thanksgiving?!?!?! Yikes! Your kitchen is FAB!!! franki

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    Replies
    1. I know, right? I'm still pretending that's it's late summer!

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  18. I want front row tickets to the shelf with keys dance. Miss you.

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  19. I'm always so happy to see a post from you!
    It sounds like you have an awful lot on your plate right now but it does sound fun and exciting!
    I'm glad you carved out some time to blog. You've been missed.
    I love the dinging idea. Your kitchen just keeps getting better.
    I can't believe you had snow already! It's been cold here but soared to 68 today.
    Tomorrow it's supposed to return to seasonal weather.
    Oh well! and as you said, it's a great time to take care of inside tasks!
    :)

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    Replies
    1. Not that I'm looking forward to snow but it will be nice to be forced inside to take care of a few projects I've been putting off.

      Delete
  20. Shelves look great. Is that a faux rosemary topiary or real? It is very cute. About having time for blogging. I started a new job and I'm struggling to blog myself. But I always love an update from you!

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    Replies
    1. The topiary is westrengia and I just got it from Snug Harbor Farm in Maine. They're supposed to be easier than myrtle so I'm hoping I'll be able to keep them looking good.

      Delete
  21. Your kitchen looks amazing...every single detail! How many McCoy white pots do you have? Quite a collection! They look great!

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    Replies
    1. Annie,
      I have 19 so far. It's about enough unless I find a larger place to display them.

      Delete
  22. Whoop....Steve is back....if only briefly but we'll take it:) Shelves look great! I love styling those suckers and wish I had some of my own:( Stay warm dude.....

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  23. I love the way the stain turned out on the drawers. And I always look forward to your Thanksgiving and Christmas posts!

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  24. Steve I think your kitchen looks amazing and especially with the floating shelves up and "styled" by your Mother! How great is that . Hudson sounds like a wonderful town!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Kerena, that was a surprise from mom. I don't recall her having that ability. I was impressed.

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  25. I love your kitchen Steve, and the shelves look perfect. You have great style, and I guess you get that from your mom :) Good luck with juggling all your plates in the air! xo Nancy

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  26. Your kitchen is looking great. How does it feel now that you have it all together? Anything that you'd do differently?

    I get your drift about not having the time to blog. I hope to get back to it soon as well. Maybe before Christmas even...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary,
      I don't think I'd do anything differently; it's worked out really well and I really love using it. I do wish I had a slightly larger kitchen sink but there wasn't a choice given the old cabinet components I had to work with. I still bigger than the one I had before so it's a really small complaint.

      Delete
  27. Those shelves look awesome and I love that your mom "plays" with them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We had a good time debating why something needed to be where it was.

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  28. I can see why you're happy with the way it looks because it looks GOOD!

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  29. The kitchen is brilliant! Just love the how you combined the drawers in the cabinet bases. I think we may be in for another interesting winter this year. It snowed in South Carolina too. By any chance are you familiar with Rural Residence in Hudson - Timothy Dunleavy's shop?
    He's family - my kids Uncle. Good luck getting settled with your new move.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Victoria. I was lucky to find those drawers; they work perfectly.

      I absolutely know Rural Residence. It's a beautiful shop and every detail was perfect. I took several photos in there and will be happy to share them.

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    2. Would love to see the photos. Perhaps a Hudson post is forthcoming?

      Delete
  30. KITCHEN BOY! You are back! I LOVE Hudson. Used to go a lot. Your kitchen looks so darn fabulous. I wanna come putter with your Mama! Snow? Cannot imagine!

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  31. How did I miss this post? I was hoping for some more on Hudson.

    Love the tôle tray!

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  32. Oh Steve, your kitchen is looking wonderful and I love the shelves. Lovely styling too! Can I come for Thanksgiving? Haha. When is it anyway - maybe I missed it? Yes, I'd like to go to Hudson, so will look forward to your photos...I am feeling much better about my pathetic lack of posts but nice to see I am in such great company.
    Happy week...!
    xo Terri

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  33. Oh great, you're out of the office and back with us, and it's all looking wonderful!

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  34. Looks amazing. The dinging will be wonderful on them. Love the styling!

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  35. I am in the same boat. How did our lives get so crazy?!! I miss your regular posts! I am always a fan of dinging and waxing! Can't go wrong!

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  36. Looks lovely. How much distance do you have between your kitchen table and your counters/range, etc.?

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    1. It's about 40 inches between the table and the range, 38 inches at the six. I've placed the chairs at the table so they pull out toward the corners of the kitchen rather than directly toward to sink and range. It's a little tight when people are sitting at the table but it works. I could also do an island that just has seating on one side facing the sink but I already had the table so it was good enough for now.

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  37. Hey...what is happening at the Urban Cottage? I need my fix.

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  38. Those bins are so great. Love how they are old and unique in the space. How do you like the open shelving?

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  39. I certainly agree to some points that you have discussed on this post. I appreciate that you have shared some reliable tips on this review.

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  40. Love everything! I adore the old bins. Will have to dig through your posts and find the story on them. Your kitchen is just marvelous!

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  41. Just coming across your blog as I have been debating between white vs gray grout in my kitchen under construction. Are you still happy with your decision of white on white? This is what I've chosen as well but ever so often get panicked that I might regret it. Only a couple more weeks to go before the install!

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