Countertop Materials



I am loving this herringbone backsplash I found!

We are in the middle of choosing countertops for the kitchen and I am researching different materials to find the best one for our family.  I decided to research a few products and share my findings.


When making an investment like new countertops it is important to keep the style of your home in mind as well as the time you plan to spend in your home. If you plan to move in 3 years it is better to go with a more conservative choice with resale in mind. Do not be afraid to consult a relator to see what is on trend for your area, especially if you plan to sell soon. If you live in a newer development where homes are still being built check out the models and spec homes to make sure your choice fits with the standard. All photos below and information came from HGTV.com.


Butcher-block





These offer such character and bring so much warmth to a kitchen. We have a fair amount of counter space especially considering we do not have an island. I am leaning towards doing a section in butcher block just to break things up but I am not 100% sold. I personally prefer the darker wood but it is also is available in a lighter tone. Click here for more information about butcher-block counter tops.


Soapstone


Picture source here

Soapstone is non porous and has been around for ages. The look of it is really growing on me and I love that it is a little more unexpected than the traditional granite but not as different as say concrete countertops. Click here for information about Soapstone.

Granite

Granite is traditional and more durable than marble. The natural looking stone is a personal favorite. However you will need to see the whole slab not just a sample when looking for granite. The stone can vary greatly. It is easy to clean and requires little maintenance. Click here to read more about granite.

 Marble

I absolutely LOVE the look of marble! That being said it is a very soft stone that can scratch and stain easily. I do not think it will be worth the stress it will cause me when my husband spills his soda or my son gets ketchup on it. I know you can seal it and people love it but there are also enough horror stories out there that I just don't think it is right for us. Click here for examples from HGTV.


Quartz





I am very surprised at the amount of quartz I have been seeing in model homes lately. It is growing in popularity and hopefully that will cause it to come down in price. Right now it is right up there if not above Granite. We have a very traditional style home and while Quartz is highly functional I just haven't found a style that I love. It is heat, scratch, and stain resistant and that does sound perfect for anyone with kids but I am not sure I am sold on the look. Click here to read more about Quartz.


 Later this month we are heading to a stone yard so I am hopeful something in a large slab will jump out at me and I will definitely keep you posted. In the meantime I would love to know what you are loving and not loving about the countertops in your homes.

The Process

This is an old feed sack that will be turned into some artwork.  A friend of my dads brought it to him at his office and he sent me a picture of it asking what to do with it. He needed help visualizing how to use it in his space, or really any space for that matter. He wasnt sure it was even usable. I think it is perfect! It is old, has a great story that I cant want to learn more about and is certainly not something everyone will have in their house.  Eventually it will be in a large frame with no glass displayed on a wall. I will clean it up and place chicken wire between it and the frame to allow the texture and wear to show through.

Many people think decorating is about the end result. I am a firm believer that it is just as much about the process as the final product. I want a home that tells a story, that has pieces that have meaning to me. This is something that cant be rushed and cant be bought all at one time. 

Enjoy the process of making your house a home, dont expect it to be perfect right away and know that most make overs dont take place in an hour like they do on tv.  I hope you will be inspired to continue working towards what makes you feel at home in your space. 

Going Gray in the Kitchen

Here is my inspiration picture. It is from a bathroom but the color scheme will work just as beautifully in a kitchen.

Thank goodness my husband is understanding! Almost five years ago when we were remodeling our house I broke the news to him that we needed black kitchen cabinets. He went along with it and loved them as much as any husband could. Thankfully when I informed him recently we needed to paint the kitchen cabinets gray he was just as obliged to humor me again.

I love the black we had, it was great while it lasted and worked really well in our space. That being said it just wasn't wearing as well as I had hoped. It was either time to repaint the cabinets black again or choose another color. I know cream is everyone's go to and they look lovely I just wasn't sure they were for me. I decided to try a soft gray.

I just love how the cabinets turned out. I am looking forward to installing new lighting, adding a back splash and updating the counter tops as well.Thank goodness school will be out for the summer in a few months and I will have more time to work on these projects.

What do you think about gray? I hope you stop back by next Wednesday.

Functional Centerpieces

 

I have been searching for a functional centerpiece for awhile now. I started out looking for a vintage tool box that I could re purpose. Apparently me and everyone else in the county thought that was a good idea so based on supply and demand they run between $75-$100 for a decent sized one. Other than not being able to find a sturdy one I also couldn't find one that I just loved. So, I designed a simple one that meets my needs and is two sided.

I have always been bothered by table decorations that make it difficult for conversation. Keeping things low profile is a big priority for me. I wanted to have something that I could use throughout the year and did not limit me to certain seasons. Something that couldn't be destroyed by my 5 year old or my 35 year old was another must have for me.

After some drawing my husband built me two different versions. One is approximately 24" long and one is approximately 12" long. 

These are photos of them just built before sanding and staining. One side is deeper so it allows for mason jars. The reverse side is very shallow and works better for tea light sized glass.

 

I sanded both boxes and stained one a deep mahogany and I loved how it turned out. The other box I kept more natural with an almost nude stain.

Besides holding candles I think they will look lovely with with a bright green grass or flowering plant in the larger glasses. They both hold standard sized Mason jars nicely for cutlery as well.

Spoiler Alert: The grandmothers are both going to receive nice herb gardens in the smaller boxes for mothers day. My in-laws are building a house so this will travel with them perfectly. My parents have a blue healer that likes to eat Moms' herbs so this indoor option will be great for her mint as well.

What are your go to centerpieces? 

Stop back by next Wednesday and I will share how we are going gray in the kitchen! 

Interior Paint

Selecting a paint color can be overwhelming. One of the services I provide is assistance with color choice. I prefer Sherwin Williams but there are many paint brands and color selections available. Their Morning Fog is in one of my favorite gray families. That being said, most paint stores will offer color match technology so if you find a color made by one company do not feel that you have to purchase that paint.

Please keep in mind all screens and devices can alter how the color appears. The best way to view color is to take the actual sample into the space you would like to paint so you can see it in your lighting.  

If you are looking to do an accent wall I recommend choosing a color in the same family at least two shades darker or lighter to provide enough contrast to the human eye.

If you are looking for a specific color to match a professional team or a college Alma-mater, Home Depot is the place to go. Click here for their selection of teams and colors by Glidden.  We are very happy with how the Texas A&M maroon turned out in our house.

What Happened to February?

I can not believe this is the last week of February! Where did the time go? Before you know it we will be having bbq's and spending lots of time outdoors. Well as soon as the snow melts. A girl can dream right?

When it comes to patios and covered outdoor spaces I recommend purchasing neutral basics and adding accessorizes for color.  I love freshening up outdoor spaces with new pillows and rugs. Here are some favorites I round recently at Pier1.

Click here for this pillow.

Navy is going to be a big color in design this year and I think it works well when paired with lime and/or yellow.  If you prefer a solid pillow check out these options below. I love the color options and would recommend picking at least two colors to mix and match.

Click here for the solid pillows.


When it comes to outdoor rugs I prefer pattern. I find it more forgiving for people with children and pets.  I love the pattern and color in this rug. You could easily coordinate this with the pillows above.

Click here for the rug.

Adding some live plants or flowers will bring texture and additional color to your space. If you are limited on time, growing native grasses in a creative display will still give you a lot of impact. Rosemary and potato vine provide great color and texture and seem to be difficult for me to kill.

Find these planters at Pottery Barn.

The lanterns below are great because you can easily put a brightly colored candle in them and change the look. I would recommend a lime green color, or go with a white if you are more traditional.

I love these lanterns.

 

This is the current state of the uncovered portion of our patio on the left. The covered section is holding up better but they are both pretty bare and needing some attention for spring. The neutral cushions I have with the classic black iron furniture will provide a great base for my spring spruce up. We have what I like to call vintage patio furniture. It is the super heavy iron old version of what a lot of people sell today but it is SO much sturdier. You cant even buy it anymore so I found the sofa at an estate sale and refinished it to match our other pieces.  Sometimes older is better, and in this case it has stood the test of time.

I hope that you were able to find some inspiration for your outdoor space.  I also hope that it warms up sooner rather than later so we can all enjoy some patio time without ice.

thanks for stopping by, 
Melissa 

Spring Is Here

Spring is finally here! Well if you are in Texas like me, it was here for about 3 days last week and winter has been back, but I hear spring might be returning this weekend. No matter what climate you live in it is time for a little spring updating.

One of my favorite things to do is rearrange the furniture at our house. I love moving things around and trying new things, to see what works best for our family, and I encourage you to do the same. I also love to find old things and find a purpose to reuse them for. Here are some projects we are currently working on.

Before picture:  locker revamp for a boys room

Believe it or not this banister and a few of his friends are going to make beautiful farm table legs.