So, I am going to admit something....every time I look at the likes of my back door, I envision what is to be, what can be.. all the while sometimes feeling a little let down because it is so not in the budget....yet.
It will come though. Patience is not only a virtue, it is a treasure from God! I know that when we want something and can wait on it, once granted..it is that much sweeter and enjoyable..not to mention...with something like this, you end up really having the time to perfect the vision and budget..and it can be exactly what you want..not what you "settled" for.
So enough of my ramblings...on with the post!!!
When it s time...the planning for an outdoor living space will happen and it will look something like this.
In modern outdoor design you find what landscapers call "hardscapes"..basically...alot of rock and stone. Also, you will find simple plants in their own space with no fuss around them. Either in a planter of their own, or if in the ground...just simple!
Adding a modern pergola will provide not only relief from a hot day under shade, but more of the living space feel outdoors. We have plans for one of those as well, adn adding outdoor fabric panels to it.
Water features and firepits as this one above are a standard feature as well when going more modern.
You can find more on this firepit at www1.firerock.us/

After much thought and research, we have decided to go with stained concrete flooring for the kitchen as the last thing needed to complete the look! We are throwing ideas around as to if we make it a DIY project or not. It's all still in the air, but the fact we are going green with the concrete, that is a sure thing.
If we go with someone to do it for us, we may have to wait until next year and save from a few photo shoots (smiles)

Here is a great site for info on the flooring itself:
www.moderncrete.com

* The raw materials used in concrete are abundant making it a sustainable building material and an integral part of a successful “Green Building” program.
* Lower utility bills – Because of a phenomenon known as “Thermal Mass,” concrete helps maintain a constant temperature year round.
* Concrete floors produce minimal waste unlike carpet, laminate, or tile, all of which continually contribute to landfill waste.
* Concrete floors are not as susceptible to damage by water, fire and mold as many other types of flooring.
* Practical and naturally durable. With minimal maintenance, it never needs replacement.
* Easy to maintain and clean.
* Hypo-allergenic – does not store dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens.
* Made from natural, earthy elements rendering each flooring or countertop design unique.
* Transitions well with other natural materials such as granite, marble, wood, glass & metals, allowing easy adaptability to any setting.

Really cannot wait!! Maybe we will still try it as a DIY, but we still have some research to do and find the exact stain color we know we want...as some DIY product does not have the color variations we are envisioning.

Thought this carton of egg candles was just too cute, and the timer I LOVE. Hope to have the blue one in my kitchen sometime soon! Found it on Wrapables.com

Mastermind designers, Robert & Courtney Novogratz will complete season 1 on their own show" Nine by Design" tomorrow night. I am anxiously awaiting to watch, and sad at the possibility of this being the first and final season. No final word on that though...
With 7 kids, Bellamy, Tellulah, Wolfgang, Breaker, Five, Holleder and Major, the newest addition.
I have fallen head over heels for not only everything this show encapsulates, but their family as well.
Brilliant doesn't even begin to explain the minds and creative style that surpasses many! I never really knew there could be such a design force that matched with my own personal style as much as these. Probably why I love their show so much. The fact they can manage all that they do and parent 7 fabulous kids is beyond me. Especially in NYC..com' on!!! Wow!!
They are known to find the most unloved properties and turn them into funky fabulous one-of-a-kind jewel boxes if you ask me!
Just released a book "Downtown Chic" that I will be buying and cannot wait to have on my coffee table!
You can catch the season finale tomorrow night on Bravo. Check your local cable listing for showtime, or go to www.sixxdesign.com

There is nothing I love more on the table than all white dishware and serving pieces. It will always be a classic, and looks so clean! I love the way my food even looks on the plate! Yes, I do like many dishes with prints and designs, especially vintage ones, or the floral's that you would see in a vintage English tea set. There are probably so many I like, that I would end up spending way too much money and not have the space to sore them. So, white has been my choice for years now. I had began purchasing my collection at Crate & Barrel..but have found you can always add to it, and buy from all kinds of places. Now, I find my self in a store wanting to see what white serving pieces they have..and my brain goes to all kinds of ways I could use it.

Photo Credits To: Living Design & Ann Sage

Only in America we are almost bred to think "bigger is better". Well, I have grown to appreciate small quaint spaces. Maybe I want more of those small spaces added to the home itself, so it would be bigger in essence. But, I still love small spaces, and found a few photo's to show you can really get creative in a small kitchen. My favorite is the first photo!!! Love almost everything!!
The second photo has a full sheet tinted glass back splash that is easy to clean and really sleek. Not to mention the artwork makes the statement and the counter tops are clear of doo dads, so it seems really clean! If you like stainless more than anything, the third photo is really neat space. I think it would only work if you were an organized fanatic like myself and could keep your dry goods looking that good on a shelf in a mason jar :)

Grabbed these from Coastal Living because I love the way a coastal home captures the warmth of Black and White's when the theme is applied in the design. Although I can personally tend to lean on elements of modern design, my heart always goes back to warmth and homeliness of Cottage, Modern Country, Bungalow feel. My dream home is a Modern Farmhouse with a metal roof, an herb garden, as well as a full veggie garden! I think I would leave the actual animals to my sister..she would be way better at upkeep of that. Maybe she could have her own home beside me and have all the chickens and a milk cow on her property LOL!
Any-who...I have to be honest and say I like the application of Black and White's because it looks so clean, I mean..really clean! I think too, the first photo, I could not deal with all of the possible chalk dust!

I have seen this so many times, but still think it is a great idea in the right place. I suggest to find an antique or vintage mirror on Craigs List or some little hole in the wall shop...and turn into a chalkboard. The chalkboard paint sells for about $12 for a quart at Lowe's or Home Depot. The last picture is from Restoration Hardware where the smallest one starts at well over $300. I think you can make your own for pennies, compared to that!

After MUCH discussion and having no budget to a small one in a few months...we have decided to go with wood counter tops in the kitchen! I am oh so excited and even recently figured out how to stain them really dark and still be at a food grade finish, which is oh so important! Hopefully we will have this tackled by summer and have the tile back splash up that has been stored in the garage for seemingly forever!

We had purchased this pendant originally from Z Gallerie and had in our dining area. Because i Loooove ambiance...I dealt with the fact it's max wattage is 60 watt bulb. When we moved I desperately needed more light though. So Lance converted it to a plug in, and it now sits beside the sofa in the living room. Its funny how many people think it is soft and want to touch it only to find out it is so not soft!! It actually is extremely hard brittle and pokie LOL ( i know that is not in the dictionary, just a Stephanie word)
So, I thought it was interesting to see this light as a "new" edition at West Elm recently. We had bought this light about 3 years ago...but cool that it is making its way around the block :)