Patio Project - Part 4

I'm back with a big ol' update on our Patio Project. July has been a busy month for us, so we haven't had a lot of full weekends to dedicate to the beast that is this little DIY of ours, instead we have worked on it here and there, which somehow turned into some pretty big progress.  

::::INSERT 10,000 HIGH FIVES:::::

Let's dig in...

With the tops in place we were ready to finish up the cabinetry. We had used cedar wood for our last outdoor kitchen and we were happy with the way it held up to the elements, so we decided to go that route again. As for the stain we wanted to go with a warm brown tone this time around so we settled on Varathane's Early American. 

I stained all of the planks and Brent focused on cutting them to fit and then installing them on the face of the framing. 

 While Brent was busy measuring, cutting and installing the planks I finished up painting that dang fence. The two-toned, half brown, half taupe scenario was literally hurting my eyes. 

Once the planking on the grill wall was complete, it was time to add our doors. If you followed along with our last outdoor kitchen, you know we made the one door in that kitchen ourselves. Like the rest of the kitchen that door was made of cedar wood. We liked the look, but over time that door had issues staying square within the hole. In general wood is not the best option when it comes to the outdoors. Cedar and Cypress are the best woods to use if you go the wood route, but even they will swell, crack and ultimately fail over time. So, this time we decided to go with metal doors. We found these doors on Amazon and are really happy with the fit and aesthetic.

We picked out the doors way back when we were working on the framing, so Brent was able to plan the framing accordingly. Once the planking was up we unboxed the doors and put them in place. 

Next, we got started installing brick on the face of the fireplace. We started with the opening...

And then layered on the pavers piece by piece along the entire front. 

Once the brick was all up we let the mortar dry for a week and then I went to town painting the brick. 

With the fireplace front painted Brent could install the planking on the wings to the left and right of the brick. He also framed in and planked the opening on the far right which will hold the firewood. 

And with that I think we can say the outdoor kitchen   portion of this patio project is COMPLETE! Next up...lights and the pizza oven.. Eeek! 

All photos are my own. 

6 Months of Croix & a Little Beauty & the Beast

Like a lot of people, I listen to music when I run. Unlike a lot of people, my playlist of choice on Pandora lately has been Disney. Random I know, but there is something about Disney tunes that make sweating your brains out a little bit more enjoyable. I like to zone out when listening to music and let songs kind of lead my thoughts. A few months ago, shortly after I was cleared to start exercising again after having Croix, I heard a song that I thought described mine and Brent's journey of parenthood perfectly.

Disney + parenthood = weird I know, but honestly every single time I've heard this song I think the same thing. So, today in honor of Croix turning 6 months old yesterday I thought I would share what runs through my mind as I literally run and listen to this song.

The song.....

Beauty & The Beast. 

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Croix, minutes old....

Barely even friends

Croix, 1 day old. He had a little jaundice and had to wear the glow worm suit. 

Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Watching the Super Bowl and enjoying one of Croix's first smiles. 

Just a little change

Photo by Zack Moye Photography

Small to say the least

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same

First Mexican food meal as a family of three. Croix was 5 days old and slept through the whole dinner.

Ever a surprise

Ever as before

Croix snoozing in front of my Kitchen Design.

Ever just as sure

Croix's first time in a pool!

As the sun will rise

Croix.....5 months and 30 days old. 

It's hard to believe we have known this little person for 6 whole months. Before Croix, I would hear this song and think....love song. Now, when I hear this song, I still think love song, just a whole different kind of love song. Happy Half Birthday Croix!

Unless otherwise noted all photos are my own. 

Spotted - Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine July 2016

Today, June 23rd, marks my 8th anniversary as a Kitchen & Bath Designer!  EIGHT YEARS....that is college twice (or one and a half for some....:) ) How crazy is that?

In other news.....I'm pumped to have a kitchen I designed featured in the July issue of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine!

Do you guys remember the Luxury Living Show kitchen? The kitchen that sat in the middle of the mall (Phipps Plaza)? The one that started out as this sketch......

Well, if you didn't get to see this kitchen while it was on display in March, here is your chance to check it out. 

Cabinetry: Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios (color Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth BM984) | Styling:  Melanie David Design | Countertops: Cambria (Ella) by Construction Resources | Barstools: Serena & Lily | Appliances: Sub-Zero/Wolf | Sink/Faucet: Franke | Internal Drawer Components: Richelieu | Hardware: Top Knobs

All photos are from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Website. 

Mood Board to Real Life - My Sister's Office

Remember a few years ago I did a post about a mood board I had created for my sister Candace and her home office? Well, shortly after that she finished off the space, and now today, 1 year and 11 months later, I'm excited to show it to you! #procrastination #oops

If you've ever caught a glimpse of her house on social media (Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook) then you know you are in for a big treat today!

Alright, let's get started....

Years ago Candace and her husband, Jimmy had all interior doors painted Wrought Iron 2124-10 by Benjamin Moore. It's a fun touch throughout the house but is especially nice in this room as the color goes so nicely with the palette in the home office. 

As you walk in, the wall to the right is where all of the magic happens! She purchased two identical desks, one that she works at with her computer and the other that she sat against the back wall with flanking bookshelves. 

The bookshelves are filled to the brim with fun! From books and plants to a painting of a Westie that looks very similar to their dog daughter - Piper! Candace used a service called Print Studio App to print out instagram photos and strung two rows of them between the two bookshelves. 

This room sits at the front of the house and has great natural light thanks to a giant window looking out at the front yard. The walls were painted Feather Down 953 by Benjamin Moore, so the majority of the color and personality comes from the decor, making this space happy, yet visually calm. Plus, should they ever choose to move, this room will easily convert back to a guest bedroom. 

The below photo shows you the room from Piper's vantage point. She has her very own desk bed in the room so she can hang out with her Mom during the day. 

Across the way is a little seating area, and for those of you that are familiar with S T I R | FASHION, Candace's on-line resale shop, all photos of the clothes are taken on the wall with the pink hanger! 

I love the grouping of gold frames and accessories above the chair. Each frame holds an inspirational quote or saying which is always a nice thing to have around in the midst a busy/stressful work day. 

This room is easily one of the happiest rooms you will walk into. The bright colors and crisp decor make this space the ideal atmosphere to be productive and inspired at the same time AND THAT my friends is what you call a well rounded room! :)

All photos are my own. 

Patio Project - Part 3

Last we talked we had just finished the fireplace and had concrete steps poured from the den to the patio. Before we could go any further we had to hire a company to come and move the gas line that was in the brick smoke hut. They pulled the line out of the back of the hut and then ran it along the back and side of the hut and down the wall to where we planned for the grill to sit. With the gas line in place we were ready to start the cabinetry! 

We measured and schemed and worked out our plan.....Cabinets would be installed to the left of the fireplace, all the way down the wall to the brick smoke hut. 

The concrete patio has settled over time and is not level, so when it came time to frame in for the cabinetry we had to really play with the framing to make certain the top would be level. 

We wanted the cabinetry run to include the grill, a place for The Big Green Egg, two storage cabinets and an open shelf area, so we worked out our spacing and got all of the openings framed up. 

With the cabinetry framing done, we were almost ready to start the countertops, but before we could, we had a few loose ends to tie up, starting with the fireplace flue...

Running the flue for the fireplace was a bit tricky. Normal chimneys would just go straight up, but because we plan to place the pizza oven directly over the fireplace this would not work. Instead we pitched the flue to funnel the smoke through the back of the pizza oven which would allow the smoke to roll through the cavity of the oven and out the chimney. 

Next up Brent went to work installing the missing pieces of the fence. You may remember the fence used to be curved, but because the pizza oven will sit in this location, we needed to square it off. 

Meanwhile I was busy painting. We went back and forth on what color pallet we wanted to use out here, but ultimately decided to keep with the color combo already used on the house - taupe and a creamy white. Having the fence patched and the new color scheme start to take shape was a big turning point for the patio aesthetically speaking. 

Finally we were ready to get started on our concrete countertops. We made up a form and decided to get fancy and add a little extra wood detail in the middle of the edge (you will be able to see this more clearly later). 

What happened next = one of the most exhausting days...ever. Too dramatic? Maybe, but 

I can say with absolute certainty that concrete is officially our frenemy. 

Sooooooo it took 46 80 pound bags of concrete to do this countertop. If you know anything about concrete you know that not only is it messy, but when working with it, one has to move relatively quickly because it dries fast. At first it was just Brent and I going at it on our own.  We were just 2 or 3 bags in and I was certain I might die. Luckily, like an angel dropped down from heaven, Brent's brother Scott showed up and helped us. 

Carry heavy bag of concrete, dump heavy bag full of dusty concrete into tub, spray with water, stir around with shovel, pick up tub and dump wet concrete atop the cabinets. Over and over and over and over again x 46. 

It was brutal. 

At the very end, after Scott had left, we wanted to put our hand prints in the top. By this point Croix was getting cranky and was ready for his bath, bottle, bed routine. Brent and I were exhausted and covered in concrete dust, but if we wanted to do this we had to do it then before the concrete dried. Concrete is just totally unreasonable like that. ;) Brent did his hand first, then we did mine and then I carried Croix over to do his....we smushed his hand into the concrete and as soon as we lifted it out he shoved it right in his mouth. Yep, Croix ate concrete. He has never even eaten a piece of real food but he has eaten concrete. #parentsoftheyear Of course we immediately yanked his hand out of his mouth, but it was just the most appropriate ending to a grueling day. 

We let the concrete sit for several days and when we went to remove the form we were very happy to see this: 

And a close up of the wood detail:

We have a little sanding to do, but overall we are really happy with the end results. So much so in fact that the misery of that concrete filled day has disappeared and we have found ourselves friends with concrete yet again.

With the framework in place and the messy annoying tasks behind us it's finally time to get to the pretty stuff!

All photos are my own. 

Life Update

So, my professional life has/is undergoing a few changes - you know, windows closing, doors opening kinda stuff. I'm not typically one who loves change, however for some reason professional change really excites me, even if it is of the window closing variety.

First up:

I am hanging up my hat as about.com's Kitchen Expert. 

I  really enjoyed my first free lance writing gig with About.com and was their Kitchens Expert for a little over a year. During the past year I have written over 50 articles related to one of my favorite subjects and I'm really proud of the content that I shared, but the time has come to move on.

This little change came at the perfect time becauseeeeeee.......

The company I work for - Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios is opening a new showroom in Buckhead and I am going to be Director! This showroom is going to showcase all of our cabinetry offerings with a focus on our custom work and I am so excited for this new opportunity.   We are working on designs for the new space now and I'm pumped to turn this blank slate into an inspiring, creative atmosphere to help people bring their kitchen and bath dreams to life.

So, that's what's up with me as of late. To all of you who read my Kitchens Articles over on About.com - Thank you!

Now, I'm off to rest up in preparation of this 3 day weekend full of all things Patio Project.... get ready for a big update next week, we have made a lot of progress and should make even more after this extra long weekend!

3 Things On my Mind

So this post is a little different in that there is no one theme, project, product, baby or design I'm talking about. Instead I just want to share 3 totally unrelated things with you that happen to be rolling around in my brain at the moment.

O N E:

Ok, so we have all heard about the popularity of the steam unit as an appliance in the kitchen right? Well, now there is one for the closet! The LG Styler, ever heard of it?

Photo from LG website

I came across this new (to me) little jewel on snapchat of all places and I was instantly enamored with it. A bunch of fashion bloggers I follow on snap must of been given this unit on the same day because I went from never having heard of it to seeing it multiple times in an hour. Once my curiosity was sparked, I did what anyone would do and I googled that beast. And now....now I want one. OY, great, I know, another thing to add to my every growing wish list, but in all seriousness this thing sounds pretty legit.

So, how does it work? Well, steam blows around inside the unit while the hangers twirl your clothes  around causing wrinkles to fall and your clothes to come out looking fresh from the dry cleaners. The appliance uses a TrueSteam technology in addition to a deoderizer to reduce foul smells that often cling to fabric.

At 17 1/2" wide and 23" deep this unit could easily fit in the laundry room OR inside your closet. The downside? It's $2000........womp womp.

T W O:

If you know me at all you know I'm no cook, I'm barely even a sous chef and the ultimate bad influence when it comes to food. I could eat cheese dip for every meal and sometimes I do! But, as of late Brent and I have really been trying to cook at home more. Not only is it generally healthier, but it saves money and time, which is nice. My sister Candace has been helping with meal ideas and she recently introduced me to a trick that has blown my mind. Get ready....

Greek Yogurt....you know, this stuff:

Photo from Google Search

IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SOUR CREAM!!!!!!!!

A legit, tastes-the-same substitute!!! Did you all know this? Am I the last to state the obvious?? Typically when people tell me of these tricks I act like I believe them, but I know deep down they have only fooled themselves into believing it's the same. The truth is I'm a tough critic. I can smell a diet food a mile away, but this trick...this trick is legit. We have made a fajita dish recipe of Candace's twice now and each time we have used greek yogurt as opposed to sour cream and both times Brent and I were shocked at how satisfying and delicious it is.

T H R E E:

Yesterday morning in an attempt to make my bed I somehow knocked over my night stand (because you know... muscles) and broke my lamp. 

The black and white lamp in the photo below. 

Brent witnessed the whole thing and in an attempt to make me feel better was nonchalantly all like "it's just a Target lamp". He was right, it was just a Target lamp, but the thing about Target is....once it's gone, it's gone. This particular lamp was from the Nate Berkus Collection circa 2013 (ish) and while I only paid +/- $30 for it, the fact that now I can't replace it makes it, and all of my Target finds seem that much more valuable. The moral of this little story...I'm not really sure. All I do know is that I'm one lamp short, so if you happen upon this lamp somewhere out there in the cyber world let me know!