I fell in love with this Lilly Pulitzer by Lee Jofa fabric and knew I wanted to see it used in Maddie’s room.

The initial plan was to do drapes….but I need 25 yards and really this is just too much to spend in a three year old’s bedroom.  So, I’ve decided to go to plan B and use it on an upholstered headboard where I need more like 5 yards.  I went to my upholsterer last week armed with sketches and dimensions.  He’s going to do a mock up for me and assuming all goes well she will finally have a big girl bed ready when we move back in after the remodel.

Need some upholstered headboard inspiration?

Amanda Nisbet

Elizabeth Dinkel Designs

Decorpad

Michelle Adams / Lonny

Tracery Interiors

Mary McDonald

Anne Selke

Do you have an upholstered headboard?  Like the look?

My love for the Urban Electric Chisholm Hall lantern has been well documented on my blog (see here and here).  I have two on order for a customer and I know they will be worth the wait.  I recently spotted this favorite of mine again and I still love them.

Beckwith Interiors

They are available in a myriad of finishes….but one the the standard options is any Benjamin Moore paint color.  Two of these are a strong front runner for over our island in the new kitchen.

What do you think, do you like them?

I’ve mentioned before that I am thinking of using grey limestone on the perimeter of our kitchen, with marble going on the island.  Kitchen cabinetry to be white possibly with a very subtle wash/striae….and island to be grey.  Our builder took a photo I had sent her of some stone I saw and was able to narrow down what it could be.  And then I started googling and found this image…..

Photo by Ellen McDermott

Yep, I am in love!

What would you use in your kitchen if you could start over?

I am going to admit that I am not a huge fan of cafe curtains (or at least I don’t think I am).  But, I’ve got a “problem” window in our kitchen and this might be the best solution.

image of our kitchen from the real estate listing

The window over the sink currently has a roman shade.  Apparently the previous owners never closed the shade, but we do.  We share a driveway with our lovely neighbors and as much as I like them….I don’t need them to see me in my PJs early in the AM fixing a bottle or getting the coffee going!  At 5’2′ though, opening and closing the shade is a bit of a hassle.  I practically need a stool…..

Yesterday, I was looking at local neighborhood real estate listings (sometimes I dream that a fantastic house requiring zero remodeling will magically appear and that we can just move, hahah…) and saw this kitchen.  What surprised me was that I actually kindof liked the little curtains.  And I also love that I could have the curtains made as they do here, so I’ll always have natural light coming in, even when the curtains are closed for privacy.  (Keep in mind that these cabinets will be white after the remodel and there will be no natural wood trim.)

So, of course, with this “new” idea in my mind I headed out to the internet to find some inspiration from others.

Urban Grace Interiors

photo by Kate Sears for Women’s Day

via

What do you think.  Are you a fan of this style of window treatment in a kitchen, or not?

Sorry I have been so absent of late.  I have just been swamped with work and end of summer stuff.  My mom was in town and we bought Maddie’s uniforms last week….I cannot believe my baby starts preschool on Monday…..booo hooo.  We had a little play-date today with a friend who will be in the same class.  It was too cute to “spy” on them as they played.  Really, is there anything better than observing a three year old’s active imagination at play?

Anyways, sitting here waiting to hear back from the AC person as our upstairs unit has gone out.  It is slightly laughable to even think  we have a prayer of getting someone out today….given Dallas has had like over forty 100+ degree days this summer.  It rained the other night and I got so excited I had to wake my husband up…..it was like how I used to act when I was a kid and it snowed.  Wish us luck in the heat…thank goodness for the downstairs unit still humming along and the backhouse (my office) which is working just fine!  Anyways, I digress.

I had my chairs all figured out for our new eat in kitchen.  And then I saw these in Architectural Digest over the weekend……

Photo by  Roger Davies

I think they would go great with my new kitchen.  Below is the table I am getting close to buying.  Took husband to take a look over the weekend and got his vote of approval.  I love that it has 5 leaves—just so perfect for impromptu entertaining in the kitchen.

We are doing white cabinetry on the perimeter of the kitchen (with a possible VERY faint striae effect) and grey on the island.  I was planning to do all of the counter tops in marble.  Until I found the limestone seen below.  I am thinking of using it along the perimeter to contrast with the white cabinetry.  I just love it (and yes, I know all of the cautionary tales about limestone counter tops).

Don’t you love it when your vision starts to come together? Of course, I haven’t priced these guys out yet….I may be back to my bamboo chairs by tomorrow!  Hope you are doing well and enjoying these last precious days of summer.

On Monday I shared with you all my color inspiration for Maddie and Harry’s playroom.  Maddie absolutely loves reading.  We read her a story before nap and before bed every night, no exceptions (much to the chagrin of visiting family, etc. when it gets late and we just want to get the kids to bed!)

At the moment, Maddie’s favorite story is Snow White.  Literally, she can recite 90% of the story verbatim.  My husband thought she miraculously could read at 3 but I assured him she’s just memorized the words!

In any case, Maddie and Harry have tons of books and I want to encourage the love of reading.  So, I’ll let these  inspiration images do the talking.  Something like this will be a part of this room….

Elizabeth Sullivan Design

Hamptontoes

Anything Pretty

Grace Happens

I just love this look!  You?