... of Better Homes & Gardens
BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS & BATHS!
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| Photo: Alise O'Brien |
This is a kitchen that we completed about two years ago. Of course, being a magazine editorial, there is SO much work that goes on behind the scenes, that I had to snap a few pictures of what it looks like behind the lens:
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| Photo: Kellie Cashon |
Lighting is key! The light in this room changed throughout the day, so we had to work fast and schedule accordingly. I also learned from the magazine field editor who was the stylist on the shoot (my dear BB) that LESS IS MORE in the kitchen. Especially on the counters. We cleared a lot off. It does look nice that way! I wish I could keep it clear at my home, clear of Legos and Cheerios.
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| Above two photos: Kellie Cashon |
The placement of each object was very deliberate and the photographer left no detail un-noticed. When the stylist wanted to use orange fruit as an accent, my assistant Lisa went to three local grocery stores and bought them ALL out of peaches. That wasn't cheap. I hope the homeowners made Peach Sangria for a week afterwards.
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| Photo: Kellie Cashon |
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| Photo: Alise O'Brien |
Perhaps my own personal favourite aspect of this kitchen were the custom barstools we had made. I found the polka-dot linen at a fabric warehouse for $7/yard and covered the backs of the stools with them. Then I had a deep box cushion made, with these little ivory linen rosettes on the seat (both sides) that make me smile every time I see them.
Now THIS is what it looks like behind the scenes. We moved the breakfast table completely out while we shot the kitchen.
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| Above two photos: Kellie Cashon |
After each shoot, the stylist and the photographer (the amazing Alise O'Brien) go over the image on the computer to discuss and decide what stays and what goes, and what, if anything, changes.
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| Photo: Alise O'Brien |
Now to put the furniture back in the breakfast nook, this area is ready to be photographed.
This was the homeowners existing library table and 4 leather chairs. We used more $10/yard linen to slipcover the chairs (and used the same fabric for the drapery panels) and had the two wingback chairs custom made and slipcovered as well. The sisal rug was purchased on-line and the table runner is from Pottery Barn.
We used some of the pitchers from the plate rack shown in the breakfast room photograph to put some fresh flowers in, and grouped them as a centerpiece on the kitchen table, shown above and detail below.
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| Photo: Kellie Cashon |
This is a scan of this image from the magazine, they also did an option (shown below) where they replaced the napkins stacked on the plate with terra-cotta/peach toned napkins. Looks like the white napkins won out!
Ahhh, who can resist Sprinkle's Cupcakes, right? We used all the homeowner's existing items. The glass decanter usually holds lemons and stays out on their counter. The brown transferware platter was purchased by me, along with their collection of transferware and porcelain pitchers I started for them.
We grabbed another pitcher off the plate rack's hook, and used them to hold the homeowner's inherited silver spoons, shown above.
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| Above four photos: Alise O'Brien |
This is another brown transferware plate I purchased for them. I really encourage my clients, friends, and myself as well, to use everything you have! We didn't need to go out and buy a lot of things to make this kitchen look special and unique, we just shopped from around their house and pulled items out that were stored away for that never-to-happen "special occasion".
The little pottery jug holding a flower was given to the homeowner from a friend as a wedding favor. A few simple touches like this make a jar of soap sitting on a plate look unique now.
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| Photo: Alise O'Brien |
The homeowner had this kitchen hutch built (and built to match the cabinetry in the kitchen) because she wanted a place near all the activity to sit at her computer and read mail/pay bills. I helped keep the desk clean and organized with office organizers from Pottery Barn. That is where I purchased the docking station on her desk (available here, and on sale too!)
I purchased the antique rice buckets lined on the top and the small fragment lamp from Mary Cates & Co. in Dallas. Her store is one of my favourite sources for lamps. I picked up the white coral specimens from a beach souvenir store while on vacation and put them in various places around the hutch.
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| Photo: Kellie Cashon |
And another favourite part of the kitchen: this chair. I slipcovered it in a masculine yet simple pin-striped linen, and made it feminine for her by using grosgrain ribbon as ties that lace up the back and a box-pleated skirt.
And like the feature we had in Storage Magazine this past year, they took our drawing of the space and used it above - and made it look great too! I need to learn how to do it that way.
But truly, the best part about this kitchen was the reveal. In the magazine article it mentions how I installed this house while the owners went away for 3 weeks on vacation. When they left there was hardly any furniture and all white walls.
When they came back from their 10 hour flight, I had this waiting for them on their kitchen table. This was the best part. The hardest part? Not eating all the sweets first.
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| Photo: Kellie Cashon |
