Vintage Kitchens

A Winter's Dream

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Isn't this a great vintage kitchen?

I love everything about it.

I'm dreaming of kitchen renovations here, 

although it will be awhile before I am able to do a thing about it.

Things are not going as planned.

I'm so ready to get moving on some projects but with seven dogs and a sick Mom,

it's just not happening.

I had gathered things for a winter's mantel last week and it's still to be put up.

Maybe tomorrow.

Today I have to run errands.

The plumber called early yesterday morning and said it would be 

Saturday before they could start work.

He was very apologetic for the inconvenience of this.

We are holding are own....barely.

So...I finally got caught up on 

American Horror Story just in time for the finale, next week.

 I think Jessica Lange is a sure win for another Emmy.

She deserves this one even more so...if that is possible.

I feel bad for her...all the trauma this show has put her through this year.

My...the stuff that has happened on this show.

It totally wore me out.

It's a bit much...too much...especially what happened with Kit's family.

I was like...oh...come on!

Let him have some happiness.

No telling what horrid thing will happen in the last episode.

I love this show and am beginning to hate it.

It's like they are throwing everything into the pot. 

Have to say...I did love the end to Dr. Arden.

Sick, Sad and just right.

So...

I also missed a bunch of Million Dollar Decorator's.

I did see the last episode the other night.

I'm sorry I missed so many of the episodes.

I do love this show except for the fake clients and time constrictions.

Please, Bravo... just let those guys be themselves and decorate.

We don't need the fake deadlines and fake pressure.

The show would be better without it.

Love Nathan Turner the best.

Speaking of Million Dollar Decorator's and Kitchens....

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I'm always pinning vintage kitchens into my kitchen file on Pinterest.

Joni of Cote de Texas had a great recap on Million Dollar Decorator's a few days ago

and posted this photo of Martyn Lawrence Bullard's kitchen.

I'm crazy for stove nooks.

I sort of have one but I wish mine looked like this...minus the black and white tile work.

Love that vintage stove.

I wonder if he ever cooks on it.

I'm betting not.

I still want a vintage stove but I do cook quite a bit and don't know if I could put up

with the inconvenience of an old stove.

This one from Big Chill would keep me happy.

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This is Kathryn Ireland's kitchen in her own home.

Classic white with some bright color thrown in.

So homey and fun.

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I adore this kitchen credited to Heather Bullard.

Flawless...except the dining room chandelier is hung too high.

Something I'm sure Heather would never do, so this makes me think that far room

is not normally used as a dining space.

I love that big pot with the lemon tree in it.

Love the windows instead of cabinets.

It's just all so pretty.

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I recently pinned this newer stove nook from a kitchen cabinet builder website.

Can't remember which.

That is an awesome stove!

I believe it's new.

Does anyone know what brand this might be?

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I'd be happy with this stove even though it's modern..it has a great feel to it.

Look at the mirror used as a backsplash!

Isn't that ingenious? Really lightens the room.

Once upon a time I had the idea I was going to line my upper counters with 

an eclectic mix of mirrors to cover my backsplash that I hated.

(instead I ended up doing this)

But before I did this...

I tried with a few mirrors to see how I liked it.

I DID like it but since I have black countertops...the mirror just reflected a lot of darkness

and did not make things better.

If I'd had light countertops it would have been a great look however.

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Another cutesy stove nook.

I really love this one minus all the brick a brack.

All that art totally distracts the eye from the lovely shape of the arch.

It's just too much. 

But I do love the bits of silver everywhere.

Even the big basket holding vinegars and utensils.

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One thing about pretty kitchens, every time I spy one of these bridge faucets...

I'm stopped in my tracks.

I've pinned this same image over and over.

I just love them and have wanted one forever.

So.....

when I happened upon this one on Ebay one night at the cost of $80.

I could not resist even though I should not have been buying a thing

or even thinking about a kitchen project.

It was just too good a buy to pass up.

You can find this same faucet on Overstock right now for almost twice what I paid but it normally

goes for well over $300.

See why I just could not keep my bidding finger from hitting the key to place a bid?

It has not arrived yet but should soon.

Another project added to the mounting pile.

I hope to be back soon with a new mantel display.

At this point I'll get it up and have to take it down right away Valentine's.

Mom says she is in no hurry to go home.

That is fine with me...but it's hard for me to do any projects with her and the dogs around.

She has no idea I bought that faucet.

I would not have...if I'd known I was going to need a new sewer line right away.

But too late now...it's on it's way here...and one day soon it will be in my sink.

Yippee!!!

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Million Dollar Decorators- Recap

This Week

Mary met a new client who wanted to spend about a million and a half renovating a beach house.

This is the client, Dru. Dru has really bad taste.

This is Dru's house. She said it's like 8,500 square feet but it looked so small.

Mary said it looked like Taco Bell meets Taco Bell.

Dru wanted the dining room turned into a workout room.

This was Mary's assistant's reaction.

Everything that Mary mentioned that must be changed, the client didn't want changed.

The house really was awful...round rooms, bad windows, carpet and wood flooring in odd shapes.

At one point after seeing the bedroom spaces. Mary said, "I'm thinking maybe pastels."

"Yes", the client said, "like magenta"!

"No", Mary said exasperatedly, "Magenta is a bright color".

I think at this point Mary had every right to have an attitude.

Mary decided she had to break up with the client after receiving this fruit bouquet from her.

Apparently, fruit bouquets are the definition of bad taste. 

I always wondered how many chemicals are on them to keep them from spoiling before you receive.

Martyn went shopping in London for products to sell on 

His sale starts tomorrow...July 6.

I'm still not seeing anything good coming out of Martyn. 

I like him, but his design so far on the show

has been disastrous. Super expensive, tacky stuff.

Kathryn was also in London helping an old boyfriend decorate his country home.

She threatened to move in with her boys and dog and ex husband.

We didn't see very much of Nathan.

Jeffrey and Ross decide they are super models while doing a photo shoot for Jeffrey's new furniture line.

I'll leave you with this parting shot of Ross.

**Update**
Everyone keeps asking what I thought about the new floors at Ross and Jeffrey's restaurant overhaul. 
I totally forgot to talk about that. Jeffrey hated the existing floors which included a penny tile with yellow 
accents around the bar area. A lot was made of the fact that they were suppose to keep the floor and 
work it into the design scheme. 


Jeffrey hated it. I liked the floor but could see how it would really limit the design and the way the whole 
place would be arranged. Seems to me though..that the tile could have been ripped out and the existing 
wood floor patched and refinished to the gray sort of color he wanted.


But when Ross comes by the job site...he discovers Jeffrey has told the construction crew to demolish 
the floors. They did much more than that. The tile was gone the wood was gone and the subfloor was gone. 
You saw dirt and trenches dug into the earth. 


I suspect there were structural and or plumbing issues that meant the floor HAD to be ripped up.
This is not how a demoed floor would normally look. Trenches and dirt...so something else was going 
on and they were just making it like it was a big drama. 


They pitched a $50,000 floor to the restaurant owner saying it was all they could find on such short notice. 
But I think they actually...could get something local and create the look they were going for for much much less. 
But they were trying to make good tv.

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Million Dollar Decorators

Let's Review

I'm sorry...I've been lax and have not given you weekly updates 
on Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators.

This was last week.

Yes, other things happened but this is all I remember 
or care to remember.

On to this week....

Then...

Mary helped Nathan decorate for an Indian themed party.

Nathan decided when he went to India that it was a waste of time 
to feel bad for how impoverished 

the people of India are because as a whole they 
seemed happier than his Beverly Hills' friends.

Mary said Nathan should wear a turbin to the Indian Party.

This party was shot by Elle Decor announcing his Indian stuff 
for sale on One King's Lane.

Nathan and Mary love each other. 
He calls her Mam and she makes him wear stupid hats.

I said Mary was the Evil Queen last time...
but I've changed my mind.

I think she just has a harsh delivery. 

I think she actually finds humor in everything but the way she 
says things it comes across as mean.

Rumor is that the character of Karen on Will and Grace was based on her.

I can see that.

This woman, the wife of the Max Factor heir is wicked hateful....
I'm pretty sure she is a vampiress. 
But they are working on her beach house and vampires usually don't live at the beach. 
Too much sun.

She is incredibly mean to our Kathryn.

This is Kathryn shocked by what is coming out of her client's mouth.

I have to say this whole exchange reminded me of myself and my last boss.

But this is Kathryn Freaking Ireland....you Max Factor heiress/wife blood sucking freak! 

I'm sure if this weren't a tv show, Kathryn would have walked out ages ago.

This client is so disrespectful.

Jeffrey and Ross have a meeting about a restaurant design...

"Well, it's not bright yellow" says Ross about a bar stool the client wants.
(I understand you, Ross....a pop of color is everything and can make or break a project)

This guy, their client, has just questioned paying three times 
more for bar stools that are yellow.

He's shocked by the cost but probably more shocked to realize 
that he is attracted to Ross and therefore must be gay. 

I bet they get the yellow bar stools.
And this guy is probably not gay....Ross is just irresistible to all.

Martyn decorated Daisy Fuentes's apartment. 
So far nothing he has done on the show looks 

anything like the work we see from him in magazines. 

He must be saving the good stuff for his real clients not his show clients.

This episode he actually says the words..."lacquered goat skin".

That apparently is what Daisy's coffee table is made of. 

Really? How is that even possible? 
And if it is possible...why oh why?

Jeffrey and Ross take a bath.

Go away Jeffrey...

I want to be alone with Ross.


There also was some decorating....

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