Casita Kitchen Cabinets!

One thing on my bucket list was to provide a nice place for my immigrant parents to live in their old age.  The stories they can tell you about growing up in WW2 is heart wrenching.  They made sacrifices they made for us growing up and this is a way for me to do something kind for my parents.  It is really for my dad, as my mom has dementia, and is quickly slipping away from us.  I've tried to select things in the casita that will make it a comfortable place for them to live.

The "kitchen" in my parent's casita is only 91" long, excluding pantry and refrigerator.  I chose to build in the pantry rather than cabinets because I thought it would provide more storage than a cabinet pantry.

Here is the design I worked up:

I spent hours designing this.  It seems simple enough, but it was quite a trick getting a symmetrical view which was important to me.   One kitchen designer offered to "help" me, and completely re-designed the 750+ SF space into about 4 rooms and it was all chopped up.   I had a couple of cad programs, and drew it myself.  I wanted some counter space, some drawers for silverware and a trash pull out.  I didn't feel I could give up what little counter space I had by building in a wall microwave.  The microwave will be a space-saver model that attaches under the cabinet.  I couldn't do a shelf, my parents are very short, and they would wind up dumping a bowl of soup on themselves.

 I contacted 3 cabinet companies because I liked their product pictured below.   The Woodmode cabinet caught my eye, and I located a dealer in the bay area.  I sent him a drawing, and I went to sign a contract--only he hadn't done a contract.  He didn't get back to me for a month, didn't seem too interested in my small project.  I really didn't like being put on the back burner, so I crossed him off my list.

Wood-Mode Ad

I then tried to find a Quality Custom Cabinetry dealer as I'd seen their cabinets in some of the shelter magazines.  It was the same trip to the bay area as the Wood-Mode dealer.  The showroom told me "I couldn't afford them" when I walked in and inquired about them.  I told them I would like an estimate anyway.    But they never called me.   Don't you think it is odd (and rude) in today's tough economy that I'm not even allowed to make a decision on what to splurge on?   I guess snotty people don't deserve to my business anyway.

Quality Custom Cabinetry

It seemed to me that the trend of full overlay doors is a new one (at least since I last remodeled). You will always know when the kitchen was remodeled with a full overlay door. A flush cabinet door is pretty timeless.   

I then started searching through the gamut of non-custom cabinets.  I sort of like a Schuler painted door at Lowes, but I am still waiting for a written quote of the paint job I requested: fully antiqued and distressed door.

So I went back to Vancouver, and found a great rep from a company in Washington.

We liked this door, but were worried green was "too avocado" and we might tire of it quickly.  It is more avocado than photos of cabinets we liked on the internet.  I did really like the way this company did the splits in the door for distressing.

I almost signed on the dotted line, but it was for full overlay doors, but my husband said if it's really not what I want, I should hold out for inset doors.  I felt bad because the rep really was great and a pleasure to deal with, would have loved to give him the business.  The next day Veranda had a new Woodmode ad:

Wood-Mode ad in April 2011 Veranda

I thought it was interesting that they decided to advertise a stained cabinet, but the key things I noticed was a slightly wider stile than 2 1/4", and the inset door.

I decided to try to find a custom cabinet-maker one last time.   I came up with 3 shops where they made real cabinets, not just fronts for a factory made cabinet. One person didn't want to bother with a small project, even though I was willing to go with a design he had on the internet.  The second shop showed me the one door style that he made, and that he only made part-overlay doors.  He had never even heard of full overlay doors.   I just saw staples, and wasn't happy with the quality at all. I stopped by a hole in the wall place that had a nicer website than showroom presence.  The work shown looked really nice.  Things were buzzing in the back room with a number of craftsmen working on various stages of cabinets.

They were actually working on the cabinets that we ultimately decided to go with.  Up until now, I was looking for a farmhouse look, painted cabinets, heavily antiqued and distressed.  However the casita only has one room.  It has dark beams in it, and my husband was concerned that putting in a painted cabinet would dictate decorating down the road.  It was a bit of an impulse, I picked this after about 10 minutes in the shop.  Was I sick of shopping for cabinets?  YES.    Did I make a decision before my head was going to explode?  YES.   Usually my vision comes together easily, this one was a struggle just because I couldn't seem to make anyone believe I was serious.

Sample Door

I will be going to work with the shop on Friday to determine the exact "level" of staining.  The piece is stained multiple shades of the yellow/orange light color, then a very dark, almost black stain is applied, and the wiped off.  I was thinking we'd leave a bit more dark that I'm seeing here for more of an old world look.  The goal is to look like years of wear and age.   Distressing can look contrived, but I am happy with the distressing done here.

I hope I'm not sorry that I didn't pick a painted cabinet.  I still love the looks of these kitchens.  If I've "borrowed" these photos from your website, please let me know and I'll give a link.  I just don't recall where I got them.

Grey painted cabinet

Below is a photo of the wall.  The tile is a Philadelphia Travertine, creamy with grey streaks in it.  We laid it in the Versailles pattern as it seemed like it would make the room seem bigger and have more of a "stone floor" feel to it.  The beams were stained to match the cabinets, and the beam company loved the staining shades I asked them to do so much so they're adding it to their offerings.

The lantern chandelier is a Pierre Deux--purchase on One Kings Lane.  My daughter sent me a text when she spotted it, and I quickly purchased it.  That was an easy decision because we'd seen it in the Carmel store over the xmas holidays, and I was thinking about purchasing it.  It's temporarily raised so we don't spear our heads on one of the corners.

The Next Decision:  Select  Counters!

I will admit I'm tired of granite.  I didn't want granite when we put it in the house in 2004.  I wanted Vermont Bluestone with subway backsplash.  However what we put in is pretty, and I got used to it.

If I was doing the painted white cabinet, I would choose a grey concrete counter.

The main reason is I thought concrete is I'd like to put in this egg and dart border.  

However, now that I've chosen a dark wood cabinet, I'm thinking the concrete blue grey color wouldn't look as good as a lighter color.

If I were to do a light color, what if I chose to do a counter out of travertine?

This is a pretty dark piece of travertine.  I can also get a very creamy with grey streaks from another location.  I know travertine stains, etc.  Who cares?  Would you notice in this piece?   What kind of edge would you do?  I was so intent on concrete, I didn't think this one through.  Perhaps I  will still do it, only a creamy color perhaps?  They can do any color I want.

I do like the look of the backsplash above, a curve over the sink with tile behind it.  I can get 2x4 matching tile to the floor, however, I should have a contrast with the cabinet don't you think?  I could run it all the way up the wall like the photo above.  I was having wood behind the shelves, but I could change that to be open against the wall.  I've also seen where they run it above the cabinets.  I have 42" tall cabs with a nice crown on top.  It woud match but there is a leathered piece of granite that looks like wood that I'd love to use.

Dark wood grain looking granite that would layer over the travertine brick tiles as a backsplash.

I'm back in Vancouver trying to recover from my tile-laying injuries.  We contracted the entire job out, but I knew I was too picky about the tile to risk this to an unknown contractor.  As it is, I'm extremely unhappy with the finish carpenter.  He didn't fill any of his nail holes, and put 36 nails in ONE piece of moulding on the side of a door.  Every single stud has at least 5 nail holes.  Terrible.  I'd go after him but I'm not into the negative energy that would take.


Let me know your opinions on the counter, I'm noodling this one to death.  I'd think about white marble, but I don't think it would look very good with the travertine floor, shouldn't it be a creamy color to contrast with the cabinets?

Have a great day!

New Dishes for Casita

We are building a casita for my parents to live in.  (They may or may not move in--another story)  As the project is coming together, I am beginning to pick out things that are a bit more fun.

There is a kitchenette, so I need dishes.  As much as I love antique china, it needs to be microwaveable dishes.

Some antique teacups I ADORE!

I have a lovely set by Villeroy and Boch, Audun Ferme, which I use in both houses.  I just didn't feel like getting more of the same.  Also, the quality of their mfg has gone down hill--the transferware is fuzzy compared to the older stuff.

More plates I love to use, but these are bone china.

 I fell in love with the plates below and "knew" they were the ones I was getting before I looked at the description.  How cheery, right?

Amazingly, they are out of melamine.  However melamine can't go in the microwave. ( Williams-Sonoma carries these)  They are by La Cadeaux and are still on my list.

This is another design.

I was really sorry I couldn't find anything like this that would microwave.   I need simplicity here. My parents are in their 80's and  they won't be following any instructions about microwaving on a paper plate..

So I kept hunting.   I had to do my shopping on the internet, no time to hunt for anything in person.   The next dishes I spotted were from Pierre Deux.:

This pattern is called Louis XV.  I really like the scalloped edge.  It is microwaveable.  PLUS! It comes in different colors.  I thought a blue salad plate would be fun.

I went to place the order, but some dishes are back ordered until July.  I hate that--having been through the backorder scenario with Restoration Hardware. 

So I then went to Williams Sonoma to purchase an induction hot plate.   I spotted these lovely dishes.  The photo is much lighter than the actual china.   

I also picked up some towels to match their new kitchenette.

Everything is packed up waiting for our trip to the project, so you'll have to wait for the "reveal" photos.  I just thought I'd share what is going on.  Today I must get some stone-sealer enhancer, take back the induction plate, and purchase an ADA toilet.  That should explain the lack of blogging.

The induction plate for the casita looks like a winner:

It's from Williams-Sonoma, and a Caso Blue Two.  This is the second one we've tried.  We put a pot on it--and clicked on each temperature setting.  210 works, 250 it goes off, and then 290 it goes on.  Both units have the same problem.  I am not happy because I REALLY wanted this unit.  It was on sale for $199, regularly $350.  However it is the only unit that has a knob in this price range.  All Clad and Viking units are over $400.  The knob was important as an 83 year old isn't going to like the electronic pad.

So unfortunately I will likely get this one below.  It's a great price on Amazon, but no dial. 

Max Burton, 1800 watt, no dial $68.49 delivered.  As long as I was having problems, I may as well save some money too.   Water boils at 212, and the major complaint with these units is that the "tuning" isn't as fine as needed so it's easy to burn stuff.  I just couldn't risk going from 210 to 290. (max on these units is 450).

I'll let you know how it goes.  The reviews about these units are amazing...people love the speed and the ability to have an extra burner.

There is one caveat.  I have to check with my mother's doctor.  She has a pacemaker.  If it is a unipolar left-sided pacemaker I will be using it myself.  Otherwise induction would be great for her.   She has dementia and the idea that it cools quickly is a good thing.  (We are trying to ease her out of all cooking).

I'm off!   I hope to run outside with the camera and record the wonderful late spring in the yard here in the cloudy northwest!

Roses!

I know I haven't posted much lately and I will soon write a post sharing a building project with you.    Springtime has been kind to our roses.  Is it because the weather in California was emulating the "Rose City" Portland, Oregon? (rain, rain, rain)

We've grown roses over the past 30 years.  I've gotten tired of the hybrid teas, in favor of floribundas and David Austin roses.  The last project involved planting over 100 roses last spring, and this spring was a delight:

"Golden Celebration" blooms in waves.  It has a light scent.  For a wonderful heavier scent I prefer "Jude the Obscure".

"Jude The Obscure" is a typical Austin rose, cupped flower.  I love it, it has a wonderful scent, many petals.

"Molineux" blooms all summer long.

David Austin "Golden Celebration" roses along driveway

David Austin "Golden Celebration"

In case you hadn't noticed, I like planting similar colors together.  The front of the house has yellow roses.  I didn't count on the Calif. sun fading the blooms so quickly--that doesn't happen in Washington.  The west side of the house has a pink rose garden, the back is all white, and I'm planning on adding red roses to the gate area in the front.  I like the combination of the yellow roses, blooming lavender, and spots of red roses.

Beautiful tree rose at Stanford Mall in Palo Alto.  My guess is "Just Joey", which blooms like crazy.  The mall flowers were wonderful.  What a beautiful garden to enjoy in a mall!

I wish my flower beds looked this good!  Photographed a visiting shopper from med. school, YAY!

Great poppies!

I'll go charge the battery to my camera and photograph some wonderful spring shots in Vancouver today.  Spring is a month late, so I'm enjoying April blooms now.

A sneak peek at our project is below.

The "Before" shot of the casita we are building for my parents.  Coming soon:  progress photos!

Have a Happy Saturday!

My Valentine

On the morning of Valentine's Day....my true love gave to me....a French tole bird cage....from the 1870's....

Sometimes there's a bright spot in life when you least expect it.  My husband likes to surprise me with things, but I usually ruin it for him.   Like my Christmas present:

I decided I wanted the lovely very georgian looking antique chandelier in the living room.  I mulled it over for about a month, and then went back to the antique shop and bought it--about 2 days before my husband was going to...   I've been nicknamed "rainman" when I don't buy something and then can't forget it.

Life has been super hectic building a casita for my parents.  Coordinating all the sub-contractors, decisions & headaches has not been fun.   So on Valentine's day, we got up at 5 AM and we decided to leave and drive home, as it was raining to much in California.   I took my shower and headed straight to the car with my bag, and noticed the living room light was on... (yes the chandelier)...  and there it was!   I barely had time to take a photo of it for you as we had a 10 hour drive ahead of us.  It was quite a jolt of fun, an escape from the stress all around our lives at the moment.

So I can't wait to have a little fun with it.   I love the tole painting on it. I think maybe a few Steiff mohair birds, perhaps a nest, or???    A little bit of black in a room helps give it some depth.   I don't think the stand is as old as the cage, I don't know if I am going to keep it on the stand.  Next week I get to figure out the perfect spot for it.

Designers have been using bird cages for years.  I remember the reproduction birdcages that were imported 20+ years ago.   Here is another bird cage that "got away".  I spent a small fortune at this estate sale.   It was a bid sale, lost out on the bird cage (I didn't bid high enough), but got those drawers on the table.  I had also bid on the chair and didn't get it.

Cute Victorian Birdcage with fretwork

It's a funny thing about bid sales, I always feel you wind up getting the things that you "overpaid" on, and you totally underbid some of the really special things.  I hate bid sales....I'd rather go to a live auction...

Check out this blog for more photo's of some very neat bird cages.

http://myfavoritefrenchantiques.blogspot.com/2011/01/french-architectural-antique.html

The good part about February is spring is just around the corner!

Antique Show Find - Antique Mirror

A few weeks ago I attended several antique shows, Hillsborough  - Bay Area, Expo - Portland, Or.

I've written in the past about my love of antique mirrors.  This mirror caught my eye because of the pale robin's egg blue in the reverse painting of swagged roses--and the swagged roses.   The frame is in good shape, the mirror may have been replaced at the turn of the century or later, but it does show signs of age to be an authentic tabernacle mirror from the early 1800's

I did find a few pieces of french monogrammed linen for a song.  (I so periodically sell on Ebay, but am on hiatus until this whole move thing gets settled).

I will share my other finds as I have time to write.  Enjoy!

To Move or Not...That is the Question

I used to say we are debating about giving up our beautiful home overlooking the Columbia River in order to move closer to family.   Given that we've listed our house, the debate must be over.   I've been silent on the blog because we've been so busy.  In the past 10 days we've put on 6000 miles in many multiple trips moving most of our treasures out of the house.  Why so many trips?  I like to move stuff in a minivan, careful packing, and loads not too big--less damage that way.  I'm sorry, I just wouldn't trust our treasures to anyone.   I don't know why I am blogging tonight--can't sleep, have to go to a funeral for a friend of a son tomorrow...
 
Staging the house makes me realize---I am very sad to close this 25 year chapter in this home.

Our home has been a peaceful refuge in a very hectic world.  We raised our daughter here,  with 2 professional  careers, our lives have been enriched by the environment we created here for ourselves. 

(I was planning on painting the front door black, what do you think?)

 The house looks modest enough from the front.   We've always enjoyed that.  In the world of ostentatious living, a McMansion doesn't really fit our personality.  Doesn't it look like a little 1200 SF cottage?  Just the image I love.  It's really somewhere from 4600-5300 sf. (waiting for the appraisal measurement)

The living room/dining room has a nice expansive feel.  There are lots of windows, important in this climate.  Lots of natural light.

We emptied out a ton of furniture so you would notice the house, not the furnishings.  We had a collection of over 240 pieces of American Brilliant Cut Glass.  Last year the realtors about fainted when they walked into the house.  The antiques were so overwhelming one realtor said she couldn't recall a think about the house, she was so amazed at the collections.  I thought it was an interesting and important lesson on staging. I was concerned about the amount of antiques, that I should make it look more "Pottery Barn", but then again, the antiques fit the style of the house, so WYSIWYG.

The house was built in 1940. I love the curved ceilings with the picture rail moulding.  If I told you I painted the living room 4 times in one week trying to get the color right, would you think I was insane?  Well, sometimes  color looks different in sun, clouds, and evening.   The NW only has 60 sunny days/year, so the correct shade is important.   I love the balloon shades in the bay window.  I do like to fluff the shades in order to get the right "pouf".  I also like the washed damask wrinkly look. 

 Here's the awesome view of Portland, Or airport.  Houses on this street don't go on the market too often, and I've seen people spend $1 million and do a teardown.  I happen to think we have the best view of the river/city on the street.  West of us, you wind up with a more industrial view, the river is farther away, and east of us, you drop in elevation, so you don't have quite the dramatic view.

My husband travelled ALOT, and I'd tell my daughter we could pretend we were camping in the clouds while he was gone.  We'd scramble on Thursday night, cleaning up the house as he was coming home on Friday. (He might tell a different story,. he'd come home and invariably I'd find him in his suit, at the sink, putting breakfast bowls in the dishwasher....)

 Here's a peek at the kitchen, natural cherry cabinets.  My dad, a stone mason from Germany, made these wonderful cabinets -his first try - from an inspiration picture of a Smallbone kitchen.   The granite is called White Tiger, although I've seen it called something else at another showroom.  Gagganeau stove, amazingly quiet Miele dishwasher, Thermador oven/micro, Subzero Fridge (love it, will miss it)

If you purchase this house, the appliances are basically new--as I don't cook. 

 

I restaged the great room--brought in a french settee, tv.  I'll post that later.

You get the picture--sweeping view dominates the house.  The house was built in 1940, and has a wonderful feel to it.

This is either a bedroom or study.  It's the first door to the right off the entry--I like to use it as a study, as there's another door you can walk through to go to the kitchen/staircase downstairs.  We have so many rooms, we named this one the cat's bedroom, as she used to take naps in here when I had a bed in it.  Note the Mario Buatta chintz fabric for the drapes.  I'm taking those with me, I still love it!

 Oh yes, and here's the entryway.  Lots of mahogany doors, love the wood floors.

Favorite guest suite to the left of the entryway.  Wallpaper is from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller collection by Schumacher.  I still love it. (circa 1988).  The Karastan is not moving, going on Craig's list.   I was planning on stenciling some gold on the custom twin beds, copying a Bunny Williams bed, it's still on my list....

Check out the guest bath.  Hubby, Mr. Type A, would never settle for someone else's tile job.  He laid the perfect tile. AND I got sick of marble fabrication guys being 1/8" off, so I made the template to cut the marble for the sink cabinet.  (Mrs. Type A).   I had one weekend to find a bath cabinet, the antique one I had didn't work, so I had to settle for this one.   It wasn't quite the look I was going for, but it had to do.  Most of the tile is from Ann Sacks, hubby laid it with only 1" of waste on the trim.    The tile on the floor is statuary white marble.  I like it alot better than carerra marble, although my next choice would have been Calcutta.

Isn't this a cute room!  Mario Buatta wallpaper.  Everyone loves the feel of this room.

The adjacent bath that my daughter used growing up...  Pretty nervy to use pine floors around a 2 year old with a hand-held sprayer.  Little Miss Type A never sprayed the floor, in 20 years!   I'm planning on updating the bath by painting the walls and doing something with the french cabinet.  I don't want everyone to say, Oh, she sponged the walls in 1985.  The leaves on the cabinet have to go.   However my realtor says talk to her first before I do anything major.

Ok, so my dust ruffle is all screwed up.  Oh, yes, and I had to take down the photo of my daughter.  But I still live here!  Unfortunately, I'm noticing a few things, like I moved the highboy out--my stager said to take out tall furniture, it takes up too much space in a room.  So hence the mirror next to the window is not placed properly on the wall.  The master was a later addition over the garage.  There's no way you'd get a bedroom this size in a house built in 1940.  It's probably bigger than the living room!

I'm working on staging my bathroom.  I love the Rojo marble, with the french vanilla marble.  This marble design was stolen from a Nina Campbell decorating book.   I was tickled with the Pottery Barn print towels.  I can't recall the last time I've seen print towels that I liked.   It reminds me of Hubby's 80 year old aunt who gave us one print towel for a wedding present.  I don't think I've ever purchased one after that!!   Restoration Hardware mirrors, nice polished nickel fixtures, I want to take them with me....  ok I know I can't.

Downstairs, I have a couple of rooms photographed:

Would you believe I recovered the Henredon sofa myself?  The print seemed like a good idea at the time.  It did double duty in my daughter's apartment in Seattle while she was going to UW.  She ditched it for a sofa from the Baker outlet when she "moved on".  Her new sofa is big enough and comfortable enough to sleep on when you visit her.

My dad was visiting around 1990, and  he decided he wanted to put a full bath in our daylight basement.   He said "in case he ever moved in".  So I came home from work and he'd dug a trench in the basement to get to the plumbing!

So our we had fun trying to come up with an age-appropriate bathroom for the house.  We couldn't afford alot of fancy stuff back then, but I feel the room has withstood the test of time.  What year did we remodel?  Not being able to answer the question is a good thing in my book.  I love toile, so the wallpaper was a delight to use.  I've purchased wallpaper from Eades over the decades.

So now you know why I've gone underground.  This is a progress report--we are still trying to stage the house, and have some chores to do before we go MLS.    So it's a private listing for now.  Mistake or not, but we will likely not list for a couple months as we are so busy.

The house has been shown twice.  The first couple had 3  children, and wanted 4 bedrooms on the same floor.     They'll wish they had this house when the oldest is about 12.   The wonderful thing about 3 floors is you can have lots of activity and areas of peace and quiet too.


So now that I'm working on getting the house ready, and don't have a new place to go to, I'm thinking why should I sell?  I don't have to.  We can stay here, it's only a 10 hour drive to the other house once a month, we can do it....

I'm working on view enhancement.  Friday I'm pulling weeds in the garden.  My favorite gardener is too busy to work on my yard.  (What happened to the poor economy?)

So are we crazy to move?  Any suggestions on staging?