Location, Location, Location

Last week while Chris and I were in San Francisco, we spent a day with dear friends of ours who are expecting their first child and are looking to upgrade into a bigger space. So on our walk home from brunch we stopped at several open houses to see what is available in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. There was one that I just can't get out of my mind.

Clearly, it was out of our price range (at $2,725,000), but we went inside anyway. Come on, would you have been able to resist?

Notice the grasscloth wallpaper? Oh yes, there will be some of that happening at Hazard Ave.

Look at the wainscotting, plate rail, and crown molding in the Dining Room. To. Die. For.

The formal living room and dining room are near each other on the main floor. See how the color blue was used to unite the two spaces?

The kitchen left me speechless. Look how thick the marble countertop is! And that wall-o-windows! The farmhouse sink! All that open shelving! This is actually a really small kitchen, but they were able to fit in all the luxuries of a gourmet kitchen including a wine fridge in the center island.
The master had a comfortable seating area. Boutique hotel worthy. 
 The master bath was refreshingly modern for such a traditional home.

 View of the patio from a second floor deck. I'd love for my backyard to look like this someday.
 Someday...

You might be thinking to yourself that $2,725,000 could buy you a mansion elsewhere in the country...and you would be correct.
But would your mansion have a view like this???

Unfortunetly, our friends decided to pass on this gorgeous house, but perhaps you are interested?

Memory Lane: The Kitchen in our Old House

In honor of the anniversary of putting our old house on the market a year ago this week, I'm posting about some of the changes we made to that house during the 6 years we lived there before moving to Hazard Ave.

The kitchen was one of the biggest challenges to deal with when we bought the house. It was about the size of a walk in closet and the layout was awkward.

All of the appliances and counter space were smooshed into the closet like space, while the larger area had enough room for a dining table.

So we tore out the eating area

As well as the portion of the kitchen that held all the appliances.

And moved the kitchen to what was once the dining area. (The kitchen just happened to get completed on the day of our wedding anniversary, hence the cheesy styling.)

The old kitchen became our new Mudroom/Laundry Room.

About a year later we repainted the walls a soft yellow and Chris hung beadboard.

And then...we decided to move. Here are the pictures that we used for the real estate listing. 

A Fairy Tale About French Bistro Bar Stools

Once upon a time, I woke up to find my kitchen beautifully remodeled. It had a fabulous center island with a marble top and several classic French bistro bar stools lined up against it.

Trad Home, photograph by Patrick Cline

The bar stools were chic and unexpected. Rustic but sophisticated. Each a piece of sculptural art.  Here I sat in my French terry robe trying not to act surprised while Chris served me crepes and coffee (made using a French press, of course)...

TK Collections

After Chris finished all the dishes, walked the dogs, and folded the laundry, he left to go to the farmers market to buy groceries for dinner.  I spent the day shopping for French antiques.  On my way home I rescued a cat from a tree.

House Beautiful, photograph by Thomas Loof

Chris and I reunited in time for happy hour.  We nibbled on brie and a crusty baguette.  I sipped champagne.  He sipped the champagne of beers.

Maison Midi

Together we created a tasty meal of steak and frites. We sat at the kitchen island on our new French bistro bar stools and enjoyed creme brulee for dessert.  By candlelight. Then, our meal was suddenly interrupted by someone at the door. 

Elle Decor

It was the Publisher's Clearing House informing us that we won 100 Million Dollars.

THE END

Hello My Future Kitchen

I'm drooling over this kitchen designed by Steven Gambrel. I love the white cabinetry, marble countertops, coffered ceiling, glass cabinets and dark stained floor. The gray blue glass subway tile backsplash is to die for. All that natural light! Filing this dream kitchen away under "Someday"...

Elle Decor, photo by Simon Upton

I'm Dreaming of a New Kitchen

The kitchen remodel is going to be the mother of all projects that we tackle in this house. Even though the renovation is still YEARS away, we talk about it constantly. We discuss cabinetry colors & styles, countertop materials, flooring, appliances, lighting options, and most importantly the general layout of the kitchen and how it will flow with the rest of the house. Up until this point, when Chris and I talk about making changes to the kitchen floor plan we've had to rely on lots of scrap paper or the occasional paper napkin if we're out having dinner. As a result some of our best ideas have gotten lost in translation. 

And then...Chris discovered some software and created some almost to scale renderings of what we want our kitchen to look like someday. 

We took out a wall between the kitchen and dining room (right side of drawing) which expands the space and improves the flow.  A kitchen island is something we've been dreaming of and it looks like we'll have enough space to make it work. We also added a door and some stairs down into the backyard. 

Bird's eye view

Viewing the kitchen from a backyard corner, you can see a built in china hutch that I've been dreaming of. 

This will be the new view from the dining room. 

By the way, this is what the current view is from that same angle. Once the wall is gone (where the mirror is hanging), we'll be able to sit in the living room and see clear through the dining room and kitchen into the backyard. 

Now, we're no professionals when it comes to designing kitchens or working with this software, but man, we're having fun. 

Kitchen Inspiration

A kitchen renovation is still years away, but I don't want to forget how much I love the idea of a super tall built in china cabinet in the kitchen.


 via traditional home, photo by: john bessler

 

via bellemaison