Buying Guide....Industrial Stools

If yesterday's post got you drooling over industrial stools, you'll appreciate this buying guide.

I scoured the internet for the best factory chic stools.

Many are under $200.

1. "Industrial" Stools from Neiman Marcus. Available in Counter and Bar Height. $329 each. Add it to your Roost
2. Arteriors Wooden Barstool from Horchow. $519 each. Add it to your Roost 
3. Modern Times Factory Stool from Sundance. Available in black, white, and red finish. $195 each. Add it to your Roost
4. Modern Industrial Rustic Solid Wood Bar Stool from Kathy Kuo Home. $328 each (15% off with code industrial15). Add it to your Roost
5. Industrial Stool from West Elm. $179 each. Add it to your Roost
6. Industrial Mansard Stool from Home Decorators Collection. $139 each. Add it to your Roost
7. Industrial Wood and Metal Corkscrew Adjustable Height Stool from Shades of Light. $165 each. Add it to your Roost
8. Liberty Tavern Stool from Sundance. $295 for one, $275 for two or more. Add it to your Roost

 If you buy one of these great options (or find one of your own) be sure to send in the pictures of how it looks in your Roost!

Sources:

1. Industrial Stool at Neiman Marcus. See it at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Industrial-Stools-Furniture/prod133020052/

2. Wooden Barstool from Arteriors through Horchow. See it at http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod71680022&parentId=cat13400732&masterId=cat5720731&index=3&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat1290731cat5720731cat13400732

3. Modern Times Factory Stool from Sundance. See it at http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/code/45344.do#

4. Modern Industrial Bar Stool from Kathy Kuo Home. See it at http://www.kathykuohome.com/Product/Detail/2061

5. Industrial Stool from West Elm. See it at http://www.westelm.com/products/industrial-stool-g292/?pkey=cdining-chairs-seating

6. Industrial Mansard Stool from Home Decorators Collection. See it at http://www.homedecorators.com/detail.php?parentid=05594&aid=apads

7. Industrial Corkscrew Stool from Shades of Light. See it at http://www.shadesoflight.com/industrial-wood-and-metal-corkscrew-adjustable-height-stool.html

8. Liberty Tavern Stool from Sundance. See it at http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/code/57633.do

Current Obsession....Industrial Stools

In T minus three weeks I will be moving out of my single level apartment and into a fabulous townhouse.

In addition to being on the river (yay!), quadrupling our deck size (double yay!), and joining the rest of the world by parking our cars in a garage...we'll finally have a kitchen worthy of the meals we love to cook.

I'll also have a peninsula now! How exciting! 

New peninsula = excuse for stool shopping.

So, of course, I've become obsessed with the industrial chic stools that are flooding the market right now.

Here's a few that have been feeding my obsession:

Contemporary Kitchen design by New York Architect Incorporated

 

 

Traditional Kitchen design by Atlanta Interior Designer Yvonne McFadden LLC

 

 

Contemporary Kitchen design by Seattle Interior Designer Shuffle Interiors

 

 

Modern Living Room design by Houston Architect C O N T E N T Architecture

 

 

Modern Kitchen design by New York General Contractor Benco Construction

 

 

Eclectic Kitchen design by Chicago Kitchen And Bath Rebekah Zaveloff

 

I'd settle for any of these kitchens!

 

As a treat for reading to the end of the post, here a secret: 

the buying guide is coming tomorrow!

See you then!

All images from Houzz.com

Fun Find....Butcher Chart Prints

If you didn't already know it, I'm a kitchen and bath designer by trade. I love all aspects of interior design (except how much time I spend on the computer). But, I love my niche the most.

The kitchen and the bathroom are two of my favorite rooms in a house. I could spend an hour detailing all the reasons why, but it really comes down to two core pleasures in my life: cooking and relaxing baths.

I tell you that to tell you this: I love to cook. I'm no pro, but I make a mean creme brulee. I dream of someday being able to design my dream kitchen with lots of counter space and a SubZero refrigerator.

When I finally get there (and believe me, it will be a while) today's "fun find" is definitely going to be a part of it.

Image Source: ZGallerie.com

Love these prints. They're the perfect combination of practicality, artistry, and simplicity. These prints could fit into a whole host of different styles from a rustic kitchen to a traditional one with white cabinets, marble counters and maybe a dark walnut counter on the island. Throw in some antique dark metal stools at the island and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon? Drooling.

Images Souce: ZGallerie.com

Order just one or buy all three and hang them stacked vertically. 

At this price, you can afford them all (which is half the reason I like them so much).

Each print measures 18" H x 22" W and you don't even have to go frame shopping. They each come with a dark espresso frame.

The best part? They're $39.99 a piece.

That's a pretty great price, considering it includes the frame.

If these aren't quite up your alley, check out the other art at Z Gallerie. They have some great stuff at reasonable prices. I have it bookmarked on my computer! You might want to bookmark it on yours, too!

Sources:

Cow Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11021-cow-butcher-chart.aspx

Pig Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11020-pig-butcher-chart.aspx

Fish Butcher Chart from Z Gallerie. Buy it at http://www.zgallerie.com/p-11019-fish-butcher-chart.aspx

You can afford....Custom Tile

Did she say custom tile?

Yup. Yes, that's exactly what I said. Custom tile.

Image Source: ModWalls.com

The people at ModWalls have taken all the pain out of searching for the perfect mosaic blend for your project.

Their Brio blend mosaics are made from 3/4" square glass and are available in every color of the rainbow and more. Now, you can create a custom blend of these tiles to fit your style. Heck, you can match just about anything (even your birdie). 

The process is very simple. You use the ModWalls "blender" to select the colors you wish to use from the 75+ shades and styles available. You will be able to see what your blend will look like as you go. You even have control over the percentages. Say you just want a hint a papaya...change it's quantity to 10% and voila! A hint of papaya!

The blender even lets you see what your mosaic will look like with different shades of grout. 

Once you're finished, you can submit the order or order a sample of your custom blend. I'd highly recommend getting a sample first. Colors on monitors are very unreliable. Your papaya might not be the color you thought it was!

Image Source: ModWalls.com

 

So what does it cost?

There's not a set cost of the blends. Custom orders require at least 20 sq. ft. The price of your blend is dependent on how many different colors you used and how much you change the percentages. Even splits are less expensive than say a 10%-40%-50% blend. I ran a few ideas through the 'blender' and even with 7 colors, the price never reached $20/sq. ft. 

You also get discounts as you purchase higher quantities.

How it's made

Each and every custom Brio blend is locally made by hand by Hope Service (a non-profit organization that employs developmentally disabled adults to do all kinds of work). The more than 30 clients from Hope Services create each sheet of your blend with heart. You aren't just getting some tile, you get a work of art. Learn more about Hope Services here.

If that sounds like a lot of work...

Don't worry. They've got your back. 

ModWalls have lots of pre-blended mosaics ready for purchase.

Sources:

Learn more about the process of creating a custom Brio blend at http://www.modwalls.com/howtocreateyourmodwallscustomglasstileblend.aspx

Start creating your own ModWalls custom blend at http://www.modwalls.com/CustomTileBlends.aspx

Learn about Hope Services at http://www.hopeservices.org/

Buying Guide...Change Your Flooring

In case you're like me and you'd rather just skip the DIY and buy the darn thing, here are some tiles that can be substituted for yesterday's "change your flooring" post. Buyer beware, though. This will cost you more than pennies.

The Options:

Image from CoolTiles.com 

Source: CoolTiles.Com

Illusion Glass Tile, Nickels Mosiac in Antique Copper

$35/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Copper

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Silver

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

 If you remember...

At the end of yesterday's post I listed a few other DIY flooring ideas. One of them was recycled wine corks. Well, if you loved that idea...you're in luck. You can buy those, too.

 Image from ModWalls.com

And can I just say that I love ModWalls? They have the coolest tiles around for prices that can compete with your big box home improvement stores. (Yes, I'm look at you Lowe's and Home Depot).

These beauties are the CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Rounds and cost $16.95/sq. ft. Buy them here

Obviously if you opt to buy these instead of DIYing with you own corks your floor won't be covered in memories of bottles shared. But, if you aren't sentimenal, I say, "Go for it!"

Sources:

Antique Copper Nickel Rounds from CoolTiles.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.cooltiles.com/ubc525005.html

Copper Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/shop-by-colors-now/copper/metal-copper-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Silver Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/collection/metal-tiles/metal-silver-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Cork Penny Rounds from ModWalls.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.modwalls.com/corkdotzpre-sealedcorkmosaictile.aspx

Weekend Project...Change your flooring

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

"Change" your flooring! 

Get it?  Lame, I know. 

This idea has been floating around Pinterest boards lately, but it's not a new concept. It's been around for a while, but that doesn't make it any less cool. This project is definitely for a very dedicated home owner on a budget (or not) and one with a LOT of time on their hands. This will probably take more than a weekend and your hands will have that dirty money smell for days. But, look at the results! Totally worth it.

How To

If you've ever tiled before, this will be a breeze. If not, no worries. It won't be that hard. You don't even have to rent a tile cutter for this one. There's two basic ways to approach this project.

1) Lay each and every penny directly on the floor

2) Save your back and adhere them to 12 x 12 mesh sheets before installing.

Either way, apply the pennies to the floor with an epoxy-based clear adhesive or thin-set concrete (depending on which instructions you read). Make sure you've removed all baseboards and trim before you do this. If you really wanted to, you could install this over existing tile or flooring, but I wouldn't suggest it if it can be avoided. Allow it to dry completely and then grout the entire floor. The excess will wipe off easily. 

Choosing a darker color won't show as much dirt over time.

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

Be sure to seal the pennies with a hefty epoxy sealer. If you like the variation of color, leave them as you found them. For a cohesive bright copper finish, polish your pennies with copper cleaner first. It will be too late after you apply the sealer. 

For something a little different...

Use a different coin. I know, that's more expensive. But I love the way nickels look for a more modern space. The pennies are great in a cozy room, but these nickels look so sleek in this bathroom!

Image Source: Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

Just as a point of reference, you can purchase metal or ceramic mosaic tiles to get this same look. The style is called "penny rounds", appropriately. They were popular in pastel colors in the retro era. It will cost you more, obviously, but it will save you a headache if you like the general look but aren't a big DIYer..

Read On

Here are a few great sources to read up on how to do this and get some more inspiration:

Apartment Therapy: "Penny Tile Floor at the Standard Hotel" 

Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

reno210: "A penny saved...is a tile floor"

EHow: "How to Tile a Floor with Pennies"

Other things that would make a beautiful DIY floor:

Recycled corks, sliced into rounds

Scrabble tiles

Sea glass

Crushed glass or shells set into concrete

Sliced sections of old tree trunks

Buying Guide....Knife Storage

Sharpeners

 

Sharpening Steel:

- Wustof Sharpening Steel from Crate & Barrel. $19.95 (regularly $30) Buy it here 

Multi-stage "Pull Through" Sharpener:

- Wustof Universal 4 Stage Sharpener from Crate & Barrel. $29.95 (regularly $40) Buy it here

 

Storage

1. Wustof 17 Slot Walnut Knife Block from Sears.$49.99 (regularly $75) Buy it here
2. Rationell Knife Tray from Ikea. $14.99 Buy it here
3. Modular In-Drawer Knife Rack from Williams Sonoma $34.95 Buy it here
4. Fintorp Magnetic Knife Rack from Ikea. $8.99 Buy it here
5. Bisbell Magnetic Oak Knife Block from Williams Sonoma. $99.95 Buy it here
6. Universal Bamboo Knife Block from Crate & Barrel. $39.95 (regularly $59.95) Buy it here

Sources:

- Sharpening Steel from Crate & Barrel at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/knife-sharpeners/w%C3%BCsthof-sharpening-steel/s253677- 4 Stage Sharpener from Crate & Barrel at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/knife-sharpeners/w%C3%BCsthof-universal-4-stage-sharpener/s145923

1. Knife Block from Sears at http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6003566402P?sid=IDx20101019x00001b&srccode=cii_18492716&cpncode=27-119405837-2

2.  Knife Tray from Ikea at http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60185406/

3. Knife Rack from Williams Sonoma at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/modular-in-drawer-knife-rack/?pkey=cknife-sharpeners-storage

4. Magnetic Knife Rack from Ikea at http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20202083/

5. Magnetic Knife Block from Williams Sonoma at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/bisbell-magnetic-oak-knife-block/?pkey=cknife-sharpeners-storage

6. Knife Block from Crate & Barrel at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/knife-storage/universal-bamboo-knife-block/s511105

Everything you need to know about....knife storage

Even amateur cooks need sharp knives

Even if you aren't a professional chef, sharp knives are critical to efficient and safe slicing and dicing. Don't be scared of a sharp knife. You're actually more likely to hurt yourself using a dull one.

If you would magnify the dull knives that you've probably been using for years, you would see that the once sharp edge is actually folded over like the top of a soft serve ice cream cone. That's why you've been mashing your tomatoes rather than slicing through them. Those guys on infomercials selling you new knives don't have any special tricks, they just sharpen their cutlery. Once you start to do this too, you won't be able to imagine how you managed before. Suddenly, slicing tomatoes and peeling potatoes is less of a chore and you'll increase your odds of living to old age with all of your fingers in tact.

Ideally, you'll want to invest in a good set of knives to work with. But even cheap knives benefit from sharpening. The best way to do this is by using a pull through sharpener (find one anywhere kitchen products are sold) and a steel to get the angle of the blade just right. The steel is that tubular metal piece that often comes with knife sets. Using one can be a little tricky. I'll admit that I can't do it very well. If you're like me, a multi-stage pull through sharpener should get you through just fine until you get better at steel sharpening. Be sure to get one that will work on serrated knives, too.

How to keep your knives (and hands) safe

Proper storage is essential to keeping your knives sharp and your hands protected when searching through drawers. Never store knives loose in a drawer. Always cut on plastic, wood, or butcher block. Cutting on stone, glass, or (heaven forbid) you counter will do horrible things to your knives. Don't do it. Seriously.

There are many great and attractive options for knife storage to suit your needs and style. 

-The Classic Knife Block: a solid block of wood or bamboo with slots designed to fit each knife perfectly. Keeps your edges safe from harm and keeps your hands away from the edges. Many knife sets come with a dedicated knife block, but universal blocks are available to fit standard sized knives.

-In-Drawer modular storage: racks made to fit into your cabinet drawers. They come in many materials and colors and can fit in anything from 12" drawers and larger. They work just like utensil dividers. These tend to work best for smaller pairing or steak knives and might not be a great option for your 10" chef's knife.

-Magnetic Blocks and Racks: love these. Magnetic strips are either fitted into solid wood blocks for a more traditional look or mounted to a rack on the wall. Racks give a totally modern look and are so easy to use. You'll never forget which slot in your knife block goes to which knife. Easy to see, easy to grab, easy to clean.

-Non-traditional Blocks: There are some other options out there for the more adventurous. My favorite is a knife block that features polypropylene rods instead of wooden slots. It allows you to put whatever knives you want into the block without being limited to the pre-formed slots. Totally cool.

Check out the shopping guide for suggested storage options.

Image Source:

Williams Sonoma, Wustof Classic 7-pc Knife Block set for $299. Buy it at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/wusthof-classic-7-piece-knife-block-set/?catalogId=38&cm_src=AutoRel

Buying Guide...for your new French kitchen

Ahh...l'amour.

It's exactly what I've always felt for the French kitchen. Classic. Timeless. Elegant, yet approachable. 

Here's what to hunt for if you're renovating or want to add some pieces into your current 'cuisine'.
-White painted or dark wood cabinetry
-Marble (or faux marble) counters accented by rustic wooden pieces...maybe a table or island with a wooden top
-Thick countertops
-Farm Sinks
-Minimal use of stainless steel
-Hardware in oil rubbed bronze or brass finishes
-Copper pots and pans displayed on wall or hanging from a rack
-Cast Iron anything, particularly lighting, hardware, or pot racks
-Plumbing fixtures with detail, bridge faucets like the one featured below are ideal
-Table-like islands made from contrasting materials or finishes, as picture above
-Open shelves or cabinetry with glass doors
-Antique inspired colored ranges with brass accents such as those by La Cornue (only if you're looking to really splurge)

To help you get started, here's a quick buying guide.

1. World Imports Hasting Collection Pendant from Overstock.com. $232.30 Buy it here

2. French Kitchen Island from Crate & Barrel. $999 Buy it here

3. Belle Foret Wall Mount Kitchen Faucet from Home Depot. $249 Buy it here

4. Vienna Black Barstool from Crate & Barrel. $170 Buy it here

5. Contempo White Marble Subway Tiles from Daltile. Available at most major tile retailers See it here

6. Johnson Brothers "Devon Cottage" Dinnerware collection from Dillards. $24/4 pc. set Buy it here

7. Vintage French Numbered knobs from ACreative Beginning on Etsy. $20/4 knobs Buy them here

8. KitchenAid Professional 620 Stand Mixer in Copper from Williams Sonoma. $899 (originally $1000) Buy it here

Bon Appetit!

Sources:

French Kitchen Image from Anthony Baratta, Project Gallery at http://anthonybaratta.com/projects_classic.html Sourced originally from houzz.com

1. Pendant from O.co at http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/World-Imports-Hastings-Collection-6-light-Hanging-Pendant/6275754/product.html

2. Island from Crate & Barrel at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/organizing-and-storage/kitchen-islands-carts/french-kitchen-island/s131558

3. Faucet from Home Depot at http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Kitchen-Faucets/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbrfxZ1z10irt/R-202079353/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202619588

4. Barstool from Crate & Barrel at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/dining-kitchen-barstools/vienna-black-barstool/f367185. 

5.Tile from Daltile at http://products.daltile.com/seriesdetailStone.cfm?item=5090&series=105&item=5090&log=4&subType=1

6. Dinnerware from Dillards at http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/dining_room/dinnerware/by_style/country/PRD~c25318/Johnson+Brothers+Devon+Cottage+Dinnerware+Collection.jsp

7. Knobs from Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/listing/98720511/vintage-french-numbered-knobs-or-drawer?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=french+knob&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade

8. KitchenAid mixer from Williams Sonoma at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/kitchenaid-professional-620-stand-mixer/?pkey=cmixers-attachments

Add this to your Roost

You should know: I live in a small apartment. I'm a kitchen designer and I don't have any base cabinets larger than 12" wide. So, I'm always on the lookout for great products to make a small space a little bit more practical.

Allow me to introduce to you: DrawerDecor

DrawerDecor is a pretty sweet little deal. Here's how it works:

The rubber base mat comes in a large sheet and can be easily cut to fit into any size drawer. You don't even have to worry about cutting in a straight line, they put a handy grid on it.
Arrange your utensils on the drawer and secure them with the rubber dividers, or Divitz. The Divitz adhere to the mat without any type of adhesive and are totally re-positionable!  You can take everything out and give it a wash whenever you feel like it.


Voila! No more utensils rolling around in the drawer. The sky's the limit on these puppies. I use mine to keep my silverware in check since my drawers are too small for standard size dividers. Use them in your office or put them in your toolbox.


Best of all - they come in lots of great colors including sky blue, red, orange, lime green and lilac.

A starter kit goes for $24.99 and includes a base mat, 5 large Divitz, 5 small Divitz, and 5 T Divitz.

Order Here: http://www.drawerdecor.com/order.html
Picture from DrawerDecor website: www.drawerdecor.com