White vs. Dark - the Big Debate

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I need your help

My brain has been a-buzz

All sortsa ideas and figurations goin' on in there.....

I have loved the rustic, industrial farmhouse look

for some time now

The Stig.....

not so much!

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He hasnt quite come to terms with my love of

rusty, chippy and worn

He thinks all the vintage doo-dads that I have found

over the years are really cool....

he even has his "own" collection of rusty crusty thing-a-ma-bobs

But - 

he doesnt quite understand the look 

that I am trying to go with in our future kitchen 

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I have s-l-o-w-l-y been incorporating some industrial and metal

in our current kitchen

(i say slowly in the sense that he hasnt really noticed!)

to try to get him on the decor band-wagon 

You see

unfortunately for me

my hubby has a design sense too

(he really does have a good eye)

I say unfortunately because I dont have free reign

on decorating our house

(still not allowed to have "girly" colors or too many ruffles in our bedroom!) 

The Stig has his own decor and style sense

sometimes its a bit too dark, rustic and woodsy

Dont get me wrong....

I am a huge fan of rustic and wood 

He loves and trusts my taste

but its usually AFTER :

 - its already in our house

 - numerous people have praised how everything looks

 - constant reassuring from me

And our style is truly a blend of both of us.
It works.... 

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But, it seems we are butting heads with the kitchen/dining area

I am really pushing hard for a compromise....
aka my way :) 

I too am a fan of the rustic

(we have quite a few rustic pieces)

He is just leary of the white with the rustic

(he wants ALL wood! Ugh!)
And then I mention painting some wood white ....
You would have thought I bit his ear off!
(sorry Holyfield) 

I am just afraid that the kitchen of the new house (aka Edith)

is just way too small to have alot of wood

Hence the need for WHITE.

I dont think it can handle alot of dark wood.... 

This picture is one of my favorite inspirations right now:

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Love the openness, hints of industrial metal (dining chairs, stool,lighting)
Also the glass uppers! 

Isnt this kitchen a beauty??

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Arent those stools the freakin coolest?!
And we have this same idea for our island.....old reclaimed wood
(once again, I am pushing for whitewashing it!) 

While the Stig is leaning pushing towards more of this :

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See how it just feels dark?
I do love the beams....especially the big ol' header withe the rock above it.

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This is his dream.....wood everywhere!! 

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I am willing to possibly go this dark on our cabinets.....only if we get a light colored countertop.
We both like Corian.
Crazy we agree on that!

This is what we already have to work with:

This is our farmhouse table.
Should I paint the legs, only, white?

Also got these barstools from Overstock.com
Love them!
(the Stig...not so much)
I just ordered custom white ruffled slipcovers for them
(to help soften the industrial look) 

We have ALL oak cabinets to work with...ugh
(hey I cant complain when we got them for practically "Free")

My plan is to either:

A: Paint them white
(yes, I know it will be a bitch - but remember I am trying to "lighten" up the kitchen!)

B: Stain them darker (the Stig is on-board for this)


What are your thoughts??!

Has anyone else tackled painting oak cabinets?

I would really appreciate any and all tips!


Also, how does your Hubby feel about the decor of your house?

Does he have an opinion?
Does he have his own style?
If so, what is it?
(besides the "stop and drop" style!) 

The Vick

"Oh, but its alright once you get past the pain

You'll learn to find your love again

So keep your heart open

cause love will find a way...."

Ooops, sorry!

I was listening to Pandora.....

Didnt know I heart Pablo Cruise, huh?! 

Well, actually, I heart that song.

It pretty much sums up my previous love life.
(dont ya sometimes wish those never existed?!) 

But I am not going there on this lovely Friday.

Maybe some other day.....
eh...
naw....not even then. 

I will speak of my current and forever love

of my life.....

my hubby - "The Stig"

(no, he is not THAT Stig of Top Gear. He has a shirt though!) 

:) 

Anyhoo....I gotsa date night with the Stig tonite !

The Stig and I are meeting up with a *friend of ours tonight at Flatbread Pizza in Los Alamos

(*we met him and his lovely wife when the Stig did some remodeling work on their Victorian Mansion) 

They run a really cool "themed-room"

Victorian Bed and Breakfast

nicknamed "The Vick"

(no relation whatsoever to the dog-fighting asshole Michael Vick! ) 

Its in the quaint lil western town of Los Alamos.

The mansion was originally built in 1864. 

and moved in 1979 from a small town about 25 miles away.

The previous owners remodeled it into theme rooms.

Our friends lovingly and meticulously restored it back to its glory 2 years ago.

It really is the coolest thing since sliced bread

(that saying cracks me up - since when was sliced bread that cool?!) 

If you are a fan of Chubby Checker, drive-ins and clasic Cadi Convertibles

then the 50's Room is for you: 

Not diggin on the 50's? 

So, you say you are a wanderer, love the outdoors and campfires?

Then the Gypsy Room is for you! 

 

*This room holds a special place for us. 

The Stig rescued a kitty from under this room the day before it was to be fumigated 
(2 days before Halloween '07)

She was an abandoned 4 week old kitty with open sores on her paws, green gooey eyes and extremely sick. 

We ended up keeping her (yes, we are animal suckers!) and named her "Gypsy". 

She has truly lived up to her name! * 

 Wanna walk like an Egyptian? 

Or do you wanna pretend to be Julius Caesar in the Roman Suite? 

More of a cursin', rum drinkin', swashbuckler? Then set sail in the Pirate Room:

All you French lovin' gals get a load of the French Room:

 If you are ever gonna be in our beautiful wine country,

you definitely need to put "The Vick" on your places to stay.

And Im not just sayin it cause the Owners are our friends... 

(not to mention amazing people)

Check out the website and see for your self.

You won't be disappointed! 

Also, 

right next door to the Victorian Mansion 

is the newly restored 1880 Union Hotel.

(where Paul MCCartney & Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi & Chris Ledoux all filmed music videos)

Talk about a cool place...well, the whole street (Bell) is amazing.

Its like a walk back in time. 

 (original Union Hotel 1880)

We got a behind-the-scenes tour

 of the Union Hotel and grounds when they were restoring it

a lil over a year ago.

(dont you love it when you know people that know people?!) 

(current restored Union Hotel ) 

(restored rooms in the Union Hotel )

They even still have the old gas station next door that is under restoration

(how cool is that vintage Union Hotel Limo?!) 

We actually got an old wood armoire closet out of the gas station when they were 
cleaning it out and getting rid of a bunch of stuff.....we are going to try 
to incorporate it into our new Edith kitchen! 

General Store right down the street

And then there is the Full of Life Flatbread Pizza Restaurant

where we will be eating at this evening

 Talk about to die for brick oven pizza!

Last time we went I had a wild beet salad with goat cheese and 

Chantrelle (wild mushrooms) Pizza with Truffle Oil 

(Ohhh MMMmmm Gosh!) 

They are only open on Friday and Saturdays

(and its ALWAYS packed!) 

This is how they roll:

At Flatbread we believe in the quality and freshness of local, organic and sustainably grown, ingredients. Most of our ingredients originate from within 300 miles of our restaurant just a few hours drive. Where possible, we purchase our ingredients directly from family farms, growers, and producers to ensure integrity. Full of Life Flatbread also strives toward affording a livable wage for our employees and suppliers. They deserve it. You deserve it. We believe that food remembers the acts of the hands and of the heart.


All our Flatbreads are made with 100% Certified Organic Wheat Flour coarsely milled into an Unbleached White Flour with restored Wheat Germ, Filtered Los Alamos Water, Sea Salt, Fresh Yeast, and a long, patient, fermentation time.
 

Their menu is seasonal and changes with the available harvest produce. 

Check out this weekend's specials!

STARTER SPECIALS

Shaved Wild~Porchini Salad **
Micro~Greens
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oven Roasted Santa Barbara Squid
Local Squid roasted in Cast Iron Skillets with Shelling Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Aioli
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heirloom Tomato and Torn Bread Salad
Roots and Finley Farm Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Wine Vinegar, Marjoram
(this is definitely gonna be on a plate in front of me tonite!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

FLATBREADS

Canadian Bacon and Chorizo Flatbread
Niman Ranch Pork 3 Ways: Smoked in our fireplace and sliced, also made into a spicy sausage, and Niman Ranch Bacon.
Slow-Cooked Tomato Sauce, Smoked Mozzarella, pickled Red Onions and Poblano Chilis
~~~~~~~~~~~

DESSERTS

Peach and Raspberry Cobbler with Strauss Family Vanilla Ice Cream

Salt Caramel and Marshmallow Ice Cream with Salted Peanuts

Poached See Canyon Pear with Rosé Granita

bread’s Awesome Brownie with Strauss Family Vanilla Ice Cream

Los Alamos S'More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I cannot wait I tell you!!

I havn't eaten all day in anticipation of tonight

:)

Well to be honest I did have one 

of those new McDonald's Strawberry/Banana Smoothies

Yum-O for McDonalds!

Oh, and I just found out

that Flatbread is gonna have 

** King Boletes (Porcini Mushrooms) from Bass Lake on the menu tonight!

Yes, thats right -

OUR Bass Lake.....

where we spend our 4th of Julys and Anniversaries!!
(and where we will be next weekend for Labor Day) 

(me at Bass lake)

Have a wonderful weekend yall~

(in my Paula Deen southern voice - hehehe) 

and if you don't hear from me

its cuz I ate my flatbread ....
and died and went to heaven!

XOX

PS - Happy 7th Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law!
love you both! xoxo 

Behold.... the Fall Collection

Did you get yours?

Yeah....I got mine.

Just when I barely got over my severe lusting of their summer collection,

Restoration Hardware sends their s t u p i d new

Fall Catalog....

Whatever!

Stupid catalog.

It doesnt suck....

Their prices do though.

Seriously.....

I cant even count as high as some of their prices.

Even Anthro is a lil more reasonable.

(i love you girl!) 

I can afford a pillow -

ONE.

Maybe. 

Except that they are all so dang cool that I want them all! 

Salvaged Tarp Pillows

$49-$59

Special Introductory sale: $39-$45

 Vintage French Linen Lumbar Pillow Covers
$45

Special Introductory Sale $36

Oh great....

throw a special *sale* in the mix to get my big ol'

panties in a bunch! 

  I hate coveting...

But I really really want need this bedding 

Belgian Linen Provence Stripe Bedding
$49 - $249

$39 - $199

Great. 

Its on sale too.

$(%^@#$*&@! 

Now I feel compelled to hurry up and buy it!

Gotta save that 20%.

It sounds more reasonably priced that way, huh? 

Is it too early to put in my Christmas list to Santa?

Do I have to put my tree up next month if this 

"suddenly" shows up on my doorstep in 2 weeks?! 

Cuz if thats what it takes, then I will.

I will be that crazy lady with Christmas 

decorations in September....

Dont make me! 

 

I know I would get majorally grounded if any of these showed up:

 

Did you see those pulley lights?!

 How bout the cast iron legs on the tractor seat barstools?

($*%&(#!!! 

  

 
 I dont even LIKE mounts!

But why do they have to make them look so dang cool?!

Ok, back to what I can afford

Vintage Hungarian Yogurt Bottle

$29

Yeah...

there we go.

Imagine me explaining to the Stig that I spent

$29 on a yogurt bottle. 

HA!

That one would go over well..... 

Im still trying to convince him that we really desperately need

these corbels for the kitchen island 

that we are refurbishing

 Gothic Corbel

$99/$149 

Oh, did I mention that we need 4?

(Im trying to convince him that we could just only use 2...!) 

Since we sorta, kinda, almost got the island for "FREE"

(yes, my favorite "F" word again!)

I can rationalize it... 

RIGHT?! 

Dang it....

Im off to go see what the cheapest thing is in the catalog

so I can satisfy my Restoration cravings......

(haha...did you notice I sent you the link to their Clearance section?!) 

XOX  

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

I am in shock.

Seriously.....

I cannot believe that I have actually won something!

And not just any something....

FIVE lovely somethings!!

Last week sweet Andrea from Faded Plains
had the most amazing giveaway....

and can you believe it -
lil ol' me WON!

When Andrea had mentioned on her blog a few weeks ago
that she had new vintage yummies in her shoppe
I clicked my way on over there...
(its one of my favorite haunts!) 

and realized that everything,
yes EVERYTHING
had already been snatched up!

Well who wouldn't grab this:

Or this sweet vintage thang:

 or one of these:

And after wiping away my tears,
I contacted the darling Andrea

and pleaded requested that if she
got any more of those cute towels back in
that she absolutely MUST contact me!

Guess what?

She did :)

And not only that, she let me know that she actually was also
going to be listing more in her Etsy shoppe!!

Uh, hello....
did somebody say ETSY?

Its only my most favorite word of this decade!

My sweet girlie Andrea hooked a sista up
and set me up a reserve listing.

I got these!

Oh, and this cute guy "Buzz", whose former life was spent in a Barber Shop!
(hence the name "Buzz" - hehehe)

(now his life is spent in a Spa...well, actually just a bath!)

And the day that I received my package....
(like practically the next day! )

And saw my lovely new goodies.....

I began scheming plotting dreaming of ways to get more of her stuff!

Let me tell you,
it has been hard convincing the Stig
to let me buy more of Andrea's towels
when I wont even let him touch the ones I just bought!!

Oops....
I guess my OCD is back....

So when my sweet gal Andrea offered up 5 of her creations
in a most amazing giveaway.....

I ran....
(well tripped first)
straight over to her blog
to make sure that my name was definitely entered!!

And let me tell ya,
after a very hectic and not to mention
C-R-A-Z-Y weekend
(which involved "Edith")

You cannot believe my excitement
after seeing that ME,
L-O to the LO
was the fantabulous winner!!

Sooooo...
all of you jealous chickees
do yourself a favor
and go get some
vintage yumminess
courtesy of my wonderful friend Andrea

First stop here and say hello to Miss Andrea
(be sure to tell that sexy gal I said "howdy"!) 

Then hop on over to her Online Store

   
Then.....
cuz I KNOW you want more...
 (well if you are anything like me, you do!!)

Hop-scotch your way on over to her Etsy Shoppe 

And be sure to pop in back here and tell me whatcha got!
(and it better not be somethin' I got my eye on!) 

Yes, I will be super-duper envious....

but guess what?!

I wont be too jealous....

not when I am wiping away the sweat off my brow
with all of my gorgeous towels from Andrea!!

Muahhahaha.....

Before I leave you today
(I got an Anniversary Dinner to make for my parents tonight!) 

I just wanna give a BIG-OL
Thank you HUG to my sweet gal Andrea!

I look forward to many many more
lovely purchases from you darling!!

XOX 

Lets Go!

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Its Friday!!!

Grab your lovies and get outside

and enjoy the rest of summer.....

It will be gone before we know it...

Have a lovely weekend! 

XOX