Shine On....

What happens after our Open House

you may ask?

We get some housework done!

This morning I was putzing along 

and decided to polish my 

1987 silver trophy I picked up at

The Summer Market this year.....

Not that I didn't mind it tarnished at all...

I just felt like polishing...

and when that feeling comes
I've learned to act on it ~ lol!

I love using this beside the stove to put all of my spatulas in...

so pretty & fun....

and 

SHINY

at least for today.....

This Weekends Find.....

It is not often that I head to an antique store 

and come out with one item....

and that it was this coronation cup of

Queen Elizabeth that had to come home with me. 

 Kind of an odd one for me, but I think that  it was because 

I am anticipating more English items coming to the house....

you see....

 next week they will be tearing through our existing kitchen wall

to the new kitchen frame ~ and that means only a few

short weeks until I get to see this:

Do you know what this is???/

It's an 

AGA

and I'm totally in LOVE with it...

My husband and I purchased it two years ago ~

now THAT'S some kitchen planning

don't ya think???

Anyway...there's more fun ahead

so be patient 

(because I have been...really really patient for my new kitchen!)

and you'll see what's going on with our big

Winter/Spring Project :)

In the meantime you can look at one of my design boards 

that I've been putting together

(already some of it has changed....but we'll keep you updated!)

Oh....about that coronation cup...

well, it might hold some pencils....

scoop up sugar in the sugar jar 

or it may just hold a cup of tea../

whatever the case it will be put to good use!

Ina Wisdom

We love Ina Garten

We want to be her neighbor actually...

she is always cooking for her neighbors!

The best part about Ina, is that she always has great kitchen tips.

This is the 1 tip that we think is brilliant:

Keep serving spoons out of your drawer.
Instead, put them on your counter
in a cute jar.

This way, when company comes -
they don't have to dig through your drawers...
the spoons are right there!

Perfect Ina Wisdom
if you ask us!

Now...tackling that neighbor issue.......

Be Amazed....

It sounds like a infomercial doesn't it?

Well, it doesn't slice, dice or chop

It doesn't soak up water spills or stains from your carpet

It doesn't give your abs a workout

But it does keep your baked goods from burning...

and that is good enough for us!

New Amazing Kitchen Timers are in this week

at The Summer Kitchen

Kitchen Talk

Hey there! No, we haven't fallen off of the face of the earth...we really are here - just still plugging away at Christmas - Open House is a week away!

We took a break today to check out some kitchens that have been re-done. Chris Smith and Jill Otermat have been creatively (and economically) saving the "face" of kitchens in our area and we thought we would share....


Chris takes care of prepping and painting the cabinetry of the kitchens, while Jill puts her artistic touch on the finish of the doors - we are just drooling over these finishes!






But wait....that's not all!

Jill also paints counter tops - now here's a real money saver!






Look at this finish....how cool is that?






Now, of course, your mind is bursting with questions - right?

Well...we asked.
The finish is made up of crushed marble and dries to a very hard surface suitable for counter tops and floors.




After the resurfacing is complete, it is sealed with a special product designed for this purpose. It is waterproof and heat resistant up to 500 degrees.

This product can be used inside and out.







Doesn't this just transform the room?


Please tell us that our heads are not the only ones swimming with all of the places Chris and Jill could come and do this to?



Check out this great finish in a bathroom that she did....love it!






So, what colors can you do...well, it's our lucky day - Jill custom tints each job, so she has never done the same finish twice.

We love this - counter tops that are uniquely yours!






So....are you interested?
Just think...a fresh new kitchen with paint (& creative talent!)







Give us a shout if you want reach Jill and Chris for an awesome kitchen makeover...oh, and wipe the drool off of your screen!

Goodness, Gracious!

Between sales reps, I was flipping through some of our books that we received in June. Soon, I picked up Southern Lady Gracious Spaces. This one is one of my favorites - lots of recipes and pretty interiors are abundant!

I came across this great idea for the pantry ~ mason jars!

I love that you can view the content to see what it is that you want. You could even write on the lid's top to tell you whether it's baking powder or baking soda!

Clever - guess I never thought of pantry items - screws, nails, nuts & bolts....buttons, snaps, pins & notions, but I never thought of using canning jars for rice, spices, pasta & marshmallows (duh!)

Makes me want to delve into a midnight pantry cleaning spree...how about you?

Kitchen Talk

*sigh*



Neither of us has a kitchen that is new or glamorous. Now....we aren't complaining {well, not too often}.....but a girl can dream!



This week we've been cleaning & purging - going through magazines and getting decorating ideas, and pictures out of them and filing them for future blog (& home) ideas.



Every time we come across kitchens.....well, we scour over the photo and discuss what we do and do not like for our ideal dream kitchen.


We thought we'd share a few of our favorite ideas.... hop on over to this House Beautiful link and check out 2008's kitchen of the year, and catch a glimpse of 2009's kitchen.
http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/dream/kitchen-oty-connecticut-0507