FRESH IDEAS // HIGH-CONTRAST KITCHEN

With cooler weather, early nights and holiday preparations of late, I've been spending so much time in the kitchen lately. I've reacquainted myself with all the little details I love most about my cooking space, while making notes about subtle changes that would make meal prep and storage run a little more smoothly. One of the things I would add if I could would be a larger storage or butler's pantry. So it was no surprise to me that this high contrast arrangement by Danielle White of 'The Countryphiles' peaked my interest. It's perfectly suited to my own tastes that bridge both modern and vintage in design. I can't resist all that glossy, black, beveled tile along the backsplash and how they paired it with warm wood countertops and white cabinets. The composition and finishes all make perfect sense - but especially so when viewed as a whole along with the house. Click on over to see a full tour as taken when the house hit the market back in May.

Fresh Ideas // Spacious Bath

Not all of us are lucky enough to have a spacious custom master bath in our home. But there is still inspiration to be borrowed from rooms unlike our own. Today, I'm featuring a modern ensuite bath designed by Richard Hallberg (photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna) with plenty of fresh ideas that can easily be adapted to make even a smaller room feel much more grand.

Behind the tub and between the back windows, a mirrored backdrop lengthens the room and reflects natural light to keep things bright and airy. The designer emphasizes the scale of the room by placing potted trees atop the counter (a trick he uses often - see his online portfolio). Though a more conventional backsplash would have been tile or stone, here a large scale piece of art becomes a central focal point behind the bathtub instead.  The design plan stepped further out of the box with floating shelves beneath the vanity vs. traditional cupboards. Towels placed at the ready give this room a spa-like feel, as does the soft upholstered ottoman in the center of the room.

We have a much smaller master bath configuration at present and are planning to renovate sometime in the next year. The floating shelves and potted trees are two ideas I am considering incorporating to make our outdated small space feel more modern and spacious.

Fresh Ideas // Modern Master Bath

One of my favorite aspects of modern home design is the creative use of what is often very limited space.  I've been thinking a lot about what we would do with our own Master Bath once we eventually renovate it and bring it into the 21st century and as such, my inspiration file has been filling up with fresh ideas like these that would make the most of our own square footage.

If we could remove the wall that sits between our own vanity and the toilet/shower area, our layout would very much mirror the bath above. One my favorite features of this particular modern bath is the sunken shower stall that does dual service as a shallow soaking tub.  We have a similar situation in our own shower and seeing the sunken floor used creatively here is making me rethink plans we had to raise ours in an eventual renovation. I also love the idea of backlighting the vanity mirror in lieu of a traditional overhead vanity fixture. The wood handle on the frameless shower doors grounds an otherwise sleek space, something I hope to achieve through wood used somewhere in our own bath.  I also favor placing two shower heads side by side vs. one at each end. Along with the tub faucet in the recessed nook below, it would keep all of our plumbing along one wall. 

There is lots to love about this bath and the rest of the house designed by Ong & Ong Architects. See the full project, photographed by Tim Nolan on Arch Daily.

Fresh Ideas // Modern + Collected Kitchen

There are so many things I love about this Danish kitchen, but most of all it's the way it balances what could be perceived on the surface as two different aesthetics. Here, there is both a 'just the essentials' modern and collected boho vibe and for me, it works perfectly. The sleek white backdrop is offset nicely by a collection of vintage rugs, seating and accessories. Mixed materials - metals, wood, polished veneer and an unexpected wallpaper treatment all play together nicely in this space. One of my favorite elements though is the makeshift wood counter taken out from the primary galley counter to create not only an extra workspace (that faces out onto a large dining room seen in other images), but a place to sit as well. While the kitchen floors are left bare, the use of multiple smaller kilim rugs of different patterns just steps away keeps it warm and inviting. 

Image by Bo Bedre via 79 Ideas

Fresh Ideas // Open Plan Bath

This bathroom styled and shot by Daniella Witte for Comfortable Home caught my eye as much for what it included as for what you don't see here. Uncluttered, open plan baths that eschew the conventional shower stall and doors really appeal to me right now. I like this idea of a bathing room, an almost spa-like sanctuary right within the home. The easily accessible, built in towel storage really plays up that feeling too- especially with it's smartly composed tower of whites. The palette is clean and white, but kept warm and inviting by unfinished wood elements in the stool, accessories and shelving. Perfection. 

Fresh Ideas // Dreamy-worthy Design

This bedside image has been making its way around the interwebs and I couldn't help but become a little infatuated with the dream-worthy stylings, full of fresh ideas. The neutral color palette is gender neutral. But there are plenty of masculine details here that play right into my own design tendencies.  I also like the way the designer played with scale. Chunky furniture is intermixed with daintier pieces and the mismatched lamps add subtle visual interest. But at the end of the day, its the cozy layers that help make this a livable retreat, complete with perfectly pinstriped bedding, swing arm lighting and plenty of tabletop space to accommodate even the most prolific bedtime reader. 

Image via Arkpad

Fresh Ideas // For the Kitchen

Mirrors are more than just decorative pieces. They can create an optical illusion and make a small space feel much bigger than it is. Rarely are they used in a kitchen, but why not? This decorating workhorse can add both style and spaciousness to one of the most heavily trafficked rooms in the house.

*original source unknown // found via 

All too often we reach for a bowl of apples or citrus to display on the counter or table. But the way I see it, we're missing a big opportunity to pack a bigger, graphical punch by leveraging some of our favorite melons on the tabletop. Why not display the verdant, stripy skins of a watermelon or canary-hued ridges of a Casaba instead (I have both on my dining table right now!)? I like the laid back, seasonal vibe these seasonal fruits impart. Kind of a reminder to take it easy and enjoy the spoils of summer.

via Habitually Chic

I collect a lot of inspiration while dining out at some of my favorite restaurants. One of the first things I notice are the many genius ways my favorite eateries display their take-out menus or specials of the day. Why not take a queue and create a menu board in your house kitchen? I think this would work particularly good for a family or for meal planning in general and take all the guesswork out of what are we having for dinner tonight? Better still, use it to create a little anticipation for a favorite meal to come.

*photo by M Franke of UK eatery Bistro Union as seen on We Heart

Fresh Ideas // Story Hotel

I love that I am still surprised by design. You would think that with so many images I see in a week that it would be nearly impossible to do, but there I was just last week, scanning the dailies on Pinterest when I stumbled upon this image of a guest bathroom at the Story Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden.  I must have left it and come back to it several times before pinning. You see, it's not necessarily my style. But one of the things I love most about this space is that it pushes some of those uncomfortable buttons for me and makes me think that even I might adopt some of its freethinking, bohemian ways when designing a space that is more aligned with my tastes and style. 

Take the way different metals are used in this bathroom. I've struggled a bit with this in my own home. Do I have to stick exclusively with chrome now that we've invested in those pricey kitchen pendants? Is it possible to mix in some brass hardware in my master bath now that some of my tastes have changed?  This bathroom happily marries brushed and polished, brass and chrome and reassures me that I just might have some flexibility to change direction now that my preferences have evolved.

Then there's the minimalist pendant. Perhaps it works only because there is so much natural light reflecting through the windows and off all that glacier white tile. But it has appeal, no? I've long thought about how I could incorporate one (Morgan has her own design coming out soon and I'm ready to pull the trigger on that baby). But I'd honestly never thought to put one in a bathroom- until now.

This space also breaks all the conventional rules telling me that sinks in a bathroom have to be white- and match for that matter. These painted porcelain bowls add whimsy and are an unexpected show-stopper- a hard feat considering the competition brought to the table with that polished brass countertop.

Image found via Studio Karin

{Fresh Ideas} Morrison Hair

Morgan and Laure recently completed the design for Morrison Hair in Laguna Beach, CA. Did you see the pics? Stunning, no?

I've revisited the finished project images several times since they were released, jotting down little bits of inspiration that I think will help keep the design here at Holtwood House fresh and light. This one in particular was packed with ideas sure to welcome any guest who comes through the front door.

Until now, I've potted only orchids and small succulents in glass. I love the juxtaposition of a tall prickly Torch Cactus set in it's delicate container beneath. 

Also love that they bottled up water for guests at the salon instead of turning to a popular spicket-style decanter or pitcher. The green glass makes the water seem seem somehow cooler and more inviting. I might even skip the coffee.

Lastly there are the mini gold spoons. I have some of these actually, but until now I've mostly paired them up with dessert cups. But look how nice they also look here with the white coffee service and warm wood tray. Great play on textures and color.