Dreaming of a White Kitchen

Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

I envision a lovely living space just off this room with a great big archway to frame this perfectly symmetrical dream kitchen. Love the barstools, love the backsplash, love that they chose a dark countertop to break from all the white, love all the cabinetry (space), love EVERYTHING. Very functional and beautiful.

For all you modern folk out there this kitchen is totally all that and a bag of chips. Modern and industrial is what this kitchen is. The legs on the island are very unique, it looks as if they could have come from a construction site. The cabinetry is sleek and simple. I love the hardware selected, it works well in this kitchen. The best part for me is the Silestone countertop, it warms everything up.

Photo: Annie Schlechter

You can barely see this kitchen in the picture but from what I see it's charming. I LOVE the curtains. It feels like a cottage and how nice to have a great big window over the sink. Equally as nice are the oversized globe lights and tongue-and-groove wood-plank ceiling. Who has that?! I love all the texture and uniqueness of this cozy 'cottage' kitchen. And one can't help but look on to the next room. Who said wallpaper was out! I love the look going on in the next room. Did I say 'love' too much?

Photo: Alexandra Rowley

Talk about your cozy kitchen. Nice sink. Well there's a lot of nice elements to this space like the subway tile and marble countertops. While this kitchen maybe small, it's anything but out-dated.

I love real green plants in the kitchen. The plants add color and life. It's the perfect accessory for each and every kitchen if you ask me.

side-note: I wish I was organized enough to have open cabinetry. It's nice to have a few open shelves for something you'd like to display whether its a great set of dishes, a collection of your treasured cookbooks or a neat serving platter you picked up while traveling. Whatever it is make it yours.

(Thanks to Southern Living for great inspiration)

Nicole Richie in the House.

(Signature Sunburst piece)

Look who stopped by today, none other than Nicole Richie. I couldn't believe how ity she is. Love this girl's style. She looked amazing.

I was one of the first ones to meet her. Lucky me (I guess) because apparently after 10 or so photos she didn't want anyone behind the desk next to her, from then on everyone stood like 4 feet away. Kinda funny since the reason for being there was to promote her line- meet her customers, sign autographs and take pictures, but they can barely fit in the same camera frame as you? PR? Just sayin'.

Nicole is quite the business woman. Who knew? Winter Kate is her very own fabulous full line of apparel and accessories. All of her stuff is cool and hip but also classic at the same time. I feel like every age group could wear Winter Kate. Her prints are timeless with a vintage feel. I especially love her floral print blouses, dresses and shear flyaways. Super sassy. House of Harlow 1960 is NR's jewelry line. Her first born is named, Harlow Winter Kate just in case you were wondering where the names come from.

This ring is a part of her fine jewelry collection. A spin off of her well-known sunburst design. Can you believe that's a grey diamond slice in the middle? I didn't know that they had grey diamonds. Pretty amazing. I love the asymmetrical micro pave setting. Super cool and super chic but probably not super cheap.

Excited to see how her collections evolve and grow.

I hope everybody has a real nice weekend!

BK

Word Art.

(Cellar Designs)

(Cellar Designs)

I found these on etsy @ Cellar Designs. How great, right?! Wall art doesn't have to be expensive. This would be something fun to make yourself. That way you can choose something meaningful to you whether it's a reminder, a favorite quote, a family saying or even something that just makes you smile.

I would love this in a kid's room or bathroom...

(Etsy-LoveSugar's shop)

What would you write?

Al Fresco STYLE

Dining al fresco is just one of the many reasons I love summer. Relaxing with friends and family, eating delicious food, enjoying this beautiful earth. What could be better?! I hope everybody gets in their backyards this summer and bbqs. Here's a little inspiration. . .

Lighting

(www.unpggd.com)

Decor

(pinterest.com)

Refreshment

A spoonful of Lime Sherbet and Sprite- easy.

(you may prefer to mix together)

Courtesy of: Cassidy Tuttle

Dessert

Courtesy of: www.familyfun.go.com

Ingredients

• White and yellow jelly beans (we used Jelly Belly brand)
• White-frosted cupcakes
• White decorating sugar

• Yellow Starburst candies
• Corn holders
• Corn plates

Instructions

1. For each ear, press rows of jelly bean kernels onto three frosted cupcakes. Line up the cupcakes and sprinkle decorating sugar across the tops.

2. To make a candy butter pat, microwave a Starburst for about eight seconds, stretch it into a melted-butter shape, then set it on top of the center cupcake.

3. Add a corn holder to each end of the cob, and serve on a corn plate.

   BK

'Something Blue' Christian Dior

LOVE.

Bugaboo meets Missoni

Look at this fabulous stroller. I want one and I don't even have a baby! Missoni and Bugaboo teamed up to create this stroller line - The Bugaboo Cameleon accessory ($269) and the Bugaboo Bee ($199). LOVE these canopies. I'm thinking this does not include the stroller because from what I understand Bugaboo is like the Cadillac, no the Rolls Royce of strollers. But don't worry you get a luxury knitted blanket if you can afford this sweet ride for your baby. I feel better. Available July 2011 at Neiman Marcus.

BK

What's your favorite room in the house?

Interiors by: Susan Massey

What an attractive kitchen! I typically gravitate towards a lot of white and natural light with beautiful stainless steel and touches of color here and there. But wow, this kitchen has a perfect blend of modern and traditional elements. The color was done with skill. The white walls behind all the bright cabinetry makes the space work together without overdoing it. The chandelier is just perfect, it enhances a lot of positives, like drawing the eye upward to this great high ceiling. I love a good hardwood floor. It's cozy. It looks good. It feels good. Tropical details from the bold color, to the plant leaves, to the shades give the space ease and personality like you could walk in and cook here, spend time here and enjoy home.

A little inspiration from my friends.

Back in April I had a roomie reunion with my BYUI girls! Naturally we talked about everything under the sun, so of course my continued search for a job (that includes my love of decorating and all things beautiful) came up. My friends encouraged me to start a blog. A design blog. 'What would I do' was the first thought in my mind. I barely have the blog basics down, like adding a photo. After viewing other interior design blogs I have to admit it's just down right intimidating. So, with that said I'm going to see what comes out of me. Maybe nothing. Eeek. But my goal is to start adding things that I love, inspiration, maybe art, possibly food mixed in of course with all my other blog randomness. :) Ideas/suggestions/topics welcome! Since Nordstrom is practically home for me that's where I'm going to start. Here are a few things that I love.

ROSE GOLD. Everything rose gold. It's my favorite. Especially this watch. It is such a pretty rose color and the face is so functional aka time- reading friendly. I dare say I prefer this watch to the Michael Kors.
BLANKETY. My new favorite neutral shade. Gloss on top, even better.

BELTS. I thought I couldn't wear belts. Cuts me off Blah Blah. But a great belt really puts an outfit together. LEATHEROCK belts are unique and add the X- factor to a great pair of jeans.
If you are white like me this stuff could become your new best friend. I swore I wouldn't ever use self tanners because I always seem to mess them up but this stuff is such a breeze to put on. It's a foam and dries in 60 seconds. AMAZING!

Now I'm feeling a little guilty after I just posted about wanting to have food in my hair and dirt under my nails. Please don't judge me. I'm sure I'll have plenty of those days! I want those days! For now, I just try and clean up before leaving the front door.

BK

Wonderful Women

This quote was borrowed from my friend Jill's blog. I thought it was so perfect for mother's day and illustrated what my hope for my life would be. Luckily I have been blessed with incredible women that have shown/exemplified selfless service and great love. Happy Mother's day to all of you wonderful women who do so much and strive so much to be women of God. I'm amazed by your incredible hearts and great capacities. A toast to Mother's!

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I too want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived! A good reminder for me.

I love boys!

(Alex) this one...

(Owen) and this one...

(last but definitely not least) and this one!!

O how fun it is to have 2 new nephews. And Jeff Palmer.

Utah alert

Tonight I met Jimmy who has a sister who has a shop who has a new customer. Well in May when I'm in Utah. Janie we've got to go. The sweet tooth fairy has an adorable website. Just make sure you ate before entering the site or you could have a serious problem. They are located in Draper (Marti-have you been?) and in Provo. Apparently it's better than Sprinkles and Yummy Cupcakes. I like that it's locally owned by a mom of 3. I'm curious to see if anyone's tried them out? What's the census?

really?

To be honest tonight wasn't a complete shocker. A combination of speculation/rumors and watching the show myself made it pretty clear that Jake was more into Vienna... so I was over it... but what I was really bummed about is Alie being named the next Bachelorette. Seriously why? Could they not get Gia or Tinley?

If you would have asked me at the start of the season, never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that Jake was going to pick Vienna. Shocking that Jake would choose her over Tinley. If it was any other girl besides Vienna I'd say you can't always explain it, but the girl lacks so many qualities that someone would be looking for in a marriage partner. Vienna seems to have more qualities of that of a "woman of the night" (originally I used porn star but that's kind of mean). Maybe thats just how they made her out to look. But that's how it looked.

All I ask is that Jake get new ties. Monday nights will not be the same...

Happy Valentine's Day

This sweet little Valentine arrived on my doorstep. I was completely surprised, Elly and Scott were going to start trying for number 2 after the holidays, or so I thought. So both of my sisters are pregnant, due just a few short days apart. Janie is due August 31 and Elly September 5. It will be fun to have 2 new babies in the family. I'm sure they will be close cousins which is the absolute best. I'm really excited for Drew to have a little brother or sister, he will be such a great big brother. Oh how I love a good surprise!

Rachel Thurston

Everybody within the sight of my blog... please, please check out Rachel's new website and tell all of your friends.

Rachel is launching her new website and blog... she's giving away a weekend trip to Seattle. You could be the lucky winner...

Rachel has unique style and a killer talent for telling a story through her photographs. There are so many photographers out there these days... what's nice about Rachel is that her pictures don't ever get boring. She takes incredible shots time after time. She was the photographer at both my sisters weddings. Extremely warm and fun to have around. Rachel knows how to make you look good! AND she doesn't just do weddings...

Who wouldn't want to head to Seattle for a long weekend.?.?.?.

enter to win on her blog:

RACHEL THURSTON PHOTOGRAPHY

www.rachelthurston.com