before + after: staircase

finial: an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure.

I finally have a finial. When I told my husband we were going to attach a pineapple finial to our bannister he simply nodded and said, "Great idea, honey." It wasn't until our wooden fruit arrived via ups and I saw the blank stare on his face that I knew why I had not received any pushback or questions about this design decision: he had no idea what a finial was. Truth be told, even I needed to be reminded of its proper name when I first began brainstorming.

via

To me the pineapple shape is extremely classic, often displayed in stone or metal at the end of grand stairways in sophisticated homes. Since our abode is a bit more humble we opted for carved wood, merely to capture the essence of sophistication and character...and to prevent our bannister from being completely bland.

staircase: before

staircase: after

We didn't have room in the budget for iron railings or decorative banisters so this inexpensive piece found online here was the perfect $20 addition. We added a clear glaze so that hand grease wouldn't cause discoloration over time and opted to keep it a natural wood tone so that it stood out from the trim and molding (it also happens to be the same tone as our rustic dining table which makes me internally happier than it should).

When updating a home it's essential to focus the big dollars on high impact projects (ie: the kitchen) and then find small, inexpensive ways to add character and personality in other, less significant areas.

finial fun fact: even the Grand staircase on the Titanic had pineapple finials!

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before + after: dining room

Until last week, I had never owned a dining table. I spent the better part of 6 years eating dinner on barstools at an island or at a cocktail table in front of the TV. Needless to say, I'm pumped that I can finally eat like an adult. So pumped in fact that my husband has asked me on numerous occassions who we are having over for dinner because I set the table for four "just for fun." Sorry I'm not sorry.

We weren't exactly sure what kind of table we wanted (as indicated by the multiple posts I've dedicated to the topic) but once the 1900's Boulangerie French Bakery Table from Restoration Hardware came into our lives, there was no turning back. I love the rustic feel that it adds to our more modern kitchen. Rustic-Modern, is that even a term? I think they call it eclectic these days but no matter how you put it, we like to mix different looks. It makes our home feel more like it was pieced together with elements that we love rather than purchased out of a catalog.

Without further adieu here is the before + after of our dining room.

{when we first moved in}

{now}

What do you think about the rustic table with the modern aluminum chairs? 

I tend to gravitate toward the clean and timeless decor for everyday, but the dinner table is the perfect place to add color to your home and play with trends. As noted above I've been pretty excited about setting the table lately so here are a few "fun" looks I've been trying out. 

Feminine + Floral

Ikat + Tortoise with a pop of my favorite color: red-orange. 

My table top resources are currently limited, but now that I have such a fab table to dress I will most certainly dedicate future posts to new themes. This opens a whole new shopping door for me (my husbands eyes are rolling as we speak). Does anyone have a favorite go-to kitchen store? Also, the one major element missing in this room is a chandelier. Any advice or suggestions?

before + after: kitchen

It's a miracle. The boxes are gone and we have finally begun to settle in. The moment we had keys-in-hand we began our first project: the kitchen. We loved the layout but wanted to give the space more personality and sophistication while staying within our budget. It was financially impossible for us to upgrade to the "gourmet kitchen" at the design center (they didn't offer the the materials or appliances we wanted anyway) so we went out on our own and hired individual craftsmen to do the work. Let me start by saying this path is not for the faint of heart. My sympathy and respect for contractors has grown exponentially these last few weeks. 

Even though we endured a few extra headaches and I had to dig deep to find patience I never knew I had, we couldn't be happier with the way our kitchen turned out. To fully appreciate the transformation, we must start at the very beginning...

{phase one: the frame}    

{phase two: sheetrock + cabinetry}

{phase three: floors, counters + appliances} 

{phase four: renovation}

+ carrara marble and absolute black granite countertops

+ basin sink and industrial faucet

+ double oven, gas range 

+ chrome hardware

+ subway tile backsplash

+ pendant lights 

goal: an open, bright, transitional kitchen 

{sink: before}

{sink: after}

{backsplash: before}

{backsplash: after}

{range: before}

{range: after}

There are still a few projects left and more personal touches to add, but we are so glad we didn't settle for a cookie cutter kitchen. It's a reflection of us and it truly feels like home.