Friday love

I happened to see these images by Victoria of sfgirlbybay. 
I believe these are of her own kitchen and I have to admit sometimes I am a little slow to react... I adore her style and should have long ago put her on my blog list of greatly admired bloggers.
She sums her style up perfectly: Bohemian modern. I love the easy decorating style, from vintage to modern and the lightness of white to unite most! Splashes of color, artwork and self made prettiness.
Her kitchen is absolutely lovely! Using black board paint for the sunny kitchen nook makes a great background for the sculptural pieces she uses in her seating area.

I wish I had an eat-in kitchen, to make a difference between cozy meals and a more formal affair. But alas, my dining room must cover it all...


So here it is:

New on my blog list! And please go, have a look! Her posts are always fun and so refreshing!

Have a happy Friday and a sunny weekend!

All images via sfgirlbybay.com

Small and cozy

More often then not many of us live in smaller rooms then many magazines tend to show.

It is the reality for countless apartment dwellers and owners of small suburban or historic homes. 

And although the chances for clutter and the lack of storage can make life in smaller spaces more challenging and perhaps a little more complicated, there are many cozy solutions for comfortable rooms.

Natural tones keep it calm, perfect for the bookworm at home.
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Light walls and a harmonious palette make this room perfect for reading, watching TV and relaxing. 

The L-shaped sofa offers ample seating and the chair creates an extra spot for reading. Notice the small writing table under the window. 

Small does not mean departure from eclectic style. This small living /dining room offers light and comfortable seating. The graphic rug and transparent side chair distract from the fact that there is not much room to play with.
I would perhaps remove the prints above the windows. They compete a little too much with the focal point: The sofa!

The above pictured room is an excellent example for  dramatic effects in a less then spacious environment. The burnt orange wall sets the tone for high contrast and the light classic furniture make it elegant.

The basically two tone  color scheme creates calm. I love the choice of hot pink as an unusual visual kick! The black chair cushion ties in with the fire place.

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I love the nature inspired country comfort. A big deep sofa and leather chair make up for the small space. An ottoman is the perfect choice for flexible seating and feet up for long hours by the fire. 

The wallpapered niches create depth and I love the reclaimed fat beam for the mantle. Check out the wonderful cuckoo clock!

Again, for the color scheme: Less is more.

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This kitchen shows all signs of hip style, yet it's practical and cozy. Light walls and floor keep it seamless and offer the optical illusion of space. The height helps...The bar table and tall stools do double duty as eating area and prep space. The chaise in the foreground transitions the kitchen into the living space. 

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This small corner proofs that there is room under the eaves for a retreat to cozy up or to do some quiet work on the computer. Many Victorian homes have more then their fair share of odd shaped nooks and crannies.

Small rooms need to multitask and there are  many solutions to do it in style. Ottomans with storage, build -ins, open shelving and stylish containers, under bed storage and well laid out closets help to keep things organized. 

There are sofas, doubling as guest beds and dining tables can be used as desks...

And as with all smaller spaces, it is always good to edit your household. The simple rule mainly to buy things to replace others is helpful, as is the idea of less is more.

Images as indicated.

Something is cooking in my kitchen

Slowly improvements have made their way into my kitchen. I have posted here on some previous changes. In good time we will tackle what remains to be done, but last Friday we've gotten the new dishwasher and range. What a joy!!!
After dish washing by hand like in the good old days for about a month my hands and I were so happy to receive the new dishwasher.


But I am elated to have a new stove. The electrician dated the old one back to 1972!!! Amazing. It still worked somewhat, but so inefficiently and slow to heat, it was an environmental nightmare and certainly an eyesore.
The new appliances are all from GE profile and I am happy with them.



Now I have that gorgeous cooking machine and I am practically hitched to the stove....
My darling husband surprised me Sunday with a set of brand-new pots and pans, stainless steel Cuisinart®, complete with pasta pot and carbon filter mesh lid for frying....


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He went all out and will absolutely benefit from his generosity!!


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Yesterday I prepared a southern German dish: Chicken in Riesling, with Bavarian egg noodles and mushrooms. It turned out delightful and we all pour over cook books to try out new exciting dishes. The picture is by a different chef (See image, thank you), I had no time to take one : )....But I promise you next time I will!





Here is the German recipe version of Coq Au Riesling. The regions of south western Germany, France (Alsace) and Switzerland all benefit from the close geographical proximity. Many similar dishes can be found with slight variations in this neighborhood.
If you google Chicken with Riesling you will find many different recipes. I am sure all of them are delightful! Try!


What I love about this new stove: Firstly a ceramic glass top, easy to clean and modern. Secondly It has two ovens build in. A small top oven for baking, warming and pizza. Underneath a larger convection oven. Much faster to pre-heat, and 25% faster cooking time. Especially helpful with those roasts and turkeys...

Well, it's another detail which makes such an enormous difference for us!
You know where to find me.....

xx
Victoria




Pictures by V. Zlotkowski and as indicated.

To have and to hold

Holiday festivities call for beautiful displays...

From one of my Etsy favorites: Janet Hill Studio!

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I found a couple of beauties to show off those cookies and cupcakes, and petit fours!
Patisserie stand from here!


Or sandwiches and gerkhins and olives...


Or a tray for your drinks....



And how about this sleek wine rack?


And there is always space for something like this...for cheese, ham, or pies!


I like a plate display...


And I fell in love with these little numbers!


You might need something to keep your vision clear...


Or you can put a lid on it!!!



Party time - enjoy it!
XX
Victoria

Last four images also from here.

Random places of delight

A few clicks and I am in dream land. My travels take me to far lands, distant shores or just around the corner. I browse web sites and online magazines and I have spend hours at night checking out all my blog friends. There are many things I love to learn about in this big world, which is my lifelong university. I find books and pictures, poems and artwork.
In random order I take you around the places which made into my favorite list...
There is CocoCozy, her blog is elegant and full of beautiful pictures. At the time when I worked on my kitchen improvements some of the kitchens on her blog made me swoon.


And this view is just ahhhh...


Then there is Marissa from Roost
Her pre - holiday decorations made me smile.



And have you ever dreamed about staying in one of the locales which make a movie a success?
At Efford House you certainly could.
Featured in 'Sense and Sensibility', Efford House is a beautiful country house, set in its own grounds bordered by mature woodlands. With wide views across the higher reaches of the River Erme the garden reaches down to the edge of the estuary. (Quote from the website..)




I am a movie lover and to read about sets, stars and stories is a passion of mine. And at CinemaStyle I find all that.
Do you remember?



When I first laid eyes on Emilia's blog I couldn't help but notice many shared design sensibilities...she picks what I am picking! And yet, different!
I love those colors!



I discovered this little treasure box a few weeks ago: Maison 24! Great for the little extras in life....



A lovely discovery was Nina from the Netherlands! Her blog is so happy! She has a wonderful childlike attitude and creates beautiful china!



This lovely site makes me want to travel to England again...Royal Apothic I love beautiful scents at home.



And when I read about My dog eared pages my fondness for all things printed was alerted and I found another blog of delights. She has an unfailing eye for all things pretty!


I could go on so much longer, but I know there are many more blogs waiting to be read, right? So, alas, for now that's it. If you would like I'll take you on another tour next time. I have travel destinations, Etsy destinations and many lovely things for the holidays in my virtual store!


XX
Victoria


Pictures all from mentioned blogs and sites!

Kitchen improvement

My kitchen has not made it to the top of our many renovation projects. But I felt it could be a little better then it has been for quite some time. Over the last year things have gotten worse and eventually I could not see the gaping hole under the sink and the always messy open shelves.

This is before:
Counter top mess, open shelves mess....


The 'desk', files with school papers and important phone numbers...now orderly stored in my IPhone! And in a file called 'home' in the first drawer to the left!!!


Eventually I will get a new kitchen, but for now I have a good feeling and it does not bother me that much that I have a vintage stove and perhaps the smallest fully functioning kitchen in the neighborhood....No, now I am rather proud of it!(OK, somewhat)

And this is after!


It needed strict editing, sorting and cleaning to come up with a pleasing solution. The things I use the most needed to be within reach, others made it out of the kitchen altogether.


I made these curtains out of painter's drop cloth. I washed the material before sewing, to have no shrinking later, measured and mounted them under the counters. A little tricky, but it works...


I eliminated the 'desk', which never satisfied my craving for some control and I am now much happier with my small display of coffee and tea pots, all whats left is the phone and my IPhone charger....


I even set up a small counter top light, which in the evening casts a friendly shine through my kitchen and into the family room.


Looking much better now from where I see my kitchen when I sit on my desk and write my posts....



Have you managed a small home improvement with a huge impact on your well being???
I certainly did!