Spring is in the air today, and I’m so excited !  Mostly because our garden is beginning to bloom again.  We’ve got a lot of yardwork to do this weekend, but here are just a few shots taken last year in May. 

We have a dozen grosso lavender plants, and I harvest several pounds a year.  They are just beginning to bud.  I love to giveaway sachets and bundles to friends every year. 

I planted only cool shades in our rear yard, mostly whites, purples and pinks.  Here is some of our trailing verbena and lavatera in bloom. 

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My dining space has always been tricky to decorate because it stands in the middle of a major freeway between the garage, family room, and kitchen.  We don’t have a formal dining room – there is simply no need for our laid back family of five to have anything other than a casual dining space for evening meals.  We nibble in the kitchen most of the time, don’t you?

However, I do like the idea of our dining space being dolled up for holidays or special guests.  After all, it has a beautiful set of French doors and a view that leads to the rear yard.  So a few weeks ago I decided to upgrade by adding some new window panels and a bench for additional seating.  I’m returning to the peaceful calm of white because I find it so fresh and uplifting.  Also, cream and white are such a nice contrast to rich dark wood, so I kept a purposeful neutral palette in our dining space.  I added some taller silk curtains and a transformed Craigslist bench. 

To some it’s plain, to me it’s perfect.

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A few weeks ago you all saw the new color I painted in the refreshed kitchen !  Every morning it’s like a breath of fresh air walking into this space, and I’m so glad  I took the time to add new paint and accessories.  So I thought I’d break down the step-by-step on how I painted the kitchen cabinetry, specifically the island, and wrap up a few other details as well. 

Here’s a quick reminder of the island, Before and After:

Here are the steps I followed for refinishing my kitchen cabinetry in oil with a brush technique.   For projects larger than this, consider renting a professional paint sprayer for quicker and smoother application.

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Grazie, merci, mahalo, danke, gracias, thank you thank you thank you for all your kind comments yesterday.  Kitchens are one of those spaces where there is so much you can do with so many different materials !  For us, we wanted something light and bright and inviting with plenty of space for cooking and entertaining.  This guided much of our choices.  Some queries came up via email or in the comments, so here’s a few answers.   

What are your countertops made of?  (Charlotte ) What type of marble do you have ?  (Samantha)   Tell me about your countertops  (Sue). 

The countertops are a combination of marble and cherry wood.  Yes, it’s true, I chose the two most high maintenance countertops.  Everyone tried to talk me out of it, but I held my ground and I have no regrets.  I ripped this image out of a magazine many years ago and stapled it to my forehead.

I didn’t care if wood countertops were as impractical as high heels in a marathon.  I had to have them.

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