My friend AnNicole over at Our Suburban Cottage is having a party tomorrow called ‘How I Met My House’.  I prefer to be fashionably late to parties, however this time I’m showing up early due to some delays with my latest project.  But I brought jalapeño poppers, so I’m sure I’ll be forgiven.   

So here is the story of how we met our house, but first, let’s take a little detour.  When I was growing up, I would whiz past this amazing property on the freeway on my way to school each day. 

This is not my house. 

This is the Kendall Jackson Tasting Room and it’s one of my favorite properties in the entire universe. 

Oh my word, I could just stare at it all day.  Those arches, those French doors, those keystones, those dormers, that rose garden, I can’t stand it, it’s just so beautiful. 

*Sigh*

What does this tasting room have to do with my house ?  It inspired us in many ways when we first built our home over a decade ago, down to the exact color of the stucco. 

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m a big believer in making your home your personal refuge from the world. I’d rather spend my money on feathering my nest than taking a grand vacation.  Those new to this blog should know that we expanded our home in a (nightmarish) remodel back in 2006, but never got around to finishing the master bath, mostly due to lack of funds.  Over the past year, we’ve slowly been finishing the space.  And this past weekend, we put the finishing touches on the master bathroom.  Yippeeeeee !

Five years ago, before we expanded our home, our master bathroom was not a pleasant prepping area.  At least not for me.  It was so so very tiny.  So small that Mr. CG and I were elbowing each other and quarreling over counter space.  I finally resorted to primping in the children’s bathroom.  But not any more darlin’.  All of that has now changed. 

We’ve purposely doubled the size of our bathroom and budgeted in room for a separate primping zones.  One year ago, the space you’re about to tour was nothing more than sheetrock and a plywood floor.  At last, at last, at last it is finished ! 

Welcome to our sanctuary.  Away from the world.  Away from the kids !

Come on in !

Read the rest of this entry »

I almost didn’t post this article.  This almost never happened.

Not because I don’t want to talk to you all.  Believe me, I do. It’s just that I am dangerously close to disappearing from the earth into a new twilight zone known as my master bathtub.

Now I am a gal who finds no greater bliss than taking an evening bubble bath.  A hot bath + a glass of red wine + a bit of dark chocolate + my iPod + twenty minutes to myself = priceless.  No vacation spot could ever compare.

Since I am an attorney, I feel a warning label is appropriate at this time.

Now that I’ve finally put the finishing touches on my master bathtub space, you may never ever ever EVER hear from me again.

It looks posh, but compared to most designer spaces, it really wasn’t that expensive.

Do you want to see the ‘Before’ ?

Read the rest of this entry »

When we began our remodel in 2005, it required that we dramatically grade our rear yard to accommodate for the extension of the home.  Our rear yard has an uphill slope.  After all the tractors departed, I was left with a gigantic six foot eyesore of a retaining wall.  The only way to cover it was with clever plantings. 

In the spring of 2008, I started the landscaping process by making my own invisible trellis to hide the wall.  An invisible trellis is an inexpensive way to train a vine up a wall without the expenditure and installation of wood lattice or a metal trellis. 

Here’s a look at my version up close:

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve got this thing for wall mirrors in sets of three.  Come to think of it, I try to display anything in sets of three.  To me, in décor, odd numbers reign, and trios are just more interesting than pairs. 

So I found this set of mirrors last week at the local Goodwill that called out my name.  “Kate, over here, over here !”   Alas, the poor downtrodden mirrors had been sitting in a corner all by themselves.  Apparently, from what history I could gather, these mirrors used to belong to a dresser, but sadly had been abandoned by their bigger mate.  But oh, the potential within !  You know I have a soft spot for hidden potential, so naturally I brought said mirrors home with me.   

Read the rest of this entry »

In 2004, I designed a floor plan for my dream kitchen. In 2005, we added on to our house. In 2006, we moved back in after living in a rental. When we moved back in, the kitchen had only cabinets and appliances, and plywood countertops. There were none of the finishing details. It took two years after moving in to finally get it done. I scrimped and saved to get what I wanted. In some areas I chose inexpensive materials, in other areas, I went with custom features.

We live in Sonoma County in Northern California and our home’s exterior is French inspired. So in the kitchen, I wanted a similar feel, in a space that was warm and inviting, and made guests feel like sharing food with family and friends. White cabinets were a must. I incorporated glass upper cabinets for display. I saved money buy ordering semicustom cabinets. I hunted everywhere for white marble, and found some on “clearance” at a marble yard. I had the walnut countertops specially made by a local craftsman.

This is my dream kitchen – I hope you enjoy your visit.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hi y’all.  I am so thankful to all of the supporters out there who are following this blog.  I am relatively new to this whole thing (like, February) and I love meeting all of you and making new friends out in the blogosphere.  Thanks for all of your comments and emails. 

Mr. CG and I are blessed to live in a beautiful town called Petaluma in Sonoma County, California, in the heart of the Wine Country. I am an attorney who left my full time job when my daughter was born five years ago.  I practice law on the side, but my true passion is remodeling and decorating homes.  I stay awake at night scheming about my next DIY project.  In hindsight, I should have gone to design school, not law school, but coulda-shoulda-woulda.   

It was my not-so-brilliant idea to start a major remodel of our home in 2006, the same year my son was born.  I often refer to this year as “the lost year” since my only memories are in pictures.  Here are some photos of the experience we survived.  Barely.

Grading the site

Mr. CG clearing the new foundation

Framing the expansion

Helping the builder

The critters were not happy 

The family room – yikes

Living with scaffolding

Every year, we throw a Christmas party for our friends, but we were unable to entertain in 2006 because of this remodel.  I wrote a poem about it to all of our friends in that year’s Christmas card.  Here goes:

Twas the June before Christmas, so I said to my spouse

“The time has come to add on to the house”

The approval of plans meant more space in our home

All we could think was “Brushed nickel, or chrome?”

“Wait a minute” we heard, “You just had a baby,

Don’t take on this project, you’re both certainly crazy.”

“Nonsense” we replied “We both have a brain”

We paid no attention to the claims “You’re insane.”

July was the month that we poured the foundation

Funds paid for concrete, but no Hawaiian vacation.

Choosing cabinets and tile and a new kitchen sink

Include sleepless nights, it all drove us to drink

Through summer and fall as we lived in a rental

We knew they were right, we were certainly mental

Here’s December, our pocketbook and spirits diminished,

We still wonder if ever our house will be finished.

And so this strange year we must say with dismay,

Unfortunately at our house there’s no Christmas soiree

We wish all of you peace, and blessings from above

Merry Christmas to all, and we send all our love. 

 

It’s 2009, and we still haven’t finished the master bath, and parts of the rear yard.  Our hope is to complete this year. 

Here’s to hoping !

It was so sad. After the remodel of 2006, well, we ran a teensy bit short on cash. No, we ran out of cash. So I’ve lived without a master bathroom for 2 years, and we’ve all had to share the hall bath for way too long. Last year, after a nice Mr. CG commission, we ordered and installed the double sink vanity just to give us privacy for grooming. Here’s the really sad part: for six months, we lived with these pathetic little mirrors while we dreamed of the shangri la of master bath mirror decor: a gigantic silver rectangular beauty measuring 77″ x 38″.

Here’s the Before. Boo hoo.

But here’s the After:

It arrived two days ago, and Mr. CG installed it. What a difference a thing of beauty makes. The mirror is the Florentine by Hitchcock Butterfield, made in the USA. We’re getting that much closer to my spa like retreat…