 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
I'd been dreaming of a lilac scented home. There's nothing quite like it really. So I headed out with my picnic basket to fill to the brim.
And then, a sprinkle.
Drip. Drop. Drip.
So I wandered back home.
A canning jar and a pretty tin were all I needed.
A little dream come true.
When designing our home, it made sense to use pocket doors in a few rooms. The laundry room was one. A door hanging into the hallway wouldn't be ideal and if it went the other direction, it'd be blocking my access to the laundry chute. So, a pocket door it was.
A huge favorite feature in the room is the laundry chute, which connects from the boy's bathroom upstairs. My brother and sister-in-law's beautiful old home has an amazing multi-floor laundry chute system and I always admired it. Turns out adding a chute was really simple, as it was designed into the plans and I'm so glad it was something I made sure to have. Although laundry chutes are found in so many old homes, I'm really surprised it's a feature that's not more frequently added into new homes. For us, it's simply an opening in the floor, to the laundry room below.
When I was thinking about counter material, I wanted something that was industrial, as I really liked the thought of mixing an industrial surface with the beauty of the wallpaper and softness of the beadboard tile. I went to a local metal fabricator to talk about options. There were many, and my favorite was galvanized steel. I really like that galvanized steel actually has an almost soft appearance, as opposed to something like stainless steel. The fabricator advised against using it, as they were concerned it may rust. With my experiences with all of the galvanized materials I've encountered on farms for many years now, I've not seen that, so I was willing to take a chance. It's been wonderful and I don't foresee any issues. The custom counters were extremely reasonable - coming in around $400.
I made sure to add in a nice big sink for soaking. I added in a spray nozzle, as it makes it so nice for cleaning out the sink.
I kept the cabinets and hardware consistent with what was used throughout the house, as I think it's important to do, so the rooms don't feel choppy. It's one of those design elements that you don't consciously think about when you are in a home, but affects the feel without you even knowing why.
A really convenient feature is the vacuum pan adjacent to the door. The boys track in so much dirt from the fields and I love being able to sweep it all right into the pan. To turn it on, I just click the little switch with my foot and it sucks up all the dirt. I think it's magic.
I opted for white hex tile on the floors in this room, with a nice dark grout. Dark grout is key here. I love the old-fashioned look of it and how it helps to show each and every little hex, but it's also really hard working. It scrubs right up.
The walls are covered in beautiful Dirk Elliot beadboard tile, tile base trim and tile cap. I can't tell you how many times I've seen mud splattered on the walls and it's such a nice feeling to be able to just wipe it right off. Dirk designed the cap just for this room, as well as designed the tile layout. They now offer the tile cap for sale, in addition to all of their stunning tile, including the beadboard tile that was used throughout the room.
Although the tile is barely visible behind the washer and dryer, I still opted to have the tile fully installed there, all the way to the floor. Even though I only see brief glimpses of the tile behind there, it was a really nice way to finish off the room. It makes it feel complete. And although I opted for a dark grout on the floor, to call out each hex shape, I opted to keep the grout on the walls as close to the tile color as possible, so it sort of just whispers. It's softer that way.
This is my favorite room in the whole house.
You can read the first part of my Laundry & Mud Room post here.
Wallpaper: Wallflowers, Spokane, WA
Farm Painting: Forget Me Not, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Small Basket near window: Funky Junk Jennifer, via the Funky Junk show, Sandpoint, ID
Towels: Walmart
Washer & Dryer: Bosch
Large Laundry Chute Basket: Silver Suitcase, via Roost, Spokane, WA
Wooden Box: Funky Junk Hollie, via the Funky Junk show, Sandpoint, ID
Cowboy Boots: Forget Me Not, Sandpoint, ID
Entryway Rug: Ikea
Countertops: Fabricated by Carlson Sheet Metal, Spokane, WA
Beadboard Wall Tile, Tile Trim, and Tile Design: Dirk Elliot Tile, Spokane, WA
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
I'm a big believer in wallpaper in the laundry room. I think it adds a happiness to the room and makes me want to be in there. Good thing, because we go through a lot of laundry each week!
Because I'm short, I needed to keep the counters as low as possible. Rather than build a countertop over the washer and dryer, I opted to simply use the tops of the washer and dryer as counter space. It works great.
The shelf on the left (shown above) doubles as a hanging rack for freshly ironed clothing. I can iron and hang each piece as I go along. When I'm done, I take the clothing off the hanging bar and into the closets where they belong. It also works really well for hanging items I need to air dry. The shelf is really high, so it's not practical to store things on top. I'm on the lookout for just the right decorative piece to place there at some point.
The shelves on the right began with a mistake. When the cabinet installers hung what was supposed to be the only shelf on that wall, they hung it too high, as I'd be unable to reach any laundry products up there. Rather than have the shelf removed, and have wallpaper damage, I had them hang another shelf, just below. I had originally planned on hanging artwork above the lower shelf, but now just use the higher shelf to hold rotating art.
The room doubles as a mudroom, as it's the entryway from the garage.
I made the bench out of an old wooden box I found at the Funky Junk antiques show. I use a standard pillow and pillowcase as the cushion.
Just to the left of the bench is a big closet which holds coats, shoes, hats, gloves, and the ironing board.
And to the left of that is the entryway cabinet, perfect for setting down armloads when we walk in the door.
It's also home to one of my favorite finds ever - this great old key rack I found at Hunt & Gather in Minnesota.
Tomorrow I'll be sharing the closer details of the room and my favorite features.
Wallpaper: Wallflowers, Spokane, WA
Farm Painting: Forget Me Not, Coeur d'Alene, ID
Small Basket near window: Funky Junk Jennifer, via the Funky Junk show, Sandpoint, ID
Towels: Walmart
Washer & Dryer: Bosch
Large Laundry Chute Basket: Silver Suitcase, via Roost, Spokane, WA
Wooden Box: Funky Junk Hollie, via the Funky Junk show, Sandpoint, ID
Cowboy Boots: Forget Me Not, Sandpoint, ID
Entryway Rug: Ikea
Keyrack: Hunt & Gather, Minneapolis, MN
Countertops: Fabricated by Carlson Sheet Metal, Spokane, WA
Beadboard Wall Tile, Tile Trim, and Tile Design: Dirk Elliot Tile, Spokane, WA
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
HGTV recently asked me to participate in a project for decorating home offices.
I think it's always great to try and use what you have to help organize your life - especially your office space. You can see lots of great ideas by visiting the HGTV site here.
I've been taking a walk down memory lane while going through some old files of Farm Chicks projects for something I'm working on, and thought it'd be fun to share some with you for the next while.
Here's one of my favorites: an idea composed for creative floral displays and gifts, for Country Living Magazine a few years back.
To create, place an old bread pan (you can find really inexpensive ones at thrift shops) filled with water-soaked floral foam into the base of the purse. Poke in flowers until the display is full. For gift giving, tie on a thoughtful tag.
Another way to make a beautiful holiday display is to group all of one color together. I happen to love white.
It's surprising how these items, none having anything to do with the other, can look so pretty together. Look around your house and see what you have in like colors, and then pull it together for a display.
It will be beautiful!
Image by John Granen
Growing up with very little was a blessing because I was able to see the beauty in the everyday objects that are often overlooked. That's what you do when you don't have much.
When you take the time to look around at what you have, you can make anything special. Take this collection of syrup dispensers for example:
It's really simple:
1.) Gather together clear, like objects that can be used as vessels.
2.) Fill with Christmasey items such as little trees, ornaments, and fake snow or objects in a color to fit your Christmas theme such as old game pieces and glitter. (This can be done with anything you love, any time of the year!)
3.) Display as a grouping.
You can find this Christmas inspiration, as well as decorating ideas, recipes, and Christmas cheer in my book, The Farm Chicks Christmas.
Special thanks to my friend, Nancy, for letting us into her home to play and display with her collections. You can find more wonderful objects such as these at Nancy (and friends) shop, Forget-Me-Not, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.
Image by John Granen.
One way to add Christmas cheer (or any season for that matter) to your kitchen is to add wrapping paper to the cupboards.
You can line the back of the cupboards, inside the doors if they're glass, or line the inset panels on the front of your doors.
Simply cut the paper to fit the spaces you'll be covering and attach with removable double sided tape. It's quick, simple, and darling!
You can find this project and many more, as well as decorating ideas, recipes, and Christmas cheer in my book, The Farm Chicks Christmas.
Images by John Granen.
I always find it interesting to watch the trends that come and go in the world of antiques. I remember when trunks were popular. Now they're not. But these old pieces shouldn't be overlooked. In fact, they are so useful for turning into entryway or mudroom benches. (And they have storage space!)
I bought this old trunk/box from my friend, Hollie, at her antiques show.
I simply topped it with a standard pillow covered in my favorite vintage Christmas pillowcase and it was instantly transformed into a little bench.
I can easily change the pillowcase to fit the season.
Have a large trunk? Use two pillows or several toss pillows. It's as easy as that!
I found the trunk here.
My floor tile is from Daltile.
My beadboard wall tile, tile base trim, and tile cap is all from Dirk Elliot Tile.
I purchased my wallpaper from Wallflowers in Spokane. I'm sorry, I can't remember the brand.
We've been decorating for Christmas and I love it when I add some cheer and the boys notice it first thing when they come home from school.
Today I decorated the bookcase in the kitchen. I organized the cookbooks by color and then just added in happy little bits I have on hand. I love that about the holidays. Just making things special with what you have.
As you know, I love displaying sprinkles, and Christmas is no exception. Little old milk bottles are the perfect receptacles. Since they have no lids, I simply capped them with cute mini cupcake wrappers.
Little vintage ornament boxes fit right in.
A vintagey looking Christmas tree cake topper adds the perfect touch to the old toy sedan.
Who says treats can't make you happy?
Cupcake wrappers and cake topper from Bake it Pretty.
Mother's brand Christmas animal crackers are from Fred Meyer.
Cheer Up canister from Fishs Eddy.
My Christmas Book can be found here.
At one point in our last home, I got tired of not having a crafts space and got a crazy idea to incorporate it into my tiny office (World Headquarters) nook. Jenny Doh featured it in her wonderful book, Signature Styles. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my favorite ways to re-purpose kitchen, household, and often overlooked objects for use, as I shared in Jenny's book.
Sprinkles in a jar are perfect for holding pens:
Pages from a vintage textile and ribbon sample book become artwork for the wall:
Pretty fabric should be displayed for added happiness. Twine is easily accessible in a clear jar. Cakestands are great for housing an array of supplies. A vintage baking dish holds rick-rack. A disposable plastic Christmas tablecloth is better utilized as a shelf liner:
A colorful old flour sifter is the perfect size for holding a big cone of baker's twine. Sturdy cupcake liners work as vessels for small objects such as twist-ties.
The entire feature, as well as My apron pattern and instructions are available in the book.
Special thanks to Jenny for creating such a beautiful book and featuring so many creative women, and to Christina G., who photographed this story. All images seen here are by Christina G.
The sprinkles, cupcake liners, and twist-ties are from Bake it Pretty.
The cakestands are from Martha Stewart for Macy's.
The disposable plastic Christmas tablecloth is from Martha Stewart Crafts.
My desk is from Pottery Barn.
The oilcloth covering on my desk is from Cath Kidston.
P.S. Don't forget to enter for your chance to win EARLY ADMISSION tickets to The Farm Chicks Show! Click here to learn more!
When we were working with Nancy on the floor plan, the pantry started out quite large, which in my opinion, can't ever be big enough. (I store all our food in the pantry). Growing up, no matter how small our living space, my mom always had a larder and I really loved those spaces with our home-canned goods and bulk foods all in jars, glistening on the shelves my dad had built by hand. In the design of this home, the pantry was continually downsized to make room for other areas, such as the built-in buffet in the dining room, which sits on the other side of the pantry wall. So, I had to get creative with making more out of the space than was originally intended.
I knew there was some space underneath the stairs leading to the second floor and asked Craig if we could add a bookcase there. Directly behind that wall sits the stairway to the basement, so some adjustments had to be made. Luckily, I came up with the idea while the framing was happening, and Craig was really amazing with making adjustments for me, so it wasn't a big deal.
I talked more about my built-in bookcase here.
With the new pantry design, I was down to the shelves in the back of the pantry and one interior wall, but I really wanted both walls to be utilized. Staring at the studs that were in place during framing, I came up with the idea to have a can-depth wall to best utilize that space, and once again, Craig was able to make it happen, without altering the dining room built-in on the other side. Now I have a really useful wall for all of my canned goods, and the shelves are all fully adjustable.
The back wall and opposite side wall are much deeper, so they work well for storing extra serving dishes, glassware, small appliances,
and my bulk foods.
And it all sits nicely tucked behind this pretty door. When I was working with Harry on the doors, I asked him to make my pantry door with wavy glass, partly because it's old-fashioned and beautiful, and partly because it obscures the view into the pantry, which I wanted to be able to see into, while not making the contents be the focal point.
I talked more about my pantry here.
Additional Information:
My cabinets were custom made by a local cabinet maker.
The ceiling is made of beadboard planks, also known as wainscotting. I talked a lot about it here.
The lights over the island were made from salvaged old schoolhouse globes and new arms. I obtained all of the materials from Revival Lighting in Spokane and they built the lighting as well.
The lights over the sink are from Lowe's.
The flooring is tile that looks like wood. I talked about it here and here.
My countertops are quartz. I talked about it here and here.
The wall tile is all from Dirk Elliot Tile. The best in the world and made right here in Spokane, by our good friends, Dirk and Christina. I talk more about it here and here.
The windows are made by our friends, Burke and Muriel, at VPI windows. They are also manufactured here in Spokane and are the BEST! I talked all about the windows here and here.
The cabinet hardware is from Spokane Hardware, who also have an amazing website (The Hardware Hut) where you can order just about anything your heart desires.
The pantry door (and all the doors in our home) came from Harry at River City Glass in Spokane.
My large glass pantry jars with the glass lids can be found at Target and Wal-Mart in many different sizes.
My small glass pantry jars with the white lids can be found at Wal-Mart. (Better Homes and Gardens canning jars). The plastic lids were purchased separately and are widely available at most grocery stores in the canning section.
My appliances are all Thermador, with the exception of the freezer column which is Bosch, and the microwave which is G.E.
The antique FOODS sign was purchased from Marketplace Antiques in Sandpoint, Idaho and was spotted for me by the amazing and wonderful MaryAnn Duarte, who has a space there and is also a vendor at The Farm Chicks Show.
The clock was a gift. (Source unknown).
The stools are from Pottery Barn.
The dining room table was built by Antico.
The dining room chairs are from Cost Plus World Market.
The dining room grasscloth bamboo wallpaper came from Wallflowers in Spokane. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand.
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
A big dilema with my kitchen was the fact that I designed the wall of cabinets (as seen in earlier posts). In doing so, it really made the kitchen lopsided, with the wall of cabinets having a lot of weight, design-wise. What was left to deal with was the wall with the sink and windows, stove and shelf. When I showed my plan to my friend, Dirk (of Dirk Elliot Tile), he pointed out the heavily-sided issue with the wall of cabinets. I knew I wasn't willing to change that wall, so the challenge was how to add weight to the other walls - all without adding upper cabinetry, which I didn't want.
Dirk offered many different design solutions for me to consider. My plan was always to use subway tile and after touring Dirk's tile factory, I was open to using different than normal sizes. One of Dirk's suggestions was to go with smaller subway tiles - two different sizes, and to take them all the way to the ceiling - both of which would give it the much needed weight. I loved that idea.
He also pointed out that I needed to make my shelf MUCH bigger than I had originally planned, which would also add weight to that side of the wall. (And this is how the Mega Shelf came to be).
And last of all, he recommended that I add legs of some sort to the cooktop cabinetry, which balanced everything out, gave some heft to the base, and made it feel a bit like a piece of furniture.
The Mega Shelf has lighting built-in underneath, which is really nice while cooking. The lighting is all accessible by a panel that was built-in for easy access.
I've had lots of questions about my cooktop and venting.
To keep the design clean, I opted for a built-in downdraft fan, behind the cooktop. When I need to use it, I simply push a button, and the fan system raises up.
When I'm done, I just press the button again, and the downdraft lowers back down. I had the same system in my last kitchen and I really love it. The cooktop and downdraft are both by Thermador and they are really wonderful, and really easy to clean which is great, because my boys cook quite often and can be really messy. I also love the burners. Stars!
I have open shelving beneath the cooktop, which houses my pots and pans. I had the cabinet maker wrap the shelves with stainless steel, to take a beating, and to avoid terrible looking scratched shelves.
I've talked before about the built-in cutting board located near the cooktop.
It is so handy for chopping and scraping the scraps straight into the compost bin below. The day I met with the cabinet maker to talk about this feature, I had asked Colin to join me, which turned out to be a great thing. When he saw what I was asking for with the drawer, he came up with the idea for it to be spring loaded. So, to open the drawer, all I have to do is give it a slight push and it pops out, which is so convenient when I have a handful of veggies and have forgotten to pull out the drawer first. The board is maple and studies have proven that maple is highly resistant to bacteria - much more so than plastic or other cutting board surfaces that are out there. (I only use the board for veggies, and wipe it down when I'm done). The chute is lined with a PVC sort of pipe.
I plan on growing herbs on the window sills throughout the winter.
An idea from my friend Christina was to use stone for the sills. I loved the thought of it, as I've ruined many sills in the past with water marks from planters. When I ordered the countertops, I ordered the sills as well, in the same material. Mike, our finish carpenter, asked me to provide him with a sample of the stone material so that he could build the windows to fit perfectly. Unfortunately, the countertop contractor gave me the salesman's sample, not the actual building material sample and the measurements were all off. After much ado, the countertop contractor adjusted the sills to fit what Mike had built, as it was their error.
I talk a lot about how much I love texture in design, and although my kitchen is very white, there is a lot of depth to it, thanks to the textures we incorporated. From the beadboard ceiling to the crown moulding to the tile.
When Dirk was sketching tile layout options, I fell in love with a design that sort of mimicked a basket weave, which was a perfect transition from the dining room grasscloth wallpaper to the kitchen.
It's important to acknowledge that my kitchen would not be half as wonderful if it wasn't for our friends, Dirk and Christina, who spent so much time and effort in helping me with a lot of the design. Their eye for detail is amazing, and I'm incredibly thankful for their help.
Additional Information:
My cabinets were custom made by a local cabinet maker.
The ceiling is made of beadboard planks, also known as wainscotting. I talked a lot about it here.
The lights over the island were made from salvaged old schoolhouse globes and new arms. I obtained all of the materials from Revival Lighting in Spokane and they built the lighting as well.
The lights over the sink are from Lowe's.
The flooring is tile that looks like wood. I talked about it here and here.
My countertops are quartz. I talked about it here and here.
The wall tile is all from Dirk Elliot Tile. The best in the world and made right here in Spokane, by our good friends, Dirk and Christina. I talk more about it here and here.
The windows are made by our friends, Burke and Muriel, at VPI windows. They are also manufactured here in Spokane and are the BEST! I talked all about the windows here and here.
The cabinet hardware is from Spokane Hardware, who also have an amazing website (The Hardware Hut) where you can order just about anything your heart desires.
The pantry door (and all the doors in our home) came from Harry at River City Glass in Spokane.
My appliances are all Thermador, with the exception of the freezer column which is Bosch, and the microwave which is G.E.
The antique FOODS sign was purchased from Marketplace Antiques in Sandpoint, Idaho and was spotted for me by the amazing and wonderful MaryAnn Duarte, who has a space there and is also a vendor at The Farm Chicks Show.
The clock was a gift. (Source unknown).
The stools are from Pottery Barn.
The dining room table was built by Antico.
The dining room chairs are from Cost Plus World Market.
The dining room grasscloth bamboo wallpaper came from Wallflowers in Spokane. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand.
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
I have an affinity for kitchen islands. When my dad built our first home, we had a huge old chopping block that held center stage in the kitchen and I used it often. It sort of set the need for one in my mind.
The island was originally designed to be much larger, but it meant having it be a non-square shape, to conform to the layout of the kitchen, which I really didn't like. I have a real love of clean lines and think that they are much more classic in style. If the island weren't square, I think it would scream 2012 and I wanted it to just be timeless.
And speaking of timeless, the island is flat, rather than having an elevated bar for the seating area. That just doesn't match my style, and is too trendy for me.
I do all of my food prep on the island, and my favorite function of the space is that it is my baking center. The six drawers on the left hold my flours, sugars, spices, and baking utensils, such as measuring cups, sifters, cookie cutters, etc. (Nearly identical to the layout of the island I designed in my last kitchen. You can see it here.) The center bin is a second garbage bin and a recycling bin behind that. It's really handy to be able to scrape flour, etc, right off of the counter and into the garbage.) And under the microwave, is a large drawer for holding tupperware, rubbermaid, and glassware used for leftovers and lunches.
To utilize the back-end of the island space, I added in cupboards on both sides to house my baking sheets and cooling racks on one side and chopping boards on the other. I also made sure that I can control the island lighting from both ends, and have plug-ins there as well. But my FAVORITE feature of the island is the little gadget at the base. It functions as a vacuum. So when I'm sweeping in the kitchen, I can just sweep right into that space (activated by flipping the switch seen to the right with my foot) and it goes straight into the central vac.
The base of the baking sheet cabinets are plastic, so they won't look like terrible scratched paint over time.
I used some design restraint with the seating side of the island. Originally, I had planned on using beadboard on that side, but decided I wanted to keep the beadboard to the ceiling alone and not over-do it. I'm really happy with the classic framed approach that I took instead.
I ended up putting the microwave in the island, and I like that it's something that's only seen when working in the kitchen. I also chose not to have it built-in and super fancy, as the microwave just isn't important to me and I didn't want to make it look like it is. I kept it simple and I like that.
Design Note:
The structure of the island is six feet wide by three feet deep. (The counter adds about an inch all around and the seating area has about 11 more inches of counter, making the total depth of the island four feet).
Additional Information:
My cabinets were custom made by a local cabinet maker.
The ceiling is made of beadboard planks, also known as wainscotting. I talked a lot about it here.
The lights over the island were made from salvaged old schoolhouse globes and new arms. I obtained all of the materials from Revival Lighting in Spokane and they built the lighting as well.
The lights over the sink are from Lowe's.
The flooring is tile that looks like wood. I talked about it here and here.
My countertops are quartz. I talked about it here and here.
The wall tile is all from Dirk Elliot Tile. The best in the world and made right here in Spokane, by our good friends, Dirk and Christina. I talk more about it here and here.
The windows are made by our friends, Burke and Muriel, at VPI windows. They are also manufactured here in Spokane and are the BEST! I talked all about the windows here and here.
The cabinet hardware is from Spokane Hardware, who also have an amazing website (The Hardware Hut) where you can order just about anything your heart desires.
The pantry door (and all the doors in our home) came from Harry at River City Glass in Spokane.
My appliances are all Thermador, with the exception of the freezer column which is Bosch, and the microwave which is G.E.
The antique FOODS sign was purchased from Marketplace Antiques in Sandpoint, Idaho and was spotted for me by the amazing and wonderful MaryAnn Duarte, who has a space there and is also a vendor at The Farm Chicks Show.
The clock was a gift. (Source unknown).
The stools are from Pottery Barn.
The dining room table was built by Antico.
The dining room chairs are from Cost Plus World Market.
The dining room grasscloth bamboo wallpaper came from Wallflowers in Spokane. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand.
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
Many of you journeyed along with my family and me as we built our new home. (If not, you can read all about it here). The whole experience was actually pretty enjoyable. Of all the emails I receive, one of the most requested things I hear is to see my completed kitchen. So over the next while, I'll be focusing on just that, and walking you through the choices I made.
But before you see the completed project, here's a look at it, under construction. Here the sheetrock has all been installed, and walls painted:
And here it is with the beadboard ceiling now installed, cabinets in place and crown moulding in:
And here we are today. Welcome to my kitchen. Yes, I love white. I find it calming and warm, when combined with the right touches.
Much of the kitchen plan really revolved around the big beautiful farm sink. Because of the sink's high back, the windows needed to be higher than normal. The sink is also really wide - about 4 feet - so it takes up a lot of real estate. And when I laid it all out in my mind, I just couldn't see upper cabinets fitting in to my plan. So, I skipped uppers all together. Instead, I have the full wall of cabinets surrounding the wall ovens and fridge and on the opposite wall...
...sits what the building crew named The MEGA SHELF and the cooktop. The shelf is my area to do seasonal displays or showcase my favorite artwork at the moment.
Tomorrow I will begin taking you through the different areas of my kitchen and talk about the design and mindset that went into each one.
Thank you for visiting, at long last!
Additional Information:
My cabinets were custom made by a local cabinet maker.
The ceiling is made of beadboard planks, also known as wainscotting. I talked a lot about it here.
The lights over the island were made from salvaged old schoolhouse globes and new arms. I obtained all of the materials from Revival Lighting in Spokane and they built the lighting as well.
The lights over the sink are from Lowe's.
The flooring is tile that looks like wood. I talked about it here and here.
My countertops are quartz. I talked about it here and here.
The wall tile is all from Dirk Elliot Tile. The best in the world and made right here in Spokane, by our good friends, Dirk and Christina. I talk more about it here and here.
The windows are made by our friends, Burke and Muriel, at VPI windows. They are also manufactured here in Spokane and are the BEST! I talked all about the windows here and here.
The cabinet hardware is from Spokane Hardware, who also have an amazing website (The Hardware Hut) where you can order just about anything your heart desires.
The pantry door (and all the doors in our home) came from Harry at River City Glass in Spokane.
My appliances are all Thermador, with the exception of the freezer column which is Bosch, and the microwave which is G.E.
The antique FOODS sign was purchased from Marketplace Antiques in Sandpoint, Idaho and was spotted for me by the amazing and wonderful MaryAnn Duarte, who has a space there and is also a vendor at The Farm Chicks Show.
The clock was a gift. (Source unknown).
The stools are from Pottery Barn.
The dining room table was built by Antico.
The dining room chairs are from Cost Plus World Market.
The dining room grasscloth bamboo wallpaper came from Wallflowers in Spokane. Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand.
Our home was designed by Nancy McKennon.
Our builder was Craig Powell of Powell Custom Homes. (509) 994-2831 (He doesn't have a website).
A note about my sources: I try and identify my sources as often as possible and love promoting other businesses. My policy is that if I love something or have had a good experience with a product or service, I try to promote it, when possible. Sometimes, I'm disappointed with a product or service and won't provide that source. I understand that thousands of readers visit my blog every day and I realize that if I were to say something negative about a product or source, my opinion could have a negative impact on a business, and that's not what I want. If I don't list a source, it's not because I'm stingy, I just choose to keep it positive here. Thank you for understanding.
Want to know the quickest way to cheer up your house for the season? Tuck pumpkins here and there.
a bookend
a chandelier
a coatrack
the kitchen.
A little or a lot.
Hooray for pumpkins!
Hello! Welcome to Pumpkin Week! This week I'll be sharing pumpkin inspiration with you. Decorating, celebrating, and baking. It'll be fun!
Today let me tell you about this cute little pumpkin - the miniest of them all.
Isn't it adorable?
It's actually not a pumpkin at all, but a cute little seed pod called a Putka Pod.
These little pumpkin look-a-likes have so many decorative uses around the home - today I'll show you two ways.
Our Realtor, Jack, stopped by to see our new house and brought me some beautiful fall mums. So I took out a little galvanized tub, some fabric, and putka pods to make a happy fall arrangement.
1.) I removed the wrapping from the mums, saving the elastic band.
2.) I re-wrapped the mum with fabric and attached it with the elastic string I had saved.
3.) I placed the plant in the tub and surrounded it with the pods. They just add that extra bit of Autumn cheer.
Now, how about some tea? Tea to celebrate the season. How should we serve it to our guests?
Let's start with this great little wooden box:
Line with Putka Pods, and fill with tea bags, spoons, and sugar:
So simple and festive.
Tips:
Putka Pods can be found in craft stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby, or online.
The pods are pretty delicate. They can last for several seasons, if handled with care. Once you're done with them for the season, seal in a ziploc bag or sealed container. Keep away from an area where there may be mice, as mice love seeds and pods.
I was having a party but my table needed some harvest splendor. Ho hum.
So I went out and found some
and brought that splendor in and washed it all up.
Then I began to pretty up the table.
But it wasn't quite enough so I added some more.
And then I decided to just get carried away
because the harvest comes but once a year.
P.S. Just in case you wondered where warts come from...
hee hee.
When I designed our dining room built-in, I wanted to make sure I'd have a spot to store all of my extra glassware.
I love how something so simple can add such sparkle to a room.
My favorite source for glassware is estate sales. It seems that most people just pass them by. Most of the sets I find are quite large, which is a must for me. I usually won't buy any sets with less than 12 glasses. Although I couldn't pass up this set of 8 tiny juice glasses (shown at left) recently.
The set was mine for $1. And I do really like how old-fashioned juice glasses are tiny. I think juice is more special sipped, not guzzled.
I still have several shelves to fill and can't wait to see what I'll find next.
P.S. Have you ever seen Matthew Mead's Entertaining Simple book? I love his use of glassware throughout.
Post Edit: I ordered our table from Antico. It works really well for our big family because it seats 12. I love that their furniture is made from reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood. The chairs are from Cost Plus World Market.
When we moved into our new home, I took some of our furniture for World Headquarters. Our old kitchen table is now my sewing table, recovered with a sweet new oilcloth.
This was the table before:
And I did love that oilcloth so much, but was ready for a change. I'm funny that way... looking at certain things makes my mind wander with the memories I have from that piece. So, for example, every time I saw that table, I'd be sidetracked with so many memories and thoughts from our old house, dinners, etc., that it was a distraction from what I'm trying to do in WHQ (World Headquarters).
Time for a tiny change.
And my fabric is slowly getting organized.
And once I'm done with that, I'll be mopping the WHQ floor as my final move-in chore.
Sources:
The desk in the background of the first image is from Pottery Barn.
The cubbies are from Ikea.
My oilcloth (before and after) and sewing basket are all from Cath Kidston.
My pincushions were Christmas ornaments from Martha Stewart.
Much of my new fabric is from Sandi Henderson (Hi Sandi!), Amy Butler, and Cath Kidston. The rest is all vintage.
My upholstered chair and ottoman are from Ikea and the slipcovers are from an old Ikea line named Rosalie that I was able to find on ebay.
Photo Credit: The before image of my table is from my first book, The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen, and was shot by John Granen.
Let's have some fun with strawberries around the house!
Little cups of fresh strawberries are darling at each person's place at the table:
An old strawberry ice cream carton turns an ordinary supermarket plant into something sweet:
Strawberry Candies, like these marshmallows, make a lighthearted display:
Sources:
The clear glass mini cakestand is from Pottery Barn.
The Italian Strawberry Marshmallows are from Wal-Mart.
For some reason, I have a real hang-up with the word "antique". I know what you're thinking.... She's the promoter of an antiques show. I know...
Let me explain.
I love old things. I find comfort in bringing them into my home. And I've always lived surrounded by them. For some reason, the word just seems so stodgy to me.
When thinking about what I wanted to name my show, I struggled with calling it an antiques show. But that's what it is. And antiques aren't stodgy. In fact, they're cool.
Antiques are actually the best way to add your own unique, one-of-a-kind style to your home. And they can be used in cool and unexpected ways.
I think when many people hear the word antiques, they think of treadle sewing machines, high-laced women's boots, and old dolls. (Don't get me wrong, I learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine). But to me, those are my grandma's antiques.
These are mine:
And at my show, The Farm Chicks Antiques Show, these are not your grandma's antiques. They're yours. Because it's all about what you love and what you do with it. Antiques are cool like that.
Don't miss out! The Farm Chicks Antiques Show runs June 4th & 5th at the Spokane County Fairgrounds, in Spokane, Washington.
Inspiration abounds. And you don't want to miss out. I promise.
The first six images are by my friend, John Granen, from my first book, The Farm Chicks in The Kitchen.
The ice-cream image is by Ray Kachatorian, from one of my stories for Country Living Magazine.
I recently received a big delightful box of chocolates in the mail from Vosges Haut Chocolat. These Barcelona Bunny chocolates are filled with hickory smoked almonds and sea salt. Oh my. Scrumptious!
You can use chocolates as a whimsical addition to your Easter table with a few simple items.
1.) Fill your dishes of choice with green sugar crystal sprinkles (I used a salad plate pictured above and custard cup shown below).
2.) Place chocolates in dishes.
3.) Set a grouping on the chocolates in the center of your table or buffet or set individual dishes at each place setting.
Notes: Thank you to Vosges Haut Chocolat for the treats. We loved them!
The bunny shown in the custard cup is one of several included in the Mad Hare Orchestra and are dark chocolate with Tahitian vanilla bean.
Fresh flowers are one of the things that really make a home feel special. I love them so much. But I also enjoy using other greenery and foliage to pretty things up. Take rhubarb for example:
With its dreamy pink stalks and soft ruffly green leaves, it's a vision to behold.
So much loveliness is beginning to appear because it's spring. Look around and see. What can you find to make your home a happy place to be?
I visited a magnificent house recently that was done in an all white palette. I'm a huge fan of white, and love how they brought in other natural elements and textures to make it come alive. And although it's definitely over the top, I thought you might enjoy taking the tour just as much as I did:
I really admire the mixture of surfaces as well: pavers, tile, wood, rock, stucco. It all comes together so beautifully.
Although this landscape is obviously very lush, it's a good reminder at how lovely some greenery can be when added into your home environment. We can't all have lovely little ponds, yet, some simple pots of succulents would be a wonderful way to add serene and natural elements indoors.
I can't say enough about all of the textures here. This is another way to really take a home to a higher level of well thought out design. And textures can be introduced on any budget. Rocks, mosaics, foliage, wood, metals, etc.
Oh my, well that was a lovely little break from winter now wasn't it?
Need a cute and colorful centerpiece in a hurry? Simply fill a mixing bowl with your favorite drugstore candies, arrange candles in the candy, and you're all set!
Image by the super wonderful Samantha Cabrera.
So many of you have contacted me in regards to the covering on my kitchen table.
My table, featured on page 140 of The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen, has been in our home since Colin and I were married. And after many years of use, it began to show some wear. But rather than replacing it, I decided to cover it with oilcloth. Here are my directions, as described in the book:
1. Spread oilcloth over the top of the table, right side up. Using the table contour as a guide, make sure the pattern is centered nicely; weight the cloth with bowls or books to keep it in position.
2. Cut the oilcloth to size, allowing an overhang on all edges that is long enough to wrap around the edge and staple to the underside of the tabletop. The overhang was approximately 2 inches for my table.
3. Using a hand held heavy-duty staple gun, attach the oilcloth to the underside of the tabletop. First staple the middle of 2 opposite sides, then the middle of the remaining opposite sides, pulling the cloth taut. Continue all around the tabletop, pulling the cloth taut while making sure the pattern remains straight and even.
Note: my favorite source for oilcloth is ebay. There are a couple of ebay stores from the U.K. that sell adorable oilcloth that I love, and ship worldwide:
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/tablecloth-co
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/fabric-factory/
Cath Kidston is also another favorite source of mine for oilcloth, but the prices and shipping can be really expensive.
Image of my table was taken by the super wonderful John Granen.
I love waking up to the sun pouring in over the prairie and into the windows of our happy home. And when the sun takes its last breath of the day, it covers the prairie in a blanket of deep magenta glory. Eastern Washington is a beautiful place to live.
I had the built-in added in a couple of years ago. You can read about it here and here.
I love simple white cotton curtains. You can read more about them here.
My tiny little office. Colin likes to jokingly refer to it as Farm Chicks World Headquarters! hee hee
The tiny little bathroom by my tiny little office. Both a blessing and a curse....when the boys were little, they'd (for some reason) dash for this bathroom at the seemingly worst possible times. Like when I'm on an important business call with a Fortune 500 company. And there's no mistaking the Darth Vader humming and toilet flushing that echos into the phone... And yes, those are muddy little footprints you see, but we're all friends here, right?
My pantry sits behind the double doors
My kitchen. You can read more about it here, here, and here.
My beloved apron collection in the hallway leading to my little laundry room. You can find the directions for the menu board here.
I have a love for beautiful art and I think it comes from years of watching my parents collecting old prints and paintings. At some point in my teens, they fell in love with Architectural Digest and were so inspired by the homes they saw that they decided to paint our cabin's walls white, which was a huge ordeal because our walls were all wood. In fact, much of the wood was hand-milled by my dad from trees on our property. And they did all of the painting with brushes, because a roller would never get into the slats. And when they were finished, they loved it because all of their artwork really stood out against the white. "That's so AD", they'd say (Architectural Digest) and would say that about most beautiful things after that. And I'd mentally roll my eyes.
One day, they brought home a huge beautiful old print of a mother, father and child and squeezed it onto the wall above the wood stove. "That's for you, Serena", they told me. "It reminds us of when you were born". And I imagined it really did, since I was born in a tiny little cabin in the woods, delivered by my dad.
A few years ago, when my dad came to stay with us for a while, he brought my print and I was excited to hang it over my bed. It was such a sweet and peaceful addition to the room. But I kept thinking something wasn't just quite right, and eventually painted the walls all white - with a roller, not a brush. And when one of the boys saw the white walls and my print standing out like never before, he said, "That is so FC. You know, Farm Chicky!"
I love any decorations that involve cookies or give me an excuse to bake. I've been dreaming of making a cookie wreath and was so happy to create such a fun project.
I decided to make the wreath and cookies out of gingerbread cookie dough so that it would smell especially Christmasey. I used this recipe (minus the black pepper) for the dough. And this recipe for the icing. Here's how I made my wreath:
I cut out the shape of a wreath using a mixing bowl for the outer circle and a cereal bowl for the inner circle, using the rims as an easy guide for my knife. I baked the wreath (as indicated in the recipe) until it was really hard, but not burned. After it was completely cooled, I covered the wreath in green icing, and sprinkled it with Wilton light green sugar sprinkles. At this point, the wreath needs to sit for several hours until the icing is completely hardened.
In the meantime, I baked my cookies (I chose two different sizes of stars) and prepared the icing. I added a few Tablespoons of cold water to the icing to make it almost drizzley (just not runny to where it can't keep it's shape. See images of icing below). I divided the icing and colored each batch the colors I'd be using for this project. I spooned the different icing colors into Wilton squeeze bottles, and a tiny squeeze bottle I found at Daiso. (The tiny squeeze bottle wasn't necessary, but I love teeny things, so why not?)
To ice the cookies, I used a technique called "flooding" where you outline the area and then "flood" it with the icing. It's such a fun technique that makes cookies look really impressive.
Step 1) Outline cookie:
Step 2) Flood the cookie, using the same icing. You can use the tip of the squeeze bottle to help spread it around if necessary:
Step 3) Add dots by squeezing contrasting dots of icing onto the icing already on the cookie. (The icing dots will sink in together and all be flush after a few minutes):
Step 4) Allow cookies to dry completely (This will take several hours, but time really depends on how much icing is used).
Step 5) Attach cookies to wreath using the icing as glue. Let sit for 24 hours or until really hard.
I hung my wreath directly onto a nail, however, this will only work if the wreath is really hard. The wreath can also be hung by attaching a colorful ribbon and hanging it from the ribbon, or simply display it on a shelf, ledge, or window sill. Better yet, if you're looking for a cheery holiday centerpiece, this is just the ticket!
I cleaned out my pantry and while I was at it, added some Christmas cheer.
My shelves are covered in a fun gingham contac-type paper, which makes them completely wipeable, if need be. Bulk items are kept in pretty glass jars. I tucked in cute little Christmas trees here and there.
For holiday cheer, I added Christmasey paper to the shelves, by adhering it with double-stick tape. I scalloped the edges of the paper on some of the shelves. To easily make scalloped edges, simply trace the edge of a tiny glass and cut.
Sprinkles look cute in re-cycled tiny jam jars and placed in a bright pan for easy access and tote-ability for Christmas baking.
Special Christmas treats are colorful and are a happy surprise to find in the pantry.
It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....
Gingham shelf paper and glass jars with red lids are from Daiso.
Holiday paper used for shelf edging is from Martha Stewart Crafts at Michaels.
The bright green cake pan is from William Sonoma.
Clear glass pantry jars are from Target.
Cupcake liners are from Bake it Pretty.
I don't really do any decorating for Thanksgiving but like the thought of making our house feel a teeny bit more festive when we're celebrating a holiday.
I created this fun little garland by punching out colorful paper leaves with a Marvy paper punch. (It punches out the paper and embosses little veins into each leaf at the same time). Then I hot-glued the leaves to bakers twine.
Growing up, we never had a washing machine or dryer. A lot of time was spent at the laundrymat, or if I couldn't get to town, I'd handwash everything on a washboard. And when I was scrubbing away, I'd dream of someday owning a real washing machine that was electric. And now I do. And I believe that laundry rooms should be pretty because I spend a lot of time in there. And my walls should definitely be wallpapered. I chose red gingham because it's simple and homey and makes me happy.
When I'm not using the counter for folding, it doubles as a sewing table for me. I made a counter skirt out of darling vintage fabric that makes the room feel very cheery.
I love having open shelving in the laundry room so everything is just a quick grab away. Although open shelves and the things that are on them can become dusty, it's not an issue for me in the laundry room, as I use my supplies so often. Ironing is a little less tedious for me when the ironing board looks so pretty!
I found this old laundry soap dispenser at an estate sale. It works perfectly for my OxiClean, which is my all-time favorite soaking detergent for old linens. My shelves are covered in oilcloth, that not only looks pretty, but is also easily wipeable if there is a spill and doesn't damage easily.
Handtowels, dustcloths and microfiber dusters are now available in so many pretty colors and patterns.
An old clothespin bag holds utilitarian supplies.
Spray bottles are labelled for easy identification.
Sources: I found my old laundry sign at Floyd and Margaret's. The shelving and brackets are from Home Depot. The bath towels are from Cath Kidston and TJ Maxx. I found the vintage fabric at Spencer's Antique Mall in Spokane. The ironing board cover came from Linens and Things. The wire laundry baskets are from The Land of Nod. The laundry soap dispenser came from a Monarch estate sale in Spokane (I think Monarch is one of the best estate sale companies in the area). Oilcloth is from Cath Kidston. The handtowel is from Martha Stewart for KMart, dusting cloths from Cath Kidston, microfiber duster from William Sonoma. The clothespin bag was purchased at The Farm Chicks Show from dealer: Oma's Attic. The spray bottles are from JoAnn's fabric.
Holly, of Decor 8, is in the process of moving overseas. And while she settles into her new home, she's invited others to contribute to her blog. I was super happy when she asked me to participate, because I love Holly's blog. You can see my guest post on Decor 8 today.
I love simple curtains and I have to admit, even after all these years, I still have a crush on them. And here's the good part: I made them out of vintage sheets. It's true.
I LOVE good cotton sheets (vintage) that have that sturdy, yet soft feel. And whenever I find them at estate sales, I buy them because they're good for so many projects. For my home and style, the twin sized sheets are the perfect length for my windows. And exactly right for my sliding glass doors too. I use them in my kitchen, living room, and master bedroom.
To make, I just sew ribbon tabs to the top of the sheets, and hang. Whenever they need to be cleaned, I can just throw them in the washer, and they're as good as new. And since they're white, the best way to perk them up if they're a bit yellow-ish when I purchase them, is to give them a quick soak in Rit Color Remover. It turns them perfectly crispy white.
And honestly, it doesn't have to be limited to sheets. I've found darling blankets that I've turned into curtains for the boys rooms too. And colorful, patterned sheets are great as well. But best of all, they're so easy and inexpensive too.
I'm dreaming of oodles of flowers. Spring. Summer. Every type of flower. And I love that there are no rules when displaying them. Any vessel you love will do.
I finally rehung my kitchen valances that had been taken down for a project just before Christmas. I love how cheery they make the kitchen. Now that my kitchen is back to normal, I've started tinkering around in other areas of the house. Bathroom re-done. Bedroom next!
I love feeling happy, so my office nook needs to look that way and be organized at the same time.
I use a lot of clear storage boxes to hold my supplies, but didn't like seeing through to the contents. So, I just lined each one with some dotty wrapping paper. On the shelf below, Ikea magazine files keep my magazines tidy:
Business cards:
A painting of downtown Spokane, by my favorite artist, Chris:
Sweet little clutches by my friend, Jennifer Paganelli. I use them for my coupons:
My pin cushions were actually Martha Stewart Christmas ornaments from a couple of years ago. I just cut off the hangers:
Tacks from one of my FAVORITE stores ever - the Japanese dollar store in Seattle. The gingham CD organizers and stack of colorful journals shown above were found there as well.
The HOORAY card shown above is from the lovely Elum Designs. The Big Boy figurine is from Kitschy Kitschy Koo, a vendor at the show. All of the tins are from Michael's.
When we built our house, we were definitely on a budget. And that was okay, because Colin and I had never lived any other way. Although we had a builder, I took classes at the community college on being your own general contractor, as we wanted to have as much information as possible, and be educated enough to make good choices. We also spent a lot of time at the library (one of our favorite places on earth) looking for inspiration. When I found The Not So Big House book, I was really happy. Small-ish homes, built with quality materials. We loved the concept.
Colin's best friend, Tony, was just discovering a new hobby of cabinet building and offered to build our kitchen at cost. We were thrilled with his offer. Tony and I met up one morning at Starbucks and sketched out the kitchen. I wanted it to be classic, full of light, and have plenty of space for foot traffic so the boys could ramble freely through, even if the dishwasher and oven were both wide open.
And most importantly, I wanted a baking center on the island in the center of it all.
What I love most about the baking center are the drawers that hold my spices - right next to the stove, and the flour, sugars, etc. in the others. If I need to dust the countertop with flour, I can just reach right in and grab a handful.
When we built our house, the plan was to have a big fireplace in the living room. The chimney was built, the wall framed in, and everything was set to go. Then, for one reason or another, we decided against it. So, now we had this angled area in the wall that didn't really make sense. The builder built in a little platform and covered it with beadboard and carpet. We decided it could be a little sitting area. And it was. Until the boys discovered its potential. It became Thompson family X Games Central. Boys running at full speed, slamming into the platform, and thrusting themselves up, as if in a handstand. "Sweet! I just did an Ollie Quarter Foot Backspin 360!" "Rad! A Fakey McTwist!" (You get the point). And although Colin and I love their constant energy and enthusiasm, we were ready to relocate the X Games.
Here is what our X Games Central looked like:
I'm Serena, mom of 4, author, entrepreneur, & Country Living Magazine contributing editor. I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world and I write about it all here, on my blog.
