Interior Progress

This view at left is almost the same as the one in the upper right corner of my blog title. You can see the new archways (where the old exterior wall was removed) and extra space. We moved the sliding door to the new exterior wall.






Below are the Ikea cabinets that make up the new kitchen island. This island seperates the kitchen and living/dining areas. The cabinet fronts are temporary - a cabinet maker is making custom door and drawer fronts in oil-finished cherry. The walls at the ends of the island will be finished with tile (the same as the backsplash) and there will be square cherry "legs" at the corners. The wall shown below is 6" higher than the counter and will wrap around the back side of the counter top to shield the sink from the living/dining area. It will be topped with a granite bar top.

The side of the island facing the living/dining areas (in progress at left) has open cherry shelves and wine storage. I higher bar top on the left side of the column will shield the sink counter from view. The granite counter top at the right side of of the column will overhang the shelves to allow for counter seating.

There will be two open cherry shelves above the range (between the overhead cabinets) on the back wall of the kitchen.

We moved the old bar top to the screened porch (right now it's holding some of our plates and glasses while the new kitchen is under construction). The porch ceiling has yet to be installed, but the screening is in and we've been using it often.

2nd Floor Progress

Above is the dressing area between the master bedroom and bathroom. The tall black cabinet frames in the alcove are Ikea Pax series wardrobes. These will have sliding doors and lots of drawers and other accessories.

It was so much fun picking out all of the interior parts for these closets. Ikea's Komplement system has super cool drawers with all sizes of compartments for different kinds of storage, shoe organizers, baskets, bins, shelves, rails, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Exterior Progress

The shingles are almost done - just a few more are needed above the bay window. The stairs from the sliding door are in lieu of a deck. Hopefully we'll build a deck next year when the coffers have been replenished. You can see the air conditioner under the window. We installed this instead of central air on the first floor. Because the interior is so open, it cools everything done quite nicely and cost only $600. We did install central air on the second floor, but to add it to the first floor would have cost another $10,000.

Kitchen Progress

These photos are from the day our contractors started assembling the Ikea cabinets. Our old kitchen was also an Ikea kitchen, and I put together all of the cabinets myself. It's easy - anyone who can assemble furniture can do it. That kitchen didn't have many cabinets, though, so I'm happy that someone else is doing it this time. If you are going to put together your own kitchen (or any other furniture) a cordless drill or screw driver is essential.

The Ikea kitchens have improved in the 10 years since I installed my first one. The drawers now have dampers that prevent them from slamming shut, and there are more cabinet sizes available.

Things are a bit of a mess - carryout and the microwave are helping us deal with dinner!

We were able to find the same 12x12 slate tile that we installed in our old kitchen, pantry, hallway and bath. The tile installer continued the original brick pattern. You wouldn't be able to tell where the old and new tile start, except for the fact that the old grout is dirty - I'll have to look into cleaning it.

Internet Shopping Resources - Plumbing Fixtures

FaucetDirect sells a huge variety of plumbing fixtures and accessories. Their prices beat the trade pricing at my local plumbing supply store, and they offer free shipping on orders over $99. Their processing and shipping was efficient and quick.

WSCdirect is an internet kitchen and bath supply company that also has great pricing. They offer free shipping on orders over $199 and that offer applies to freight items as well.

For the daring there is Number1Direct. This website sells plumbing fixtures, appliances, furniture, and all kinds of stuff. Their pricing is rock bottom, but you have to be prepared to wait for your items. They advertise that you should receive your order in 2-3 weeks, but I found this estimate to be optimistic at best. If you are are ordering 4-6 weeks in advance and don't mind your credit card being charged immediately, give it a try (you can't beat their prices.)

Master Bathroom Progress

The shower walls are tiled in a 12" x 24" porcelain tile in a brick pattern. A fixed piece of frameless glass will serve as a shower enclosure.

The shower will have a bench with a stone top (above). There will also be a bench with storage built-in under the window. A niche (below) tucked into the wall above the shower bench will have stone shelves to hold soap, shampoo, etc.

  

There will be a wall-mounted vanity cabinet with two sinks on the wall opposite the shower (below). 

 

Modern Vanity Sinks

I've chosen a wall-mounted vanity for the master bathroom and I considered doing a simple counter top with under-mounted sinks, but it was seeming a little too boring. At the same time I didn't want to use the now ubiquitous vessel style sinks, because I couldn't quite imagine having to wash my face in one every day (and splashing water everywhere). I've found some larger, lower vessel sinks though, that are the perfect balance between practical and cool.

I would have loved to use Duravit's Puravida above counter basin (above left), but it was a little too big to fit two in the space I have.

Kraus makes some very nice sinks in all sizes and shapes. At left is their rectangular ceramic sink.

I ended up going with the Kohler Vox square vessel sink at left. It's a generous 16"x16" and is only 3" high above the counter. It's competitively priced at $214 list.

Celys Ceiling Light by B.Lux

I am using the Celys ceiling light fixture by B.Lux in the master bath dressing area, closets, and toilet room. It is a very diminutive 4" in diameter by 7" high and ships with its own eco-friendly fluorescent bulb. My electrician pronounced it "very cute", which sums it up nicely.

Pebble Tile Flooring

The master bathroom, shower, and toilet room floors are all done in pebble tile. Pebble tiles are made from actual river stones that have been smoothed and flattened somewhat, and then attached to a mesh backing. I chose stones with a natural, tumbled finish, but they are also available polished. These are also pretty flat (compared to some) - I love the way they feel on bare feet.

The photo above shows them grouted and un-grouted.

The pebble tiles will flow into the toilet room from the bathroom in a free-form, natural way.

Exterior Progress

Things are really starting to look finished on the exterior. The new shingles are almost done, and there's some trim to finish, too. Then the steps down to the yard will need to be installed, although in the future we plan to add a deck.

Interior Progress

At left is a "before" picture, and below is a photo from almost the same vantage point taken Friday. The new archways are located at what was the original exterior wall, and the big sliding door was moved to the new exterior wall. The next step is to remove the old kitchen, install the flooring in the addition, and then install the new kitchen cabinets.

The new see-through glass fireplace will be installed in the wall (photo above) between the casement window and archway pilaster.

Internet Shopping Resources - Modern Light Fixtures, Furniture & Accessories

I've found a lot of great websites for purchasing lighting fixtures, furniture and accessories online - look no further:

Lumens Light + Living has lighting fixtures as well as furnishings and accessories. They have a nice feature which suggests fixtures similar to the one you are looking at- I found a lot of fixtures I liked using this tool. Free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

YLighting is the premier source for contemporary and modern lighting with free shipping.

2Modern sells lighting fixtures, furniture, accessories and gifts. Great prices and free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Form + Function has contemporary lighting at very competitive prices and free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Stardust is the website of a Sonoma, California modern design retail showroom. They sell light fixtures, furniture, accessories and gifts, and offer low prices and free shipping.

Pendant Light Runners Up and Alternates

These Isla pendant lights from LBL Lighting are an economic alternative to the Niche Modern pendants shown in the previous post. They only come in the round shape shown below, but it's not a true sphere so is a little eclectic. The glass is hand blown with a seeded texture, and comes in five colors. There's also a choice of hardware color, which is nice. The Niche Modern pendants start at $475, but these only cost about $260-$280. They also come in a smaller "mini pendant" size.

I also love these Soft Collection pendant lights from George Kovacs (at right and below left). They cost $600-$750 and are 17" diameter, so would make a beautiful dining table fixture.

At left and above right is the Ilu pendant from Viso, a very cool lighting manufacturer. It comes in three sizes and six colors, and costs $360-$630.

At left is the Bel Occhio pendant by Pablo Designs. It comes in orange or white and costs $380.

Pendant Lights - Again!

I've decided to use these hand blown pendants from Niche Modern in the kitchen. Instead of using five smaller pendants as I previously planned, I'm going to install three larger fixtures in three different shapes (but all the same color). I love the way these fixtures are modern and classic both, a bit like my house. I've also found it's not so easy to find light fixtures in red - my favorite color - and these come in a beautiful shade of crimson.

At left is the Pharos pendant light. Below left is the Oculo pendant light and below right is the Stargazer pendant light. These are the three shapes I am using over the kitchen island.

Below is the Minaret pendant light. I plan to use this fixture over the dining room table in the effervescent glass color (shown on the right). Because the kitchen and dining area are open to each other, I want the light fixtures to work with each other and tie the spaces together.

Progress!

I haven't posted in a while, but that doesn't mean things haven't been progressing. Most of the windows are in, the drywall is in, the painting and tile work has started, the exterior shingles are going up, and most importantly of all- the AC in the upstairs works!

More Pendant Lights

Although I might be going in a different direction, I found a few more alternatives to the Bocci 28 Series Pendant Light (shown below). At left is the Bubbles Globe Pendant by Sonneman. It comes in 3 sizes - 8", 10" or 12" diameter - and ranges in price from $130-$190. It doesn't have any of the organic qualities of the 28, but as a simple glass sphere it's pretty nice.

28 Series Pendant

West Elm makes a similar fixture called the Globe Pendant (above) that is 11" in diameter. It's only $99, or you can buy them in sets of two or three as well.

The Jasper Pendant from LBL Lighting (left) is new, and has the the malleable looking form of the 28 Pendant. I think the 28 is cooler, but this one is 12" in diameter, as opposed the the 28 which is 6" round. It costs $412-$452, so isn't really cheaper than the 28, but you would probably use less of these as they are larger. Oh, and it also comes in colors!