annecychic's Profile

Thank you Dana, and Happy New Year!

I am a teacher, and gift cards are great. But my favorite gifts from students are those that are homemade--cookies, a favorite holiday bread, a special ornament.

Dana,
For me, your weekend meditations are my spiritual food; I look forward to them, and they sustain me through the week. A post on a weekday is a lovely, welcome bonus.

Thank you.

Clearly, some of us who follow AT don't realize that not everyone has the same options. Even if the dimensions are incorrect--or it is a spoof--it's important to keep in mind that a large family in a small space is not unusual for families who are trying to save, or with limited means. Be careful not to look at every situation through your own, singular lens.

I would reupholster the seats, though I'm not sure I would paint them just yet. I saw these on Etsy and wonder if they are cousins to yours . . .

http://www.etsy.com/listing/103888119/pair-of-mid-century-sculptural-chairs

Textiles, especially French linen, are something I collect; I have found several vintage dealers on Etsy.

But my best sources for new linen dishtowels, on Etsy, are two Lithuanian vendors:

Linen Me
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LinenbyInga?ref=ss_profile

and

JBWorld
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JBworld?ref=search_shop_redirect

I have also purchased from Quel Objet
http://www.quelobjet.com/linens-french-tea-towels-c-4_5.html

Bonne chance!

Aveen,
I empathize. I moved into a house 15 months ago and hate my kitchen. Surprisingly, it has a lot of the same elements as yours--similar cabinets, exact countertops, but sadly my appliances are black. I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, so I decided to take a weekend and less than $200 and make a few changes.

I painted the walls to create a more defined but brighter space (Benjamin Moore, $52). I took down the wooden blinds and put up airy curtains (IKEA, $12). I hung a mirror behind my stove to cover the ugly backsplash (Homegoods, $39.99), and put down some black-and-white checkerboard peel and press floor tiles (Home Depot, $70). The rest went to a new tea kettle and some dish towels.

It's far from my dream kitchen, but it's been working fine. In fact, I like it enough that I am holding off on the reno for another six months so I can get the kitchen I REALLY want! For me, spending the $200 was worth it.

As a mom, I'm reminded that their childhood passes so quickly. Not in 3 minutes, though it often feels that way . . .

Whitney, j'adore your tea kettle! Where can I find one like it?

Allison, I empathize as I just finished painting my living space. I subscribe to Maxwell's 80/20 rule, so for my wall color I selected a neutral, Benjamin Moore's "China White."

But when I found that the color was washed out by all the natural light, I had the paint store mix the same color at 200%. The result is a beautiful greige that complements neutrals as well as the pops of color. And the crown molding, trim, and baseboard are painted Benjamin Moore "Super White" and offer a crisp contrast to the soft, neutral walls. Bonne chance!