So Exciting... Stairs!

We were very happy how these turned out.

It is supposed to look like stainless steel railing... but that is way to expensive for us.  

We opted for a shiny gray powder coat metal rail and then added a stained wood piece on the top... 

trying to mimic our inspiration pic:

Houzz's ideabook:
Habitat Studio & Workshop
Link to Inspiration Stair Pic

I like all the lines... almost like a piece of art.

Not a bad copy, right?  I told you I was a good @ "Copying"!

Houzz's ideabook:
Habitat Studio & Workshop
Inspiration Stair Pic

A Few More Kitchen Pics

Just wanted to share a few more pics of the kitchen.  

The cake on the island is from my daughter's 18th Bday we had last night.  

It is Whisk-Kid's Rainbow Cake.  

A lot of love went into that cake... but unfortunately it looked a lot better than it tasted.  So there it sits.

These pendant lights are my attempt at whimsical. We were a bit wild to pick 3 different colors... 

but it was fortuitous because they became the jumping off point for the colors in the Living Room,

 which are primarily turquoise and yellow. 

(AKA aqua & peridot St. Charles pendant by Jamie Young at www.shadesoflight.com)

We have loved our sink fixture too. American Standard Pekoe in Stainless Steel.  

I love how I just pull out the sprayer when I need to rinse the sink out.

Like I've said before... the kitchen backsplash is Daltile's Glass Reflection field tiles in Whisper Green.  

Our kitchen wouldn't be the same without them.

You see the cubbies?  

They were meant to be a place to put my children's mail, papers, etc. that they would empty each day.  

It was a nice thought... but not realistic.  So instead I turned it into my cookbook display.  

I love that they are at the tips of my fingers and add some color to the kitchen.  

The roll down cabinet under the cubbies is where I hide my purse, junk mail, phone, etc.  

I have been very pleased with it!

Countertops are: Island- Caesarstone Haze & Perimeter- Hanstone Specchio White.

I absolutely love the Specchio White. It hides everything & has a little sparkle in it to add to the modern touch.  

The Haze on the other hand you can see everything on... not enough variance in it.  I do like the color though.

Great Grandma Angie Family Picture Wall

My Great Grandma Angie had a family picture wall in her home in Rexburg, ID.  

It was filled with pictures of her ancestors, extended family and posterity (which is ever expanding).  

Her posterity count as of today is:

 5 children

37 grandkids

138 great grandkids 

276 great, great grandkids
6 great, great, great grandkids

Pretty cool, huh?

What a difference one amazing, woman makes!

  We spent our summers at her home, and would often spend time looking at her family wall
trying to figure out who is related to who? and how?  

I have made this family art wall dedicated to her!

Now my kids ask the question,"How am I related to ______?"

This is a genealogy fan chart I made back in 2008.  My family has been doing family history work and I am sure we can fill in some more of those blank spots now.

And here is my Great Grandma Angie and my Great Grandpa Willis and their family.  

My Grandma is the dark brunette on the right.  Don't you think she was quite the "looker"?

The frame at the top is from WestElm.  It is called a Mirror Gallery Frame.  

A little pricey, but so worth it to give the modern edge to our traditional family wall.

The frame on the left and the little one in the middle are 

Antique Silver Gallery Frames from WestElm as well.

The wood frame in the center is the Threshold Gallery frame in brown finish from Target.

I was inspired by Dana Miller over on www.housetweaking.com:

 http://www.housetweaking.com/2013/01/23/a-last-minute-gallery-wall/

(pic credit: Dana Miller)

&

a WestElm picture frame wall I saw in one of their catalogs:

(pic credit: WestElm)

I have always thought "copying" was one of my talents.

Now I just need an awesome credenza, lamp, etc. to anchor my family picture wall!

Living Room

We've been in our home for 6 months now and it has flown by.  

We started off with this:

and now we have this!  It has been fun seeing it come together.

This art is our inspiration for the room.  It is a Minerva Teichert, titled "Rescue of the Lost Lamb".  

It is 4'x4' (unframed) and makes quite the statement in the room.

The rug is a perfect complement to the art.  It is WestElm "Swirl Wool Rug", size 9'x12'. 

It adds just the little bit of modern edge we need for our traditional Living Room.

Here's one side of the room:  

(The fireplace mantel is waiting for our family pic to get taken.  Better get on that.)

And the other side:

Long distance view:

This bookcase we got from Target for cheap!  

It is the Threshold Carson Horizontal bookcase in cherry.  

The plants are herbs, which get a lot of Western light.  The pots and plant holders are from WestElm.

And here is our Western View:

The tall basil plant I picked up from Trader Joe's, 

and it is so amazing to have fresh basil handy for my tomato and basil pizza.  YUM!

Finished Kitchen

We actually took these pics last November.  Just took a while to post.  

We are loving our new kitchen.

Look at the "Kitchen Saga" post to see some inspiration pics. 

 It is funny how close we came to some of them.  

I am a very happy cook... and wife!  Thanks hunny!

The double oven is a Frigidaire Professional Series double electric oven with convection. 

Stove is a 36" Wolf Rangetop with the 12" griddle, which makes the most perfect pancakes, grilled cheese and even pan fried burgers if you don't mind the mess.

The hood is Zephyr, but not too in love with it, so nuff about that.

Our Frigidaire Professional Series fridge and freezer have been so awesome!  

So much room to feed all the hungry kids. 

 We bought the freezer and fridge separate and then added a trim piece to the top 

to make it look like one unit.  It is very reasonably priced too.  

This is our view opposite the kitchen.  

Nothing too spectacular, just the view :)