Yesterday, I had the opportunity to measure the kitchen of a very beautiful home on St. Charles Avenue. The home was built in the early 1900s and has all of the fabulous details that one would expect—12 foot cove ceilings, beautiful moldings and casings, a large center hallway, fireplaces, gorgeous stairways, an original marble sink with marble turned legs, and built in hutches with fluting and egg & dart molding. Though the rest of the home is stunning, the kitchen is definitely in need of a renovation. It currently has laminate floors and countertops and a not so functional layout. There will be obstacles of course—three 8 foot tall windows that fall 28” from the floor and three doors that will not be moved. My favorite thing about the kitchen in its current state is the beautiful tin ceiling that is painted a solid color. I will suggest a decorative finish that will bring out all of the detail in the tin, but at the same time work with the colors in the new layout. I am so excited about this project. The owners are very nice people and want to retain the historic features of the house and implement them into the new kitchen design. I love working with clients that have an appreciation for the era that there home was built in. There are so many people that would rather tear down an old home than deal with all of its quirks and issues. I really do respect people that take on such projects and long for the day when I too will be able to restore an old beauty. As for the kitchen, I have been thinking about all of the possibilities pretty much non-stop since I left the house and cannot wait to finish my designs for the space.An Old Beauty on the Avenue
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to measure the kitchen of a very beautiful home on St. Charles Avenue. The home was built in the early 1900s and has all of the fabulous details that one would expect—12 foot cove ceilings, beautiful moldings and casings, a large center hallway, fireplaces, gorgeous stairways, an original marble sink with marble turned legs, and built in hutches with fluting and egg & dart molding. Though the rest of the home is stunning, the kitchen is definitely in need of a renovation. It currently has laminate floors and countertops and a not so functional layout. There will be obstacles of course—three 8 foot tall windows that fall 28” from the floor and three doors that will not be moved. My favorite thing about the kitchen in its current state is the beautiful tin ceiling that is painted a solid color. I will suggest a decorative finish that will bring out all of the detail in the tin, but at the same time work with the colors in the new layout. I am so excited about this project. The owners are very nice people and want to retain the historic features of the house and implement them into the new kitchen design. I love working with clients that have an appreciation for the era that there home was built in. There are so many people that would rather tear down an old home than deal with all of its quirks and issues. I really do respect people that take on such projects and long for the day when I too will be able to restore an old beauty. As for the kitchen, I have been thinking about all of the possibilities pretty much non-stop since I left the house and cannot wait to finish my designs for the space.
Showroom Update
I am beginning to become very eager for the completion of our new showroom on Magazine Street. We have another month and a half before our last display comes in and then a few weeks more for pewter tops and tile. There has been so much thought put into each display and every aspect of this showroom, for that matter. I am pretty sure we spent about a month just on the design/floorplan of EACH display. Why??? I wanted to show people how creative you really can be in kitchen design, how to think outside of the box, and that kitchen design is not just about putting boxes on the wall and floor. We researched and acquired the most unique and exquisite products to carry and I feel we have done a wonderful job at expressing our design capabilities. I truly believe that Artisan Kitchen & Bath will be one of the most unique showrooms around. Now I just have to patiently wait for the next two months to slowly stroll by, but in the end it will have all been worth the time and energy.
note: Photo is of an unfinished display. We will be getting our marble and Walker Zanger tile in the next few weeks.
Photo by: Jimmy Clay
The Doll House
The Doll House is a house in the French Quarter that I had the chance to work on a year ago. I recently posted on The Four Leaf Clover a few details and pictures about this wonderful little piece of history. Last Thursday the PRC (Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans) held an event at The Doll House-- as they do each month for select historic homes that are in the middle of a renovation.
The owners opted to leave the walls, fireplaces, and doors of this 1810 home in place, which allowed for a rather choppy kitchen design. The kitchen had a total of 5 doors and a large fireplace that I had to work around. I was actually happy that my client's chose to keep the existing layout. From day one, my client made it clear that she loved a furniture look, wanted stainless steel appliances, and wanted a large island with seating and open storage. I was thrilled when she found 3 beautiful antique hutches at a local urban salvage center. My job was to come up with an island that would house a 3 foot wide Wolf range, a dishwasher, and a sink. After doing several drawings, I came up with the perfect island! The pictures of the room are not the best--the space is so small and I was trying to snap shots around people moving in and out. The picture above shows the Wolf range with a 3"x 3" post on either side with open shelving. The dishwasher is beyond the shelving and the sink is on the opposite side of the range.
I love the antique pieces that she rescued and also the wood beams on the ceiling.
Here is the opposite side from the dishwasher. The white carrara marble overhangs about 9" and offers a place for seating. I love the open storage. (I am sure those shelves will be filled when they actually move in.)
Viewing the room from the copper sink, you can see the fireplace and another furniture piece in the background.
This is my favorite furniture piece. I think it would look nice with some bead board attached to the back too, maybe painted in a contrasting color.
Very old brick floors and a shiny new Wolf range--this space definitely mixes modern elements with the old.
This is the third antique piece which is obviously used as the bar. If you will, notice the wood beams in the mirror. My clients and I are very pleased with the end result in this kitchen. I have never been fond of just putting boxes on the walls and floor, and am certainly glad that that is not the case here. I am so happy for my clients. It would be a dream to have the opportunity to live in the French Quarter, especially in a place as beautiful as The Doll House.
The owners opted to leave the walls, fireplaces, and doors of this 1810 home in place, which allowed for a rather choppy kitchen design. The kitchen had a total of 5 doors and a large fireplace that I had to work around. I was actually happy that my client's chose to keep the existing layout. From day one, my client made it clear that she loved a furniture look, wanted stainless steel appliances, and wanted a large island with seating and open storage. I was thrilled when she found 3 beautiful antique hutches at a local urban salvage center. My job was to come up with an island that would house a 3 foot wide Wolf range, a dishwasher, and a sink. After doing several drawings, I came up with the perfect island! The pictures of the room are not the best--the space is so small and I was trying to snap shots around people moving in and out. The picture above shows the Wolf range with a 3"x 3" post on either side with open shelving. The dishwasher is beyond the shelving and the sink is on the opposite side of the range.
I love the antique pieces that she rescued and also the wood beams on the ceiling.
Here is the opposite side from the dishwasher. The white carrara marble overhangs about 9" and offers a place for seating. I love the open storage. (I am sure those shelves will be filled when they actually move in.)
Viewing the room from the copper sink, you can see the fireplace and another furniture piece in the background.
This is my favorite furniture piece. I think it would look nice with some bead board attached to the back too, maybe painted in a contrasting color. 
Very old brick floors and a shiny new Wolf range--this space definitely mixes modern elements with the old.
This is the third antique piece which is obviously used as the bar. If you will, notice the wood beams in the mirror. My clients and I are very pleased with the end result in this kitchen. I have never been fond of just putting boxes on the walls and floor, and am certainly glad that that is not the case here. I am so happy for my clients. It would be a dream to have the opportunity to live in the French Quarter, especially in a place as beautiful as The Doll House.
A Classic Bathroom with a Modern Flair
I found this bathroom at Southernliving.com several months ago and cannot get enough of it. I love it. The traditional cream colored cabinets work perfectly with the stained concrete floor and coppery colored marble.
The stainless edge around the marble countertops adds a modern flair. I think that my favorite thing about this bathroom has to be the criss-cross doors with the mirror inserts. I love how the designer repeated this theme above the mirrors on the wall. It really ties the design together.
The built in linen cabinets are so wonderful. The tall stack of drawers and the open shelving in the middle give the design a furniture feel---and what a perfect place for a television. Can you imagine having this much storage in a bathroom?
The exposed brick walls around the tub are another feature that I am crazy about. The window panes behind the tub are yet another genious way to mix modern with traditional. What a lovely bathroom. I would die to be able to unwind in a space like this.
The stainless edge around the marble countertops adds a modern flair. I think that my favorite thing about this bathroom has to be the criss-cross doors with the mirror inserts. I love how the designer repeated this theme above the mirrors on the wall. It really ties the design together.
The built in linen cabinets are so wonderful. The tall stack of drawers and the open shelving in the middle give the design a furniture feel---and what a perfect place for a television. Can you imagine having this much storage in a bathroom?
The exposed brick walls around the tub are another feature that I am crazy about. The window panes behind the tub are yet another genious way to mix modern with traditional. What a lovely bathroom. I would die to be able to unwind in a space like this.
Photos by Laurey W. Glenn
The article can be found here.
A Kitchen with more than just Cabinets on the Wall
I absolutely love this kitchen. I found the image a while ago while searching google images for some inspiration. Recently, while reading through The Kitchen Designer blog I realized that the author, Susan Serra, designed this kitchen. I am a new daily reader of The Kitchen Designer blog and was so happy to find that Susan designed this kitchen.
I love the classic painted white cabinet with the inset door and the integrated refrigerator section on the right. The wood countertops make the space warm and inviting. The marble on the island is the perfect contrast to the wood. I am most fond of the legs on the island. I have never come across a leg quite like this. I love the simpleness of it, but that it still has a bit of detail.
In Susan's blog entry, she states a few things that she would have done differently. She talks about how she proposed not to do the wall cabinets on either side of the hood. I totally agree with her on this. The hood and tile work are both so substantial, that the wall cabinets kind of take away from it...I think. She also writes that she would have used a natural stone instead of the subway tile. I love how truthful she was with her design differences from her client. This happens to me with every kitchen I design. Designers will always have different ideas from their clients. It is the converging of those ideas and the designer's ablilty to listen to their client that make the overall kitchen design a success.
Check out Susan's blog about this beautiful kitchen. Click here to see some incredible before and after photos.
I love the classic painted white cabinet with the inset door and the integrated refrigerator section on the right. The wood countertops make the space warm and inviting. The marble on the island is the perfect contrast to the wood. I am most fond of the legs on the island. I have never come across a leg quite like this. I love the simpleness of it, but that it still has a bit of detail. In Susan's blog entry, she states a few things that she would have done differently. She talks about how she proposed not to do the wall cabinets on either side of the hood. I totally agree with her on this. The hood and tile work are both so substantial, that the wall cabinets kind of take away from it...I think. She also writes that she would have used a natural stone instead of the subway tile. I love how truthful she was with her design differences from her client. This happens to me with every kitchen I design. Designers will always have different ideas from their clients. It is the converging of those ideas and the designer's ablilty to listen to their client that make the overall kitchen design a success.
Check out Susan's blog about this beautiful kitchen. Click here to see some incredible before and after photos.
A Mysterious Chandelier
I feel so lucky to be able to lay my eyes upon this beautiful wonder each day. My boss inherited this chandelier from a house that he bought and flipped a couple of years ago. The owner of the house told him that it was from a castle in Europe, but no one at the time believed it. In fact, we all believed it was one of Julie Neill's fabulous creations until last week.
Shortly after we hung this chandelier in the new showroom, an antique dealer stopped in to let us know the story behind this historic piece. She actually owned the chandelier at one time and confirmed that it is indeed from a castle in Europe. She believed it should be be back in her hands and said she would pay a pretty penny for it! Well, thank god my boss does not want to sell it. 
I find myself staring at it all day long and day dreaming about the castle that it once resided in. Ohh, it is so exciting to think about the royalty that once looked at this masterpiece and now it is hanging above the most beautiful island in the city!
Shortly after we hung this chandelier in the new showroom, an antique dealer stopped in to let us know the story behind this historic piece. She actually owned the chandelier at one time and confirmed that it is indeed from a castle in Europe. She believed it should be be back in her hands and said she would pay a pretty penny for it! Well, thank god my boss does not want to sell it. 
I find myself staring at it all day long and day dreaming about the castle that it once resided in. Ohh, it is so exciting to think about the royalty that once looked at this masterpiece and now it is hanging above the most beautiful island in the city!
The Most Beautiful Hood and Range Combo
I am so excited about some of the pieces that will be arriving soon that I cannot keep them to myself any longer. The following beauties will be accompanying the marble and tile that I previously posted about. Below is a version of the hood that I will be using in the display. It is a Metallo Arts masterpiece. Metallo also makes metal countertops, ceilings, backsplashes, etc. Ours will not have the fleur-de-lis trim at the top and bottom and it will be ivory instead of gold. You may be wondering why, since the fleur-de-lis is a New Orleans symbol. I love fleur-de-lis, but felt that it was a little too busy for the display.
This will be closer to the color. Ours will have a bit more gold peeping through to match the range that will be below it.
This is the La Cornue Fe, the manufactured less expensive version of the La Cornue. (The blue La Cornue is going in another display---more on that later)
I am so anxious for these pieces to come in. I feel like I need to show everyone how beautiful this is going to be. Keeping them to myself is somewhat greedy. This display will also have a walnut countertop, a vintage finished island, and a surprise from a castle in France!
This will be closer to the color. Ours will have a bit more gold peeping through to match the range that will be below it.
This is the La Cornue Fe, the manufactured less expensive version of the La Cornue. (The blue La Cornue is going in another display---more on that later)
I am so anxious for these pieces to come in. I feel like I need to show everyone how beautiful this is going to be. Keeping them to myself is somewhat greedy. This display will also have a walnut countertop, a vintage finished island, and a surprise from a castle in France! Tile that resembles Water
Our new location is across the street from Stafford Tile & Stone Company, one of the most fabulous tile stores in the state and the south for that matter. Stafford carries lines that include Walker Zanger, Artistic Tile, AKDO, Syzygy, Interstyle, & Oceanside Glass tile. Peggy and her talented staff are all lovely and fun to work with.
The picture below is of a Walker Zanger ceramic tile called MIZU. MIZU means water in Japanese. I fell in love with this tile the moment I first saw it and knew that it would be perfect in one of the displays I designed. We will be using the Field style, which is 2" x 5 1/4".
This beautiful Marble is called Alba Chiara and hopefully it will be the countertop used in the display. The colors are so serene and it looks gorgeous next to the tile. This display is going to be facing Magazine Street and a head turner I hope!
I will be writing about more of the pieces that make up this display soon! Have a wonderful weekend.
The picture below is of a Walker Zanger ceramic tile called MIZU. MIZU means water in Japanese. I fell in love with this tile the moment I first saw it and knew that it would be perfect in one of the displays I designed. We will be using the Field style, which is 2" x 5 1/4".
This beautiful Marble is called Alba Chiara and hopefully it will be the countertop used in the display. The colors are so serene and it looks gorgeous next to the tile. This display is going to be facing Magazine Street and a head turner I hope!
I will be writing about more of the pieces that make up this display soon! Have a wonderful weekend. Kitchens - New Orleans Style
Welcome to The Art of the Kitchen! (My new kitchen design blog.) This will be the place to find beautiful kitchens, backsplashes, and appliances with a little New Orleans flair. With our showroom on the beautiful Magazine Steet nearing completion, I am beginning to become more and more anxious to get back in the groove of designing beautiful kitchens.
This will be my place to share countless pictures of current projects, kitchen trends, classics, tile, beautiful luxury appliances, etc. Also, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by to see our beautiful showroom and for homemade banana bread, cookies, and other treats.
I know that I have posted about this beauty on The Four Leaf Clover, but I could not resist sharing this picture with you. The only difference in the La Cornue that will be making it's home at Artisan is that the trim will be copper. The contrast between the copper trim and summer blue is like candy to the eye. I get chills just thinking about it. Check back soon for photos of the showroom in progress.
This will be my place to share countless pictures of current projects, kitchen trends, classics, tile, beautiful luxury appliances, etc. Also, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by to see our beautiful showroom and for homemade banana bread, cookies, and other treats.
I know that I have posted about this beauty on The Four Leaf Clover, but I could not resist sharing this picture with you. The only difference in the La Cornue that will be making it's home at Artisan is that the trim will be copper. The contrast between the copper trim and summer blue is like candy to the eye. I get chills just thinking about it. Check back soon for photos of the showroom in progress.
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