Kitchen Corner

My favorite little corner in my kitchen.

That is all.

M.LEWIS

Dining Tablescape

Past Easter, I am not one for a lot of pastels. When I was younger I would bug my mom about how she needed more color in her house, now that I am older, I understand why she didn't go "color crazy." While I love integrating tone, texture, hues, and materials, I do tend to stay within a color bubble. When I can balance all these things in one space, you do not feel like you are in a bland, boring, colorless space. Which brings me back to pastels. Pastels are awesome for Easter. I love the pale rainbow colors in the flowers, the eggs...but after Easter is over everything pastel just looks a bit too much like candy.

I am really liking blending in more greenery lately; but it has to be the right type of greenery. Nothing dated-looking and bulky, I like simple, small, and no color. Green and white are my picks after Easter. It will last through the summer and it won't clash with anything else in the room.

My latest trip to Michael's help me bring my vision into fruition. Yes, I cheated a bit on my main love, Hobby Lobby, but to be honest, Michael's options just worked better for me this time around.

I stuck with my true favorites. Wrought iron, wood, linen, mercury glass, and green and white plants. I even found a small easel chalkboard/dry erase board that I can use for anything. The glass, the wood, the table runner, and the candlesticks I already had from earlier this year. The wood basket crate, the pottery, and the greenery were all purchased for this setup. Total: $36 after coupons, sales, and including tax.

Not boring, not fussy, just simple and comfortable. My kind of table setup!

M.LEWIS

The Lighting Switch Out

I have been in the process of adding my personal touches to our house lately. Taking out some builder grade features and replacing them with items that have a bit more character and more in line with my style. As always, the budget is a big factor is choosing said items. Lighting is something that I have been tackling at the moment.

The builder lighting package wasn't bad, I was perfectly fine with their picks...until I could fine tune things. Shopping online in the evening was how I was finding my new lights. I did check out the store, but most of what I liked was never stocked, so ordering online seemed inevitable...but with free to-the-store returns, I had nothing to lose.

First I tackled the kitchen pendant island lights.

I love the industrial touches in decor, especially in kitchens...this is as "industrial" as I go. They original lights blended into the cabinets and were very bright. We have a lot of can lights in the kitchen (as you can see) and the pendants just overwhelmed the space. I would turn on only one set at a time. These new lights concentrate the light downward, making the island/breakfast bar a softer space, making a comfortable glow. I can turn on the can lights at the same time and not feel blinded. Here is the link for the new pendant lights!

BUY HERE

After the island/breakfast bar, I wanted to replace the kitchen table light. The original light always looked a little odd to me. I think it was the glass shades pointing down that threw me. It just looked awkward.

Outdated picture as far as the wall decor goes, but all you need is the original light fixture for reference

Again, it wasn't terrible, so I decided I would change it out once I got a feel for the space. Once the other lights were in, I really want to switch this one out! With my coffee bar on the back wall, I knew I didn't want anything to big, heavy, or overly-stylized. I like cage lights, and orb lights, but this just wasn't the space for one.

Examples:

I also have the added difficulty of wanting (in my opinion, NEEDING) nickel lighting. While I could possibly get away with iron lighting in the dining room or entry hall, the kitchen table is (logically) next to the kitchen where the new nickel pendant lights hang. The table area needs to match in my mind. Guess what? Finding the style I like, in the color I need, in my price range, proved to be a chore. I started liking a new style. Bare candle chandeliers, and shade candle chandeliers.

Examples:

Now, finding one in nickel was still hard. Not just nickel, brushed nickel. I finally found one I liked with a price I was happy with.

BUY HERE

I installed it, and loved the look. The simple lines didn't make the space feel over-decorated, and it blended with the pendant lights without being to "matchy-matchy."

One issue. We went from a 3 light fixture to a 5 light fixture. Suddenly there was a mighty glow over the table that illuminated half the downstairs (probably not...it just felt like it). Well, since I liked the shaded chandeliers as well, I decided to find some shades. I settled on these.

BUY HERE

I liked the fact that the burlap material on the shade made the light more casual, the space less "fancy."

I really have enjoyed the new chandelier and the shades...and the light output is appropriate for the space.

I am done with lighting changes for awhile. The next fixtures I want to change are in the entry hall and those lights will require paying for install. (I am in no way entertaining the idea of changing heavy lights in a 2-story tall hallway.) This lighting change will wait for this reason. This gives me plenty of time to shop...and to replenish the design fund.

What I learned from this adventure: Small changes, such as lights, can make a big difference in design and in the "feel" of the room; and more importantly,  I can successfully change out electrical fixtures without electrocuting myself or starting a fire. Yay! ;-)

Grand total for new fixtures (including price cuts and sales & adding tax): $325

M.LEWIS

Corbels

I love corbels. Wood, scrolls, vintage, chippy paint...I love them all. I even added them to the exterior of my house. Use as bookends, decorative accents, or attach to a corner in need of some flare; corbels are great to have around. I found a small company that makes the prettiest corbels, but alas, they are all sold out for awhile and need time to make more inventory. This was disappointing. Then, I found a pair that looked remarkably similar...and a bit cheaper! (Always a plus.)

I got them and they are everything I was hoping for. Now, I have spent up my "design budget" for awhile (no regrets), so I will focus on DIY projects for awhile...but let's awe over these corbels!

Made of solid wood 8" X 4" X 10" BUY HERE

New Additions

Love, love, love these new items!

A post box beside my front door. BUY HERE 

A collection of items on my bookcase at the end of the stairs. The tiered stand, The bird clock, and The wooden beads can be bought on their respective links.

Welcome!

I have decided to open a new section to my blog. While I have my general life blog, and my "kids say the darndest things" blog, I felt I needed a place to post my design and DIY projects away from my other blog. Whether I make it, buy it, or am inspired by it, I want to share it all with you here. It is a work in progress so please be patient with me and don't expect too much right off the bat; but I do hope to be active with this section and share what makes me happy in hopes it will make others happy too. :)

UPDATE: I have copied and posted some recent decor posts from Living the Lewis Lifestyle to this blog, but with the original post dates. So browse around and enjoy!