The look of love...

photo: Country Home magazine

I was browsing through the latest issue of Canadian House and Home magazine, and one home, in particular appealed to me. I was very happy to see a gorgeous home that exuded a feeling of true down-to earth, old-fashioned house pride. I got the feeling that the homeowners truly loved their home, and made the most of each and every corner, without necessarily choosing the best of the best, or what was recommended by a designer.

I think we are very hard on our homes. We nitpick and make to-do lists, and come up with ways to improve it... and yet never seem to be truly satisfied. Can you imagine if we treated our spouses this way? Sure, we make jokes about our messy/slow/stubborn/spendthrift/corny/snoring husbands (and no, I'm not describing my husband), but we overlook those traits because we know we ourselves aren't perfect, and we expect them to love us! Our poor houses, though, they suffer from our critical eyes and biting criticism nearly every day.

I say, we should let up on our homes a bit, and stand back and make a mental list of what we love about them. Perhaps it's the front stoop where we watch our children ride their bikes, or the pretty mailbox we finally splurged on. It can be the kitchen table where we eat good food, laugh at each other's jokes, or help our children with their homework. Perhaps your favourite house trait is the fact that your hot water tank allows you to fill a nice deep tub each night, or maybe it's the view of your backyard as you stand at the kitchen sink. You don't have to have granite counters to bake a favourite pie in your kitchen; nor do you have to have a huge master bedroom to enjoy a good lie-in on a weekend morning. Even your drafty, old windows can be beautiful if the view out of them is pleasant, and who needs a big yard if you live on a quiet street?

I love that line from the song, "If you can't be... with the one you love, honey...love the one you're with". I think it should apply to our homes every now and then. Turn over that to-do list, and sit in your favourite room and be thankful for the walls around you. Surround yourself with items that mean something to you - your children's art, a handmade blanket, your favourite collections, the people you love. I'm not saying you should surrender your home improvement goals, but simply take a break from wishful thinking. After all, if we tried to change our spouses as much as we try to change our homes, we'd never notice their good points, would we? And all of a sudden, we might not look as rosy, either...

before...after...
all photos: Country Home

Living at the Island...

photo source: www.cottageliving.com

A kitchen without an island is no place to be, apparently. At least that's the impression I get when I talk to any client planning a kitchen reno. A (big) island is always tops on their wish list, and who am I to disagree? In fact, I wanted a kitchen island so badly a few years back, that I requested one for my tenth wedding anniversary. My husband had always planned to make us one, but there always seemed to be something more pressing that required his carpentry skills, that the island always seemed less important. Once I finally got mine, I wondered how I ever lived without it!

Because we hadn't the room for a large island, I designed ours with every desired function in mind. It has two drawers to keep our spices and awkwardly shaped utensils like our nutcracker, lobster tools, tongs, etc. I also incorporated two shelves which hold baskets to store our potatoes and apples. Two lower cupboards with shelves house my bread machine, which is so clunky and big, and all of my party supplies, napkins, seasonal dishes and crock pot. I always wanted it to look like an old-fashioned candy counter, so my husband built it with vintage style in mind. We used old pine lumber for the top, which we salvaged from an old property we used to live on, and while it is too small to realistically sit at it for meals, I love my island for preparing the kids' lunches, and for when we host buffet style meals (which are my trademark).

Would I want a larger island if space permitted? Well, technically, I suppose...but my island was made as a gift for me to mark a special time in my life, and therefore is more than just an island to me. It is another gift from my talented husband, and is a symbol of a mantra that we have lived our entire married lives by: live off your skills and talents where possible and make the most of that which you have. Then, fill in the gaps as you can afford it.

No way will my island become a deserted island...

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Here are some photos of beautiful islands that take pride of place in their respective kitchens:

photo: source unknown

photo: Ballard designs

Technically, this is not actually an island, but who cares? This picture is for those who cannot fit an island into their kitchen. With this pretty set-up, who needs one?!!

photo: Cottage Chic Store

photo above and below: source unknown

photo: Martha Stewart.com

The following photos are all from www.countryhome.com

This island is my all-time favourite!!