Blogs

[#1]

It all started with a new couch.  And much like the children’s book, “When you give a mouse a cookie…”, when you let Jill pick out a new couch, she’s going to want a new floor.  And if you let her get a new floor, she’ll probably want new kitchen countertops…and well, I think you get the idea!

We bought our condo at the Jersey shore in 2007.  It was only 5 years old and came furnished. 

The kitchen is galley style, but was pretty narrow.

The colors were actually a little more southwestern in feel, with dusty peaches, corals and soft aqua shades.  

You know I love that southwestern vibe…but for the shore?  I knew one day I’d like to make the house feel more “beachy.”

So, the makeover started with replacing the couch.  I spent hours narrowing down the fabric options…and finally settled on soft blue. It reminded me of the sky on a perfectly clear day.   I thought the yellows and greens were a nice compliment.

 

But once I really looked at this space, I realized, that the color of the couch/pillows weren’t going to look that great with the shabby, sand worn carpets or the warm tones in the kitchen. So I decided to change the floors to a beach inspired driftwood look.

The floors are actually a laminate, so they’re really durable with all the sand, foot traffic and doggie paws that traipse throughout the house.  I absolutely love how much bigger the room looks now that there’s only one cohesive look from end to end. 

  

And remember that reference I made to the warm tones of the kitchen not working with the couch?  Yep, we decided to redesign the kitchen too.  Oh…that couch was a trouble maker!

Here’s when I really had fun…and put a lot of thought into colors, textures and the overall feel I wanted for our home.  

I sampled a lot of paint colors….I finally settled on Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Gray (I took it as a sign from the universe, given that I grew up hanging out on Balboa Island, California!)  It reminded me of early, hazy mornings and stormy skies.  

I fell in love with these light fixtures the minute I saw them.  They had me at hello.  I feel like I’ve stolen a Mermaid’s treasure…a sea shell made from sea glass.  For as simple as I wanted the kitchen to be, it needed a WOW!  These are just fabulous!

Speaking of fabulous….I may just love these tiles as much as the light fixtures.  Did you notice how the shape of the tile is similar to the pendant lights?  There wasn’t a large area of backsplash to cover, so I wanted something really special.  I found it!

So…..are you ready for the big reveal?????

Tah dah!!!  Welcome to my happy place!!  Anchored in shades of blue, gray and white, I tried to combine comfy with rustic, chic with beach….let’s call it Jill’s Coastal Rustic Chic!   What I really love when I look at this room is the various textures, from the softness of the couch to the stone top of the coffee table to the lattice design on the rug…lots to look at and easy to plop down and relax.

  

Here’s my new kitchen…we kept the galley style, but opened it up by widening it by a foot and by wrapping cabinets all the way around.  We also moved the sink into the corner, giving me more prep space.  I chose a solid surface countertop by Cambria…it mimic the look of marble, but is so much more practical.

Did you happen to notice the small statue of dancing bears over the microwave?  That’s Doug’s contribution to this makeover.  He’s a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and found this statue at one of the shops on the Boardwalk.  He let me do whatever I wanted during this project…I had to give in somewhere!

I’m also proud that pieces, like this console, are part of my home.  I helped design this piece…not with the beach house in mind, but when I brought it down, realized it’s perfect and exactly what this space needed!  If you like it, it’s still available.  

It’s the perfect spot to add those little touches that make your house a home - like that flameless candle lantern.

I did the same thing in this small spot by the slider out to the deck.

  

I love sitting around this table when we have friends staying with us.  Although we sit outside a lot, it’s always nice to sit down to a nicely set table with friends.

Here are just a few more pics of the overall space….I’m still on a quest to find new kitchen counter stools….I’ve debated recovering these…it’s the last thing to do!

Did you notice I changed my mind on the pillows?  I’ll probably use the original green/yellow pillows this summer, but I really love the deep navy contrast against the chambray blue.

So there you have it!  I hope you’ve enjoyed looking at how this little mouse was given a cookie, and received a refrigerator filled with milk!!  Ha!  It’s been a wonderful process and I’m very proud every time I look around.  It was a labor of love, for sure…and speaking of love, here’s my motto:

 

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  What are your plans?  Here’s a clue as to where I’m spending the weekend…  :-)

 

xoxo,

JB

I love my new console and if you find yourself wanting to do a little re-decorating, check HERE for inspiration!