Urban Farmhouse Reveal: The Kitchen

Hi Everyone. It's been a while since I posted about our Urban Farmhouse project. I finally went out to LA toward the end of last year and finished up the accessorizing and styling and shot the house for my portfolio. Now it's time to share.  First up is the kitchen. I absolutely LOVE how it turned out and am more than a little jealous of my clients' space.  If you recall here is the design plan from way back when. We switched out our satin brass knobs and pulls for chrome down the line, but otherwise it has remaind pretty much the same from the get go.

And here are some shots of the final product including polished chrome custom hardware from my Nest Studio Facets Collection.  I love the bespoke high-end look that the long pulls give and I am totally digging the waterfall edge on the island the two tone cabinets.  And it's especially fun to see when a sketch like the one above translates so well to the actual final product!

Stay tuned next week when I show you the living / dining space!

Postmod: Tablescapes for Kids of All Sizes

Another article went up yesterday for Postmodyrn.  You can check it out here (as well as all of their other great articles about fashion, lifestyle post kiddos).  And here it is:

Well the Holidays have descended upon us and we’re in the depths of work holiday parties, get-togethers with friends, and family Christmas gatherings.  This year we opted for the pre-lit faux tree and garland which I have to say, cut our decorating time in half.  With two little ones at home, forgoing the real tree smell and ambiance was a sacrifice I was willing to make for safety and efficiency purposes.  The glass balls are staying in the Rubbermaid box this year (and probably the couple Christmases after) and the more delicate ornaments are hung up high.  

 When it comes to entertaining, I like to keep the festive spirit alive but use kid-friendly decorations and items that aren’t so holiday specific that they can’t be used at other times of year. I’ve put together a Big Kid table for us adults and a fun table for the wee ones that keep entertaining easy but definitely maintain the festive factor.

For the “Big Kids” this year we are going holiday rustic.  A centerpiece composed of various bottles and jars painted white (use white paint on the inside to keep it from peeling), red faux berries and pinecones keeps it simple and doesn’t require watering.  For the place settings, pinecone place cards echo the theme and are something you can collect with the kids in the days before your gathering. Vintage red enamel dishes are durable and give a little campy flavor to your fete while gold flatware and patterned glasses add a touch of un-fussy glam.    Block-printed linen napkins from Etsy contribute to the rustic feel and are appropriate at any time of year.  And on top of each plate we like to give each guest a little goody wrapped in craft paper, baker’s twine and a home-made snowflake (again a great craft project for the kids).  A star garland adds a touch of sparkle and could easily be re-used for the fourth of July.  And don’t forget the cocktails! A rustic bar cart allows guests to serve themselves and a collection of blankets invite people to cozy up by the fire (I love this one from Pendelton – it’s such a classic and looks fabulous on a bed). 

For the Wee Ones we like to keep it fun and spill-proof.  Cover the table in craft paper and put out receptacles of crayons to keep those little hands occupied (I love using vintage containers or creating something fun like these bark covered tins).  For the place settings, colorful melamine plates and plastic handled flatware are durable and can be used at any time (the key is keep things graphic but not commit to a specific image like a Christmas tree or train or character like Dora).  Give the kids cloth napkins and see if they feel “fancy” (these are IKEA dishtowels and at 50 cents a pop are totally kid-worthy).  Mason jar glasses with straws make sure cider stays off the furniture and floors.  For kids favors, I like to use fun soft felt or knit animal ornaments that they can take home and hang on the tree.  Felt balls and garland in poppy colors hung above the table add to the festive feel but are also useable for other occasions. 

Hopefully I’ve inspired some of you to do a little pre-get-together decorating.  By using items that can function for every day or at least for other occasions holiday decorating becomes much less daunting and more fun.  Just remember that you are by no-means tied to doing everything red and green and ridden with holly.  Use a pop of yellow, hot pink or lime green to make things more modern and fun. And remember red items can be re-purposed for Valentines Day, the Fourth of July or any other gathering that requires a dose of heat. The holidays can be so daunting but if you keep things simple and kid friendly (and let’s be honest, adult-with-cocktail friendly too!) everyone will be impressed by how put-together you are and all you will have to worry about come party time is what to wear and where to order your food from ;)

Source pictures, Big Kids:  French jars // Gold flatware // Star garland // Beveled glassware // Blanket // Bar cart // Snowflake craft box // Red enamel plates // Printed napkin // Pinecone place card holders

Source pictures, Wee Ones: Ceramic crayon jars // Felt garland // Mason jar cup // Kids’ flatware // Graphic plate // Bark crayon jar // Felt ornaments // Felt ball ornaments // Tea towel

Graphics by Cori Magee

DESIGN BLUEPRINT: Holiday Mod

Not all of us can be as lucky to celebrate the holidays with a scenery like this, but we can at least dream....

I came across this house, and like I often do, I had to imagine how I would entertain for the holidays in a farmhouse like this. 

Casual and comfortable, but always modern, is the way I would go. The most important things would be staying warm and catching up with friends and family. The table decor would be fun, with lots of personality.

 

Here's what I have in mind...

DESIGN BLUEPRINT:

Factory Light / Schoolhouse Electric

Placecard Holder / Crate & Barrel

String Candle Holder / Ferm Living

Dining Table / Pottery Barn

Table Runner / Crate & Barrel

Napkins / Crate & Barrel

Salad Plates / Crate & Barrel

Pitcher / Leif

Gray Side Chair / Dot & Bo

Black Armchair / Dot & Bo

Area Rug / Habitat

Inspiration image / Mittliv Palandet

 

- Cori

 

Bryan's Birthday

I've been really bad lately about writing personal posts, relying mostly on my guest bloggers. That said, I know you guys love seeing what is going on at Nest Studio and in my own nest so I'm going to try a little harder. Most recently, we celebrated Bryan's third birthday. I can't believe that little guy is three. He is as obsessed (if not more so) with trains this year as he was last year so I decided to just go ahead and roll with it and do a train themed party again. That said, with a new baby and less time, I did a lot more outsourcing than I did last year at Bryan's second birthday, relying on Etsy for decorations (banner, welcome sign and toppers here and other cupcake toppers here) and friends and local food vendors for refreshments.  Here are some photos of the event.

Paperless post invite that set the theme.

And of course some action shots.

DESIGN BLUEPRINT: urban country

Do you love country style living, but you're a modern city girl at heart? Don't worry, there's a design solution for this. In fact, there's always a design solution for mixing styles.

This dining room, found on Studio Paterakis, is the ideal result of pairing modern and country style dining rooms. It's chic, yet comfortable.

Mid century modern chairs, plus the all-white palette help ground the space in a modern aesthetic. While the trestle style table, banquet seating and pitcher vase make this room perfect for casual Summertime meals, year-round! 

You can also spice it up with cool lighting to add a finishing touch.

DESIGN BLUEPRINT

Framed Art /

a. Restoration Hardware

b. Restoration Hardware

Chandelier / MGBW Home

Pitcher / Target

Table / Blu Dot

Chair /  Dot & Bo

Banquet Bench / Sears

 

- Cori

 

Stylin' Mamma: A Little Shot o' Somethin'

My last several posts have reflected the mood of the summer, which has been road-trip-tastic and comfortable.  But every Stylin' Mamma needs a break from cutoffs and Birks, so before we head to Tahoe next week for the big summer vacay (read: two weeks alternating between swimsuits and running shorts) I'm planning to hit the happy hour circuit with my husband for a Friday date night.

We do the happy hour date thing about every two weeks, and I oscillate between jeans & beers and martinis & heels.  This week I'm feeling the need for a shot o' glamour and methinks these graphic heels are just the way to set the mood.

A shoe like this needs little embellishment; if the weather cooperates then a silky tank and frayed white jeans will do the trick (I don't know why, but ripped jeans are speaking to me this season). Because I never met big jewelry I didn't covet, I'll throw on a big sculptural necklace to pull it all together.

Of course, this be San Francisco, meaning a lightweight trench is ALWAYS in order (grr), and in case we can't find a seat I'll bring a bag with a long strap to keep hands free for my cocktail.  If time permits, maybe I'll even find a way to squeeze in a mod mani beforehand (ha!).  

Date night AND a manicure?  Hey, mommy can dream.

 

- Jaime

Dining Room Sneak Peek

The area that I think has changed the most in the past couple of weeks prior to our Woman's Day shoot has been the dining room.  At the last minute we managed to install drapery and hardware and get my table painted a nice subtle minty green. Also added a bar cart from Ballard Designs for good measure.  Here is  the table in progress between coats (I sanded, primed, sanded, painted, sanded, and painted again).

I used a high gloss alkyd oil based paint from Ben Moore. Granted the brush strokes show a little still and there was some necessary scraping post shoot to make sure the leaves didn't stick together, but it seems like it's holding up and the color really brightens up the room.

Don't you love the new doggie drapes that my friend Meredith and I designed on spoonflower?  I'd found a Dwell Studio fabric I liked but the colors and animals and scale were wrong for the room so we did our own version. Bryan loves dogs and has had a great time barking at the new drapes.

And here is the fabulous Ballard bar cart under my snuff bottles (I think the Pooh Bear wet wipes really up the ante as far as styling goes)

Jess's Fetes: When I Was Born

The talented Jess Houlemard is back today with a baby shower she threw inspired by the Portuguese children’s book “When I  Was Born”. The book is about the exploration of a child’s first discoveries through senses.  For the decor, Jess stuck with bright red, orange, yellow, green, and a background of black and white, with rustic and textural accents. Here is the story board Jess put together for the event:

And here are the photos from the event itself (I love the creative use of an old palette!):

Thanks for sharing Jess!
 

Party Design by Jessica Houlemard

Floral Design by Scarlet Flowers. 

Photography: Robert Vega 

Cupcake and Cake Desserts: Made by friends Christina Ellison and Jessica Houlemard.

Brooklyn Crab

Today my good friend Lizzy is here giving us a little dose of Brooklyn. Scott and I loved Brooklyn when we lived there, but now with a baby and a need for more space and better schools, we're making the Jersey migration (also those crazy intense Park Slope moms scare me a bit!). But that doesn't mean that we can't make the occasional jaunt through the tunnels and over the bridges to get our Brooklyn fix.  Lizzy recently turned me on to Brooklyn Crab which sounds like such a fun place.  I'm looking forward to trying it before the end of the summer.  Take it away Lizzy:

The other weekend a group of us decided to take a little Brooklyn Bike Adventure. Setting off from Williamsburg we rode south to Brooklyn Crab, the recently opened shellfish lovers mecca, nestled on the water's edge in rehabilitated Red Hook. The crab shack stands three stories high above the East River providing scenic views of the Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island, and lower Manhattan.  When you arrive the bustle of the city immediately escapes you, and you are taken to a local beach-side watering hole where you smell the salt water and the fresh catch in the air.  The host jots your name down and casually mentions it will be a few hours, then gives you the run down on the shack's amenities.  Bar to the left, mini-golf and corn-hole in the back yard; we will call your cell when you're up!  We walk away confused and excited, head to the bar, grab a beer and absorb.  The bar's windows are fully open shutters providing unobstructed views south and east.  Families, old, young, hipsters, and Hamptonites are meshed together like a large dysfunctional family enjoying Sunday dinner and one another's company.  A few beers and hours later, we we're seated.  Shortly thereafter our patient and helpful waitress entices us with a Bloody Mary.  The Old Bay infused Bloody is topped with none other than the oyster of the day.  Of course!  The menu is full of raw, steamed, baked, and fried deliciousness.  When heading to the shack I recommend taking a few pals, ordering family style, and plan on a wait, so pack a snack for those hungry husbands.  Leave Brooklyn and the city behind, take in the fresh food, the casual atmosphere and enjoy the little shack in Red Hook.

Wanelo Anchor Scarf, Joe Fresh Boatneck Tee, Joe Fresh Vintage Denim Short, Wanderlust Bracelet, Original Sperry Top Siders, Bike Basket, Public Bike, World Market rope door stop, Anchor Stationery,

- Lizzy

Mickey D's gone upscale

Moving to LA has made me appreciate a good burger. Burgers seem to be ubiquitous with the land of sunshine and automobiles.  LA is home to In-N-Out, Tommy's, Father's Office, Umami Burger, the Bucket, and Oinkster to name just a few of the low and high brow options that abound in our city.  McDonald's, the chain who really brought the burger to the rest of the world, has stiff competition in the City of Angels.

 McDonald's of yore courtesy of Flickr

That said, in France McDonald's must compete with other more refined cuisine and the French propensity to linger over a meal. "Fast" food is certainly a bit counter to what the French palate is all about.  Enter the new French McDonald's designed by Patrick Norguet and located in Villefranche-de-Lauragais.  The Atlantic recently published some images of the new concept and I have to say, it's pretty compelling. 

I'd give it a whirl.  Then again, if I found the same food that McDonald's is known for everywhere (and it is this consistency of product that made McDonald's what it is) I'd be pretty disappointed.  Maybe an upscaling of the menu is in order as well.  Deep frying their french fries in duck fat or olive oil perhaps?