Bella Dimora "Beautiful Dwelling"

Kitchen island and wall

2009-10-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, finally we are almost done with our mini kitchen remodel, the island is in place and the wall is gone. Lots of work, still need to install the gas cooktop and we will be done. Here are some pictures of the new space.

Here is the new larger island (78") to be exact, as you look from the dining area. It is truly the center of our kitchen, usually you can find Kenz doing homework here.

This is the view sitting at the island, the wall has been removed and now it is our breakfast/sitting area. We moved our formal dining room off the kitchen in the sunroom. What a difference this space makes, it opened up everything, and the new dining room is fabulous!

That is the buffet that I re-purposed about a year ago, I got it for a whopping $20.00 at a yard sale! Repaired, sanded, painted glazed added new hardware and now it is perfect!

I am in the process of renovating an old, old, dresser/bureau for my den, I will post later this week, in the mean time, stay warm and enjoy the great fall weather!

Kelli

Moving, Moving, Moving

2009-10-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, its official, I am exhausted! Went to Atlanta for the weekend to help my oldest move into her new house, got back at midnight sunday night and then went Tuesday to Lexington to help our second daughter move. I haven't painted until the wee hours of the morning for a long time, not something I want to repeat anytime soon. But good news, I am done for awhile! Time to get back on track here at our casa! I am reworking our kitchen island this weekend, making it larger and more of a central point in our kitchen. Here are some inspiration photo's to ponder while I work!

Wait and see what we come up with on Monday!!

Kelli

Football Season

2009-09-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Conversation this week with my sweet husband:

Hubs: Honey, I need to talk to you.
Me: Okay, whats up?
Hubs: Well you know its mid September,
Me: Yeah, I know, its almost fall
Hubs: Well, it means football is starting
Me: Oh god!
Hubs: I love you and I will miss you
Me: You need professional help
Hubs: Yes, both the college and professional seasons are starting
Me: Seriously
Hubs: God bless America
He then saluted me and walked towards that family room and the big screen television, I think I saw tears in his eyes.

Now don't get me wrong I love football, especially if the University of Kentucky is playing.

Here is the photo of my family playing football last thanksgiving. I am a fan. But this conversation means only one thing, those weekend projects that I have planned are off the table until the season is over. So I am on my own for the next few months. I know it will make him crazy, but I am planning to knock a wall out next week! Football might have a season, but designing and decorating is year round!!
Go Cats!

Kelli

Earthy Casual

2009-09-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Yep, I took the Homegoods quiz on my style and here is what they say about my decorating style:

Kelli, you are an Earthy Casual

You're interested in creating a welcoming home where people feel comfortable and happiness flourishes. You appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly. And you are never taken in by the trend of the moment.
You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

Wow pretty accurate! So here is my latest "earthy casual" project! I went to the Habitat Store in Nashville and found these great frames for $3.00, a little paint, some great photographs (thanks Layla and Kevin at the Lettered Cottage), and new art for my entry walls!

They are great chunky frames, just the wrong color and style for me, so a little paint, and here we go ..........

Just perfect. Love the detail on these frames, and they look wonderful with the great black and white pic's.

I am off to the big UK vs. U of L game, go cats!!! Have a great weekend.

Kelli

Did someone say storage?

2009-09-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I found another great gem this last week, a great old buffet, solid wood, and a wonderful storage piece. Perfect for linens, phonebooks, kid stuff, wrapping paper, .... well you get my drift. This sweet piece was used for years by a darling school teacher who just replaced it with a new storage piece. All it needed was a little face lift. Here is how it looked when I picked it up.

I installed all new drawer rails and stops and put on a new back, removed all the hardware, and then sanded, painted, glazed and finished with two coats of poly.

What a great transformation with just a little hard work. Here is my buffet today.

It just makes me smile when I walk by it in my living room. The robin's egg blue with a smoky brown glaze just looks peaceful to me.

Hope each of you find something in your day that just makes you smile, as for me I've got a great old dresser sitting in my garage that is screaming to be renovated and revitalized!

Kelli

The Hutch is Done!!

2009-09-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well, its been alot of sanding, painting, sanding again, staining, etc. but the Hutch is finally finished and ready for its trip to Atlanta and its new home. You remember what it looked like when I first got it, if not here is a reminder....

And now, with a lot of sweat, this $30.00 find is now really a gem. Hope you like it B!

I think it will be a great addition for my daughter's new dining room, the fleur de lis is so she will be reminded of her hometown, our city symbol, when she looks at it! The back is beadboard with a apple green paint and a tabacco glaze, the rest of hutch is painted black, distressed and then I glazed it as well.

Just goes to show you what a difference paint and a little imagination can make!

Kelli

It's official, I'm a gardener!

2009-09-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well, just as Shirley MacLaine stated in Steel Magnolias, "I'm a southern woman, we grow tomatoes, its what we do!" I have tried for the last three years to grow tomatoes, no luck, that is until this year. I don't know if it was the torrential rain we have had or the lack of days over 90 degrees, all I know it that I have cherry tomatoes, peppers and basil galore!

So far not an evening has gone by when I haven't used some of these beauties in our dinner! Any while I found out that I am gardener, I found my 14 year old daughter to be quite the photographer!

I am making tons of pesto and freezing it for winter, as well as tomatoes. Still working on what to do with all the peppers, not sure I can freeze them. In the mean time I am loving my small garden, maybe next year watermelon! A gal has to dream!

Kelli

New Hardwood Flooring

2009-08-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Finally! We are installing new hardwood in our den! When we moved in the den had a pine floor that was stained very dark and was in terrible shape. I whitewashed the pine for a temporary fix and to lighten the room. Well as of tonight we have started installing the new flooring which is beautiful! It will definitely take us a few more nights to finish, but it already looks better!

I will post pictures when it is done. On the hutch front, it is coming along nicely, and I got a great suggestion from my sister and her co-workers in Atlanta about accent colors, which I love. So by Monday I will post the finished product. Believe me when I say it will look great......I'll keep you posted.

Kelli

Hutch Renovation Continues. . .

2009-08-26T04:41:00.001-07:00

Well I have the hutch disassembled and sanded, now I have to install beadboard in the back and begin priming. My daughter, B and I are still trying to decide on accent colors on this piece. Of course this is all done by phone since she lives in Atlanta. Thought I would post a few pictures of some great painted furniture pieces just to give an idea of what we are trying to achieve with this hutch.

I love the tone of this piece, but I love green. I actually walked around my house trying to decide if I had anything I could paint this color!

Again, I love the open shelving!

And, ofcourse, I love black! It makes this piece such a focal point. Well enjoy, and know while you go about your day I will be sanding!

Kelli

Check out this renovation!

2009-08-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage finally unveiled her new home, Cottage 8, if you want to see a major transformation check her blog out. It will inspire everyone. And check out her refrigerator, genius.

Enjoy,

Kelli

Bathroom Renovation

2009-08-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary in our home! Before we moved in we painted, removed carpet, refinished hardwood floors and painted out all the kitchen cabinets. And that pace has continued during our two year tenure. We have worked quite abit on the outside (I will post pictures later) and it is starting to really take shape. One of our most recent renovations is the hall bath. Two words that should scare any homeowners with eyes to renovate "Plaster Walls"! We took the bathroom down to stud, and took out the dated tile floor, which included 3" of concrete underneath that we had to remove. Let's just say the sledge hammer I have complete respect for! Here is a picture of the bath right before we closed. Note: the cat and furnishing belong to the prior owner, You gotta love the ivy wallpaper.

And now, here is our bath! Actually, here is our daughter's bath! Same footprint totally different look.

We painted her new vanity in apple green with a tobacco glaze, that coordinated with the shower tile.

We have ordered a clear glass door for the shower and then the room is done.

Here is a close up of the glass tile in the shower. Also below is the cabinets across from the sink. What a difference trim and a fresh coat of paint make!

We still have two other bathrooms to renovate, but we are waiting until the memories of this renovation fade just alittle, in the mean time we are getting ready to knock out the wall between the kitchen and dining room!! I can't wait!

Kelli

Renovating a Hutch

2009-08-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well my oldest daughter is buying her first home!! So exciting! So I found this great old hutch, well not really old, but really dated. This sweet thing just does not fit into her decorating style, so I am renovating it to work in her new home. Tune in later to see the finished product!!