The foyer.
View from the back.
And now....drum roll please
Ma cuisine.
Little touches ( I used ever last square inch).
See in there....in the corner? My very first and favorite cookbook.
Ever.
Little tea sets - brought back from China.
And my favorite - purchased quickly and oh -so -guiltily from a tea house in Beijing.
(I could stare at that chubby shape all day.)
Ahem.....for those of you who need a potty break....or just a break....you are excused. I know this is long but it is my one and only last renovation so I'm showing it all.
Drawers, drawers and more drawers.
Love, love, love!!!
I'm in love with my faucet.
My kitchen is not big - but I like it that way. I'm a solo cook and everything is within arms or a few steps reach. So get out of my way 'cause I can fly.
And my diningroom is very large so this size kitchen is perfect for me/us.
And the (old library) now family room - connected so I can see everything and we can all be together. Walls and closets and a powder room were removed and re-located to get this view.
And I spend a fair amount of time just staring and grinning.
All CD's and DVD's and toys and games are tucked away. Just my beloved books hold center stage. We use to have our piano in here too. We sold it (along with a whack of recording equipment) and bought a little beauty which I'll reveal later. It's in the loft - where we lived for the better part of 3 months - so there's no way any human eyes will see that cacophonous area except us for awhile.
Did I mention I love my books?
(This is about a quarter of them. I gave/threw away about half of what I originally had in this room and we have book cases in the loft, my art studio, and Dan's office too. And Dahlia's collection is....ummm.......pretty big and growing.
I know....you don't have to say it!))
My all-time favorite book is on this shelf. Can you guess?
Ta-da!
I don't know why....I just loved this book. Period.
Well, that's it! I still have to finish up the powder room and a few other things which I'll show later. (That is if you're into powder rooms.)
:)
And to all those who have sympathized and waited patiently - thank you.
And if you're renovating....well....God bless you!
And may the force be with you.
Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!)
We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home.
This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God.
My (growing) family.
Hangin' out with my girlies.
My wonderful friends (you know who you are!).
To laugh (out loud and a lot!).
Music.
Painting. Hugs.
Long chats with my buds.
My garden.
To read (ha...when I can!).
Sunshine.
Spring, Spring and more Spring.
Building things.
Cooking.
Decorating.
Parties (ahem).
The internet.
Life.
Movies. A.I.
Dancing with the stars.
So you think you can dance.
Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off.
Oh Gee...everything actually!!
37 comments:
LOVE IT!!! Beautiful and I love how the faucet seems to have a halo around it lol!! Is that your own beautiful art work on the walls?? It is just stunning and I can just imagine how happy you must be to have that behind you now (almost). Love the cabinets and fixtures and flowers and well just everything :)
Wow! What I wouldn't give to have such a cohesive and functional and BEAUTIFUL living space. It's so peaceful as well.
Congratulations!
I love all the attention to detail. You have clearly defined your style. Even your blog matches your home. Your book collection is amazing.
My favorites are the modern twisty drawer handles. Very cool!
Wow Wanda... you really out did yourself! It's beautiful. I too have a small kitchen and love it. I swore when we had it renovated that would be the last... except for the master bedroom and bath. Then that would definitely be the last! ;-)
I love how you have all the built in bookcases for your beloved books. Everything has its place. Just the way I would like it.
You really designed it well and have your special touches everywhere. So glad you shared it with us.
Your kitchen is stylish, charming, inviting and innovative! As are all the spaces you gave us peeks into ~ and did I mention they are all lovely and fairly scream chic yet warm!
I see you in all the creative, artistic flaired elements and I spot your hand in all the clever corners, niches and elements of design. I could linger over that kitchen faucet btw. :)
Wanda, its just stunning...all of it down to the bursting bouquet of blooms and crips green apples filling the bowl.
I know it has not been easy or quick ~ but to say it was well worth it would be an understatement!! I can just imagine you zooming around that kitchen, hands & spices a'flyin, while you prepare a gourmet treat for your loved ones as they snuggle into the new family room!
LOVE it all my friend!! So happy for you!!
JEALOUS!!!! What an amazing job
Beautiful home for a beautiful family. So happy for you all!
Truly classic and elegant and just what I expected that you'd design and have in your home. I love the faucet and all the little details. You must be over the moon about it all...and especially now that it's finished.
Not sure how you could have gotten rid of those books, as we are book lovers/collectors too. :)
From one Chinese tea set collector to another,
Gail
Sorry...I am have to wipe the drool off my laptop. My word, that is gorgeous!!! SO you!
Keep smilin!
OMG its GEOROUS
what a kitchen
well worth the wait time and effort
you always come up with the best details. i wouldnt expect less
congrats and use it all well
its stunning
Your new kitchen is beautiful! Well worth the wait. I especially love the hidden corner cabinet.
However, I love your bookcases even more! I would love to have some built-in bookcases in my future home.
Wanda..... I am speechless.... Ok, no I am not! It is MAGNIFICENT simply stunning! It is so wonderfully you... All of your little touches. I could stay , drool and play all day in your kitchen and with your books... Ok and, I confess, I too am in love with your faucet:) Glorious!!!!!
xo Jen
P.S. I check in daily from my phone, but still haven't figured out how to easily send a comment that way. When I read the email of your comment though I was at my niece's soccer game and I gave a little scream of delight for you! I rushed home, found my laptop and here I am!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!! xo
Wow...stunning!! Just so clean, neat and peaceful feeling!! Now..sit back and relax!
Oh, wow! I LOVE your kitchen. Looking through those pics felt like flipping through the pages of a glossy interior design mag. :)
Wanda, it is simply stunning and amazing. Lovely, elegant, inviting, innovative and warm...just like you!
I know how draining a renovation can be, we just redid our floors downstairs, and the dust was unbelievalbe and everywhere!!! I'm still cleaning.
I hope you create many happy memories in your new rooms.
Love Valerie
Ohh what a beautiful transformation! I would LOVE standing in that kitchen! Well, I would love reading a book in that new Family Room, too! Great job! Take a break now and relax and enjoy your new space! You deserve it. Have a great day!
Oh I just love it! It is so YOU! The cabinets and shelves are ones that I would choose - beautiful!! I really like all the little touches you have given it. Your beautiful personality shines in your perfect kitchen & family room!
Like the adoption process soon you will forget the agony of the wait!
WOW!!! That is beautiful! And in only 3 months -- it really turned out so lovely! Enjoy!!
Janet
GASP!! It is GORGEOUS! Enjoy every minute of your beautiful home!
Wow!!!! Wanda OMG it's gorgeous!!!!! Wanda it's so beautiful!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!
So very jealous! Our project is still very far from done. But, I'm praying for patience. Yours, on the other hand, looks magnificent. Let me guess...you love black and white ;) It really looks beautiful! Congrats!
Beautiful! Your kitchen looks great! I love those square cabinets near the ceiling. Cute! Was your family room sunken before? I know you guys have a basement so I'm curious how high is your basement ceiling.
Your home looks great!
It looks JUST as I pictured it would! Gorgeous and so you.
Well, that was worth the wait. Shazam! Fabulous! I'm a big fan of white cabinets and black countertops as well. Time for a glass of wine in your new spaces. Congrats!
We are still in the estimating phase...and we're already pissy. Grrr.
Have a great weekend.
M.
Oh I just love it! I love your Buddhas and teapots and your unique style and and and and just everything!
Absolutely beautiful Wanda!! I love the kitchen!! My kitchen is white and when we had been looking for a home a couple of years ago that was one thing on my list! Congratulations on things being done-ish! Now you can relax and enjoy!! Have a great day!
Mama Hen
OH WOW!!! I am completely blown away......it is FABULOUS!!!! Every little detail is pure perfection. I bet you are loving every second you get to spend in that spectacular kitchen......I can't stop saying this....WOW, WOW, WOW!!
So glad that the dust has cleared and you can go on living and enjoying your beautiful home:)
Happy Weekend~
xo,
Lisa
WOW! Wanda your kitchen is gorgeous,and the art work is beautiful enjoy cooking congrats....
Wanda! It is STUNNING! Beyond stunning. WOW. And my very favorite thing? The vase. Love it. WOW. It looks so pretty. Striking! I am so happy for you.
You have AMAZING taste. Things that make you say ahhhh. LOVELY! LOVE it!
Thank you Wanda for your warm comment. We all just have to keep being kind to one another-no matter what the response is. Our children learn from us. I have to say that seeing these pictures again makes me so happy for you. It looks beautiful and I hope you and your lovely family are realy enjoying it!
Mama Hen
Well, now...it certainly was worth the wait. I did need a potty break because for me I wasn't missing ONE little detail and I made every picture HUGE so I could drink it all in. OMG...the details...the DETAILS. Love is in the details for sure in that beautiful home!
The faucet, the drawers, a place for everything and everything in its place. The built ins with teh lighting and all your precious "finds" front and center yet protected from little hands. The granite, the marble, the drawer pulls, the LIGHT and the Venetian looking lights. Your artwork, the framed photos of the girls...your antique book collection....to die for!
This does it....I am coming to Canada....I want to sit at that little round table with a glass of wine watching Wanda the Magnificent cooking for me in that amazing space.
Job well done, my friend...and if you don't mind I am going to be back again and again just STARING so I hope I don't blow up your site counter!
Amazing.......
xoxoxo
Dita
Whoa!!!
Gorgeous!! Love the kitchen! You have a wonderful sense of decor!
And as far as us renovating? Well, let's just say we are 8 years into a 5 year renovation plan...and counting. Bleh!
Wanda! Wow! You did all that? Oh my gosh... it's GORGEOUS (yeah, I said it again!).
I love the faucet (looks like sculpture) and the view out your kitchen window. And the corner drawers are brilliant! And those little lighted places for your treasures! I could go on and on.
I know how much you're lovin' this!
Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!
Somehow I missed this post and had to come back looking for it. Your new space is absolutely STUNNING Wanda, I love it!! What gorgeous attention to detail!!
Can't wait to meet you!!!
Oh Wanda, I'm just checking in since I've been on strike and I just had to look back to see the reno results. WOW, are they ever beautiful! I'm so happy for you now that it's done! Totally worth all of it, just fab!
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