Fireplace in your Kitchen?

Posted February 19, 2010 by erin under Inspiration

This is something that’s always been on my list of When we Build A house I want this:

This is the CookCook fireplace from Reugg

A woodburning fireplace in the kitchen!  There’s nothing more delicious to me than flat breads and pizzas cooked directly over the flame!  Plus it’s just so inviting and comfortable!  What do you think?  A little too much, or great if you have the space?  I’d still have a standard oven but would love the ability to light up the fireplace for some real cooking!  Are there any things on YOUR wish list?

Tags: fireplace, Kitchen

Fireplace Roundup

Posted November 3, 2009 by erin under Products

There’s a good mix of both modern and unique fireplaces out there!  These are some of my favorites:

1. Glass Fireplace from Bloch Design.  Love this fireplace because it’s not so heavy feeling.  It’s light and airy and really lets you take in the fire from all directions!  What I don’t love is the fact that you’ll probably be cleaning that glass a lot!

2. Ribbon Fire from Digifire.  Not only does this design look fantastic, but it’s actually ethnol burning instead of gas or wood burning.  Which makes it burn cleanly and you don’t need a flue or chimney to eliminate the CO2 released that is harmful to you!  Because it doesn’t need a chimney you can place it in a variety of places that would normally be impossible!

3. Don’t have room for a large fireplace?  Try this tabletop fireplace!  It’s only 10″ x 14″!  It’s from Generate Design.

Tags: fireplace

Monday Redesign: Jennifer’s Living Room

Posted August 10, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Remember Jennifer’s Living Room?  Well I’m back today with a redesign for the space.  It’s a great and spacious living room and Jennifer has a great start.  Here is a breakdown of the goodies:

1. Jennifer likes the color of the walls so good news- she can keep her paint supplies in the closet.  I am building upon what it there and pulling in white, a golden yellow, and a mocha brown.  It’s going to be a warm and inviting room that everyone is going to want to hang out in.
2. There is an electrical cap in the center of the room.  Since there is a struggle with light after the morning hours, I’m recommending this beautiful light fixture.  It will brighten up any space and it will be a great accent to the room.
3. The fireplace is ready for a great piece to bring out attention to it.  I love this mirror.  It has a great yellow tone and will tie into the room perfectly.  It is also a decent size so it will be perfect in scale above the fireplace and better yet, it’s on sale!
4. Jennifer really wanted to change the window treatments in the room.  However, I am keeping them pretty similar.  And here is the reason why:  I am using colorful accents throughout the entire room and I want the window to feel light and airy.  To bring in as much light as possible.  A simple white sheer does the trick just nicely.  I would buy 9′ treatments like these and hang them above the window.  This will maximize your ceiling height.  I would also add the same treatments to the other windows.  Jennifer also mentioned that she had some white wooden blinds handy and I would suggest replacing the current ones with these- again, to bring in as much light as possible.
5. When you are standing, looking at the entertainment armoire, I would hang this on the right side. Center it between the end of the armoire and the end of the loveseat.  Underneath this, place the circular side table that you have on hand.  You can dress it up with a vase, and a couple trinkets on top.  I would take out the dresser type accent that you have when coming directly down the stairs.  This will help simplify the space and make it feel more open.
6. Above the sofa, I would use this fabric to make your own artwork.  You can buy ready made frames at any art supply store (I would make the art piece 3.5-4′ x 2.5-3′).  You can pull the fabric and staple it on the back.  It’s an easy way to do an art piece, and for a good price too.  {Stay posted for a great step by step tutorial on this}
7. I would add this 6×9 rug to help tie the space together.  It’s a great neutral piece and a wonderful price as well!  I would replace your coffee table with this circular one.  This will help make the space more inviting and open.
8. Jennifer happens to have a couple wing back chairs on hand and they are definitely worth using in the room.  I suggest using this fabric to reupholster them and getting great accent pillows like this, this and this to use throughout the room.  I would place these chairs on each side of the fireplace.  This will create balance in the room and also make it appear as the smaller windows by the fireplace are taller than they actually are.
9. To further create balance in the room, I would suggest getting some plants to place on the sides of the chairs.  A taller plant like a Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)would be perfect.  I would place the toy chest behind the chair on the right of the fireplace (if you are standing looking at it).  I know this isn’t the most convenient for the children, but for the purposes of selling your house, I would try to make the space appear as clutter free as possible.

Here is a space layout of the space so you can get a better picture of what it will look like:

A couple other side notes.  I would leave the back console table where you have it (or replace it with the dresser if you need the extra storage).  I really think the layout you have is perfect for the room- it’s not quite big enough to have a seperate seating room without replacing major furniture pieces.  I hope this helps you Jennifer and we will be excited to see the final after picture.

Do you need help redesigning your space?  Click here to get started!

Tags: brown, fireplace, green, large, living room, yellow

Before Redesign: Jennifer’s Living Room

Posted August 7, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Jennifer sent us her living room space and needs our help designing it.  She has a lot of goodies on hand that we can use and a great space to work with!  We are excited to help her with a space redesign to give this space the boost it needs to sell her home.

Here are the details of the space:

What are your favorite design store/home décor stores? 

Pottery Barn and Anthropologie (on sale!) but with an antique touch

What 3 words would you use to describe yourself and the feeling of the space you’d like?

Warm, inviting and slightly funky (with use of patterns and antiques)

What is the most important thing you’d like done with the space?

Optimal use of the space without it feeling cluttered.

What are two of your favorite and least favorite colors?

Favorites would be yellows and greens (touches of red as well). Do not like peaches and gray in this room.  Please keep in mind that the sun is not on this side so the afternoon can get a bit dark in this room.

What are the overall dimensions, including ceiling height (if applicable) of your space?

14 x 22 and 10 foot ceilings

Is there anything else you’d like us to include or consider in designing your space?

The house is going up for sale shortly and we want the area to have the toy box in it for the kiddos.

Do you have any suggestions for the space?  Feel free to leave them in the comments below.  Check back on Monday for a redesign of the space!

Today is the last day to enter the design challenge.  Snap a picture of your favorite room in your house and you’ll have the chance to win a 5′ x 7′ area rug from FLOR!

Tags: fireplace, living room

Monday Redesign: Rhonda’s Living Room

Posted July 27, 2009 by deb under Space Redesigns

Remember Rhonda’s Living Room?  She needs our help to make the space more airy and comfortable. 

First, let me go over the floorplan of the space.  I know that Rhonda was struggling with the layout of the room, but I really like the layout the way she has it.  I tried moving it around, and adjusting it, but it works just perfec the way she has it.  It leaves a walkway for great traffic flow (see more on making a space planning here).  The main item I would change is making the wall with the couch and fireplace clean and simple.  Take out the end table, and simplify the lamps.  The way it appears right now is too heavy and unbalanced.  I would also move the plant to the other side of the room, near one of the chairs.

Now for a breakdown of the goodies and the mood board. 

Here’s a mood board for her space along with a break down of goodies.

1.  The color palette I choose for this room is a mixture of chocolate browns with a pop of white and an accent of tan/yellow.  I would paint the walls with Sherwin Williams Sycamore Tan SW2855.  I would paint the inset of the fireplace and the media center/bookshelf (currently painted red) with Black Bean SW6006.  This will instantly warm the room and provide a good contrast.

2.  Although I really, really like the lamps that you have, I would change them out for something that is lighter and doesn’t weigh that side of the room down as much.  I suggest these lamps from Ikea which are similar, but not as “heavy”.

3. Since we are giving the room a new color palette, I would switch out your pillows for these.  They are fun and provide contrast against the couch, and bonus: they are only $30 for 2 pillows!

4.  I would remove the ottomans that you have centered in the room and replace it with this white coffee table.  The ottomans that you have currently are wonderful, and I could see moving them to your bedroom, at the end of the bed, or as extra seating in another room of your house.  These are too dark and make the room feel heavier than you’d like. 

5.  To tie everything together, I found this 5×8 rug from JcPenny’s.  It’s fun and goes perfectly with the color palette.

6.  Take out the darker end tables and replace the one between the chairs with this white side table from Target (only $15!!). 

7. As for the media center (the wall you have with the tv), I am proposing that we change things up.  I think the bookshelf is fine.  However, the area where the television is located is too cluttered.  My eyes don’t know where to go.  I would take down the vase, and the shelving.  I would place this compact tv stand with your television on top and stereo inside, and it will look better.  With the new paint, I can’t wait to see it!

8.  Last, but not least… I would hang a larger piece of art above the couch.  The current wall art is too small for that space- I suggest something about 4′ long.  I would experiment with these Retro Squares (probably buy 2 large and 1 small, or 2 small and 1 large).  These are a great and inexpensive way to create art in your home, and it’s all unique to you!

I hope you love your redesign, Rhonda!  I had a blast doing it.

Do you need design help?  Submit your space here.

Tags: fireplace, living room, media