Hi, it’s Gabrielle from Savvy Home here again! You don’t need to splurge on all the fancy gadgets in the world when renovating a kitchen, but sometimes, a little luxury goes a long way.

This is the kitchen of Lauren Gelb Weisbarth, sister of Alison Pincus, co-founder of One Kings Lane. Sure it’s a nice large kitchen with marble countertops, but it also features a few money savers like vintage stools and a modest subway tile splashback.

In the end, it’s the little luxuries that make this space seem accessible and functional but yet polished. Here are a few tips to take away from this kitchen.

1. Add a spotlight over the important task areas such as the sink.

2. Lanterns are a great versatile lighting option in the kitchen. They’re the practical version of a chandelier.

3. Don’t be afraid to paint your island a different color. This one is Benjamin Moore’s Newburg Green.

4. Add a small table for the kids to play, help prep the food or eat breakfast.

5. Give your kitchen a more youthful look with vintage pieces like these diner stools. Very D&D.

6. Bamboo shades are ideal window coverings for the kitchen. Go for electric shades for extra luxury.

7. A second sink on the island is perfect for smaller tasks and cooking with two or more people.

8. Cover your range with millwork for a more seamless look.

9. A pot filler above the cooktop is one of those little luxuries that come in so handy! No need to carry heavy pots back and forth anymore.

10. Invest in hardware. They really are the jewellery of a room.

How have you added a little luxury to your kitchen?

See you next week!

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

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What is your greatest fear when it comes to decorating? What makes your stress level climb and maybe even makes you loose precious hours of sleep?

Well I don’t know about you, but for me I used to be somewhat neurotic… First I had a huge fear of making a mistake. Then it was the fear of “is this what people my age ought to have in their home“? And how about the budget anxiety, the nagging feeling of not being able to afford this or that but not wanting to eat any longer sitting on milk crates?

Then something happened… I don’t know if it is the fact that I turned 30 (and then 35) or if it was the birth of my eldest daughter, but somewhere in the past few years a shift happened and all my fears disolved. I realized that there were no Keeping up with the Joneses, that I could stretch my budget miles further if I was willing to look, wait, and use some elbow grease.  I screamed to the world: “Who cares what others think of my home! We LOVE our home and that is all that counts”. OK I did not scream (what would people think), but I sure thought exactly that though.

Well despite the fact that this home here is not ours (I still have yet to make decent non Instagram shots of mine), it reminds me of all the values I hold dear and of the fearlessness that one has to show in order to create a home that truly reflects who they are… in a modern vintage way.

xoxo

v.

Damask & Dentelle, your “Little Black Book” of Québec’s more than 1500 decor addresses. 

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source: Micasa Revista

Hi, it’s Gabrielle from Savvy Home here again! A few weeks ago, I promised Vanessa a kitchen. People always say the kitchen is the heart of a home but in order to make it so, we need to make it inviting. It wasn’t until today that I found the right one to feature. Designed by the celebrated Phoebe Howard, this kitchen is elegant, classic and tame compared to the kitchens I normally go for.

Kitchen cabinets can be easily painted, so you can afford to go a little crazy with color. As for everything else, I tend to be more conservative with the choice of surfaces, finishes, millwork, and hardware. After all, timelessness is an important characteristic for a kitchen.

Granted, this particular kitchen is huge, and not everyone has the budget or the space for that type of kitchen. I chose it because as it holds a lot of stuff, it also holds a lot of inspiration! If you’re planning on renovating your kitchen, I hope you’ll find a few helpful tips in here, whether your space (and your budget) is big or small.

1. A kitchen will look more elegant if the cabinets go up all the way to the ceiling. Even if your ceiling is vaulted, they should stop where the ceiling starts.

2. Mouldings on top of the cabinets also add to the elegance factor in a big way.

3. Glass cabinets are a great way to make a kitchen seem more spacious. If you don’t want to display your clutter, mirrored cabinets are a fantastic option. They will even make the room brighter by reflecting the outdoor light.

4. Don’t want to break the flow of the hardwood floors in your home? Extend them into the kitchen. I love the wider-plank matte floor for a more modern finish.

5. Industrial pendants work wonders in a kitchen. Hang them lower over the work surfaces, or higher as general overhead lighting.

6. Porcelain subway tiles have been a classic budget splash back option for a long time. They’re a budget-friendly option that won’t go out of style. Make the grout darker for a edgier look and easier maintenance.

7. Carrara marble countertops are my favorite, but they’re a little pricier. Usually, “the darker the grain, the lower price you’ll get on your marble slab” is a good rule of thumb.

8. If you have a bit of space, create visual impact by designating an area for a coffee bar, breakfast bar, or simply a bar.

9. Hardware is the jewellery of the room. Don’t be afraid to splurge as they make for big impact in the kitchen!

10. Don’t be afraid to paint your island a different color than your cabinets. It the millwork is the same, the visual coherence will remain.

I’ve used a few of these tips in a friend’s kitchen who was on a much smaller budget. Could you see yourself implementing a few of these tips too? Which one do you find the most helpful?

See you next week!

Gabrielle | Savvy Home

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Show me your kitchen and I will tell you who you are. All things being equal… in this case let’s take the fact that they are all white, kitchens can have very distinct personalities.

Which style would you say you are?

vintage romantic with a modern twist

Rustic retro

Neo traditional

Contemporary organic (that’s the best name I could come up with… other suggestions for this one?)

Traditional with a twist

source: Elle Decor