A Place to Get Your Hands Dirty

I'm a pretty traditional person. I work for a traditional designer, had a traditional upbringing and make pretty conservative choices. My taste in home decor follows the same lines; classic pieces and warm, cozy spaces. Anything modern normally reads as cold and uninviting to me.

English design company Bradbury's seems to have struck an unusually modern cord in me though. As I searched for exotic kitchen cabinets for a project I'm working on, I came across the kitchen in the photo above. Angels sang and the heavens aligned. I think it's that good.


As it turns out, so are all of Bradbury's other kitchens. Even their bedrooms and furniture are amazing. They've mastered the combination of sleek modern spaces, high gloss finishes and rich exotic woods. These spaces are undoubtedly sexy; quite an accomplishment for a kitchen. But they also look incredibly practical and well designed. Bradbury's little details, like the fuchsia-backed shelf in the kitchen below, are strategic and unique.




Maybe it's worth reconsidering modern design after all?

The Beautiful Shelter: Kitchen

It's here! I'm so excited to finally unveil the first room in the Beautiful Shelter home series. As someone obsessed with food and decorating, the kitchen seemed like the most appropriate place to start.

(Side note: If you've taken a quick peak and are thinking "does she not know how to use a computer?!", let it be known that I can....barely. I have fought with several trying to format this in a great way, but maybe by the end of the series I'll have that down.)

The beauty of doing a kitchen for a home that doesn't exist, for clients who don't exist, is I've been able ignore all rules of budgets or client needs. I tried to be practical, just like I used to take attendance when I taught "school" to the imaginary kids in my room. Now I'm making up client families. Can't be a good thing.

Photos 1 and 2 taken from Modern Glamour...one of my favourite design resources!

For this space, I've even surprised myself with an unconventional mix. Think traditional meets modern. Vintage meets industrial. Johnny Depp meets Kim Cattrall. Yes, an unlikely pairing. But trust me, it works!

Inspiration
Mid- and dark-tone woods. Bright whites and dark caviar. High polished lacquers and distressed wood. Old world charm. Modern functionality.

The Space
A page from my notebook - selected colours and finishes. This incredible cipollino bianco marble from CIOT ties in all of the colours beautifully, and is a modern take on statuario or carrera.
Modern stainless hardware matches the appliances - from Richelieu.

Since these clients are avid chefs (actually he is.....this is a dream situation, after all) and frequently cleaning up messing little hands, this industrial faucet and deep apron sink fit the bill for both style and function.

I love the soft rounded corners on this apron sink.

Viking appliances are like jewelry for a room, and I think this gas stove would work well in this kitchen...with a nice big fridge, of course.

To compliment the "European farmhouse" design, a large hutch with open storage for cookbooks, pottery and wine glasses will sit near the eating area. Imagine this gorgeous piece times three.

In fact, if there were tall ceilings and the cabinetry could be built-in sky-high, I would love to see a rustic ladder perched up to it.

I found these incredible vintage industrial stools that would work beautifully at the island.

In keeping with the modern marble counters, this white lacquered table is the perfect match. It can take a serious beating from the little tikes, or seat a large group for casual dining.

To keep the balance between light and dark, vintage and modern, I'm pairing the sleek kitchen table with these beautiful Eames chairs, done in a wood veneer.

These bubbly Reeves pendant lights from Arteriors would be stunning as a pair over the island.














Over the long kitchen table, these Arteriors pendants would look glamorous and sparkly. I would stagger as many as eight, in small and large, to create a custom fixture that sets off the space.







Last but not least, the kitchen needs a piece of memorable artwork to admire while cooking or eating. My colleagues often tease me that I'm always throwing in an unexpected hit of colour in my projects, so this is no different! I think either of these stunning paintings would pop against the neutral backdrop...and of course, turquoise is the colour of 2010.

"Abu Dhabi Green Cities" by Karen Parker

There you have it! "Renovation" of room #1 complete. No window treatments in this kitchen - just lots of french doors out to the patio. To the outside of the palace. Bon appetit!

Next up....the living room!

Jenna's notebook selections:
Hardwood Flooring
Paint from Benjamin Moore: Trim and ceiling: Dove White, Cabinets: Deep Caviar, Walls: Stonington Grey
Marble Counters and Back splash
For further selections, leave a message and I'll list the source!

All photographs used in this post are linked to their original source, and are not property of The Beautiful Shelter.

Since I'm an Avid Reader...

I seem to have a small obsession with collecting beautiful design books lately. It started with Celerie Kemble's To Your Taste, then Home By Design, then Modern Glamour...and tonight, I fell for another beautiful picture book. I'm sure it has words in it, but truthfully, they will not be read. Unless I don't understand something in the picture.

I have admired Suzanne Kasler's website and design work for a long time (and still anxiously await her textiles collection!). Her interiors are elegant and timeless, and I love the way she uses colour. Bright red books on a shelf, a turquoise vase on a mantel; her look is feminine and clean. There are so many beautiful photographs in her book Inspired Interiors! It is definitely a must-have if you share her style!

Of course, when I'm not drooling over these glamorous design books, they sit openly on my nightstand. Even the bindings are a thing of beauty..........or at least Lonny says so:

If you have the luxury of owning stacks of colourfully-bound books and plenty of spare time, I keep seeing these colour-coordinated bookshelves and stare in envy every time. To me, it's like a piece of art.

Of course, the time and patience this "art" requires is beyond my realm. In these moments, I pile my collection in no particular order and remind myself that being "eclectic" is okay, too.

*Photos in this post taken from Lonny Magazine, Suzanne Kasler, etc.

The Secret's Out

Here's an embarrassing confession: I sometimes watch Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. There, I said it. Its not that I intentionally run to watch it as soon as it starts, but in a moment of boredom, it can be mildly entertaining.

Recently, I noticed how beautiful their house is! It has modern glamour with colour here and there, and it makes a great "set" for the show. Once I began searching online, I noticed that her style is far different from that of their last home. I apologize for my brutal honesty, but the last place was horrible (with the exception of the kitchen, which I do like). Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think:


Since they moved from their Westwood home, they've gone for a more subtle (thankfully) decorating approach, and I think it suits them perfectly. I love the soft blues, whites and even the mirrored cubes in the living room.

Unfortunately I had a bit of trouble finding a good variety of photos, but hopefully you've got the jist of it! At least now you have a respectable excuse for watching the show...