Friendly Fridays: Catalog Inspiration

This has been a busy week filled with 'catching-up' from vacation.  So today, instead of visiting someone's home, I'd like to introduce you to one of my favorite catalogs, Wisteria.  

Any of these pieces would work beautifully in a smaller space.  My favorites are the black spindle chair in the Americana Living Room, the black and white sofa in the Global-Inspired Living Room and the lemon wall prints in the Lemon Print Buffet Room.  Wisteria is not cheap, but it's great for inspiration.  And once in awhile it's nice to buy a really special piece.

Enjoy your weekend!

Genevieve

Friendly Fridays: Lake Geneva Vacation

This Friday, I'm taking you to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, a small resort town two hours northwest of Chicago, on the shores of a beautiful natural lake.  I've been here this past week on a short vacation.  And I was able to tack on a couple of days all to myself without the family.  It was heaven!

Lake Geneva

A 21 mile walking path circles the lake and winds past all the gorgeous water front summer cottages, as the locals call them.  Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours on the path and my 'big house envy' returned in full force.  As I passed one stunning lake house after another, I couldn't help but wonder, do the people who live in these houses realize how fortunate they are?  And where do they get all this money?  More surprising to me was the sight of toddlers and small children playing on the lawns and beaches of these homes.  I would have loved to provide my children with this life and these opportunities at such a young age.  (Excuse me while I force my 'ugly side' back into the closet.)

(All photos are from Chicago Home and Garden magazine.)

Earlier in the week I visited Lake Geneva's town and browsed the shops.  I was a good girl and didn't buy anything.  But just look at some of these darling stores!

Refined Rustic

Cornerstone Shop and Gallery

Lilypots

These finger vases were calling to me.  But I resisted temptation!  

Did you take a vacation this summer?  Or maybe you had a 'staycation'.  Amber and I would love to hear about it.

~ Genevieve

Friendly Fridays: Bungalow remodel

I am a sucker for fixer-uppers and so when I stumbled upon this charming 1910 bungalow that just underwent a major renovation I had to share it with you!

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

I just love old homes!  There is just something about mature trees, wrap around porches and creaky wooden floors that pull at my heart strings so this home just called to me to share it as a Friendly Friday Feature this week.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

In this extensive remodel the bungalow received the addition of a new dormer and an attic conversion into a beautiful master suite.  

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

By transforming the existing attic space into the master suite, the homeowners added an extra 800 square feet of living space to their home and included a new bath and dressing area.

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

 Upon the discovery of termites infesting the kitchen, the homeowners completely gutted it and started from scratch.  In keeping with the period feel of the house, they incorporated beadboard cabinets and slate flooring so the kitchen would be a reflection upon the entire style of the house.  

  Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

I love the multi-functional use of the dining room!  Lacking extra sleeping space the owners of this bungalow purchased a convertible daybed for guests which they placed in the dining room.  Careful arrangement of furniture and the closing of pocket doors convert a dining room into a functional guest area for a quick visit! 

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

And perhaps my favorite part of the home...before the remodel, the old home didn't have air-conditioning, so this part of the home was used as a sleeping porch on hot summer nights. Now enclosed, the air-conditioned porch makes for a perfect breakfast room with views of the backyard!

Happy Friday!

~Amber

Friendly Fridays - Kathy's Little Lake House

Since I first visited Kathy's lake house last summer, I've been dying to show it you. Kathy, her husband Jim and their four children have had this lake house for over twenty years. Last weekend I visited for a summer party and had a chance to take some photographs.  Here is the front entrance and below is the back porch door.  The blue shutters, taupe siding and white trim are classic exterior colors for any house and work especially well on a smaller home.

Kathy has put this bench outside the back door making it easy to take off sandy shoes and beach gear before going inside.

These are the back stairs going up to the main floor.  Isn't that wood gorgeous!

The kitchen is small, but has lots of storage.

The front entrance that leads into the kitchen.

The kitchen cabinets are maple with chrome hardware.  As you can see, Kathy stages drinks for the party here.

A close-up of kitchen cabinets.

The house has 1 1/2 baths.  The full bath is on the first floor.

This stairway leads to the second floor.

Look at this tiny bathroom on the second floor!

There are three bedrooms on the second floor.  The room below sleeps three.  The simplicity of the furnishings make this tiny room seem spacious and comfortable.

Here is the third bed.  Notice the coat hooks on the wall. 

The crisp clean cottage look is carried through to the windows which have simple blinds with white painted trim. Since the house does not have air conditioning, each room comes with its own fan.

There are not closets in the bedrooms.  Instead Kathy uses cabinets.

Fresh linens in preparation for weekend guests.

A chest of drawers painted blue is used for additional storage upstairs.

A drawing by one of Kathy's children adds color and a personal touch in a guest bedroom.

A view of the lake from an upstairs bedroom.

And here is the party!  This is the great room.  Look at that beautiful original paneling.  My hubby, Rick, is in the sage green shirt behind Mike, who is in all white.  These guys have all known each other since grade school! 

Kathy's children are now grown, but still come up to the lake house with the family.  This is Kathy's beautiful daughter relaxing on the couch.  Someday I hope to introduce her to my older son.

And this is Dan, Kathy's oldest.  Isn't he handsome!  Don't miss the interior window to the back staircase.  This trick always makes a small space seem bigger and in this case, gives the family living area a view to the lake.

The dock at the lake house.  Doesn't this look like heaven! Believe me, I didn't want to leave.

Enjoy your weekend!

Genevieve

Friendly Fridays - Megan's House

This 'Friendly Friday' is coming on Saturday.  My work week was crazy busy, so I didn't get the post up yesterday.  But I do want to share Megan's house where she lives with her husband and two small children.

Here is Megan at the front of her house.

Look at her landscaping.  It's just like an English garden.

This cute piglet with wings at the front portico, greets all visitors.

And here is Megan's kitchen.  Don't miss the great tile backdrop and the sleek cabinet handles.

The kitchen is a small galley layout, so I can't fit it all into one photo.  But I wanted to show you this plate cabinet with cubby holes that sits on the counter top to the left of the cooktop.

Here is a close-up of the cooktop and backsplash.

This handy appliance garage is to the left of the double ovens built into the walls which you can see at a distance in the first kitchen photo.  I do love Megan's choice of cookbooks.  Ina Garten is one of my favorites.  My sister and I made the most delicious peanut butter and jelly bars on July 4th from a Barefoot Contessa recipe.  But back to Megan's kitchen.  Her choice of a gray and white color scheme is really nice for a smaller kitchen.  The white cabinets, white granite with gray streaks and gray speckled mini-tiles go beautifully together and are visually calming.

To create more counter and storage space, Megan uses a small antique country kitchen table with a scalloped apron on the kitchen wall across from the cooktop. It's the perfect place for her kitchen aid mixer and bowls.  The family bulletin board and calendar hang above the table on the kitchen wall.

The powder room is a little gem.  The same granite in the kitchen is used here for the countertop.  The large mirror with the beveled apron makes the room sparkle.

And Megan has one of those fabulous smaller toilets.  I'm so jealous!  By the way, she has three colorful plates hanging above the toilet, but because the space is small I couldn't fit them all in the photo.  But take my word for it, they look perfect!

All the living takes place in this combined family and dining space.  The family space has two comfortable couches opposite each other with a large coffee table in the middle.  Toys are stored in the cabinets on either side of the fireplace.  The flat screen TV hangs above the mantel.  Here is little Margaret watching one of her favorite TV shows. 

One of the two family couches.

Photographs on the family room wall.

A view to dining area from the couch. Notice the red end table.  The flowers are artificial, but they look so nice!  And the black and white pillow is a perfect touch.

This antique cabinet is in the corner next to the dining table.

And here is the dining table.  Do you see the diffent fabric patterns on each chair?

Each dining chair is a little different with it's own unique pattern.  It works because all the patterns are in the same color family with complimentary designs.

Enjoy your weekend!

Genevieve