Middle-of-the-Week

 Burr & McCallum Architects

{Inspiration}

Pretty white house .....upstairs windows need to be bigger perhaps. I love how it blends in with the surroundings.
*metal roof
*has character
*timeless

This Past Week {Homekeeping}

*

{Image source}

This past week:
*Painted our kitchen floor {will suffice until the wood floor is laid. I couldn't take the terra-cotta linoleum any longer.}
*We moved into my parent's house while floor was drying. 4 nights and it worked out well as my parent's were still on vacation. No internet there so that is why we whittled away at this below :)
*Taxes almost ready---{what is it about the last little piece of info that is needed?}
*Restocked pantry/freezer/fridge {major food expedition at Meijer, Kroger, bulk food store & Landes Fresh Meats} We're ready for a sudden snowstorm, it's Ohio and March after all.
*Hired an assistant to help with the shop. I cannot do it all! {really? haha.}
*Then I found this & this {awhile back} lots more to come on the latter.......
xo
K

Mostly Done Laundry Room

Laundry room waiting on the last two things:

sink needs to be installed {most likely after our event :) }

&

the back door painted.

{slate grey}

Waiting on a sink where ironing board is, I found one

digging in my dad's barn it needs some work, but I think 

it's the look I want!

Love work boots! 

My tool box--from my mom Christmas 2010. One of my favorite gifts.

"Limelight" Hydrangea

This is for Tracey from French Larkspur

I caught up with Tracey this past weekend, a fun chat--fun to meet up!

One of 3 of my top favorite flowers.

"Limelight" Hydrangea

"Incrediball" Hydrangea

& 

"Invincibelle" Hydrangea

& for Tracey too!

Studio Sale {this friday & saturday}

Studio Sale this Friday & Saturday: 8-3

email us for directions: mcmasterandstorm@embarqmail.com

We've been cleaning every nook & cranny to get ready for this sale. We've been sorting everything from kids clothes {2 weeks ago} to household goods. Kara thoughts on this: kids = Rubbermaid tubs. Don't worry there will not be any kids clothes for sale! We put our foot down on pricing clothes, no way, absolutely not. Plus, wouldn't fit in with the whole look this weekend!

Mainly odd & ends from our brick & mortar shop, props, bric-a- brac, bolts of ribbon, a little of this & that. Well, we are putting out the new goodies & after our studio sale they'll go up on our website. Really thought that would happen shortly after Country Living Fair, but all we wanted to do for a couple of weeks was stare at the wall. Shortly we'll see some changes in more ways than one! yippee!

You're wondering what to do in our neck of the woods this weekend........here's a list

1. Bear's Mill-{6 miles} Neat place to see this time of year. The drive on Bear's Mill Rd is just idyllic, woodsy and not typical Darke County flat fields! They still grind their own flour, cornmeal, etc. & it's for sale in their shop in the mill. Julie Clark does a great job at making the shop very artsy. No John Deer pot holders available at this establishment. Sorry.

2. Smith Coffeehouse {they serve lunch & we do believe breakfast on Saturday} in an old store front that used to be a Grocery, department store {swoon}, & a manufacturing place of some sort. We heard shoes. {3 miles}

3. Baltimore shop & Little Shop Antiques, mom & daughter team. They have been at their location for 20 years {daughter} & {mom} 40 years. They have it at their outbuildings; great place to go as it's tucked in a little burg and well, it's worth your time.

4. Once you pop into Baltimore Shop & Little Shop Antiques they have a cute map of all sorts of antique shops to visit that we just can't remember all their names.

We will have directions to the mentioned places above.

If any of you have questions or need anything on the drive here just give us a ring: 937-692-0120. See you soon!

Wear you coats and colorful scarves, it's in our shed! We'll stay warm with laughter........

k&d

S is for "Special Studio Sale"

Studio Sale!

What: A medley of this & that from props, things we thought we were going to do stuff with and never did, household goodies, lighting, and really, really fun things. Lots of ribbon too! Treasures for all! Calling all bargain hunters!

When: Oct 16 & 17, Friday & Saturday 8:00am-3:00pm

Where: Kara's shed {please email me for directions}

Special note *no public restrooms & no house tours as we are starting construction.

Yes, gals we will post stories on the CL fair & tell who won our giveaway. We are still staring at the wall from the fair. I told someone we could sleep until Christmas.
Yes, you will need to excuse my yard {since end of July planning & working on CL fair}
Concrete work not finished.......all in due time getting old stone to finish sides of steps and picking out brick for joint seams and end of arched walk. Flurrying around figuring out flooring for back room/mudroom/laundry and kitchen.

We have old wood floors in the rest of house and want different texture in these places. Any ideas? Help!
Yes, our boxwoods need trimmed!

See you there!

Kara & Darcy

A Grey Kitchen

A grey kitchen, let's peek inside! Homeowner went from an out-dated kitchen with white metal cabinets to a kitchen of English design in which she was inspired by English Home magazine. She collaborated with a very talented kitchen cabinet maker that "understood" & got it when she told him she wasn't into a kitchen that looked too "new". The house is early 1900's and the kitchen needs to fit with the architecture. Many people shuddered at the idea of her grey cabinets, but after it was all said and done, the color is a winner. {homeowner wanted grey cabinets for a very long time}The kitchen was completely gutted and the cabinet maker was talented enough to be the contractor for the entire kitchen. From start to finish, he was there to the end!

The homeowner is always cooking & baking, as they eat out very little and cooking good food for her family part is of her life. Take notice, on one of the days we were there she was baking a batch of Pioneer Woman's cookies. She needed a hardworking kitchen.............

Antique marble slab, check salvage warehouses. A white Bella Cucina bowl. Marble slab is on a vintage mercantile cabinet, used as an island. Heavy duty fitted with 4 drawers on one side. The design was made with a unique locking system so drawer will not sag when pulling out. Believe it was from Knollenberg Department Store in Richmond, Indiana from the fabric area. A steal at $800.00, see also picture on down of cabinet.

Vent over stove top. Notice the detailing at top, this matches the windows on the outside of the house, which have this exact detailing over the windows.
Upper cabinets soar to the 9 ft ceiling......
There are 3 cabinets to give the look of "furniture" in the kitchen. This is one of a pair, they sit left and right across the kitchen facing each other. They are installed with glass front and the glass is "bubbl-y" and wavy to look old. They are fitted with stationary keys for the knobs.
The 3rd cabinet is underneath the sink. It is "bumped" out from the surrounding cabinets to appear like furniture. This cabinet again is fitted with false keys for knobs. {When we say false keys we mean keys that don't work, they are used for knobs only} All keys & keyholes by Gerber Hinge Company.
Reclaimed wood flooring, again keeping with the details of an older home. See that lovely pull on the dishwasher front? The pull was found antiquing and had layers of white paint on it. The homeowner removed the paint to reveal a beautiful brass patina.
The homeowner wanted top quality appliances and chose the induction Wolf cook top with 5 burners. No, she didn't choose the large industrial stove by Wolf, as she was more comfortable with the simple cook top. This cook top fitted her needs for the technology and the "look" she was going for. Cookware by Le Creuset.
Stove area....
Our favorite design idea for a functional kitchen is to have very little cupboards below. The homeowner was tired of digging for her things and requested many lower drawers. At first the contractor was a little concerned about this, but in the end he realized that this is a must for any kitchen. Even if you are tall or short lower drawers make it easy on you, saving time and keeping things organized. There are two cupboards below which were needed to fit the design as drawers were not able to be placed everywhere. One of the cupboards does have a light in it which lights up upon opening, this is for the deep corner cupboard.
Detailing of corbel, simple & timeless.
This unit house the oven and check out what's behind the doors above the stove..........
Her microwave! This is straight from a British kitchen. The "doors" are actually a panel that pulls out and slides in above the microwave. Right below the microwave slides out a flat drawer-like panel for hot dishes out of the microwave. The dishes can cool while she does other things......
Favorite things hanging from hooks that came from an old church. {In bake center}
What's behind the two sets of doors in the middle?
Those panels are waiting for these darling vintage "push" plagues. {Handy man needed here}

We held them up for you to have a "looky"! Ok, let's see what's behind those doors........
The most darling baking area!
The lovely pull again. {our favorite}
Petite pull chain light in the baking center..........
Now, this we love Rohl faucet.......beautiful, hardworking, heavy duty and oh, that finish!
View of island......
Another view..........

Notice the wood knobs, the homeowner told us that she would've never thought to pick those, even though many of the British kitchens featured have these. This was recommended by her cabinet maker, he told her that with so many drawers this would keep everything from not looking too "busy". The knobs are painted the same color as the cabinets. The homeowner said they are very easy to clean, no grooves and nothing to polish. Sometimes simple is good.

The cabinets are slightly sanded to show wood color beneath. The cabinets have an aged look with just the right amount of dents in them.

The colors of her kitchen are by Sherwin-Williams

Cabinets: Mindful, the perfect grey, not too dark really we think it is a warmer grey. The color is not shocking and in some ways is a neutral.

Walls: Sea Oats, a lovely cream
Countertop: {vintage marble on island} Caesar Stone

Next week: We'll show you a wide angle shot of kitchen. Homeowner wants to finish the curtains, and it's a cute idea!

What's your top pick that you would like to add to your kitchen? Do you have certain stove, brand of cabinets, or favorite color that is on your wish list for your kitchen?

Thanks for peeking!

Farmhouse Tale {Earth Day}

When I called Darcy on Tuesday and asked how she was,

she replied......"cold".

"Why?" I said

"Well, we are out of propane and refuse to buy more at this point, she exclaimed &

the weather is supposed to be very warm by the end of the week, she said."

Darcy said, "I could take a hot bath, but then I would need to get out so what's the point of taking a hot bath!"

She then stated, "I even got back in bed and took a nap as it was nice and cozy under the blankets!"

Kudos to Darcy & her family for bundling up and using less energy.......

Now, here's a tour of her farmhouse:

Darcy's style: Antiquing meets garage sale meets Anthropologie meets Goodwill meets

McMaster & Storm meets trend-less, but timeless =Darcy

Here's a peek into Darcy's life in her farmhouse she shares with her loved ones!

"Come on in!" {Original door still in use saving trees!}

Vintage Dr.'s metal cabinet

Vintage light

Old display cabinet, base former Victoria's Secret display

{recycle, recycle}

Old bust, new lamp & pair of Domino style dogs: McMaster & Storm

Mirrored cabinet: garage sale

Dining table & chairs: consignment store

Buffet & display cabinet: found from a newspaper ad

Old store display stand

Wrought iron coffee table: vintage,

on top assortment of new & old finds

Chair found at Annie Oakley days $3.00

Old mirrors

Shower curtain: new, Anthropologie, shutters vintage

Vintage sheet music, cabinet made from old windows & lumber

Wine: a good vintage!!!!

Stainless steel table from an antique store

Dresser: Goodwill

Pair of matching chairs: Goodwill $9.00 a piece,

original spotless upholstry.

Tilly: new! Since Darcy isn't having any more children

she used her girl name for the doggie!

Vintage lamp FREE! Kara has the other matching lamp.

A lovely customer thought these looked just like us & boy was she right!

Rug: free

those chairs again!

Sofa new just refreshed with a canvas drop cloth from McMaster & Storm

{recycle, recycle}

Table: junking

Vintage white tablecloth

This is just a sampling of the many things that Darcy has found in odd, inexpensive places.

She buys what she loves..........

The End.