Picking a Paint Color ~ White ~ It's Tricky!

 

Hope you are having a fantastic week!

I need to pick a paint color for my new place & I need help!

 

I want all the walls, trim & cabinets to be the same
 crisp, clean, modern shade of white. 
 

 

Here are a couple of examples of the look I'm going for:

 

  Sarah Samuel

 

 

 Liz Bachman

 

 

My refrigerator is white, exactly like the one above. 
Other appliances are stainless steel for now.


Below are my cabinets now...I think they are too beige with my white fridge.  The granite will eventually be going bye bye in favor of some white ceasarstone with white subway tile backsplash.







Here is a shot of my living room (with the seller's furnishings).  There is a lot of natural light in the room.



So what's the best white to acheive a
bright, clean and crisp space?

Is there a chance of going too white and looking sterile and cold?

I'd love to get your opinions and advice!

Thanks so much and have an awesome day!

#somanyshadesofwhite

#help!

xo

~Karen~
 

 

 

 

 



Groovy Hollywood Hills Pad

Despite all the wonderful prayers and good wishes from everyone, alas the 1929 West Hollywood Spanish condo was not meant to be.  The owner got a little greedy with all those offers flying.  Whatever. There are more fish in the sea.

 

I'm now honing in on this charming 1960s co-op in a sweet neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills called Beachwood Canyon.

(took this the other day standing in the middle of the street on a very cloudy day...kinda cool looking)


Nice views all around....this is out the kitchen window...




Parts of this tiny gem have not been touched since being built in 1961.  Such as this relic from the Jetson's space age era... 

 

 

 

 

I would almost feel bad ripping out this groovy tile...almost.

 

 

More grooviness in the bathroom...

 

 

Obviously this would all go buh-bye, but then what?

 

I am not a country kitchen person, nor a lover of modern and sleek. I guess I prefer something classic, not trendy.

 

So I ask you this...

What style do I replace the 1960s with?

How important is it to honor the era of the building?

 

Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice!

 

#keepongroovin

 

xo

~Karen~

 

 

Granite and Stainless Steel. {Over It}

Attention Home Sellers: Please stop. 
Please please please I beg of you...stop.

(warning: radical opinion ahead)

 Stop ruining perfectly good kitchens with granite and stainless steel!

It's over.  It's done.
I've never been a fan, but searching for a new home has really reinforced my feelings about this dreaded duo.

My least favorite thing to read in a listing is "updated kitchen" because I know that means one thing only...granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.  Apparently there are no other ways to "update" a kitchen. 
   

In my opinion granite and stainless steel are going to be to this era what avocado green and harvest gold were to the 70s.

Unless you're talking about these lovely gold Viking appliances, which I'm totally digging.  How awesome are these?
 

But I digress...
Mark my words.  Future generations are going to be hiring hulky guys to get those heavy, ugly, massive hunks of rock out of their kitchens while they shake their heads and ask "what were they thinking?".  

(again, it's only my radical opinion...no offense to granite lovers)

Fact: 60% of us think that granite has run it's course..I read it on the internet therefore it is true (wink wink).

One of my favorite choices for countertops is marble.  In the only kitchen remodel I've ever done, I chose the yummiest crema marble for my counters.  I loved the way it looked (and I had white appliances, which I also prefer over stainless).

 

I designed my kitchen (above) based on this image from a BHG issue (below).  I think I still have this torn out page in my files...it's a beauty.

 One of my other favorite countertops is wood.  The kitchen below belongs to Vanessa of the blog This & That.  Vanessa and her husband live in Auburn, Alabama...how fun is that during football season?!  Go Tigers!  They did such a beautiful job on their gorgeous butcherblock countertops and they did all the work themselves.  (Actually they did the whole kitchen remodel themselves...such impressive skills!) It looks so warm and beautiful don't you think?  I think Vanessa's are my very favorite wood countertops...and sweet Vanessa is one of my very favorite bloggers. 

  

 

Vanessa says her countertops are still going strong and looking great 4 years later!  You can read her post about them here.

Here's another example of a nicely updated kitchen using butcherblock countertops.  This home seller used orange and yellow glass tile for the backsplash.  Love this.  Fresh, clean and so pretty.

 There is one granite that I think looks really great however...solid black granite with white cabinets like this kitchen on the set of Cougar Town.

  

I also like nice, clean tile like the black and white below, and there are so many options with tile.  Just look how clean and fresh it looks.  Sort of timeless don't you think?  You just cannot get that look with granite. 

  

So what do you think?  Is granite here to stay or is it nearing the end of it's popularity? 

What is your favorite type of countertop?

I'd love to hear what you think.

Thanks and have a great day!

~Karen~

xo