KITCHEN MOODBOARD

As we embark on this stressful journey of giving our little home a facelift, I've come to realise two things. Number one, everything is a million times more expensive than I thought and number two, I have WAY more expensive taste than I thought. I don't know what is wrong with me? My Mammy likes to tell me that it was "far from a Lacanche oven you were reared" (or enter whatever other insanely expensive item I happen to be looking at at the time). I can't help it, Pinterest has ruined me and there's just no going back. 

We relocated to the country for a few reasons (mainly because the house in Ranelagh was taking a little slower to acquire than I had initially hoped. Read: was never going to happen). Plus we saw the light, or rather, Shane saw the light and then he head locked me until I eventually saw it. He made me realise how sick we were of saving and reminded me of how much we love our holidays, eating out and weekends away and how that would all come to a full stop if we strangled ourselves with a big mortgage. He's now trying to apply the same logic to this renovation. He can't understand how I want to completely blow the budget and get as many loans as humanly possible just for a Lacanche oven (just wait 'till you see it!), a Samsung Frame television, a loveseat from The White Company etc. etc. etc. 

"Once the plumbing, electrics and insulation are done, that's the important thing Joey". Eh, go home Shane, you're drunk, I've been making interior scrapbooks since I was 21. 

One thing I have come to terms with is that our small home will remain small. There is so much to do with the existing house, that it completely took over the budget and annihilated my dreams of an extension. Our architect has reinvented the space and hopefully it's going to feel a lot bigger, lighter and airier. 

We are holding onto the hopes of building on a master bedroom, complete with en suite and walk in wardrobe but that dream is fading on the daily. 

This blogpost is, I suppose, a little moodboard of what my current hopes for the kitchen are. Things could (and will) change due to budget etc. but this is currently the dream. 

Hope you enjoy!

J x

SHAKER STYLE

All last year, I was looking at super modern kitchens and a lot of navy with white but the longer I lived in our house in the country, I just loved the idea of more warmth and a smidge of rustic feel. I still want it modern so I thought a white shaker style kitchen was perfect. It feels homely and yet contemporary. I also feel like it won't date too easily. 

Shane is all about a toxic free home, so is adamant that it will be painted in Farrow and Ball because they have the lowest VOCs on the market. I've heard since that Little Greene (an Irish company) also have very low VOCs too so that might be worth looking at for those interested. I'm thinking mainly white with a pale grey island and quartz countertops. Check out my most popular blogpost on neutral paint colours that I posted last year.

A TOUCH OF RATTAN

Whether it's chairs for the island or light fittings for above the island, I'm all for bringing a smidge of rattan and it's beachy vibes to the midlands. I think they add a cozy element to a modern white kitchen. If I close my eyes I'm in The Hamptons! Remember "Revenge"? I was obsessed with yer wans house!

BRASS HANDLES AND FIXTURES

I'm thinking brass for handles and taps etc. More of a brushed brass though, I don't want them too shiny or too gold. Hopefully I can then get everything integrated so ugly appliances don't mess with my metallics! Ya know?!

FARMHOUSE TABLE

I have white Eames replica chairs that I bought from Zinzan a couple of years ago. Although they are quite modern I want to pair them with a big chunky farmhouse table. Not only do I love the look of it, I like the idea of not having to be careful with it. It's the type of table that actually looks better with marks all over it and sloppy mugs of tae! I also want a low hanging light fitting over it. I love this one from Lamb Design.

VAULTED CEILING

Our garden is big, especially the back but the front is so mature and beautiful that, maybe controversially, we will be having our open plan living area facing out to the front - but, because the kitchen will be still technically in the middle of the house (where it is the darkest) our architect created a vaulted ceiling through the centre of the house so that we can have some Velux windows over the kitchen. This is the part that I'm most excited for! 

LIGHT FLOORING

I want really neutral light wood floors throughout, even in the kitchen and once again, Shane has opinions (ffs). Apparently, gospel according to Shane, laminate flooring is one of the most toxic things you can have in your home. So after a lot of research I think he has settled on Kronotex. It's a Swiss flooring company but they have loads of stockists in Ireland. I have to say, it looks good and keeps Shane happy so it's a win, win. It also has a really long guarantee and it's really thick compared to other laminate floors. To check out these floors and to read more about the health and environment benefits, just click here.

DRUMROLL..... A LACANCHE OVEN!!!!!

Shane has expressed his disgust at me even suggesting this oven but he's totally failing to look at it through the whole "cost per wear" logic. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, It's made to order and you can basically build it to your own requirements. Build your own here. I love the white and the grey (it comes in SO MANY colours) I want the brass fittings on it as seen here below. I actually had a dream about it the other night and I have a feeling that's the only time I'll be using it! *cry face. 

POP OF COLOUR

When I see it now, all laid out on this post, it looks a little bland. It's lot of white, a tiny splash of grey with a teeny sprinkling of rattan BUT I will be adding colour through textiles, ceramics and even little potted plants. Think little pops of turquoise and maybe pink... I just saw Mamma Mia 2 and if I was obsessed with bohemian style interiors before well now I'm just CRAZY for it. 

J x