The Newer and Better Chatoe

Master Bath Plan 101:

2 white bowl sinks + an asian style open vanity  w sml drawers, probably darker stain + + a...

Jul 2nd

POWDER ROOM sink ($325) Faucet: TBA something that looks...

Jul 2nd

Powder room: mural on top of toilet ($215)

Jul 2nd

As my budget is tightening….my eye is liking the...

Jul 2nd

This week's To do's:

Choose tiles for showers and baths (x 4) Choose counter tops -bathrooms (x 2), kitchen (x 2)...

Jun 30th

I was browing a magazine and found the...

Marakesh: Zanzibar:

Jun 25th

“Be Brave, Not Beige”
— IKEA catalogue

Jun 25th

Very cool! How much?

Jun 25th

SOLAR ENERGY: opton 1) buy, option 2) lease,...

Jun 25th

Nice terra cotta paint color+tile

Jun 24th

I like the natural look and feel of this bathroom. possibly...

Jun 24th

I can’t figure out what to do with our similar rounded...

Jun 24th

You can stencil anything! ceiling medallions, trim, kids...

Jun 24th

Ceiling Medallions in the DR and LR

Jun 24th

Plaster ceiling tiles could add a lot of...

Jun 24th

I'd like to keep the original Edwardian...

Jun 24th

Wall faucets are actually shower...

Non-standard design = + $$$ So I think we will be sticking to basics for the kids bathroom and...

Jun 23rd

Mental note: window over sink in kitchen

Jun 23rd

Main Floor Plan: what do you think?

Jun 19th

Maybe a little copper backsplash...

Might go well with the countertops and cabinets I have in mind… go to:...

Jun 18th

Wow! I love this sink. 99% recycled copper, hand made, pure...

Jun 18th

A quick browse online reveals that the Rancilio Siliva...

Jun 18th

Our kitchen island will be small and I think we’ll...

Jun 17th

Can you smell the leg of lamb? I’m sure i’m...

Jun 17th

Cheap appliances in Hayward

Jun 17th

New oven at top of the list: Thermador...

Jun 17th

Week 3: to do's list

Get some real quotes from GC’s (give them copy of plans) Pick a designer (if any) Sit...

Jun 17th

Viking Steam Combi Oven - OUT!

Great idea and all but the interior space is way too small. I don’t think you can even fit a...

Jun 17th

Shopping for appliances...good service?

I went to BSC on Market St today. It seemed like it’s the place to be and get a look at the...

Jun 17th

Week 3: Designer yes or no?

Today I met with potential Designer #3. She was a bit stand off-ish at the start, but by the end I...

Jun 17th

Downstairs powder room: Idea 1: this counter with sink...

Jun 15th

Minus the baby, this is a nice color for a nursery.

Jun 15th

I like the ensemble of colorful canvases in diff sizes. ...

Jun 15th

I like these pendants, let’s try to find a place for...

Jun 15th

This is a cute idea: put wall paper inside of a bookshelf....

Jun 15th

A lifetime investment in a sink? If you want...

Jun 15th

Oh my…. high end is creeing higher and higher. Check...

Jun 15th

Central Vacuum... anyone have a clue?

Pro’s: less noise, 5x suction power (cleaner air/ less allergens), empty canister only a few...

Jun 15th

I’m leaning towards to Viking Steam/Convect Combi...

Jun 15th

Natural Gas bbq's

check out a variety for under $500: http://www.nextag.com/natural-gas-barbecue-grill/search-html ...

Jun 15th

Hubby dearest, read this about natural gas...

Jun 15th

Green points for Miele dishwashers

100% green standard all have energy star ratings (saving 10-50% energy compared to others) more...

Jun 15th

I love the colors of the Bertazzoni, but I don’t think...

Jun 15th

“In particular, Viking gas ranges are notably trouble-prone,...”
— From: Consumer report...

Jun 15th

Induction or not? I can’t seem to decide between a gas...

Jun 15th

Conflicting advice... uggh!!!

The more people we show the plans to, the more we hear, “you can’t do that, DO...

Jun 15th

Instead of TP, try firewood:)

Jun 14th

A day off. What's that?

I’m back. I took yesterday off.  Actually, I didn’t realize I took the day off house...

Jun 14th

This is a great example of a small powder room. I like the...

Jun 14th

Countertops: recycled glass vs. recycled...

What will we choose? It’s so hard to picture this imaginary kitchen without cabinets, wall...

Jun 12th

Browsing through getwithgreen.com, I found StarDustTiles. ...

Jun 11th

FYI: Energy Star Ratings

Jun 11th

Subzeros get good eco ratings

Jun 11th

Really creative storage!

Jun 10th

Upstairs kid’s bathroom.. a contender. Simple, clean....

Jun 10th

Being environmental doesn't mean buying...

One of my big things in this home renov is new windows. To me, windows on a house are like eyes to a...

Jun 10th

My style uncovered:

Room and Board meets Ikea, with a smattering of junkyard antiques and Paris flea market finds.  I...

Jun 10th

If price were no object…. I’d definitely splurge...

Jun 10th

I also like this bold LR. The wall paper and curtains scream...

Jun 10th

I like this floor to ceiling bookcase for the opposite side...

Jun 10th

European Shower vs The City

Yesterday, we met with our Architect Mr. M. and I sprung upon him (and my husband) the idea of a...

Jun 10th

How to pick a General Contractor? Please...

Today, I met Mr [potential] GC #4. He was nice, we connected, I felt like he could be “the...

Jun 10th

If only my house were a Spanish style villa, I would totally...

Jun 9th

Mod tiles also look good, probably for the...

Jun 9th

Week 2: to do's list

Last week was officially week one. I hire the architect, he spent the week drawing up the “as...

Jun 9th

Function or Style?

I really love the look of these giant ceramic farm house sinks, or even the Mediterranean...

Jun 9th

I love these spanish style tiles!

Jun 7th

I love these bowl type sinks, especially for powder rooms....

Jun 7th

Wish List 1.0

This will be an ever changing list, but here goes: Green - as environmental and energy efficient...

Jun 7th

Ahhh… walk in closet of my dreams!

Jun 7th

Check out California water Rebates

Jun 7th

One week of mortgage payments already?!

I don’t want to sound alarmist or super type-A crazy nut job, but when we signed for the house...

Jun 7th

We got the keys!!!

Okay, so we closed on the house [potentially] of our dreams last friday. We got the keys, woohoo!...

Jun 7th

mi casa.. coming soon!

Jun 6th

Welcome!

This is will be the home of my first blog, ever.  I’ll be chronicling the events of our home...

Jun 6th