Spring to Pottery Barn (2013)

     I love it that a Pottery Barn store is just walking distance from my mother-in-law's place in the Bay Area. 

    Since I am always there on family vacation, stepping into a Pottery barn store is like meeting someone who totally gets me amidst the packing, unpacking, jet lag, homesickness, kids' whining, husband whining....Okay back to Pottery Barn....

     What was up in Pottery Barn this spring? Look. look and see..... Enjoy!

Pretty, seaside and fiesta place settings! 

Relaxing vignettes!

 

     But I really could not afford most of the stuff there. So I just mentally "pinned' ideas..... Hee!

  

..... and make an in-store Wish List

Whut? I can. Can't I? Here it is!

 

This serving carousel which was the last one 

and they refused to let me have it. =-((( SOB!

So adorable drinks dispensers!

 Shells!

Lovely but I am against snapping them from our beaches.

Wait, are these even real? I guess they are, right? 

 Too pretty pillows. But $50 each? C'mon!

That's it! Enough salivating. Let's go home, H!

H?

H??? 

Get The Look of a Designer Kitchen

The challenge- 

A designer kitchen without the a designer price tag

     Doable? Any designer will tell you. Yes!

     It meant more work, more careful and meticulous inspection and sound and shrewd decisions. 

     But doable! 

     I promise to update this post as soon as I find the before pics but for now just imagine the old kitchen; chunky tiled counters of substandard height, low ceiling with not enough storage space. That is to say the least.

     Started with a pin board... 

 

Work in progress....

     

 And voila!

The wall that was the exterior of the house was treated with a big picture window and shows a view of the garden.

 

The glass doors hold her china.

     More than anything I am gladly sharing this post because this project was a joy to do. My client knew exactly what she wanted and I simply acted as the design police. Once again proves my point that the best projects are those where clients completely trust their architect and vice versa with both parties working together (This is a lie the best projects are those where the clients gives his architect free rein. Haha!)...So this falls unde the second best projects. haha!.... And  I really love doing kitchens. =-)

    The cost? Less than half of a designer kitchen! =-)Not bad!

The Mags of March

         I have been a reader of Good Housekeeping Philippines since their first issue with Tweety De Leon in June 1998. H and I were newly weds then and settling into my parents' second home in Quezon City which we used to share with my brother.

     Keeping house was something I easily applied myself to. Months before I got married I took cooking lessons under Ms. Dorothy Ferreria. I was already scouting for pieces of  furniture to put together for our third floor room, complete with bedsheets and window treatments. 

     Living in our own home now, Good Housekeeping is still very much a good friend to have. I appreciate  that the local version is adjusted to the Filipino household. That is why I am tickled pink whenever Good Housekeeping's editor-in-chief, Tisha Alvarez Angluben offers me a writing or styling job. =-)For this month's issue, I wrote about what to do with your kids' old school supplies at the end of the school year. =-)

     Among my favorites in this issue are a summer reading list (love!!!) for the whole family, tips on making this the greatest summer ever and a very practical skin care article. 

     We, Filipinos never look forward to the summer heat but the March issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines will definitely make you embrace it and get you excited. I know I am.... Now to shop for a swimsuit for this gorgeous body of mine. NOT!

     Cheers to a glorious summer!=)

     Also don't miss the March issue of Real Living which is oh, so pretty and beefed up with new sections. =-)I am sure you will all love it!