pull it, push it any way you like it

Reader Maryann e-mailed me to inquire about the drawer pulls we used in Ali’s bathroom with the walnut cabinetry. The brand is Haefle and we love the look, we used them in all of our bathrooms and also in the bedroom built-in cabinet we had made. They do need to be notched at the top of the drawer so they sit flush on the cabinet so a little extra work is needed there. We chose them in a chrome plated polish but it looks like other finishes are available.

We ordered them through our cabinet makers, but I found them online at knobsandthings.com
Cost: $4.70 each

To get the same look in our laundry room, we used the Ikea’s Strecket (shown below on the right) which come in at $3.99 a 2-pack. Much more economical. These look great with the Besta cabinets we installed in gloss white, really clean and simple. Granted they aren’t of the same quality, but depending on what you’re using them for, you can justify.

While checking out sources online, I came across this blog entry. Looks like we have the same love for the look.

thanks grassrootsmodern.com and welcome to the ‘hood

Thanks to Creede at grassrootsmodern for the mention on his blog, I’ve been following it for a year now so how fun to see our blog up in lights! Looks like he is where we were last July, selling the old, buying the older. But so fun to see that others like to dismantle existing properties and make them shine.

me likey, likey anenome lights

I’m thinking of getting these Robert Abbey Anenome lights for our master bath. Two on either side of the mirror will keep the spa look flowing. Photos of our bath are coming this weekend! (If I can bear to get out of the tub long enough to make a post.)

Ali’s penny round bathroom remodel

This bath is not only Ali’s bath, but also the main bath of the house. We wanted it to be fun but not kiddie, and still go with the rest of the house’s feel and color scheme.

While researching tiles, we fell in love with the penny round tiles from Ann Sacks. The ocean blue that I mentioned here came in as our fav, and when we paired it with a round Duravit vessel sink, we echoed some fun shapes. We took it (along with the rest of the house) down to studs and put in new plumbing, tile, flooring etc. We purchased all of our plumbing and fixtures from Mountainland Design, working with Stephanie, who was great.

top left: One of the only rooms in the house that wasn’t torn out. Hmmm. They really should have. So we did.

top right: We thought about keeping the tub, but it was only about 13″ in height, and after trying to soak in our lame short tub at our rental house, I said no way.

bottom left: We needed the Tub for Two. So, we chose the same tub as our old house, just a 5′ version.

bottom right: Close-up of Ann Sacks tile, in process of grouting.

The final result is shown above. We had walnut floating cabinets built to match the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen and the other bathrooms. Keeping consistency. The floor is stained concrete and runs throughout the top floor of the house, minus the bedrooms.

Ali\'s bath remodel

top left: Duravit vessel sink on walnut floating shelf.

top right: we created a shelf in the tiled wall to keep shampoo and soap off the sides of the tub. Who needs a tiny soap dish anyway when there are so many yummy products out there. Yes, she’ll be a bathing diva for sure.

bottom left: Jeff wanted to make the tub accessible for two people to share (not sure who Ali is going to be sharing with!!) so he installed the tub filler on the opposite wall. He thought it would look interesting. Although I was skeptical at first, he’s won me over.

bottom right: the vintage mirror was Jeff’s grandmother’s and one of the only things he got when she and his grandfather passed away. We treasure it and love it in the bath to loosen the “midcentury” feel.

Our hardware is Hansgrohe in a brushed nickel. We had the chrome Grohe in our LA house, and it was quick to show water deposits and we were constantly shining. This is much easier to maintain and not as typical.

I want it bad – anything by Kartell

I have had my eye on this awesome Kartell t-table for a few months and I’ve decided I have lucite lust. Can’t decide between the blue or gold. I mean how can you not love a line that produces sure-to-be classics alongside gnome side tables?

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Between this and the Louis ghost chair, I could be very satisfied. Anyone want to send me a late birthday present?

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wishy washy dishwasher

With references from friends and knowing we wanted to incorporate environmentally friendly products into our home, we chose the Fisher & Paykel Dishdrawer, a two drawer dishwasher for our kitchen remodel. The idea is that you can load just one drawer at a time and save water and energy. Perfect for our little family of three. Or so we thought. It seems that the dishwasher is going more now than before, thanks in part to the fact that it is very sensitive to overloading and over crowding. Half the time our bowls and glasses end up upside down and full of water, it must have mega gusts of water for less amount of time. Plus the washing part is a little wishy washy. We’re figuring it out, but should have gone for the old standard.

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Choose blue (renewable energy that is)

Sign up for Rocky Mountain Power’s Renewable Energy program and you’ll help reduce your carbon footprint without even making that extra trip to the recycling can. Yes, it’s a little more expensive, but eat lunch in one day a week and we’ll call it even.

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Green insulation

 

We knew that we wanted to incorporate green into the remodel, and an easy and way to do that was with blown-in cellulose, a product that is made from recycled newspapers, magazines, etc. The texture is truly like basic recycled papers so when they do ceilings, they put a simple screen in the joists to hold it. I first learned about it from one of my editors Erin Bean in Utah Style & Design.

The bonus is that unlike many green options, it was actually less expensive! Add in the fact that you have no toxic VOCs etc and you are sitting pretty. We used and recommend Bonded Insulation located in Murray. It only took two days to do and they were very clean and tidy.

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Cellulose is blown into the framing
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Jeff shows his happiness that this job is contracted out!
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Light and fluffy, sort of like snow. But not, it’s gray and recycled.

We’re baaaaaack.

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It’s been a while, yes a long while. No, prolonged mourning for our hamster was not the reason I haven’t updated for FOUR MONTHS (how embarrassing) but merely I’ve been overwhelmed with work, family, the holidays and now thank goodness, MOVING INTO THE HOUSE!

Yes, we are in, there is still plenty of work to do, but I’ll bring you all up to speed in no time flat. Thanks for your support and for continuing to check on the progress.

XO, H, J & A and the animals

R.I.P. Hammy Sanchez Sagar the Gagsta Hamster

I had planned on blogging about our newest family addition but not to announce his departure so soon.

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We acquired Hammy Sanchez about 2 months ago from Nate who is going to school to be a vet tech. Hammy was brought into the vet hospital with an upper respiratory infection, they got him better, but his family didn’t want him anymore so after a time of not finding a new home he was going to become snake dinner. We couldn’t let that happen so he came to live with us.

After 2 other cages that he loved gnawing on, we got him a new one that was all plastic, Jetson-like and so cool! The OVO Habitrail

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I highly recommend it to anyone that needs and easy to clean hamster abode. Hopefully we’ll have another one filling it space soon!

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Very cute, but not very sweet at first, we got him to allow us to hold him and he quit biting in fear and LOVED his ball to roll around in every night, he would run and nearly jump into it. Gigi was his biggest fan, following him everywhere in hopes his hamster ball would pop open and she would have the fortune to have him for a snack.

Friday night he didn’t rally as he usually does about 7 p.m. to bounce into his ball and roll around the house. He was cuddled in his sleeping cage which was highly unusual. I picked him up and he was still moving, but cold and out of it and bit me twice. I nestled him in my shirt next to my heart, trying to get him warm and hoping he’d come out of it. He was at the brink and shortly later passed away.

Funeral services will be held a the new house in his custom made casket where he comfortably laid in his cage bedding with a few pretzels to get him to the other side without hunger pains. Ali decorated it and we sprinkled fairy dust on him so he will become a fairy for Ali. Internment will be in the backyard of the new house. Time and date to be announced depending on snow depth.

We miss you already Hammy Sanchez Sagar, the original gangsta hamsta.  XOXO