Vipp modular kitchens

I happened across this Danish modular cabinetry on Remodelista the other day and it spoke to me instantly (I particularly love this unit above as a stand alone piece almost anywhere). I realized later I think it's because in a way it reminds me of vintage black and white enamelware, but in kitchen cabinet form :)

See what I mean? (darling enamelware bowls from Etsy) 

Available in white and black, the line includes modular cabinets, shelving, hardware, even kitchen accessories.

Also, how sweet is the design as a bathroom vanity?

Welcome, spring

Apologies for the lapse, March was a busy month. We expect to have word back from the City this week on our plans, so hopefully we'll have progress updates on the farmhouse reno/addition very soon! Hope you had a wonderful Easter holiday. It felt like summer here (a very welcome surprise!) and the little guy got to take in a couple innings at the local ball field where his dad used to play. Sweetest.

Modern (Farmhouse) Cottage

 From the front...

And from the back.

And, we wait.... for the City to issue our permits. The husband sketched elevations and floor plans and our drafter turned them into permit-ready and build-ready plans. A beautiful thing! Working with the constraints of the narrow lot while retaining the existing structure wasn't an easy feat, but we are way excited about the end result. Looking forward to getting started on this next project!

Oxo Tot

We are big fans of Oxo Tot, Oxo's line dedicated to little ones as they learn to use utensils and bowls and what not. Their product line is not cutesy or over-embellished; rather it's modern and sleek, while still feeling playful and fun. We have all of these items, except for the booster (I just think it's so well designed, and have a feeling we'll be ordering it in soon enough). The Oxo Tot product line definitely stands out among all the other brands from an aesthetic perspective, and I love to give praise to the companies that "get" the appeal of style and simplicity in product design for kids' stuff. Well done! 

Air plants

I am so fascinated by air plants. We saw some at our favorite garden shop the other day and I bombarded a  very patient sales person with questions (I couldn't help myself). Do they really not need water? How do you care for them? How long do they "last"? Do they grow? Where did these come from anyway? So here's the scoop. Yes, they do need water, but only in the form of a 20-30 minute soak in water (submerged) every couple weeks. Then you drain them (upside down to prevent rot) for another 20-30 minutes and back they go into their containers or trays or what have you, happy as clams. They "last" the same as any other plant, I suppose as long as they get proper care. They do grow! And some even flower. They are not new, though it seems that way. Apparently they were popular in the 70s (Aha!) and making a bit of a resurgence. I keep thinking about them.. so lovely for decorating. Living greens that are modern, and low maintenance... Perfect for a Modern Cottage!

Happy Valentine's Day

Is this not the perfect gift from the little guy to his dad? The hearts are made from vintage electrical plans. He personalized it with a little heart-shaped photo which he attached to the twine. Quite crafty for a 17-month old, yes? (Okay, so he had some help from mom :)

Scored!

We expected a bit of a wait for the chance to get our hands on some original Casalino kids chairs (since the recently released reproductions are not sold in the US and to ship them here would cost more than the chairs). However we are super excited to report we just nabbed a set on Ebay at $25 a pop and they are in near-flawless vintage condition compared to others I'd looked at that sadly were totally thrashed. Major score! 

The little guy is way excited to have his own chairs though he occasionally needs a bit of help getting in them - and then gleefully propels himself off to (most of the time) a "stuck" landing. Good thing it's not a huge drop. 

Of course white was the only acceptable color and these are just perfect. I really didn't want to add any more 'legs' to the space - they are currently living in our great room, which already houses our dining table, leggy chairs, and leggy bar stools - and these rounded, organic-feeling 70's era chairs (1973 according to the stamp - older than we are!) are the perfect balance in shape and style, adding a good dose of modern without being over the top. 

Husband is super thrilled too, and he was doubting me when I first became fixated on considered them. I got high praise the minute he saw them set up. We're also glad we ultimately went with the Casalino 0 (toddler size) vs the Casalino I (kids size) size which would have been a couple inches taller. The smaller ones are just cuter and even I can sit in them so I know they'll last him a long time. We've had a bit of an obsession with cool old chairs for well over a decade now so it's always fun to score something great for our 'collection'. Even better however when they are so delightfully functional!