Gourds in New Jersey Farm Country

It's that time of year when all the window boxes get changed or are supplemented with some gourds.  I love them because no critters eat them and they come in all of the seasons changing colors.  Since it has been so dry here in the East Coast we will welcome seeing these.. I am concerned, as we all are about our trees in the forest holding on with this drought.   The rich colors of last autumn will not visit us this year.

I changed out some fabulous containers for a client last week. I will post some pictures.  Think kale, mums, gourds, and I left some decorative grass that has died but looks like haystacks! Pumpkins love the heat though and that they have had! Nothing like the sugar pumpkins.

I can't wait to show you all of the beautiful squashes that grow right here in New Jersey that we can eat and double as decorations. The Yankee in me loves to be frugal, so why not skip the Halloween store for decorations and just pay tribute to what grows seasonally.  Decorate and then eat! They should last outside for two to three months still looking lovely for Thanksgiving.

Princeton Design Guild Helps with Marble Sill

We are continuing to tweak at the carriage house kitchen.  Today Kevin Wilkes and I played with where the marble sill should come out as the final dressing of the two sink windows. I plan to harbor some ferns on the sill and won't they be pleased.
I have made a little blunder with the polished nickel. I am so  used to cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend for everything. I love it.  Well,  not for the nickel,  so I called Rohl and got costumer service immediately.  Wow! and a live person!  I was given advice on how to polish properly.

I am very happy with the marble. Now that it is in,  it truly brightens this north side kitchen.  Just what it needed.  The marble fabricator used just about everything from the slab so he was kind enough to leave me with three square pieces for fun.  I think I will go back to treating this kitchen with fresh farm flowers on Wednesdays from the Hopewell Farmers Market by the train station.

It is still hot,  yet the season is pushing towards autumn.  Soon enough my own window boxes will be changed to reflect that nod.

Soon enough I will be sharing with you the sink project upstairs.. Rusted out sink from roughly the thirties.  I need to make that more practical with a vanity and a divine piece of stone.  Never forget about searching your stoneyards for remnants. Why go to Lowe's or Home Depot for one pre done when it is just as easy to pick out a remnant of stone and personalize your space?!?  I already have something in mind.

Bottom line - Have a vision, stick to quality, and do the numbers so that you will enjoy what is ultimately a sound investment.   Thank you for sharing in my joy and may I see you in my garden or yours!

Calacatta Gold Extra Marble in the Hopewell Carriage House

Another exciting day in the kitchen!  The marble backsplash was installed with an emphasis on following the veining from the countertop through to the splash.  In most places it was able to be done.
My marble fabricator sealed this honed marble and it looked easy as pie. This will be my responsibility in six months.

 Princeton Design Guild coordinated with my fabricator on the windowsill today and that will be done next week.  I was pretty clear that I wanted a divine sill for my plants and they will not be disappointed with what is coming! I don't know if you can tell from the pictures but the windows are wood and must have been replaced prior to me.  They are  classic quality so the sill will compliment it well when finished.  OK, so the marble is a splurge. I will be more joyful in this kitchen with its exposed beams and sloping floors because of it! And I am sure one day someone else like me,  that loves a charming home will love to take her over. In the long meantime,  I am so pleased that it is me.

Calacatta Gold Extra Marble in the Hopewell Carriage House

Wow! What a day!   Marble has been installed on the countertops. The backsplash will not be done until tomorrow.  It is much better to do this as a two day install.  You will get a much tighter fit and marble is much harder to work with than granite so a lot a praying occured on my end anyway.  So don't let anyone talk you into doing it in one day,  if you are in fact commited to this fine material on the counter and backsplash.  It  really helps brighten up the space and let's face it, it is just YUMMY to look at so might as well go for it! Thank the Lord I don't care about jewelry..  This rocks this space.

Tomorrow the honed marble will be sealed.  Super forgiving when it is honed and much more farm to table feel.  I love it! Wait until you see what I am going to do with the windowsill, notice trim is gone so wait and see!! Princeton Design Guild has been gems to work with on such a project.  They care about detail as much as I do.  Also PDG has come up with a very creative way to utilize the small space beside  the fridge.  Another cabinet with a corkboard.  I love the idea!

We all know how long I have been coveting this faucet and sink.  It really goes back to a carriage house I rented in Princeton.  It has been over fifteen years since then and worth the wait.  I cannot stress enough how a house should not deter you if there are things to do.  I was grateful to make my own decisions.  Late October will be a year and a half in this house and I will be winding down on the projects.  I think I might miss the decisions.

Oh,  and if you think I don't remember where I started with this kitchen, I do!!

I love work working with clients whether inside the house as a realtor or my other hat as a garden designer and helping them see a vision.  In these hard times,  a vision is just what is needed.   If you can pick up a property at a reasonable trade and put a little sweat into it,  the satisfaction is just wonderful and one can come out ahead down the road.  I know I will.  Thanks for following my journey.