Pepper Design Blog

Kitchen Addition: New Breakfast Nook, Part 1 – the Inspiration

When we turned the back den in our home into our kitchen a couple of years ago, one of my favorite parts about the entire remodel was how we opened up the space to our back yard area and into an entertaining zone (pending outdoor yard transformation) with big four pane glass doors at each corner.

It helped to add plenty of light to a darker space (the floors really add to that), but it also moved all of the attention of the space to the very end of the giant room, where the center of the kitchen sat. The space between the island and my office has always felt like some sort of empty zone that you had to pass through to get to the kitchen, and not really as if it was connected in a functional way. It’s an odd space in need of a cozy, textile-filled lift that would help soften and bridge kitchen to rest of house.

We’ve played around with the idea of building some sort of additional cabinetry or bar into that open area, but the more and more I think about it, the more and more a breakfast ‘nook’ is calling my name.

Images found here and here.

I would like to bring sunny yellow and maybe one contrasting pop of color in in the form of a cheery bench fabric and pillows. As far as the seating goes, I have a couple of ideas on how we can either repurpose a piece of furniture or use the same cabinets that are in the rest of our kitchen, but maybe with the addition of legs to form a bench. With our dining space just off of the kitchen, Kevin is not so sure it’s the best use of space, while I can already picture reading the morning paper and drinking coffee curled up. Inspirational photos are always helpful in making these decisions.

We’ve come a long way since it all began four and a half years ago!

And back to light filled kitchen…

PS You can filter all posts by just our kitchen remodel (and watch the entire room start from scratch) here.

Friday Guest Blog Interview: The Novogratz Family

Today I am honored to invite the Novogratz Family (yes the Design by Nine team!) to PDB to participate in our Friday Guest Blog Interview series. I absolutely adore their organic, eclectic and family-oriented style, and I’m pinching myself that they’ve agreed to take a few moments to answer our four usual questions on personal design, and to share their newest collection over at CB2!

The above is one of my favorite rooms.

Robert and Cortney Novogratz (along with their seven children) have made stylish family design and functionality hip, eccentric and homey. The couple have designed a variety of hotels, homes, NYC apartments, have created their very own line through CB2 (check out the ‘family’ lightbox after the jump), are seasoned authors (more in question 2) and reality TV show stars over at HGTV. Their signature design style is wonderful, creating striking, memorable spaces around the globe. Spaces that make you go – I want to copy that now!

What a lucky bunch! I stole this image from a while back, their kids are a wee bit older now. Follow the jump for the full interview!

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Living Room Update: Toy Storage!

Popping in here today to share a recent toy basket purchase for our living room. We’ve outgrown our previous teensy tiny basket (what was I thinking?), and when I spotted these birch weaved beauties at Crate & Barrel on sale I snagged ‘em before I could reconsider.

I’ve always thought that baskets in general are quite pricey. When I come across any that are a deal in my mind I almost feel obligated to purchase just because I know I will find a use somewhere in the house . Always looking for a pretty way to corral ‘stuff’!

The living room is full of dark woods – reddish floors, dark bookcases and couch legs, an espresso-stained mantel. The birch fits in beautifully as a bright, organic contrast.

As far as filling them goes, here’s an unedited look at the inside.

Books and such in the smaller of the two:

And bigger toys in the larger basket. Liv is learning to organize and enjoys putting toys – for the most part – back where they’re ‘supposed’ to go.

We are building a home for a family, so having toys and play stuff is 100% okay with me out in the open. There’s something cozy and comforting and kid-friendly (even a little messy in a good way) about visible toys. It means a space is used and loved and enjoyed. But cute containers are a plus!

PS More on the entire makeover of our little living space here.