KITCHEN CABINETS - PAINT PAINT PAINT

I love warm wood tones, but for some reason

in a kitchen

I prefer them on the floor

I love a painted kitchen!

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EXPLORING THE KITCHEN BACKSPLASH

I love kitchens

Which is a little surprising based on how little time I have to spend in them these days.

But I can't help it.  I love kitchens -

They are the heart of the home.

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Splendour of The Chitoor Kottaram

The Mansion next door to the famous "Chittorappan Temple" in Ernakulam ,Chitoor and very near/stones throw distance from my Aunts house had always intrigued me.The mansion was none other than the splendorous "Chittoor Kottaram" that was built nearly 50 yards from the temple.The Raja of Cochin built this palace to cater to the use of the Raja during his regular visits to the shrine.

The Kottaram /Palace steeps in history and folklores of the time when the Rajas ruled Kerala.Suresh Nampoothiri gave us a warm welcome and this visit of mine happened some years back and he had told me about the "kottaram" being run by CGH earth for catering to the tourists.As told by him the restoration activities was quite a challenge for him,as he got all tiles replaced,the granite pathways,the teak doors,flooring detailing and wood work too..The athangudi tiles were added for more royal look.Glass door were put in at the entrance on the ground floor to provide more light and the furnitures replicated from old designs .The palace exudes in grandeur..Enjoy with the Periyar river flowing next to it its a paradise for sure!

the grandeur..

notice the columns and the sides

inside out

the long corridors..

the swings and the athangudi tiles

wonderful place to rest,read and have your tea

the back side 

the trees and the tropical lush greenery

shadows cast a magic

onto the periyar river

the wooden stairs

beautiful are these windows

in love with the corridors

the separate dining room

the umbrella  from earlier times made with palm leaves

the temple pond entry

as we sat down to relax

its beautiful:)-

All Images Idea:Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy elsewhere ..without the prior permission

RENEW WITH COLOR

EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROJECT FOR THE NEW YEAR

What is yours?

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BORING WALLS? WE CAN FIX THAT!

There is no excuse, my friends, for boring walls....

Especially when you can get quality frames for so little $$$.

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CLEAN AND AIRY

The Mustard Ceiling

Choosing a color for your home, especially if it is an open concept floor plan and all rooms flow together, can be a little difficult. 

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A KITCHEN WITH DETAILS

That is what we desire.

Oft times we just get a 'kitchen'.  

Without adequate storage.  

Without enough food prep areas.

 Without adequate lighting. 

 Without details. 

When we are able to make some upgrades,

in light of the inadequacies, the details are often the last things we pursue.

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MELLOW YELLOW

Yellow is a popular choice for walls and for warming a room.  However, it isn't always the best choice to lighten a room - or to make it feel more spacious.



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REFRESH

the blue house

I just had to share this beautiful transformation with you.  It was so fun to design, and to see to its completion.  The homeowner is wonderfully creative and knows exactly what she likes.  My amazing friend, Shawna Henrie (bleudog fotography), provided the photography - which is why this post is going to be full of lots of wonderful pictures!  Enjoy!

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