so, as you may or may not recall from several recent posts of mine, i have a new apartment and it has extraordinarily ugly kitchen cabinets….you know the ones…they are the Home Depot cheap oak beveled ones with no hardware and an ugly finish….yeah, those.  Now, add to that a forest green laminate counter…yes, forest green.  someone thought that was a good idea, and then, to that, add nude-colored laminate tiles on the floor with beige floor boards and finish it all off with a crappy piece of aluminum separating the kitchen floor from the GORGEOUS original hardwood flooring.  

why.  why oh why do people do what they do?

SOOOOO, as i stated here i am choosing to look at it as a design challenge and in time will post before and after pics, until then i would like to share some different reader suggestions that have intrigued me…although, at this point i am really craving a non-fussy really clean look and may end having my own new door fronts made out of a nicer-grade plywood …who knows.

So here are a few of the ideas i received, starting with the lovely Stephanie S. who some of you may recognize as the long-haired pretty gal who sometimes moonlights over at ROOM SERVICE the store….she sent me a link with this idea:

Click HERE for the full post on Tres chic Veronique’s blog

Another great idea was posted on my blog by Lisa…I do not know if I will actually do this one on my cabinets, but it is highly likely that i will use their exact example on the door of my apartment!  I love this:

Click here to see How About Orange’s DIY idea

Other GREAT ideas have been sent to me, the awesome Stephanie of even cleveland was a fan of the open shelving, and my friend and stylist, Sharon has been generous with ideas too. although I am still leaning towards a few other ideas that include making new plywood doors, or taking the doors off altogether (of course, i just don’t think can make the contents look neat enough) and running a curtain (like a hospital, but not at all like a hospital) around the entire perimeter of the kitchen, using either white sheers or some fabulous fabric…OR the idea am enjoying currently is wallpapering the walls all around the cabinets with some amazing wallpaper (there are so many out there anymore aren’t there!) and just either picking a pattern that plays into the ugly cabinets or totally distracts or something…we’ll see.

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not fair.  growing up in paris.  found here.

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SOOOOOO behind on posting!  sorry sorry sorry!  its been a little hard, as the days leading up to Christmas were really busy at the store, and then well, it was christmas!  So, Merry Christmas everyone!!!  I hope your holidays are brilliant!  I shall try to resume so normal posting schedule starting…NOW!

This SNAPSHOT is of another friend of mine, SATOMI JIN.  We met a couple years ago when I was looking to hire an artist to work with me and a mutual friend sent me her contact info and a raving recommendation about how brilliant she was…and….she was/is.  

The piece above, while small here, in actuality is nearly 13 FEET WIDE!  now, its not obvious here, but these orbs or organic shapes are comprised of, likely billions of teeny timy little hand-drawn pencil circles…clrcles about the size of the dot above your hand-written “i”.  I know it can’t be as impactful as in person, but I am floored by the notion of it. 

This piece of hers, a sewn patchwork grenade made out of lovely little pastel floral fabrics sealed the deal for me! I HAD to hire her!

Nippon Japan:

We no longer work together, but she and I are still friends and are supposed to be getting together  (we did in fact get together) for an afternoon date to Loganberry books next week (thank you Stephanie for the recommendation, i still cannot believe I had not known about this Cleveland gem!).

So, I am LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG overdue for another SNAPSHOTS installment, hope you enjoy this and look out for an upcoming post about Satomi’s equally talented husband, Matt:

SNAPSHOTS: Satomi Jin

Hometown: Kawaskaki, Japan

How did you end up in Cleveland?:  I got a job as a ceramics teacher at Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights. (this is danielle again, i just want to interject that Satomi has found herself here NOW because of this job, but originally met her husband, a native Clevelander while in college in Columbus, which initially led her from Japan to Ohio…she told me i could fill in any blanks if i wanted to)

Top things you miss about Japan?:  Food, My family, and shopping

What would you like us to know about your hometown?:  Kawasaki is located between Yokohama (Bay City) and Tokyo (Manhattan x 100).  But when I am there I usually go to Tokyo to hang out.

Take me on a tour from wake to slumber of a perfect idealized day in your hometown:  Go hiking in a mountain, got to day spa and go to a beach.  have delicious dinner and go to hot springs in the hotel

Favorite writers & artists from your country:  My favorite writer/artist is Kenji Miyaza.  He lived (to in his mid 30’s) in late 19th century - early 20th century.  He wrote very sophisticated cute short stories about animals and people and nature.  He was also a farmer, geologist, poet and painter.

Favorite shopping in and around Tokyo?:  In Tokyo, I love to go to Muji shops.  Simple, good quality, and very reasonable prices. (muji.com) I also love the biggest department store in Shinjuku called Isetan.  They are like a Barneys NY plus Nordstrom.  I don’t get to buy much, but very inspirational.  Kyoto and Takayama (it is in mountainous area, smaller version of Kyoto) are the other favorite cities to travel and shop.  They have beautiful traditional craft shops and antique shops and much more!

In general, what would you say are the biggest differences between life in USA versus life in Japan?  One of the big differences is everything you see in Japan is smaller and skinier.  Houses, highways, buses and cars and people.  It is very convenient to go anywhere, and do something. Transportation systems are super accurate and efficient. Every where you go you will get very good, detailed and thorough services (sometimes it is too much!).  Politcs, education systems, culture and history….they are all very different from US. But the climate in Japan is very similar to Cleveland!

Satomi gave me a Japanese catalog, Zappa catalog, for inspiration.  I can’t quite order out of it, i mean for one, its all in Japaneses and it happens to be an older issue that she bought at a store while living in Seattle a couple years ago…but i DO often refer back to it for inspiration.  It is so clean and simple and full of the most charming and practical items by such talented designers!  I found their website but it’s not nearly as pretty as the catalog!

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I saw a similar image in this month’s ELLE DECOR UK and it stopped me in my tracks.  If I HAD to live in Greenland, ( i am sure its a wonderful place, i just don’t like cold weather) I would most certainly LOVE living in one of these: 

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So, you may have inferred from my post here that i have moved.  For the couple weeks or so that I have had the keys I have been trying to get a few things set up so that by the time I moved in, it would be, well, livable…at least tolerably so.

The timing is not great, what with running a gift store alone in December, but when is it ever convenient to move?!?!

I am not going to show the entire apartment on this blog until I am satisfied with it, but I may post a few things here and there as I make design decisions (lord knows there are SO MANY to be made!).

As I mentioned here I HATE my kitchen, but I am deciding today to no longer look at with such harsh glasses and choose to look at the kitchen as an OPPORTUNITY to exercise my design prowess….that’s right, I chose the word “prowess” carefully. I mean, sometimes, as in the case of my kitchen, design can be like a battle…a war with ugly…which pacifism alone cannot conquer.  Action must be taken, and I am not afraid to take it.

I have received many great ideas from you guys on how to handle the ugly cabinet situation, and am weighing them all very carefully.

Truth is, any of them WOULD have worked had I followed through on my original intention of keeping the space very soft and neutral…I mean, it made the most sense to do so, with the big white walls and windows which just let the light flood in…NOT TO MENTION, the fact that my chaotic life seems to beg for a quiet home.

SO THEN, one might wonder why, while shopping at SUITE LORAIN the other day, I made this purchase:

Yes, i purchased an orange and purple velvet loveseat.  I did this.  I own it.  Arslanian Bros. cleaners is showing up tomorrow morning to clean it, its a done deal.  This now sits in my living room, adjacent to the open plan kitchen….which alters the entire feel of the place and subsequently makes my kitchen fix-it issue exponentially more complicated.

I tried like hell to resist it.  I mean, I adore soft neutral palettes when I see them, but for some reason, cannot stop myself from constantly filling my world with copious amounts of color!

I will keep you posted on the developments… i mean, this selection can go either way still….it can end up being an ultra luxe piece that I ADORE, or well, not.

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The Sukie Iron-on Craft Pad is amazing.  You can order it here or its in the store.

The Printnaking Bible is a great gift idea.  You can order it here or its in the store.

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Today I have marked down all of the holiday-themed items at ROOM SERVICE.  The ornaments, stockings, trimmings, and cards are all 25% off.

These items are IN STORE ONLY -not on the website…so if you see something you like call or email me and i can take orders over the phone. 216-281-4221 / info AT roomservicecleveland (dot) com

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this week…I am moving, preparing for holidays, and increasing my french lessons and thus will have limited posts….the moving part is the biggest distraction right now….so many design choices in so little time…BUT when i am all done, i may just post a bunch of photos of my new place…

be back soon…i swear.  xoxoxo

below is this tree at night.

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i will do one thing today:

THING:  i will add product to my website…ugh.

(image found here)

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I am loving the artist Sophie Meier right now.

check out her site here for more of her whimsical collection.

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