my kitchen runner

I've had a bunch of you email me, asking where I got my (smashing) kitchen runner. I love it too! I got that one on sale at Scout by Bungalow (along with the cubbies in my kids' art area in our laundry room, pictured below). And this is the company, FoFlor, that makes them for Scout, with even more patterns to make you swoon. (Oh, and yes, the runners are machine washable... since things are often flying when I'm cooking!)

even my ceiling makes me smile

We've been in the house 3 days now and I am just smitten with the kitchen. Tonight I looked up from the island and noticed all of the amazing woodwork up on the ceiling. It's truly beautiful. I was singing our architect and contractor's praises to a friend in the supermarket this afternoon. Nab them, if you can. They are amazing.

You all keep a asking for pics of the finished product, and I'll take more pics soon, but also thought that sharing a pic of what it's really like at 6:45pm on a Thursday might give you a glimmer into the digs. More after I'm done unpacking and really settled in...

the kitchen is 99.9% ready!... and what's saving me meal-wise this week

Amazing, isn't it? Truly the most gorgeous kitchen I could have ever imagined.

I am so, so excited. 

Our contractor asks if I "want to wait until it's done to take pictures?"

Nope, too excited. 

So anyway, it's going to be a little quiet on the blog these next 2 weeks, as

I deal with this (much less sexy than the almost-done kitchen pic, huh?)...

quickly fill this (enjoy the cubby view while they're serene)...

and spend some Q time with my boys, who are on break. Once we have the art cubbies, and the pantry, and all the other amazing new spaces full I'll take pics and share them with you. Promise.

Oh, and on the food front, things aren't too shabby either. Random, yes, but delicious. All of the odds and ends (like 4 different 1/4 packages of pasta) are being put to good use so I can start fresh with all of my pantry essentials in the new digs.

And there's the freezer to empty out too, before we move back. In fact, I don't plan to cook at all this week.... which is sort of a shame, given the swell new digs. Truth: maybe I'm a little afraid to get anything dirty? That'll last about 3 days... in the meantime, we're sitting down to my oven-baked meatballs tonight, kale pesto (in some iteration) another night, and a tub of turkey chili, which will make good use of the tortillas in the fridge. Alright, so back in new recipe action soon. Can't wait to shoot my simple recipes from the brand-spanking new kitchen!!

Oh, and don't forget that I am sharing some of my make-ahead meal tips and simple recipes as a speaker at the Family Dinner Conference in NYC on April 18. I would love to meet some of you live if you can make it!!

the kitchen's home stretch!!... backsplash in!

this is the home stretch!! i should be whipping up, and photographing, recipes for you all from our new kitchen in the next few weeks. pinch me! the kitchen is turning out more beautiful-- and functional-- than i ever imagined it could be. i feel so, so lucky. here's a sneak peek at the backsplash (minus lights-- sorry, forgot to turn them on)...so gorgeous, isn't it? oh, i am so excited.

part of what has made this renovation so smooth, and fun, is our "dream team". since so many have asked, let me make sure you have their contact info, in case you're embarking on a Fairfield County, CT renovation or building project too:
architect: neil hauck + project manager, brian o'connor
contractor: jeff pirone of pirone construction
designer: sanny warner from alice burnham, inc.

construction project sneak peek: art area

I know it's been a while since I've posted photos of the kitchen project... those counters that (still) make me swoon are in and just waiting for me to slice and dice on them... but they've been covered by all sorts of tarps while the electrical work is completed, doors are hung and everything covered in a thick sheen of painters' dust. Not really the stuff of photos. So, in the meantime, I'll share another exciting space that's coming together: remember the alcove way back when?

Our architect turned a teeny tiny bedroom with a pitched roof line into functional storage area for art supplies and work space for the kids (as well as laundry room, folding space, a cedar off-season clothing closet, linen closet and cleaning closet-- miracle workers when it comes to squeezing stuff in), our designer recommended an eco-friendly floor that is kid-friendly, and our contractor is making it all come together. To say my kids are excited about this special space for them would be an understatement.

my counters make me swoon

remember the sneak peek at the counters last week? well, they are in (!!!)... and i. am. in. love.

a new food crush yesterday and a counter crush all in one week? love is in the air, people. speaking of, I've got you covered with Valentine's snacks, treats and more too.  so go on and get ready to tell someone you love them.

kitchen progress - counters!

Super excited to share the kitchen counters that will be the background of many a recipe pic to come!! It's ok if you find yourself swooning too. I understand. I now, officially, have a crush on my cabinets and counters. Thanks to our amazing contractor, who traipsed to many a CT stone yard with me, then spotted spoken for slabs at a fabricator and tracked down sister slabs two states away, I am the luckiest girl ever. That empty shell of a kitchen a few weeks ago is coming together even more beautifully than I could have ever imagined.

sneak peek at our construction project!

So many of you have emailed me or stopped me on the street recently asking how our construction is going that I know it's time to share a sneak peek! Just a quick one though. This (use your imagination!) will be the new site of many a delicious family dinner. And, everyone keeps asking what I am most excited about? Working appliances will be awesome (remember me cooking on one working burner for several months?! I think it was about 7 months?). But, even more exciting is the chance to face whoever is in the kitchen when I am cooking. I cannot wait for the island so I don't always have my my back to everyone when I am at the counter. That is what I am most excited about.

And this is what my kids are most excited about-- a funny alcove being transformed into a cubby area filled with all sorts of materials they can use to "create things". This project is really, really special. I feel so thankful that we've been able to embark on it, and cannot wait to whip up and share new recipes for you all in the transformed digs.