This Old House on the North Shore

Kevin O’Connor, host of PBS’s This Old House, graces the cover of North Shore Magazine this month and will speak tonight as Honorary Chair of the North Shore Design Show. He will be highlighting 30 Years of This Old House and will share what is on deck for next season. For tickets, contact the Wenham Museum. I will be there for the wine and cheese reception, and will have pad and pen in hand, hoping he can answer some of “My Old House” questions!

There is nothing more satisfying than putting that last decorative detail in place for a designed space. Last Friday, after hanging this window treatment (with the help of the tallest guy I could find -- thank you, John Margolis of ICA!) in my room at the North Shore Design Show, I was finally able to step back and admire the end result. Then I took about a hundred pictures, headed home to get ready for the
Preview Party and discovered this ...

My kitchen and first floor bath were gone and my husband was responsible! Don’t worry, he is a licensed contractor and we had been planning this renovation for a long time. I did not think it would coincide with my participation in the design show, but at least we are on our way to a new and functional space! I bid a fond farewell to this vintage Harvest Gold General Electric Double Wall Oven ...

I listed it yesterday on Craigslist ...

and sold it for $50.00 by lunch time. It still works like a charm (we relied on it without fail for at least five Thanksgiving dinners!) but it was time to go. Now the fun begins, like redesigning the space (come back next week to view our new layout) and choosing materials and finishes. Anything will be an improvement from this kitchen that dates back to around 1970, but considering the fact that I have waited so long for this renovation (when we moved in we hoped it would last for 5 years, it has been 6) there are definitely some items on my list that I do not want to go without. I will share more about that list next week. Here is one item that might fit in nicely with the design plan for our Colonial farm house kitchen ...

Franke Farm House Series Kitchen Sink


Now it is off to the museum to meet some of my design friends who are coming in for a visit to my space (which will be exactly as I left it
... so refreshing!)

More later,
xo yvonne