Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

Am still finalizing details with hubby on the kitchen reno. This room has certainly been the largest overhaul of all the rooms, even the bathrooms, of which there are 4 full (tho 1 is still gutted). Rooms with plumbing are soooo time and money-intensive to do or redo, but one saves a fortune by doing it all oneself!

The most recent conundrum was the 3 brass edged overhead fixtures that didn't coordinate with the nickel trim of the other elements in the room - the cupboard pulls and knobs as well as the nickel trim on his restored stove. And, of course, bright nickel obviously isn't in vogue, as the home centers have brushed nickel and other metals, but not what we needed. So, what to do? He's tried those metallic paints previously and they don't really look as good as they look on the can cap! So, we decided on a dark blue ground paint covered with a blue speckle paint, then clear coat - just on the metal parts of the 3 lights. Now, not only are they unique, but they co-ordinate perfectly with the speckle blue (like a faux finish) countertop.

When the kitchen is completely done, I'll post photos - we're really quite proud of the project!

I'm up to one front and sleeve front on the 2nd boucle jacket sample I started Monday evening. What's nice about this jacket design is that it's easy to knit - just St st and seed stitch - but the gauge means a size medium is only about a 20-hour investment of knitting time. As look through the newest (Fall) Interweave Knits, and see all the wonderful new designs, I know knitters must have a hard time choosing what to make next.

I certainly don't have any time to knit up other designers' work, though there are many designers whose work I admire and *wish* I had the time to knit up! I always admire those whose direction in knitting is completely different from mine - the fine gauge work of some of the Rowan artists, almost all of Norah Gaughan's cable work, Takle and Kolstad's color designs, and some work of the new and upcoming designers, and more, but always that which is different than my own designing inclinations!

Work awaits!