Cardinal House : The distraction of shopping

While waiting out the process of permits, geo-tech soil testing and approvals for the  renovation/addition, our favourite distraction became shopping for Cardinal House. One of the things I'm very grateful for is that Richard and I have very similar taste. I can't imagine if one of us liked modern clean lines and one of us preferred traditional. So - with that in mind, the shopping became easy.

First things first........ the soaker tub for our ensuite bath was the first purchase. Richard shocked me when he announced that he had found a great tub on Kijiji - how did he know about Kijiji?
So deal number one - a plumbing store in a small town only a half hour away was selling existing stock to make room for new stock. Perfect size, no marks, great price - SOLD!

.... and it will look great with this set of Raven pipes positioned at the side {currently on our plumbing list}.

We purchased a two drawer chest that will be converted into the sink cabinet in the principal bathroom. White with grey vein marble will be installed on top, the top drawer will be rebuilt to allow space for a single sink to be dropped into the unit. There is a complimenting vitrine in black wood and glass, it will be the perfect spot for plush towels and fragrant candles.

from Winterberry Lane

Feeling confident with his internet search, Richard continued to shop and found this beauty for the livingroom .............

A solid Oak fireplace mantle that once surrounded a firebox in Old Toronto City Hall. We took a trip into the city to see if it would work with our plans and brought this beauty home. It is solid, heavy and will be perfect once painted the same as our millwork. Yes, we are painting it out and it will be finished something like this.........

Searching for ideas, finishes and sourcing products was the therapy we needed to get through the long wait for the green light on the build. The plan is to nudge our 1960's bungalow into a French Provencal look and know that it will take a lot of finesse and a gentle hand. I do not want a themed look to the decor, nothing contrived; just a subtle hint of the romantic look found in France.

We happily wandered back to a local shop in Oakville that we love - Winterberry Lane. It was a few years ago that we purchased two beautiful mirrors and fell in love with pretty much everything in the shop. The owner, Judy Cistrone, has a great eye for antiques and decor pieces with distinction. It's in her shop that we found a key element for our new kitchen {among many, many things}.

Originally we planned to put a pantry and counter on one wall of the kitchen. It would have storage underneath, glass front cabinets above, house our bar fridge, and be completed with a small bar sink and marble counter tops.

Inspiration for the pantry wall.

But then we found this incredible French Provencal sideboard at Winterberry Lane.

The pantry wall will consist of this sideboard painted out black with rubbed edges on the raised carved portions. The original hardware and hinges will stay the same and the top will be finished with marble that will be carried throughout the kitchen. 

Our kitchen cabinets will be white with black hardware and the island will be black with black hardware, the sideboard black with original hardware. With all of the countertop area's in white marble with grey veins, it will provide a cohesive look.

A vintage mirror will hang over the sideboard area with glass bistro shelves that will sit on black iron brackets.

From Firebacks.net we sourced an 18th C fireback that will be installed above the gas range. Ordering from this company in Netherlands was so easy and the products arrived in Canada within four days.

Fruits of Summer pattern.

I have to admit that the kitchen is the one room that I wake up at night thinking about.......... I can't wait to play in it.


Thousands of images are tucked in my files. When I come across an image that has been a favourite design for many years, I realize that the look I want is timeless. More shopping distractions to follow.........