I’ve been in a family funk with one child going through some pretty serious stuff, and though I’ve still had moments here and there to blog, it’s amazing how lack of sleep and crisis sap your creative energy. 

During this time I also started initial contact with six new clients and continued to “fluff” my retail booth. Some restorative time in the mountains this past weekend got the creative juices flowing again (and proved very therapeutic for my middle child). So I thought I’d share some recent projects involving modern shelves that I did at my mountain house.  

This 1978 house sported very clean, modern cabinets which needed little more than paint and new hardware during our initial renovation three years ago.

I removed some cabinets and I installed 2-inch Cararra marble tiles on the wall in place of the cabinets and began researching stainless steel floating, modern shelves. Couldn’t get custom size done by a manufacturer I sourced (prohibitively expensive!). Two years passed and I finally revisited a couple months ago. Decided it was just as easy (and less costly) for my carpenter to make hollow, wood shelves, slide them onto cleats or dowels that have been securely screwed into tile, then sheathe the wood in stainless steel. Here are the results.

The shelves dead-end into the oven wall which makes more sense. Incorporating these modern shelves into the kitchen doesn’t result in a too “industrial” look. The marble tile and accessorizing soften the look.

I tried to acheive a similar look with a lucite book case and also soften with books and accessories.

Modern doesn’t mean cold or sterile.

I plan to add more books/magazines over time, so this is a “first pass”. Bookends don’t have to match, as in the case with these vintage “Made in Japan” white ceramics.

And I love funky, vintage accessories and art glass.

And mix in a little natural or, in this case, coral on vintage 50’s stand.

Speaking of natural, hung some antlers (the jury is out:  moose?  elk?).  Painted the “plaque-like” background a glossy, creamy white to give it a more modern look and tie it into the mirror.

Next post I’ll show some more “natural” elements to include in your decor. This is my latest trend, I guess. But I feel these elements really ground a room…and maybe I’m feeling the need to be more grounded lately:)