#my ceramics are in one spot specifically in a glass cabinet

[beaversatemygrandma]

At roughly 4 to 5am one of the cats decided to climb on top of the shelves right above my head where i sleep. Shelves that we put there specifically bc they couldn't reach them. (They grew since then. They can now...) And I was rudely woken up by a lego succulent that was on display hitting me right in the head.

The little shits have mastered verticality and I'm hating it.

Anyways. Anybody have any recommendations of museum putty for displayed lego sets? (Bc anything that isn't plastic isn't out in the open bc of them.)

[drbtinglecannon]

Keston John describing Darius' orderly tendencies as "precision" was cute not just as a distinct word choice to describe it, but also Darius himself would absolutely refer to it like that

Like, imagine after Hunter moves in and in Hunter's own habits he immediately cleans dishes after using them, but at first (and maybe even intentionally after a while) it results in light-hearted bickering if something is put out of place.

--

The soft clinging of utensils jostling as the drawer opens is the only sound before --

"That's not where that goes, Bookworm," Darius calls from the living room.

Hunter rolls his eyes. The first few nights he found Darius' hyper attention to detail intimidating, now it's simply a mild annoyance. Even after all these weeks he still has no idea how Darius can tell if a single thing in his precious kitchen is placed in the wrong spot without even being present to witness it.

Living with Darius' neuroses has its benefits though.

Namely, he can be annoying back with only amusement as the end result.

Hunter pats Flapjack's head as a warning to not startle his companion, then throws a hand out to grab at a random cabinet door and toss it open as loudly as possible without damaging anything.

The following sigh brings a smirk to his face.

Hunter leans against the counter with his arms crossed as he waits the half minute for Darius to stroll around the corner into the kitchen. His guardian crosses his own arms and nods in Hunter's direction. "Is this how Mrs. Noceda kept her kitchen? Storing a ladle in the same cabinet as the mugs?"

"Yep," Hunter says with an exaggerated 'pop' at the end. He ignores the disagreeing trill next to his ear.

"How quaint," Darius drawls, then points to the swirling purple ceramic vase on the counter currently holding a few other large utensils. "The ladle goes there, exactly where you grabbed it from."

"Yeaaah, I was thinking it looks better in the cabinet."

"No."

"In fact, I think the entire kitchen could stand to be rearranged." Hunter pushes off the counter to look around fully, making a big show of hemming and hawing over specific details. "Such as, why are the knives in a block on the counter where anyone can reach them? I think they should go in the drawer thing under the oven. And all of the pots and pans should always be stacked on the stovetop, saves time from having to pull one out or put them away."

"Oh my Titan..."

"I also don't think there's a need to put glasses on one shelf and mugs on another, I mean they're all cups, what's the difference?"

Darius brings a hand to his temple. "Stop."

"Actually! Now that I think of it, why can't spoons, forks, and butter knives all be stacked in the same slots in the tray together? They don't need to be separated!"

Hunter finally turns to look at Darius and barely holds back from laughing at the utterly affronted expression he's met with.

"You're a heathen, get out of my kitchen."

"Eber would agree with me."

"Eber thinks piles of leaves and sticks make an adequate bed, his opinion on how my kitchen is arranged means nothing."

Hunter holds up his hands, careful not to jostle Flapjack too much in his excitement. "I'm just saying, maybe it's ok to put the ladle in the cabinet with the mugs."

"Get out," Darius points towards the stairs. "Go to your room and think about what you said."

"Oh no, not my room, where all my books and my scroll are!" Hunter clutches his chest with one hand and throws his other against his forehead. "Whatever will I do!"

"You'll stop trying to destroy my kitchen, that's what."

Hunter walks past Darius out of the kitchen and towards the staircase with Flapjack jumping from his shoulder to fly closely behind him. After a few steps, he leans down to yell, "I'm telling my team about your ridiculous neatfreak standards again!"

"It's called precision! I am being precise about how things are arranged in my home, like any rational person!"

"Uh-huh, sure!" Hunter calls out. He can hear the grumbling from downstairs all the way until he reaches his bedroom door, and only once he's closed the door behind him does he start laughing.

[studioahead]

Artist Spotlight: Jesse Schlesinger

This month, Studio AHEAD spoke with Jesse Schlesinger, an artist, craftsman, and farmer whose work explores the materiality of wood and stone, earth and plant—basically all the materials that we love—and imagines alternative futures, like the seed library he proposed with Jerome Waag as an extension of the San Francisco Public Library.

Studio AHEAD: Are you originally from the Bay Area?

Jesse Schlesinger: I was born in Kentucky, but moved around quite a bit when I was a child as my parents were Deadheads/back-to-the-landers following opportunities and work as it appeared. We lived in South Carolina, Virginia, eventually settling near Washington, DC where I attended the Waldorf School for 12 years, along with my sisters. Immediately upon my graduation the family all moved to Napa, following my father’s long-held intention to return to the Golden State where he was raised. They rented a wonderful house where my mom cultivated a beautiful garden and operated a Waldorf daycare, while my dad built premium homes up valley. I briefly attended UC Santa Cruz, before happening into a position working for a small, organic farm called Dirty Girl Produce while taking art classes at Cabrillo, and eventually graduated from California College of the Arts.

SA: What are some cultural/lifestyle aspects that you consider to be Northern Californian?

JS: A direct connection to, and immediate presence of, nature. Especially through the dramatic landscape. This includes the generously abundant growing conditions and climate and excellent food/restaurants. Technology, which has a more complicated relationship to the cultural fabric of the area, from its military roots and utopian ambitions to its problematic present. Inequality is a prevalent cultural, societal, and economic issue, locally manifest as well.

SA: Could you tell us a bit about your work, your method, and the path that led you there?

JS: I work in a wide array of media, as an artist, a designer, and a craftsperson. The work can take a variety of forms, from sculpture to architecture, furniture, drawing, photography, and objects in between. I am particularly interested in craft, the inherent nature of different materials, and maintaining a keen sense of the present in looking and curiosity. Learning carpentry from my father and working with my hands from an early age, the creative approach encouraged by my education, as well as connection to nature through family outings or employment on a farm—all these influence my approach and perspective.

SA: How did you begin your exploration of woodwork?

JS: My father is a carpenter and I grew up playing and helping him on job sites. My first job was sweeping with a broom when I was a child, and I steadily learned the trade working during high school summers and after graduating. I am proud to carry on a trade inherited from my father. At the same time, my Waldorf education integrated the arts into the course of study, encouraging creativity and independence. This perspective enabled me to apply myself effectively in a diverse array of interests in art, design, craft, and agriculture.

SA: Materiality plays an integral and fascinating part in your work. Are there any materials that feel inherently local?

JS: I work with redwood as an endemic material, as this area is within the narrow range of the trees habitat. Aside from that, I’ve worked with an array of local woods and I have applied studio experience in many other materials and techniques, including glass, ceramic, bronze, stone, small metals, textile, acrylic, and plants, as well as drawing, printmaking, and photography. I also incorporate found objects, often from nature, in my work. 

SA: We loved the beautiful dining table we found of yours for one of our clients. Do you ever collaborate with other artisans?

JS: I am very fortunate to have a broad network of talented craftspeople and artisans that I work with, both in the Bay Area, and on my projects in Japan.  I am indebted to their generosity, their dedication to their craft, and their willingness to work together. These relationships, in tandem with my particular interest in the possibilities of materials and process, have fostered a diversity in my work that is nuanced and fundamental. A recent example of this is my experience as an NEA/JUSFC artist fellow in Japan from 2018 to 2019. Over the course of 6 months, I lived and worked with a diverse collection of artisans spanning the length of the archipelago, generally staying a month in each studio. These craftspeople included woodworkers, glassblowers, fashion/custom textile mills, a restaurant and its purveyors, natural dyers, and metal fabricators. The works created across these studios culminated in a gallery exhibition in Tokyo in early 2019.

SA: You had a hand in the Minnesota Street Project. What did you create there and how did you get involved?

JS: I maintain a studio at Minnesota Street Project, an endeavor with which I have been directly involved since the year prior to its official opening. The organization hired me to design and implement the shared woodshop, a resource available to all the artists in the building, as well as design and build the furniture for the facility. The designs include an array of work tables and cabinets, as well as a substantial kitchen table and shelving, pieces to be utilized by my fellow artists in the ample common areas. The studio serves well over 50 artists, and, in addition to the woodshop, includes a digital media lab, a ceramic kiln, and a darkroom.

SA: Everyone should follow you on Instagram (@jesse_____singer) but tell us three other local artists we should be following.

JS: @rumimirumiru, @pickup_mp, and @small.works.sf

SA: Your work is so in tune with nature. What are some of your favorite local spots?

JS: I’ll keep my specific recommendations, but anywhere on Mt Tamalpais.

SA: And lastly, a favorite place to eat or shop in Northern California.

JS: Alemany flea market, any of the farmer’s markets, Rainbow, Green Apple, too many restaurants to list…

Jesse Schlesinger in his studio, photos by Ekaterina Izmestieva.

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Everything Team Domino Wants to Buy This Fall

One of the most fun parts of working at Domino is that we essentially window-shop for a living. Every season, we get a sneak peek at what our favorite brands are launching next, from innovative materials (resin tables, anyone?) to groovy new patterns. You can imagine a lot of bookmarking goes on. With fall collections dropping left and right, we figured we’d share our intel and offer up our wish lists for the season. After all, the loss of summer is less of a bummer when you have a fun little pick-me-up to get you excited about autumn.  Digital Editorial Assistant Lydia Geisel’s Pick: MoMA Design Store’s Mondri Vase I’m gravitating toward primary hues and neon this season, and MoMA’s lineup is super-bright and playful. I’m really excited about the glass furniture by Patricia Urquiola (it’s made with five layers of glass, each with a different colored film) and the new and improved Mondri vase. Mondri Vase, MoMA Design Store ($100) Style Assistant Julia Stevens’s Pick: Beni Rugs’s Blue and Green Rug I’m a sucker for Yves Klein Blue, so you can imagine how excited I was to see these rugs pop up in my in-box. The collection of 13 pieces, woven with bold architectural and botanical prints, was inspired by the iconic Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. It’s out November 1, just in time to cozy up and add some extra color to your space. Blue Rug, Beni Rugs (coming soon) Senior Social Media Editor Alyssa Clough’s Pick: Hay’s Flowerpot This season, I keep going back to Hay’s newest launch. Specifically, its planters. All my plants outgrew their homes this summer, so I’m in need of a handful of new pots and want an upgrade from the usual terracotta—but nothing too pricey. The product designers at Hay must have read my mind, because the fall decor line has two perfectly on-trend options: the Flowerpot, a polystone design that looks like cement and comes in six different colors, and the Botanical Family Pot, a streamlined, ceramic style. Flowerpot, Hay ($40) Digital Editor Rebecca Deczynski’s Pick: Kip & Co.’s Marble Magic Linen Sheets In 2018, I swore off the all-white bedspread I’d favored for the previous five years and embraced my more maximalist side. My bed is the focal point of my room, so I might as well make it stand out—and what better way to do that than with coral reef–printed sheets or a deep blue velvet duvet? I’m also a recent linen bedding convert, and luckily this Aussie brand has plenty of patterned and jewel-toned options. The marbled version, in particular, is something out of my sweetest dreams. Marble Magic Linen Fitted Sheet, Kip & Co ($139) Senior Home Editor Gabrielle Savoie’s Pick: Ferm Living’s Distinct Coffee Table I just moved into a bigger apartment with my boyfriend, so I’ve been furniture shopping a ton these days. One of the collections I can’t get enough of is Ferm Living’s new line. Fluid shapes and mesmerizing materials make beautiful statement pieces that are definitely investment-worthy but not over-the-top expensive. I’m eyeing the multilevel travertine coffee table, the organically shaped seamless mirror, and the navy-glazed, hand-sculpted lamp. Distinct Coffee Table, Ferm Living ($1,499) Editorial Assistant Esmé Stern’s Pick: Hawkins New York’s Simple Waffle Towels I’ve been known to resist the beginning of September, hoping, instead, to live in the naive mind-set of an endless summer. This year, though, Hawkins’s fall and winter offerings are actually making me excited for cooler weather to take center stage. The autumn-inspired color palettes (burnt oranges, soft pinks, forest greens) and mixed materials (rattan, marble, stoneware) instantly transport me to my ideal crisp night: Preparing a warm meal in the Shaker serveware bowls, wrapping myself in a waffle towel, and reading by the light of the Mima lamp. Simple Waffle Towels, Hawkins New York ($10) Deputy Editor Lindsey Mather’s Pick: Muuto’s Ceramic Dots Muuto’s giant wood dot hooks stole my heart way back in 2013, when I saw them in Faye Toogood’s kitchen, taking the place of standard cabinet pulls. (How genius is that?) This fall, the brand has reimagined them in ceramic form—a reactive glaze makes each one of a kind—so they’ve moved up even higher on my wish list. Other highlights from the collection: a cloud-like, Noguchi-esque pendant lamp (group a few for maximum drama) and a ribbed terracotta floor vase, a very necessary purchase since our new office is right in the middle of the flower district. Ceramic Dots, Muuto Brand Partnerships Visuals Director Meghan McNeer’s Pick: Soho Home’s Monroe Cushion This season has me dreaming of a good book in front of a warm fire with a glass of orange wine (preferably in the English countryside). Soho House’s Babbington collection is elevated, English-cottage chic with a color palette based in dusty rusts, rose blushes, and sage greens that will help me softly transition from summer neons to moody winter blues. At the moment, I’m especially wild about orange, so these pillows are my fall essential. Monroe Cushion, Soho Home ($74) Associate Digital Editor Elly Leavitt’s Pick: Minna’s Striped Duvet Cover I didn’t think I needed to switch up my bedding…until I was stalking Minna’s New Arrivals section and came across the subtly patterned duvet covers I never knew I needed. As a general rule, I love the brand’s muted earthy tones, but the latest textile launch is especially ideal for mixing and matching. My favorite is the striped sage option; I have terracotta-colored accents in my bedroom that would pair perfectly with the hue. Stripes Duvet Cover Sage, Minna ($445) What seasonal updates are you making to your space? Dish out your recs in the comments below.  See more new collections we love: The 7 Best Things We Spotted at Maison & Objet in Paris CB2’s New Lighting Collection Should Be Your First Stop for New Lighting Anthropologie Wants to Make Your Home Look Like a Spanish Villa #FallCollections #Trends #TeamDomino #Trends #Design

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/everything-team-domino-wants-to-buy-this-fall

[kpop-muses]

Frustration (A/F) - Min Yoongi

Y/N: This is an original idea because I’m angsty and lonely lol. Also, I need more Min Yoongi in my life. And I’m Yoonseok trash. Please enjoy -Admin Grace

Summary: Yoongi invites you to his studio for the first time, but you make a mistake and he snaps at you. It takes Hoseok sitting him down and talking some sense into him to make him realize just how much you matter to him before he goes to apologize.

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort

Length: 2.4k+

From your place on the heavily cushioned black couch, you watched your boyfriend Yoongi work, fluttering around his workspace in his rolling chair. He’d play a few notes on his keyboard, jot them down in one of his many music notebooks, try the keys again, maybe changing it up a bit, then hit record to capture the tiny piece of music that may or may not find its way into a hit song. You imagined the way you felt was similar to how someone might feel watching an artist painting a beautiful scene upon a fresh canvas. It was exhilarating in a strange way to watch music be made, especially because you knew how much of himself Yoongi put into his music.

He had been working for a few hours, only noting your presence every once in awhile with a small smile your way or asking you grab him this or that. You didn’t mind it one bit, happy to be helping him in a way in which he had helped you countless times when he would come over to your apartment to help you study. Yoongi was always helping you organize and color-code your notes, bookmark specific places in your textbook, talk through certain topics as you wrote essays fueled by numerous cups of coffee, which Yoongi also helped supply. One of your favorite parts of your relationship with Yoongi was how equally give-and-take it was: and this was another way for you to give.

“Want something to drink?” You spoke up, already sliding the textbook you had been reading off your lap. He muttered a response, too immersed in his music to fully hear what you had said. However, you knew he would certainly be thirsty and that we would probably get so caught up in his work that he would forget to eat or drink. At least this way you could actually make him do so, rather than texting him to tell him to eat and drink something every hour when he told you that we would be in the studio all night.

Jumping up from your seat, you left the studio room and made your way to the small kitchen in the building. You pulled down a clean mug from the cabinet and filled it with water, deciding it would be healthier than adding to the extreme amounts of coffee he had pretty much inhaled throughout the evening.

A smile was on your face as you walked quietly back to the studio, happy that Yoongi had finally let you visit his studio. You knew he was sharing a lot of himself by doing so, and that it wasn’t any small thing for him to let you visit. He trusted you enough to let you into his heart in this new and exciting way, and you couldn’t be happier. Yoongi didn’t often voice his true emotions, except through song, and this action, despite how small it might seem, said a lot.

You made sure not to make too much noise when you opened the door and let yourself in. Yoongi didn’t even glance back at the sound of the door clicking shut, probably to immerse to have realized that you had left and come back.

Carefully you crossed the small space and went to place the glass of water on a clear spot on his large corner desk. Just as the ceramic mug was about to come in contact with the sleek black table, Yoongi jumped in his seat beside you, surprised by your sudden closeness.

Reflexively you jumped as well, and in an instant a quarter of the water that had been in the cup was washing across the notebook he had been writing in, smudging the black ink until it was unintelligible.

“Y/N!” Yoongi nearly shouted, pushing himself away from the desk before water would get on him as well. He was frantically trying to wipe the excess water from the page, however it only made its state worse and covered his hand in ink. “You ruined my notebook!”

“I-I’m sorry, Yoongi, I was just-”

“Just what?!” He stared up at you angrily, his eyes flashing. You shrank under his gaze, guilt twisting your stomach. You glanced at the mess you had made, the spilled water threatening to touch any one of the expensive pieces of technology littering his desk.

“I was just getting you a drink,” You replied quietly, “Here, let me help-”

“Stop! Y/N, just-” Yoongi grumbled, swatting your hands away from where you were trying to help, “Just leave!”

You froze in your place, watching as he grabbed a nearby sweatshirt and starting drying his desk.

“Yoongi, I’m sorry-”

“Just. Leave”

He didn’t turn around again, ignoring you as you stood like a statue, your stomach twisting and turning. You hoped he would stop what he was doing and take back his words, but he didn’t. He just kept soaking up the water with the probably ruined fabric, leaving the air painfully silent. At least, it was painful to you.

Suddenly you set the cup of water down on the ground beside the couch, piled your textbook, notes, and purse into your arms, and flew out the door, all in a matter of moments. You didn’t even pause to put on a jacket to keep the crisp fall air from scratching at your skin. You walked quickly to your car, jumped in the driver’s seat, threw your stuff onto the passenger seat, and left.

The ride to your apartment was long, but by the time you arrived home your throat was raw and your face was red from trying to swipe away the tears that threatened to fall. You knew it was your fault. You knew that you ruined some of his music, some of what means the most to him. You also knew that he didn’t have to be so rude to you and could’ve let you help clean up, but that wasn’t any consolation.

The tears finally fell once you got inside your apartment. You stood numbly in your living room, guilt knotting your stomach, your face wet with saltwater, and hoped he would forgive you.

The BTS guys figured something was wrong when Yoongi returned to the dorm at a reasonable hour, when they had expected him not to return until the next morning. They wanted to be happy and hope that he had come back early to eat a proper meal and get a good night’s sleep, but after one glance at his expression, they knew something was wrong.

“Hyung?” Jungkook asked, eyebrows frowning as he paused his video game when Yoongi stomped through the living room and past the television towards his room.

“Yoongi, what happ-”

The slam of Yoongi’s bedroom door cut off Jin’s question. The six men glanced between each other, all asking the silent question of what happened and who should go check on him.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Hoseok said, standing from his spot on the couch and making his way down the hall to see to one of his best friends.

Surprisingly, the door wasn’t locked, so Hoseok let himself. Yoongi muttered something about how no one ever knocks, but Hoseok didn’t pay any mind to it as he sat down beside Yoongi on his bed.

For a moment Hoseok watched as his older friend aggressively untied his shoes, hands fumbling as he struggled with the simple task. Something must be really wrong.

“What happened, Yoongi-hyung?” Hoseok asked softly.

“Nothing.” Yoongi grumbled, finally yanking off one of his shoes.

“Don’t lie to me, hyung. I know something’s wrong. Please talk to me about it.”

Any other day, with any other topic, it probably would have taken much longer for Yoongi’s resolve to break down. But this was about you. You, his best friend, the girl he loved, the girl who made him smile every day with her mere existence, even if he would be hard pressed to admit it out loud. And with Hoseok’s gentle voice asking him what was wrong, and the thought of where you were and what you were thinking in that moment, Yoongi spoke.

“I invited Y/N to come to the studio.”

“That’s great,” Hoseok smiled a bit, knowing that this was a big step for Yoongi, but even more worried about what had happened.

“She spilled water all over my desk and on one of my notebooks and it ruined a bunch of progress I had made on this song,” Yoongi said, rubbing his hands roughly against his face in frustration.

“Oh. I see,” Hobi said, reaching over to rub relaxing circles over his friend’s back. “But you know she didn’t mean to. Y/N knows how much your music means to you.”

“I know, I know. I’m not really mad at her anymore, I know it was an accident.”

“Then why are you still so angry?”

“I’m angry at myself,” Yoongi burst, finally looking up at Hoseok, who saw the glassiness in his hyung’s eyes, “I snapped at her. I didn’t mean to, but she ruined my work, and I was frustrated and I told her to leave, and-”

“Wait,” Hoseok froze, “You told her to leave?”

“Yeah…” Yoongi said, not liking the tone of his friend’s voice.

“And she left?”

“Yeah, she just grabbed her stuff and left.”

It was Hoseok’s turned to let out a small frustrated groan.

“Hyung, why did you do that!”

“It wasn’t my fault! She just put a glass of water down on my desk without a warning and I-”

“Yoongi.”

He froze and looked Hoseok straight in the eyes, knowing that if his constantly cheery friend had such a serious expression, he should listen.

“I understand that it was a heat of the moment thing and you didn’t mean to snap at her, but you shouldn’t have told her to leave and you sure as hell shouldn’t have let her listen to you.”

“I know, Hoseok, I-”

“Sh. Just listen. Yoongi, we both know she didn’t mean to do it, and we both know that she’s very sorry. But you have to understand how this must feel for her too. Sure, you lost a little bit of music, but I know Y/N and I’m sure that right now she’s feeling ten times as guilty for what happened than you’re feeling disappointed at the loss. And imagine how you would feel if she actually did leave, for good.”

Hoseok paused for a moment, letting Yoongi sit in the silence for just a second. Hoseok’s last few words turned over in Yoongi’s mind, knotting his stomach as the realization dawned on him, how it must have sounded to you when he angrily told you to leave. His friend was right- he would be heartbroken if you ever really left.

“Now, before either of you get hurt any more, get the hell over your pride and go apologize. Manager-hyung still thinks you’re at the studio, so he won’t know if you’re with her instead.”

Without hesitation, Yoongi threw his shoes back on, not even stopping to tie the laces.

“Thank you Hoseok,” He said, looking his friend in the eyes. Yoongi would forever be grateful to have Hoseok in his life. He didn’t even complain when his younger friend pulled him in for a hug before letting him go and telling him to hurry.

Yoongi didn’t shout a goodbye as he raced out the door, surprising the five confused guys who had never seen their lazy friend move so fast.

You were sitting quietly on your living room couch with a cup of hot tea in your hands when loud knocking on your front door pulled you from your reverie. You could feel that your eyes were still red and puffy, but you didn’t really care as you set down the warm mug and made your way to the door.

You swung it open to find your boyfriend standing there, his hair a mess and his eyes pleading.

“Yoongi, what-”

“I’m sorry,” He said quietly.

You opened the door wider to let him in and he walked past you, only to turn back around to look you in the eyes.

“Yoongi, I’m the one that should be sorry.”

“No. I am. Y/N, I-” Yoongi paused, not sure how to articulate how he was feeling. He was always so frustrated with how he could use music to voice his emotions but rarely his words, and rarely when he needed to most.

Yoongi reached out and wrapped his arms gently around your waist, pulling you closer to him before he finished speaking.

“I’m sorry, Y/N I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I know that you were only trying to help and you didn’t mean to spill water on my notes.”

“But I did, and I ruined some of your music,” You interrupted him, you throat starting to get choked up in anger at yourself. “I know how much your music and your lyrics mean to you and I’m so so sorry that I messed them up like I mess everything up-”

“Shh, shh,” Yoongi murmured, calming you down. “You don’t mess up anything. It was an accident, and accidents happen.”

Yoongi’s heart clenched when he looked down and saw the tears in your eyes, threatening to spill over. He hated that he was the reason for your tears.

“I’m sorry that I told you to leave,” Yoongi began, subconsciously tightening his arms around your waist, “I was just mad and frustrated, but I didn’t mean any of it. And sure, a page or two of my lyrics are gone, but without you most of them wouldn’t be written anyway. You’re my inspiration, Y/N. You’re one of the reasons I work so hard. So many of the words I write are because I love you, and the only way I know how to express that it through my music. I know I don’t say it nearly enough, but I love you. I love you with all my heart. If you were ever to really leave, I don’t know what I would do with myself. I’m so, so sorry.”

You stared up at him, at his expression filled with love and apologies and so many other emotions that you couldn’t name.

“I’m not going anywhere, silly,” You replied, wiping at a tear that had spilled from Yoongi’s eye onto his cheek. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Yoongi choked out a small laugh and pulled you into his chest. He buried his face in your neck, squeezing you tighter.

“Promise me you won’t leave, even though I’m dumb and I have a temper and I don’t deserve all of your patience?”

“I promise,” You chuckled, “I promise.”

[adaniellelife]

As soon as we moved into our ‘forever house’ the first thing I knew I wanted, scrap that, needed to change was the kitchen, this wasn’t just a case of not suiting my style, it was basically only using up a fraction of the space, and it felt really small and old-fashioned. While the house might be old, I’d always wanted a large kitchen, where I could bake without feel cramp, and that would be the heart of the home, I wanted the kitchen to be more than just somewhere to cook, I actually wanted to create a room I wanted to spend time in, and I’m so happy to say that’s what we’ve achieved. 

It is strange looking back on the before pictures, I really don’t recognise that space, everything from the colour of the cabinets to the cream walls made it look dirty and tired, and it didn’t really highlight the amazing old features of the house, the gorgeous light that comes in from the garden or take full advantage of the large space available. 

The Kitchen Design

When it came to the design of the kitchen I had a fairly good idea what I was after, I knew that I wanted blue cabinets, white tops and copper accents, but I definitely felt like I needed help on the layout and specifications, as all I knew for sure is that I wanted an island, larder cupboards, as well as big drawers for my plates and pans, and a gorgeous big ceramic sink. When it came to the rest I certainly needed a little expert kitchen design help and the team at Magnet in Canterbury were amazing, the lovely Lyn came out to the house, she measured up, sat down with me and discussed what I would be using the kitchen for, what I liked about the current kitchen, which was basically nothing except the Aga, and my dream features I’d love to see in my new kitchen. She also brought samples of the doors and worktop that I had expressed interest in, so I could actually see them in my kitchen, against the red tiles which were keeping, as well as with the beams, the light and the Aga, which actually inspired the colour of the kitchen units.

The home visit really helped me make a lot of decisions, I went for a different cabinet design than I thought, as they were a near perfect colour match with the Aga, they looked better against the red tiles, and I just felt that the barely-there shaker style just really worked with the farmhouse touches of the kitchen, while the colour and light worktops added the contemporary feel that I was looking for. 

The design process was easy, I didn’t really have to do much except chat about what I wanted, while Lyn went away and put together the plan using all my ideas, as well as her expert knowledge on the practicalities on where things could actually go, as we had a few challenges such as low ceilings, beams, extra doors and windows, the well, yep I have a well in my kitchen, as well as the fact we weren’t able to move the water supply, that all had to be considered in the design plan. 

The turn around was quick, we went in to see Lyn at the Magnet Canterbury showroom a week later, she showed us our plan on the computer as well as point out the finer details on the display kitchens, such as the size of the island, the drawer options, the handles, and the larder set up, and we also had to pick out the sink, taps, and worktops that we wanted. You know the fun bits. 

My Magnet Kitchen

Magnet wasn’t the only place we looked, we went everywhere, but when it comes to designing a kitchen you have to go with who looks after you the best, offers the right products for your kitchen, and who can do it within your budget, and for us, that was definitely Magnet, and I’m so pleased with how my Dunham Sky kitchen came together. 

The major aspect of my kitchen has to be the island, which is the centrepiece for the main room. Not only does it offer a ton of storage, we have three cupboards, six drawers and a bookcase, it also houses our new induction hob to complement the Aga, and our Zanussi oven, which I’m obsessed with as it has a pyrolytic cleaning, which basically translates into never having to clean the oven again, and I love it. I know we have the Aga, which is great for cooking meat and baking cakes, but when you just want to throw in a pizza this beauty is amazing, it heats up really quickly and even has a pizza setting for a delicious crispy base. 

I also love that we were able to make the island big enough to have a breakfast bar at the end, as this is basically where we hang out, eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, as well as somewhere for me to work outside of my office, as well as shoot a flatlay or two.

As the island is pretty large a major chunk of our budget went on the worktop as I wanted white marble quartz to add a contemporary touch against the brickwork, tiles and beams, as well as create a statement as it’s the first thing you see when you enter the room. I’m not going to lie, this is where most of the budget went, but just look at it, so gorgeous, and really allows the blue cabinets to shine. We also placed the quartz around the Aga, which was a major undertaking for the installers, as there are three pieces around the Aga and it wasn’t an easy job to fit with the Aga fitted in place and the uneven brickwork around it, but they did an excellent job as you can’t even really see the joins. 

One thing to note when opting for quartz you will have to wait a week at least for it to be installed as the quartz is all made to measure, someone comes out to measure up and do a template and then they go away to cut it before returning to install, and in my case cut it down slightly to fit it in because getting behind the Aga was a little tricky. But I can’t recommend the quartz worktop enough from Magnet the quality is amazing, the installation was immaculate and it really just adds something extra special to the kitchen. 

My Kitchen: Magnet – Dunham Sky with Square Copper Handles // White Marble Quartz Worktop // White Marble Laminate Worktop // Zanussi – Induction Hob // Zanussi – Pyrolytic Electric Oven // Franke Modena Ceramic Sink // Franke Eiger Silk Steel Tap // 

The Scullery

Now if money was no object I’d say always opt for quartz everywhere, this stuff is tough and a dream to clean, however, with the extra building work we needed to do to get the dream kitchen we decided to do something complementary in the scullery with this gorgeous marble-effect premium laminate, which when the quartz installers came back thought was the real-deal, and save a little money, and you know what I don’t regret it as I love that the scullery has a contrast to the main room. 

Another thing you have to consider when getting laminate is that you can’t have all sinks, so a Belfast sink isn’t going to work as they use the quartz or wood top to create a draining board and that’s not possible on laminate, however, I had my heart set on this white Franke Modena 1.5 bowl ceramic sink, I just love its rounded edges so it didn’t matter. But do note that with most ceramic sinks they do take up more of the cupboard below so if you need all your storage you might want to choose a different sink. 

I also moved the sink slightly more into the centre of the scullery, to take full advantage of the window, which looks stunning now we’ve had the shutters installed from Thomas Sanderson, and meant that I could get my dishwasher and washing machine either side of it to allow room for an extra larder cupboard at the end. 

I was worried that by not having wall units I wouldn’t have enough storage, but I kept forgetting the island, so the scullery is nice and minimal in its design with two larder cupboards either end for food, a corner unit, and a slim cupboard, as well as the unit under the sink. It doesn’t sound a lot but the corner unit really can fit a lot in it as that’s where I keep all my appliances that I didn’t want sitting on the top like my food processor, coffee machine, blender and Nutribullet, as well as pans, Tupperware and all my baking supplies. 

The major change to this space was also the reopening of the door and well as the discovery of a small window behind one of the wall units, which has really helped to open up the tiny room and I think, along with the white paint, the simple marble-effect splashback and the copper fisherman pendant lights from Iconic Lights it has made this room look really smart and contemporary – I think the only thing left to do in here is to add a few corner shelves to place more of my crockery on display, as I have a lot of it!!!

My Kitchen Details: Iconic Lights – Copper Fisherman Wall Lights & Pendants (c/o) // Tefal – Kettle & Toaster (c/o) // Desenio – Wall Art (c/o) // Cult Furniture – Hairpin Stools with Copper Legs (c/o) // Dulux – Timeless White Paint // Cath Kidston – Disney Cups // Cambridge Satchel Company – Cambridge Candle (c/o) // Ikea – Glass Vases // Le Creuset – Kettle & Storage // Orla Kiely – Storage Jars // Thomas Sanderson – Shutters // 

Vintage Touches

There were three things that survived the kitchen refurb – the floor tiles, not only are they are amazing I think I cried when I heard how much it would cost to replace them, the Aga, another beauty that just needed a little love and a professional clean and service, and these wall tiles from the 1950s that the previous owner had installed. 

I’m kind of obsessed with tiles and I did consider getting tiles for the scullery, I decided against as I didn’t want it to look cluttered, so instead I decided to keep these vintage beauties and make a feature of them by framing them with two reclaimed oak floating shelves to display my pretty things on, namely gorgeous tea sets, my favourite plants and candles. We also made the area into a spot for Falcon as well by placing his dog bed underneath and he loves it as he is right in the middle of all the action, near the scullery, close to the Aga for the warmth and can see what’s going on at the island. 

What do you think of my new kitchen? 

You can probably tell I’m a little happy with how the kitchen has turned out, it really is everything I wanted and more, and it’s already become the focal point of the house. There are so many other things I want to share about the kitchen, like all the copper details from my Tefal toaster and kettle to the Iconic Lights, the vintage dresser, my love of plants, as well as tips on what to consider when you are planning your kitchen, but that will all come in future posts with more pictures from the kitchen, as I was feeling like this post was getting a little long. 

Would love to hear what you think of the kitchen from before to now – leave me a comment below or get in touch on social, either on Twitter @FashionNBarbie or on my Instagram @FashionistaBarbie.

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My New Kitchen Reveal - Before And After Pictures - Featuring @magnetuk @cultfurniture @Iconic_Lights @tefaluk @tsblinds & @Zanussi_UK #KitchenRefit #Magnetkitchen #30plusblogs As soon as we moved into our 'forever house' the first thing I knew I wanted, scrap that, needed to change was the kitchen, this wasn't just a case of not suiting my style, it was basically only using up a fraction of the space, and it felt really small and old-fashioned.