#textured metal vessel sink

[daybreakatdawn]

Mediterranean Powder Room With flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, white walls, a vessel sink, and marble countertops, this little tuscan bathroom has white walls, a wall of marble tile, a marble floor, and gray walls.

[ilwolhongdam]

Dallas Rustic Bathroom Alcove shower - mid-sized rustic 3/4 beige tile and mosaic tile ceramic tile alcove shower idea with furniture-like cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, a vessel sink and granite countertops

[clatoera]

Always Remember We’re Burned for Better Chapter 3: Checkmate, I Couldn’t Lose.

alright alright. Chapter Three. Thank you ALL so much for your endless support and love in this fic. I cannot even begin to put into words what it has meant to me and how much it inspires me. 

AO3 Link

Masterpost link and earlier chapters

First I want to thank the anon for the chapter title who helped me keep in theme of Clato and Taylor Swift. Alternative chapter titles included

1. You should see me in a crown: Billie Eilish

2. Blood Upon the Snow: Hozier.

Secondly, Happy Birthday to my OG Clato bestie @ms1818. Thank you for sharing bestie glimmer with me, Ily.

Third, thank you to @cyansadness for the constant stream of consciousness Clato thoughts about this au. You’re a real one and im so glad you reached out to me. 

This chapter was toned down because I worried I was going to get on a stabby watchlist.

Thank you again. Please scream at me with thoughts and comments. 

This was what Clove was made for. She knows it in the exact moment she feels her knife sink into flesh for the first time, with a startling lack of resistance that was both satisfying and exhilarating. Sure, they practiced on the carcasses of animals, to learn the way skin swallows a knife in a way that a firm practice dummy would never. She memorized it at fourteen, when they placed a half of a pig in front of her for the first time. The way a blade penetrates skin, the gelatinous texture of subcutaneous fat, the sound of fascia ripping from muscle, the splitting of muscles against the grain, the feeling of metal on bone. Clove reveled in it then, and now, as hot, sticky blood shoots from a severed artery and right onto her face, she throws her head back in an open mouthed laugh as warmth coats her face.

She pulls the knife backwards, and pushes the bleeding boy backwards onto the snow, leaving him to make those disgusting yet enticing gurgling sounds as the blood suffocates him.

For just a second, Clove watches the way the blood stains the snow around the fallen boy, spreading like watercolor on a canvas. It is more beautiful than she could have imagined.

Next is one of the girls from 11 or 12, she isn't sure which, but she easily hits the dead center of her chest. If the pulsing squirts of blood are any indicator, she cut right through the vessel behind her heart, letting her bleed to death in seconds.

She got the boy from 11, a quick slice from ear to ear that leaves him bleeding out like livestock.

With knives locked between her second and third and also her fourth and fifth digit, she takes out two kids at once when she releases the blades with a single flick of her wrist.

Clove couldn’t really tell you where her allies were, or who killed who. The boy from six, maybe, she isn't really sure and doesn't care, came up behind  her when her back was turned. She was focused on retrieving one of her knives, but she could sense the intrusion in her space. It takes less than a minute to run her leg under the boy’s knees, knocking him flat on his back in a bed of plush snow. She stabs the tip of the knife right at the base of his sternum, and then gives a long, slow drag down the entirety of his abdomen, viscera and blood spilling out through the sliced fabric and flesh.

At some point the blood behind her eyes stops pulsing, and she takes in her surroundings. The snow is stained crimson, truly giving the illusion of a bloodbath. Bodies litter the ground, and deep footprints head towards the barren trees, leading right to where the rest of her competition would be. Absently she notes the girl from one dead with something lodged in the back of her skull protruding from her left eye. Pity, to lose an ally so fast. One less body between her and home.

Clove is mentally taking stock of what they have in the cornucopia, the conical shape that really is barely more than a glorified igloo. She can practically hear Enobaria in her brain, screaming that she won in an extreme climate, to stay alive and nature would do the rest. True survival of the fittest, Enobaria would tell her.

When Clove finally looks up, the realization that it is snowing hits her at the same time that the flakes begin to cleanse the blood from her skin.

-

It would be a lie if Cato said that the feelings in his chest during this game were any better than during his own. At the very least, in his own he was able to make the calls. Where to stake out, what supplies to use when.  Actually, the longer he thinks about it he never felt like this during his own games. There was nothing but pure, unfiltered confidence when he was in the arena. Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe it was rage. Maybe it was the way he blacked out for a week and saw nothing but red around him, felt nothing but fire in his chest and pride in the depth of his soul. Of course he was going to win, that had never been a doubt.

There had never been a doubt she was going to win, either, so why did he have this nagging tightness in his throat whenever the camera panned away from her for too long?

It’s morning in the Capitol, and for now the games are following the same cycle of day and night as the rest of the country.  The first day passed and the tribute count was already cut sharply in half.

The initial bloodbath had been a strong start for the careers, save for the girl from District One who literally slipped on a frozen patch of ground and ended up with an ice pick in her eye. What an embarrassment for a career, something he would definitely be mentioning to Marvel and Glimmer, the current reigning mentors of one, when he saw them tonight.

Overnight the temperature had dropped, and instead of taking the usual approach of hunting out the tributes stupid enough to light a fire, Clove had pushed to stay put inside the cornucopia they had claimed for themselves.That fight very well may have kept her alive, as when the sun went down in the arena the weather shifted rapidly. At least three kids froze out overnight, taking the grand total from the first twenty four hours to thirteen dead. Ten to go.

A whole six of those thirteen had been hers. Not that he counted or anything.

He’s laying on the couch as the emblem of the games appears again. He grabs the white fleece blanket off of the back of the couch, crumbling it into a ball  before settling it under his head like a pillow. The cornucopia appears on screen the exact moment he feels a sharp tug on the top of his ear that pulls him completely up and off of the couch.

“Ow! What the FUCK-”  Cato smacks the hand away only to have that same dexterous hand wrap around his wrist and sharp, filed nails dig into the flesh below his hand.

“What are you doing?” It’s Enobaria, practically hissing as she squeezes the hand on his wrist like a python around its prey. “Isn’t the whole point of you being here to help get her home?”

“Help? What am I supposed to do? I can’t climb into the fucking arena, Enobaria. Aren’t our hands kind of tied right now?” Cato tugs his hand out of her grasp, and rubs at the back of his neck to distract from the fact that yeah, he absolutely wishes he could waltz right in there and pull her out.

“You want to bring our girl home? Here's what you’re going to do.” Enobaria leans back to get a look at him, decide what she’s working with. Maybe that attitude of his would have to work for them.

Cato leans forward, elbows on his knees while he digs the heels of his hand in his eyes to wake himself up. Enobaria gets an eyeful of the broad expanse of his back that is covered in fine scratches in various stages of healing.

Amazing, Clove.

“First, you’re going to get dressed. You’re what they all want to see. Give them intimidating, give them brutal, bloody Cato. You’re going to go down there, and you’re going to show them the boy they rooted for last year. You’re going to give them cocky smiles, remind them you were the best.”  She waves her hand, emphasizing the need to flourish his story. Show off, she says without needing to even use the words.

“Recap your best kills, how it felt the moment you felt warm blood on your hands the first time. Remind them of who you are. And then? You are going to do nothing but talk about how she is even better than you.” Enobaria doesn’t give him a moment to refute it, and there's a dark look in her eyes that tells him the fight would be moot anyway. This isn’t the time for coy comments or debate. It’s literally a matter of life and death for the girl they both care for more than they’d currently admit. “You had the look that she doesn’t. You were a big, scary boy from District Two. You were their golden boy, their ideal victor. Remind them of her scores. Of her training. She is a force, despite the fact she is the smallest one out there.”

She grabs him by the chin and sharply jerks his face to look at her. “I won in an extreme arena, Cato. The weather is going to take out most of the field. Three of my competitors died of dehydration, and another three from heat stroke. She is small. That weather is officially her biggest competition in there. She needs to stay warm. She needs to stay fed. We keep her warm and we keep her alive.” Enobaria waits until he gives her the slightest nod in understanding, before she drops her hand from his face.

“And put on a fucking shirt, I don’t want to see this shit,” She waves a hand in a circular gesture towards the angry red flares on his shoulder. Risking her ire, Cato smirks anyway.

Cato rises from the couch, and intentionally raises his arms over his head in a long, drawn out stretch that emphasizes the musculature of his back. “I don’t think that will be too hard. There's no one better than me and her…never will be, either.”

He can brag about them, all that's been said for years is how great they are. The best in their

classes, the best in their entire district. That’s who they have always been. When all is said and done by the end of the week, they’ll be the best duo in the eyes of the entire world, too.  

He’s shuffling down the hall, mind already wandering to the way the world would see them hand in hand as victors within the week, the way that side by side they’d be enough to strike fear into people for the rest of their lives.

“Cato?”  Enobaria calls out, leaning back on the couch, now covered in the white blanket he had been manipulating.  “Don’t come back without money in your hands.”

-

There is a whole other world on this side of the games, Cato learns fast. Victors from the last fifteen years weave through crowds of the Capitol’s richest, dressed in what is surely the finest outfits in the country. There is a lot of skin showing and even more loud fake laughs that filter through the air. Various degrees of desperation, or maybe manipulation, to secure sponsorships for their tributes.  The method didn’t really matter, he supposed, when the end goal was the same.

“Oh I remember you!” Comes a high, feminine voice that comes only seconds before Cato has long, manicured fingers on his shoulders. The feather light fingers twists him around to face a tall, notorious blonde girl.

The recognition is almost immediate, when he sees the blonde curls framing her face, the whitest smile he’s ever seen, and eyes that were green in the opposite way of Clove’s. More like spring grass than evergreen trees.

Cato always preferred winter to spring.

There is a man behind her, that he also recognizes. The same height as him, yet a stark contrast in appearance. Dark hair to blonde, brown eyes to blue. The two of them probably would have had it out had they been in the same games after their time as allies came to an end. Yeah, Cato and Marvel would be a respectable fight.

“I’m Glimmer!” She gives a little wave of her fingers, an inviting grin on her face. Glimmer then  gestures to the man, who hovered just slightly beside and behind her, as if he were more loyal than her shadow. “This is Marvel. District one, but you know that already!”

Glimmer, the name is as familiar as the face. She had won the 68th games with a combination of charm and a ferocity that was so easily hidden beneath a shimmering smile. It was admirable, if not typical, for a District One Career. Her sister had won the same way, and her brother, the year before that. The three of them had been the longest line of related victors, and were three of the four victor from one within seven games.

There was always something to be said about the differences in the way one and two presented their best trained tributes. One with unmatched beauty and the other with unmatched brutality.

Marvel had won the 69th games, a joke Cato soon finds is a favorite of his to bring up. He had a charisma and a knack for making people laugh on his side, something that evidently still had sponsors lining up in his favor.

“You won last year, yeah? I remember the end, with the sword and the eyes, man that was awesome.” Marvel grabs a champagne glass and a mini sandwich from the tray that goes by, momentarily distracted from the introductions. “We wanted to find you earlier, but you were talking it up with the sponsors. Usually people don’t go that hard when it’s early enough in the games that the supplies are still stocked up. You can usually wait for a few days…you know, see if yours are even going to live long enough to need extra” He pops the mini sandwich in his mouth, and with a pleasantly surprised raise of his eyebrows he chases down the tray for another.

Glimmer’s got a look of what Cato can only describe as amused affection in her eyes as she watched Marvel chase down the snack. Interesting. For a girl who is known to have the entire capitol in her hand…she sure does have a spot in her heart for that goofy kid from her district.

“So,” Glimmer redirects, raising her eyebrows in a knowing smirk. “I hear two’s got another promising one?” She takes a long sip from the champagne flute in her hand, but there's a mischievousness in her eyes that does not falter. She had noted just the slight shift in his body language, how his shoulders tensed when Marvel suggested his tributes may not even survive to need sponsors.

“She’s the best girl we’ve had since Enobaria. I’ve never seen her miss.” The proud smile is one he’s worn all morning, and it makes its way back to his face the second he gets to share more about the girl.  “And she was my training partner, I would know.”

“Hmm. Funny. I never specified it was the girl.” Glimmer flashes a grin and he knows she knows can tell something, that her perception of the change in how he held his shoulders when mentioning her was absolutely correct.  She didn’t get this far by not knowing how to read a man. “I already knew she was a favorite, she killed it in the blood bath. I just wanted to hear it from you.” Glimmer shoots him a playful wink, and his secret is all but exposed to her now if the way his jaw clenches is any indication.

“Clove? That's her name? Cute. Cato and Clove.” It rolls off her tongue and Cato has never considered quite how much he likes to hear those words strung together until he hears them said by someone else. “Well, If it’s not our boy winning then I hope it’s her. God knows our girl is already tapped out.”

“An ice pick, that was graceful.” Cato scoffs, drawing the attention away from Clove and hopefully away from the warmth that was creeping up his neck from the Glimmer’s knowing looks.

“Even if she survived, she was done for. Nice girl, but nothing without her pretty face.” Glimmer sees Marvel and her siblings waving her over to some previously loyal district one sponsors. “I hope we get to meet her. Clove. I think the four of us could be great friends.”

–

Clove isn’t sure how much time has passed. The days go slower in the arena. Or, maybe they’re faster, she can’t really tell anymore.  

She’s on her own now. The boys from one and her own district have taken each other out in what she can only describe as a cockfight. Hell, they hadn’t even finished the job on each other. Her district partner landed a fatal blow to one, only to succumb to hypothermia and hypovolemia himself before morning. That always did wonders for interdistrict relations when the allies turned on each other this early in the game.

If her count is right they were down to three or four. Her, that giant kid from eight, and maybe a girl or two from some mid level district. She isn’t sure.

Clove isn’t sure of much right now, except for the fact that she’s fucking cold. They’ve sent her in a couple blankets, some one-time-use hand warmers. She can feel Enobaria screaming at the screen, telling her to hurry it up and end it already. While she flips a knife through her fingers, she can’t think too long about the fact that the metal is almost imperceptible in her numb hands. She cannot afford to think about what that will do to her accuracy and precision.

She leans her head against the icy cornucopia, and considers closing her eyes for just a few seconds. Clove wants these games to be over as much as anyone. She wants to warm her fingers in front of the fireplace, take a bath in water that scalds her skin, and curl up under a down comforter that traps the body heat of her and the man who will be next to her inside of it.

As much as sleep calls her, there's part of her that fears she will not open her eyes again if she allows them to shut.

Light beeping draws her green eyes upwards towards the sky, squinting as heavy snowflakes block her view.

For fucks sake, can they cut this blizzard shit out yet?

The little pod lands in her hand, and her fingers are a little clumsy to open the freezing metal. It could be more hand warmers, or maybe extra gloves, based on the size.

When she opens it though, she can’t even be annoyed when it isn’t one of those things. Clove actually smiles when the marshmallow cereal bar lands in the palm of her left hand.

For a minute Clove lets herself think back to when they began this little tradition.  He was thirteen and already a head taller than her. She was 12- turning 13 that day, mind you-  with all the anger of someone thrice her age. Until that point they’d barely been able to tolerate each other beyond the training room floor. It’s what had made them such strong competitors.

“Everyone has a cake they like. You seem like a chocolate girl.”

“Why do you care? Go home, Cato.”

“Come on, it’s your birthday. Maybe you’ll actually have a shot at winning against me this year.”

“Will you just shut up? Birthdays only matter when you’re twelve and nineteen.”For them at least. What else did it matter except your first and final chances at the games?

“Vanilla then?” He’s had that same teasing, taunting smile since they were kids.

Clove nearly tossed the knife she smuggled out of the center, warning to wipe that infuriating grin off of his face. “I don’t like cake at all.”

He paused to look at her, really look at her, with narrowed blue eyes and a little tilt of his head. Maybe he hit another nerve of hers, he’s pretty good at finding them. “What do you like then? Come on, we’re partners. We should know something about each other.” Cato blocks the door out of the training room, and not even her tiny body could slide past him. “I'm not moving until you tell me.”

She gave him a solid shove in the center of his chest, and he did not falter. Clove groaned, and rolled her eyes as she shoved her backpack over one shoulder. “Those little bars. With the marshmallows and the cereal. My mom used to make them, I guess. I always liked them more than cake.”

Cato actually smiles–not smirks, smiles– at her. “That wasn’t so hard now was it. I like white cake myself. Chocolate icing.” He steps aside to let her pass. “Happy Birthday, Clover.”

And as much as she hates that stupid, mocking nickname, she doesn’t have it in her to snap back.

Clove runs her thumb over the plastic packaging, and when she goes to rip into it the wrapping with her teeth, the little white note falls into her lap.

Happy Birthday. Finish this already. -C

-

The end of the games is not spent in the district’s apartment, Cato learns that very last night. Once the game makers decide it’s time to end, the past Victors gather in a central headquarters on the ground floor of the tribute center. It’s the party of the year, according to Brutus.

There’s an endless bar in one corner, where the singular victor from twelve practically resides. Enobaria is conversing lightly with him, before slipping back towards Cato and Brutus with a handful of variously colored drinks.

She hands Brutus the short glass with a tawny toned liquid draped over a round ice cube. In her hand she maintains the slightly pink tinted beverage, with berries of some sort floating to the top. To Cato she hands the only colorless liquid, and as soon as it gets close enough to his hands he can smell it’s far stronger than water.

“You’re going to need it.” Enobaria warns. “It’s always brutal in the end.”

Cato nods, and continues to survey the community of victors he has yet to fully assimilate into. The games may not have formally ended but Enobaria and Brutus are on the receiving end of many congratulatory remarks.

“I like that one.” Johanna Mason, the District Seven winner from 71 says quickly, nodding towards his girl who’s pale freckled face filled the screen. “There’s something in those eyes. Something not right, but it makes her a hell of a fighter, whatever it is.”

Finnick Odair, the star of the capitol ever since the 65th games, congratulates Enobaria directly. “You’ve outdone yourself with this one. I’d know she was yours from a mile away. She’s got that same…aggression, we’ll say.”

“How do you feel!? Oh I am just so excited to meet her!” Glimmer whispers excitedly, settling herself to sit on the back of the couch next to his head, her legs and feet dangling by his right side. “She’s going to make the best addition, don’t you think Marvel?” She leans back, and while the couch would not support her, Marvel did. Cato would have noticed the way he had held the girl up by her waist if it were not for more pressing matters at hand.

Cato tries to tune out the Victors babbling around him. He leans back into the couch with his knees spread just a little, twisting the drink in his left hand to hear the ice swirl against the glass. Enobaria joins him on the left, with Brutus next to her. Together the three of them- as well as Glimmer and Marvel– actually focus their attention to the end of the games.

As Clove’s only remaining competitor enters the field across from her he is thankful for Enobaria’s preparation. Yeah. He was going to fucking need this drink. With that he finishes in one long drink, the burning in his throat nothing compared to the tightness in his chest.

She’s got the advantage, or so everyone thinks. Clove’s got the benefit of distance, lucky for her considering this man is nearly as big as Cato.

When Cato notices the way her fingers struggle around the handle of the knife, he feels his breathing hitch and his heart stop.

She aims. She throws.

She misses.

She misses the boy’s head by inches, more than Clove has ever missed a target by.

“No..” Enobaria gasps, and for the first time since the games began her face falls. “Oh no no no…”

“What, what are you no-ing?” Cato snaps, his relaxed posture immediately tensing up as he leans forward, desperate to get a clearer view, as if leaning in allows him to peer into the arena.

“It’s too cold. Her hands are too cold.” Enobaria growls, finishing her drink in a quick jerk of her head before the glass is shattered against the wall holding the screen. “She doesn’t have the control she should.”

The thrown glass shattering silences the entire room.

Cato knows all eyes are on him when he folds forward, head in his hands. He tugs sharply at the root of his hair, in a desperate attempt to control the utter rage he felt bubbling to the surface. He can’t watch this, and yet he doesn’t want to look away. He will not abandon her.

It’s the gasp from Glimmer that has his head snapping back up, but oh he wishes he hadn’t.

The boy from eight has her by the throat, body slammed against the cornucopia. She’s two feet off the ground, and the strangled sound that comes from her is the worst thing he has ever heard in his entire life. He knows then, that he’ll kill this kid if she doesn’t.

“I can’t watch this..” Comes from Glimmer, who’s turned to look in any direction but straight ahead.

Enobaria, Brutus, and Cato however, cannot tear themselves away.

“Cato-” Brutus begins, and he knows his own mentor is about to brace him for the worst thing that will ever happen to him.

“Shut up. She knows what to do. I’ve had her like that, ” If his voice falters his face does not. He’s not going to betray her by doubting her now.

The room is deathly silent, and Cato feels his blood run as cold as the arena itself. He isn’t sure when he pushed himself to a standing position, or when he took three or four steps forward.

“Come on, baby.” He whispers for himself and himself alone, wishing for all the world he had gone harder on her in training. “Foot to his chest,” She’d worked herself out of it a million times before, albeit not with the air in her lung being choked out of her.  

When Clove places the heel of her foot on the boy’s solar plexus, and shoves him back with all the force in her leg, he has no choice but to stumble onto his back with a groan. She falls multiple feet back to the ground, but she doesn’t stop to catch her breath or address the bleeding that is coming from some unnoticed wound to her abdomen. Clove regrips the knife in her hand, and with everything left in her, she manages to get her knee on his throat.

Noone says it, but everyone knows that it was the years of training against Cato himself that probably just saved her life.

Clove could choke him with her body weight driven into her knee. She could take him out in the way he wanted to her.

That isn’t Clove.

The crazed look, the very same one from the moment the canon announced the start of the games, fills those fiery green eyes. She grabs the boy by his hair, tilting his head to the sky. Into the center of his forehead she carves a script C, identical to the one dangling from her neck.

There is no more fanfare when she plunges the blade between his eyes with all the strength in her body.

The canon booms.

Clove stands. Blood from both herself and her opponent covers her skin. She makes it half a step back before she falls to her own knees.

The scarlet liquid makes her green eyes all the brighter.

Her freckles shine through the sheen on her face.

When she falls back, her dark hair surrounds her head as a sharp angelic contrast to the paleness of the snow and of her skin. Clove is smiling, bright and brilliant, as the perfect snow under her body bleeds red with her.  She’s won, she’s won. She’s won.

The announcement finally comes and she lets herself laugh. There is no stopping them now.

Ladies and Gentlemen may I present to you the winner of the 73rd annual Hunger Games.

The announcement fills the otherwise quiet room of victors.

Cato is first to break the silence.

He slams his hand together in a single clap, and now he is the one who cannot wipe that big, proud smile off his face.

“That’s my girl!” He all but screams, the reality of it all actually hitting him as if he were the one slammed against the cornucopia. Cato pauses, catching the breath he did not know he was holding. His heart races but in a way completely different than only moments before when he felt his life slipping from his hands as hers slipped from her eyes. “...that's my girl.” Cato repeats, much quieter, and his smile is unnervingly genuine.

The world can know, for all he cares. In fact, let them.

“That's our girl.” Enobaria agrees, a voice other than his finally chiming in. She rises next, and while she notes the knowing smirks from Glimmer, Marvel, Finnick, and Johanna, she doesn’t address them. The shocked look from Haymtich Abernathy is accompanied by a half-raised glass in Enobaria’s direction.

She can deal with the rumors later. (Were they really rumors anymore, Enobaria wasn’t sure).

Cato wastes no time for congratulations, or from commentary from the other victors he was sure would be coming his way if the smile on Glimmer’s face were anything to say about it.

He does not even wait for Enobaria and Brutus before he is out of the room, and half running down the hall, not wasting another moment of his life without her.

-

Enobaria tries to make him sleep in the hours between the resolution of the games and her clearance by Capitol medical staff.

“You better shower. And take a nap. After that little declaration of yours, you’ll be lucky if they don't drag you out during her interview for a very public reunion. She’ll love that, knowing you went and blabbed to all of her new co-victors.”

He obliges, not because of the threat of public eyes on them, but because he’d rather not look like hell when he sees her again. When he gets out of the shower there is a pressed suit waiting for him, the shirt underneath a deep shade of burgundy.

He’s unable to wait, and only interested in occupying his mind, so he dresses before climbing into bed fully clothed and ready to go.

He manages to sleep for about twenty minutes on account of the excitement buzzing in his veins that would not be quelled until his arms were around her. He’s staring at the ceiling, a whole new version of their future unlocked now that they are done with the games, when there is a knock on the door that has him flying out of bed.

They were victors now. They could move forward with the rest of their lives.

Enobaria and Brutus are with him, when they’re escorted through an underground tunnel to wherever she was held.

“We’re going under the stage. They’re going to interview and crown her after.” Enobaria explains once she recognizes the fluorescent lit tunnel they’re entering. She must recognize something in the surroundings, because she flashes those teeth at him in a terrifying smile. “You ready, loverboy?”

The car stops almost immediately, and he nearly pushes past the guards to get out. Brutus is chuckling at his eagerness, and Enobaria is only a few steps behind the frantic man.

There is nothing else in the world that matters the moment he sees her again.

She’s in a deep red dress that he can almost identify as the same color as the shirt that was laid out for him. It’s a tight velvet from a few inches below her collarbones until the top of her hips, where it transitions to thick layers of blood red gossamer fabric that falls to the middle of her calves. The sleeves are only a finger length past her shoulders, and are puffed up and girlish. Tall heels raise her just slightly closer to his height, but do not distract from the overall femininity of the look. She looks young, but as if she has been dipped in the blood of her competitors. Pale skin, dark hair, and green eyes are highlighted by the crimson shade.

Red is her color.

She doesn’t process that she’s moving towards him until they meet halfway across the room. Any disregard for years of their facade are out the window the minute his hands wrap her waist.

Cato lifts her effortlessly and Clove’s legs wrap around his hips just as naturally.  One of her hands is in his hair while the other cradles the angle of his chin, leaning until their foreheads are pressed tightly to each other.

He holds her up with one arm around her waist, the other holding her face like she is the most priceless thing in the world.

“We did it, baby.” Cato whispers, for her and only her, before years and years of their carefully crafted resolve shatters. “God, I fucking love you.”

She kisses him like she wants to consume him, like he is the first breath of fresh air she has ever felt inside her lungs. He kisses her as if she is fire and he is ready to be burned to ash.  Clove nips at his lower lip, claiming and possessive, and his hand around her hips tightens enough that she knows he will never let her go again. They’re lost at sea in the arms of each other, brought back to shore by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

While they pull apart, their foreheads still rest against each other, stupid, childish smiles plastered across each of their faces. They could go back to coy smiles and smirks when it was time to go back on stage.

For now, they soaked in the pure bliss of simply being together.

Enobaria comes forward and clears her throat again. She tries to look disapproving, but instead there's a little smile that comes through and breaks any mask she tries to wear.

Clove reluctantly drops her legs, though her arms stay looped around his neck. Cato’s hands rest on her waist, and she leans her cheek to his chest as Enobaria reaches up to take her hand and tug her away,

Her mentor pulls her into a hug of her own, crushing and tight in the arms of the woman who trained her. “I am so, so proud of you.” Enobaria promises, and lowering her voice she whispers further, “Your mom would be, too.” She smooths her hand over Clove’s soft curls, giving her a comfort she will never admit to needing. “I’ve never been prouder of anyone. You did it, Clove.”

Clove tightens her grip on her mentor, in a wordless understanding. She nods against her shoulder, squeezes her eyes tightly shut to ward off any emotions she may feel brewing underneath. “Thank you, Enobaria.”

Brutus is next, even going so far as to give her a crushing, albeit fast, hug himself. “Good job, Kid. You deserve it.”

Clove cannot stop smiling for once in her life. When Cato wraps his arms around her, pulling her back to press against his chest as he leans down to kiss her again, openly and unashamedly in front of their long time teachers and friends, she understands why.

She’s finally won.

–

“May I present to you, the victor of the 73rd Annual Hunger Games, Clove Kentwell!” Caesar Flickerman stands to welcome her, as Clove nearly floats across the stage. The smile on her face is the picture of pride, the picture of a flawless, perfect victor.

The cheers are deafening, as Caesar raises one of arms above her head to present her to the crowd.  

“I told you I would be back, didn’t I?” Clove reminds him slyly as she settles in the chair directly across from him, referencing back to her three minute interview a mere week ago.

The fans eat that up, and Caesar uses it as a moment to segway into her highlights of her games.

They recount her initial kills and her survival instinct not to leave into the night, which she openly attributes to Enobaria’s endless training.

He goes through each step of the final confrontation, and when his tone shifts Clove immediately knows what is coming.

From the way Enobaria bristles off stage, so does she.

“Now, I don’t know if you all know this.” Caesar addresses the audience. “But this is not the first Kentwell girl we’ve had on this stage. Does anyone here remember Sevina Kentwell? 58th games, ring a bell anyone?”

Clove's smile does not fall, and she gives a small nod as various reactions ripple through the audience. Most notably are the loud gasps and occasional confused murmurs, as Caesar holds up a finger to silence them.

“Plenty of victors have children. But you all are looking at the only known child of a tribute.” He gestures to her, and encourages a round of applause to distract from the notable confusion of the audience.

A video begins to play, and Clove whips her head to look behind her as she hears a voice she could never forget but at the same time does not remember. They are playing the interview of a girl who looks alarmingly like her, right down to the specific dark freckle under her left eyes.  Even her voice– Clove realizes she hears herself– is both foreign and like home.  

The girl on the screen has the same assured confidence as Clove, but a softness Clove herself lost a long time ago. Maybe she never even had it at all.  There's the same soft curls, eyes the same indescribable shade of green.

She does not talk about her skills with a knife, or about the victor she is bound to be. Instead she talks about a little girl, a toddler with a nose that scrunches when she smiles, who likes her mother’s rice crispy treats as her favorite snack.

“I named her Clove, she’s my little lucky Clover. My token is actually a little clover on a necklace, right next to a C. She’ll be with me.”

“You sound like you love her very much.” A version of Caesar, 18 years younger yet looking exactly the same, prompts.

“I love her more than anything. I’m going to win for her.”

It hits Clove in that moment, in front of the entire world, that she didn’t remember her mother saying her name.

She cannot remember her saying that she loves her.

The next picture stops her heart, though it never once shows on her face. She maintains cool and collected, as a photo she has never seen before, of a girl smiling at a grinning toddler is flashed across the screen.

If Cato didn’t know any better, he would have sworn that it was  Clove in that picture, not as the child but as the teen holding her. Suddenly, he feels furious. They took her moment of Glory and turned it into a chance to exploit a relationship with a woman she never even got to know.

“I’m going to kill him.” Cato growls, taking a step forward, stopped by Enobaria’s hand on his shoulder.

“Stop. Look at her. She’s handling it perfectly. Not a tear in sight. She’s flawless.” Clove would likely not forgive him for walking out there anyway.

Now, Clove may never have seen the photo, or the interviews, but she is entirely prepared as they pull up the final moments of her mother’s life.

She had seen it millions of times. Her mothers death was her bedtime story from the time she was three until she moved into the academy to train. Her grandmother blamed her for the death of her mother, naturally. She claimed it was the love Sevina had for her daughter that made her weak. That the existence of Clove alone stole a valuable year of training away from her. Maybe it was true.

Clove watches, unblinking, unwavering, as her mother is slammed against the cornucopia, by a big boy from district eight. Once, twice, and Clove has never known if her mother’s neck snapped from the force or if she bled into her brain until she stopped breathing.

All she knows is that in that moment the boy from eight became a victor. Her mother died in the final two, despite being the absolute favorite to win. And Clove lost the only person who had loved her.

“What a full circle moment, right!” Caesar brought her out of her thoughts, out of her emotionless wall, as he brought the audience back to life. “Incredible! Tell me, did you think of your mother when you were in that final showdown, in that same position she was in?”

“Yes.” She answers honestly. Of course she had, she’d seen it enough times to know how terrible her mother had looked in those final seconds of her life. She won’t give him more, she won’t elaborate on the way she thought that maybe this would be the way she saw her mother again.

“We know your mother made it to the final two, and lost. A tragedy for such a young mother and her child back home.” He feigns sympathy, and Clove can literally hear the stifled sniffles and sobs from those in the audience. How dare they cry over her life when she doesn’t even do so. “Do you remember her?”

She could be honest. She could say no, the games took her mother and left her with the endless weight of proving her and her mother’s worth on her shoulders. No. She could not remember the way she smelled or how tall she was. Clove chooses not to give them any more than what she’s already lost, and deflects the question.

“My mother loved me.” Clove answers, and that much she is sure of. Enobaria reminded her constantly. Her existence alone is proof enough, in a world where she certainly did not have to actually have her in the first place. Even her grandmother, who resented Clove from the time her mother took her final breath, kept her because she was the baby that was so loved by Sevina Kentwell. “She loved me. She was not a victor herself but she made one. I don’t think I'd be sitting in front of you, had things gone differently.”

Sevina had been the only one to want her. Not her grandmother. Not her father, a boy a few years older than her mother who never even was good enough to volunteer.

She knew what happened once she died. Her mother was buried in a box in the tribute cemetery. No mention of the dark haired little girl she left behind on her grave marker.

She cried for her mother. For weeks, months, maybe. Noone came to comfort her. Noone told her she was worth it, without Sevina there to kiss her nose and hold her in the crook of her arm as she slept.

Her mother died and no one came to comfort her.

Eventually, Clove learned there was no use in tears. Noone was coming to help.

No, if her mother had come home a victor, Clove would not be sitting here a victor herself.

“Clove, do you remember where you were?”

“It was my third birthday. No, I don’t remember where I was.” There it was, the venom dripping into her voice now.

“They were bringing you on the train! You were on your way to be reunited with your mother on stage, when she so tragically died.” Caesar revealed, and if Enobaria hadn’t been holding Cato by the arm off stage he would have strangled Caesar Flickerman at that moment. “You are the only tribute to be on that train twice, isn’t that so crazy!”

Clove’s hand balls up in the fabric of her skirt, the only sign she is anything less than stoic and confident.

“Did you know that the dress you’re wearing is very special?”

It’s Enobaria who’s now being restrained by Brutus backstage, this final exploitative blow to this girl’s life too much to stay quiet and witness.

Caesar hushes the audience, waiting for complete silence.

“This was the dress that was designed and created for your mother to be wearing when she was crowned. Isn’t it so special to be honoring her in this way?”

“She’d be very proud of me.” Clove announces, the edge in her voice less the crest of a waterfall and more the steel of a blade, and all she wants is this crown on her head already.

“That she would. That she would.”

The interview continues with the redirect back to her skills and her highlights. They talk about her birthday, now also revealed to be the anniversary of her mother’s death, and her excellent training.

Cato is seething beside an equally enraged Enobaria, side by side with their arms firmly crossed over their chests. Brutus stands behind both with a hand on each of their shoulders to ground them (and restrain them, if needed).

“I get why you were worried about her now. Last year.” He admits, referring back to the lecture Clove had faced when Enoabria found out about the extent of their relationship. “We never would have-”

“It doesn’t matter now.” Enobaria cuts him off, the wound of Sevina Kentwell’s fate ripped far too open to think about much else right now, much less how her goal had been to save her daughter from the same one.  “...She was a knife thrower too, you know”

President Snow makes his way to the stage, granddaughter trailing behind him with a golden crown on a crisp white pillow in her hands.

Clove stands in front of the President, and Cato feels a surge of pride when he remembers he was the first person in the world to see her in that crown.

She is announced as the formal winner, and President Snow looks exceptionally pleased with the quality of the victor before him.

The cheers are deafening until Caeser’s playoff music starts and Clove is permitted to walk off the stage, still giving a single handed wave to the audience.

The moment she is off stage she is in Cato’s arms, pulling his face down to hers so she can kiss him properly, this time with her own crown on her head.

If the gasps in the audience reveal that the camera has cut to them, capturing and revealing their relationship for all of Panem, they choose to ignore it.

There is a silence between them, Enobaria, and Brutus, as they make their way back to the elevator to the second floor. Enobaria and Brutus take the first, giving Cato and Clove a moment to take one alone, giving them a second of privacy for the first time since they parted the morning of the games.

As soon as the doors close, Clove relaxes into his arms, the exhaustion of the past two weeks and the past two hours crushing down onto her.

He holds her up, taking the metaphorical and physical weight off of her shoulders for the duration of their time alone. He rests his chin on her shoulder., breathing in the scent of her hair that is somehow capitol shampoo but also so distinctly Clove.

In a moment they will be back with their mentors and their team. They will have a late, glorious dinner and talk about the next six months and the following Victory Tour. They will discuss the inevitable questions about their relationship they are sure to face tomorrow.

For the next few blissful moments, it is just the two of them.

“Cato?” Clove mumbles, face pressed into the crook of his neck.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go home.”

[shortlittlescarystories]

What Lies Beneath

Of course, he’d heard the tales before. A vessel, centuries old, bested by a rogue storm, a roaming gang of pirates, a sudden westerly wind…

He didn’t believe any of it. People have always talked, and talk is just that. Words whispered by candlelight in shadowed parlours were rarely backed by the harsh reality of daylight. He would never let a shaky rumour stop him from visiting the best beach in Penwith, much less a collection of stories that barely followed any common theme.

His bravery was uncommon among the people of the sleepy village, for most were unable to set aside superstitions so deeply engraved into the fibre of the land. For that reason, few dared to cross the sands, despite the plentiful bounties of the narrow cove. No matter, he thought, for there were no fish as sweet as those from its shady waters.

A dull echo of boot against cobble resounded through the sloping street, and he steadied himself with his hands as a descended. He passed a bench adorned with drooping orchids, slowing to read the inscription. Another death, he mused to himself. No doubt somebody would find a way to tie it into the murky stories of long ago. All the more fish for him, he thought with a smile.

Nearing the end of the road, he trotted towards the taupe sands, feet sinking into the saturated dunes. Dense fog rolled across the bay, coating the horizon with a smoky haze. He wrapped his thick cloak tighter with a shudder, hoping the early morning sun sneaking over the clouds would dispel his miseries before too long.

Creak.

That’s odd, he thought to himself, but paid the mysterious sound no further attention. After all, the harbour was not so far away that such a sound was unusual. The gentle lapping of the water’s edge set his mind at ease, and he continued picking his way across the sullen landscape.

Snap.

He whipped his head around to the direction of the noise, stopping in his tracks. A decrepit boat stern pierced the fog, slashing into the sand before coming to rest at his feet. Tattered sails fluttered in the wind, their garnet hue contrasting the rotting oak planks.

A slatey grey anchor descended rapidly into the ground, its chain swinging violently from side to side with a shudder. The ship groaned against its tether, writhing in the sea foam before coming to rest against the rocks.

In the distance, gulls squawked menacingly, before circling and descending upon the wreckage. In a flutter of wings they departed, their scaly prizes flopping hopelessly between sharp mustard beaks.

The sight of fish lured him out of his revere, and he remembered his morning’s intentions. If this old lump of wood contained fish aplenty, then he’d be damned if he were going to give it up, sinister appearances and all.

With a start, he found himself moving forward, his boots no longer filled with the concrete of fear, rather the helium of foolish hope. As he neared the stricken vessel, a deep pungence infiltrated his nostrils – a sickening sweetness that could only mean one thing. Fish. Fish for days.

He hauled himself onto the decaying relic with a grunt, shifting his weight between his feet as he surveyed the strange intrusion. Upon closer inspection, the vessel featured a copper sextant, of a type not commonly seen upon more modern ships, yet the bolts and nuts of its construction still retained their perfect metallic sheen.

Wondering absent mindedly to himself why someone would equip a boat with such dated tools, he approached the fish storage hold. Apprehension leaving his mind, he descended excitedly into the dimly lit space. This is what he was here for.

At first glance, nothing appeared remiss. Shelves lined the densely packed area, stacked with slimy oblong shapes. Reaching out, he brushed the shapes with his fingertips, taking in their texture. Smooth and fibrous, they pulsed rhythmically under his palms.

Curious, he pondered, wondering which fish species had scales so miniature they formed such a smooth surface. No matter, the more exquisite the specimen, a finer price it would fetch. So unusually smooth…

Clunk.

He jolted with a start, the sharp noise collapsing the silence that had previously eclipsed the cove, a dagger through the heart of quiet. Straining his eyes, he realised that the hatch above had slammed in the wind, enclosing him in the space. His breath quickened, catching in his throat. Pushing his palms against the hatch achieved little, and he flopped down with a sigh, considering his options.

No sooner than he reached the ground, a ghostly glow emanated from between shelves, illuminating the cavity in a pale gold light, and flickering daintily in an unobservable breeze.

Casting his eyes over his newly illuminated surroundings revealed something so unexpected that he felt his stomach churn violently. Fighting to keep his breakfast, he noticed a slight swaying rocking the battered hull gently, somewhat like a mother would a baby.

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, willing the new horror his vision had granted him to vanish. Upon opening them, he was once again greeted by the grotesque vision that plagued his mind.

Resting upon the shelves lay several hunks of flamingo pink meat, throbbing fiercely in time with the rhythmic motions of the ocean against the vessel. Thin tendrils snaked sneakily around creaky beams, before nesting themselves within piles of foul offal. Wisps of hair twisted between flesh, forming a nightmarish kaleidoscope of pink, blonde and brown.

It was like nothing he had ever seen before. Like nothing anyone had ever seen before. Of course, he had seen fish guts before, their putrid sweetness never so great than in fish from this beach, but fish was no match for what rested before him.

Lurching powerfully forward, the ship grumbled into motion. He heard a clang of metal, realising that the anchor must have become retracted. Before long, the swell of the ocean carried them away, stealing them into the fog. Silently, it wrapped its hazy arms around the boat, crushing it into a blurred embrace.

A drip, gurgle and splash filled the cramped cabin, followed by an icy blue fluid, swirling around his feet. Panic filled the air, consuming him. He beat his fists against the hatch, against the walls, against the shelves, until crimson merged with indigo, and his hands throbbed with salinity.

After the panic came the calm. He sunk into the water; energy depleted. The flickering light danced fervently until it too was extinguished, swallowed by the insatiable blue. Darkness swept into the waterlogged compartment, sweeping the curtains closed on the repugnant scene.

~

Few dared to enter the ghastly cove, for everyone knew the tales. But fortuity shines on the daring, and never more so in the days after tragedy.

Everyone knew: the days in which the fish of the sea tasted the sweetest, were the days just after a fresh disappearance. Most would grow comfortable with the assertion that it must be something in the water, never daring to question further.

For is it admirable bravery, inexcusable foolishness or bleak desperation that powers the few beyond the bounds of the sands?

[thehomewarehub1]

Top Bathroom Basin Trends for 2024: Elevate Your Space

As we step into 2024, the world of interior design continues to evolve, and the bathroom is no exception. One of the key elements that can dramatically enhance your bathroom’s aesthetic is the basin. Whether you’re renovating or simply looking to refresh your space, staying ahead of the trends can help you create a stylish sanctuary. Here are the top bathroom basin trends for 2024 that you should consider.

1. Minimalist Designs

Minimalism remains a strong trend in bathroom design for 2024. Clean lines, simple shapes, and uncluttered spaces are essential. Look for basins that feature understated designs, such as rectangular or oval shapes in neutral colors. These basins not only provide a sleek appearance but also complement various styles, from contemporary to Scandinavian.

2. Natural Materials

Sustainability is more important than ever, and the trend towards using natural materials is on the rise. Basins crafted from materials like stone, wood, or recycled materials add a touch of nature to your bathroom. They bring warmth and texture, creating a serene atmosphere. Consider a basin made from natural stone with unique veining or a reclaimed wood vanity for a truly organic feel.

3. Bold Colors

While neutral tones dominate many bathroom designs, 2024 sees a shift towards bolder colors. Deep blues, rich greens, and even vibrant reds are making an appearance in bathroom basins. These colors can serve as a focal point in your bathroom, adding personality and character. Pair a bold basin with softer hues in your decor to create a balanced look.

4. Vessel Basins

Vessel basins continue to be a popular choice for homeowners looking to make a statement. These basins sit above the counter and come in various shapes and materials, including ceramic, glass, and metal. Their elevated design not only adds visual interest but also makes for easy installation. Opt for a sculptural vessel basin to elevate your bathroom’s overall style.

5. Integrated Technology

As smart homes become increasingly common, integrating technology into bathroom design is a key trend for 2024. Look for basins that feature touchless faucets, LED lighting, and even built-in speakers. These technological enhancements can elevate your bathroom experience, offering convenience and a modern touch.

6. Vintage and Retro Styles

Nostalgia plays a significant role in design trends, and this year, vintage and retro styles are making a comeback. Think classic pedestal sinks, ornate detailing, and pastel colors. These basins evoke a sense of charm and character, making them perfect for creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

7. Unique Shapes

Say goodbye to standard round or square basins! In 2024, unique and unconventional shapes are taking center stage. Look for basins that feature asymmetrical designs or organic shapes that mimic nature. These artistic basins not only serve a functional purpose but also act as stunning focal points in your bathroom.

8. Dual Basins

For those with ample space, dual basins are becoming increasingly popular. Perfect for busy households, having two basins allows for simultaneous use without sacrificing style. Look for coordinating styles that match your overall bathroom aesthetic, whether modern, rustic, or traditional.

Conclusion

As you consider your bathroom update for 2024, keep these trends in mind to create a space that is both functional and stylish. Whether you opt for minimalist designs, bold colors, or unique shapes, the right basin can dramatically elevate your bathroom’s overall appeal. Explore the diverse selection at The Homeware Hub to find the perfect basin that aligns with your vision and complements your space.

With these trends, your bathroom will not only meet your practical needs but also become a relaxing retreat that reflects your personal style. Happy decorating!

[thelistingteammiami]

How To Make Your Bathroom Look More Modern

Are you a homeowner looking to add a modern touch to your bathroom? Renovating your bathroom and giving it an up-to-date look is exciting. Yet, it can also be daunting, especially if you’re unsure what steps to take. Fortunately, with the right information, making those easy changes doesn’t have to be scary or expensive. We’ll outline how to make your bathroom look more modern.

Update the Lighting Fixtures

Old, outdated fixtures look unsightly and can be less energy-efficient and inadequate in terms of brightness. By replacing these lights with contemporary designs, you can instantly transform your bathroom into a more inviting and visually appealing place to be. For instance, statement pendant lights can add a touch of elegance and drama, while sleek LED strip lights can create a futuristic atmosphere.

Change Old Sinks and Faucets

If you’re tired of your outdated bathroom, changing your old sinks and faucets is a simple way to create a modern and stylish appeal. Today’s sink designs offer various options to suit any style preference. From sleek and simple to ornate and decorative, there is a sink to fit your taste. If you’re looking for a contemporary edge, try a vessel sink made from glass or ceramic. As for faucets, the 2023 bathroom trends often favor a streamlined look with minimalist handles. A matte black finish is also a popular choice among homeowners.

Replace the Toilet

When it comes to updating your bathroom, you might be surprised at the impact that replacing your toilet can have. While any change offers a refreshing touch, replacing the toilet improves your bathroom’s functionality. Luckily, endless options are available to fit any budget or design preference. From sleek, modern designs to eco-friendly models that save water and money, there are many toilets you can choose to transform your space.

Install New Hardware

With so many options available today, finding the perfect hardware for your cabinets and drawers is easier than ever before. Sleek and streamlined designs are popular for those looking to create a contemporary look in their bathrooms. Chrome, nickel, and brass finishes are also on-trend, providing a cool and polished look. Meanwhile, brushed or matte finishes can contribute to a warmer and more inviting feel.

Add Modern Decor

Adding contemporary elements can transform your bathroom into a stylish and welcoming area. The modern decor looks chic, but using it is also one of the great ways to infuse your personality into any room. With a variety of textures, finishes, and colors available, you can choose the style that suits you best. Adding statement mirrors, geometric prints, or metallic fixtures can make your bathroom look edgy and sophisticated.

Now that you have some tips for making your bathroom more modern, you can use these strategies in your home today to create a stunning transformation. Whether you’re replacing an old sink, swapping out outdated cabinets, or creating a full bathroom makeover with new flooring and tile, these simple steps will help make the process easier.

[vancouverkitchenrenovation]

How to Create an Old-World Kitchen

If you’re looking for the charm of an Old World kitchen, you’ve come to the right place. This style incorporates wood cabinetry, marble countertops, wrought iron elements, and oversized furniture. The best part about the style is that it can be easily replicated in your home. Here are some tips for bringing your own old-world kitchen to life.

What is an Old World Kitchen?

An Old World kitchen is a style of kitchen that celebrates classic design and rustic charm. It typically includes traditional elements from Europe such as a bluing table, butcher block countertops, distressed cabinets, and utilitarian appliances. An old-world kitchen also often utilizes polished and vintage-inspired materials to capture the golden era of cooking styles and the complexity of artisanal craftsmanship.

How Can You Create an Old World Kitchen?

Creating an Old World kitchen can be made possible through careful planning and creative design choices. Start by selecting classic, timeless colours and finishes for walls, flooring, cabinets, counters, sinks, and lighting fixtures. Neutral hues often work best in this type of space while bringing out details like reclaimed wood accents or wrought iron hardware. To capture the look further use natural materials like stone or marble tile or wood floors to create a cozy atmosphere. You can warm up your palette with custom cabinetry in browns or blacks or mix metals for a unique statement in hardware pieces. Additionally consider adding vintage-inspired appliances like retro stoves for a bit of nostalgia and the ultimate source of personalization within your kitchen.

Begin with cabinet hardware that has a classic feel. Incorporate wooden cabinets in warm colours and metal fixtures such as door handles or knobs for a rustic touch.

Add customized details that invoke an old-world feeling. Ancient carpets or tapestries are perfect for this look. Use warm tones on the walls and suspended large, ornate chandeliers. Stone or ceramic tile may also be used on walls and floors to make them more inviting.

Consider small details like light fixtures, pot racks, or tiles adorned with motifs from nature. These subtle touches give your kitchen an authentic feel while maintaining style and sophistication.

Install lamps or sconces to create a luxurious atmosphere when dining in your kitchen space at night. Decorative curtains can be placed close to the ceiling or used around windows to create a formal look. Lastly, incorporate doors with scrollwork accents for added sophistication and charm.

What Types of Accessories Are Best to Complete an Old World Kitchen?

For accessories choose small touches that emphasize functionality without taking away from the overall look you’re trying to achieve in your old-world kitchen design. For wall decor consider paintings that fit with the colour scheme you have chosen for your kitchen but avoid cluttering with too much décor since this could detract from the desired effect of a rustic chic atmosphere within this space. Other options include terra cotta storage vessels on shelves or antique gadgets hung above cabinets that recall iconic European influences on modern kitchens today. Rugs can add texture as well as warmth to amplify any old-world aesthetic over time which helps give permanent character to this style over time due to regular wear-and-tear done through daily use within the home.

Wooden cabinetry

If you want to create an Old World kitchen, it is best to go with wood cabinetry. However, you need to keep in mind that using the Old World style in your kitchen can be very costly.

To create the Old World look, you need to pay close attention to the details in the cabinetry. To give a worn, antique feel, you can use wrought iron, oil-rubbed bronze, and burnished brass. These materials can give your new cabinetry an antique look, which you can also use with your new kitchen appliances. To complete the look, add a chandelier and bar stools with wrought iron backs.

Marble countertops

A marble countertop is a classic addition to an old-world kitchen. This stone is durable and can withstand the heat of a hot pan. In addition, marble has a unique pattern and veining that makes it stand out among other materials. It is also cold to the touch and can help cool down a pan faster.

Marble countertops require a little maintenance. You should use a soft cloth to wipe them clean. You can also use mild household cleaners on them. Marble countertops should also be sealed on a regular basis.

Wrought iron elements

Wrought iron elements are a key element in a traditional Old World kitchen design. This style consists of heavy wood cabinetry, arched windows, and wrought iron decorations. These elements can be combined in a variety of ways, including using different species of each material.

Wrought iron is an excellent choice for a chandelier in your kitchen. It can add elegance to a kitchen that may be lacking a central fixture. Pendant lights can also look great in a modular kitchen design. Candleholders made from wrought iron can add beauty to a kitchen table, breakfast bar, or island. You can also use wrought iron chains to hang lights from the ceiling. Wrought iron is also a great option for outdoor furniture. In warm weather, wrought iron furniture adds a touch of nature to the space.

Wrought iron has a long history of elegance, and it can be used to create almost anything in the Old World. Because of its strength and durability, it is widely used in architecture, construction, and design. Throughout the ages, hand-forged iron was used to build railways, warships, and churches. Even wine racks were created from wrought iron.

Oversized furniture

The old-world style is a warm, comfortable design that evokes European manors, estates, and villas. This style typically features hand-troweled plaster walls, exposed surfaces, and rustic wood beams. It also features oversized furniture and a rich colour palette. Oversized pieces of furniture can be an excellent addition to a traditional-style kitchen.

Marble backsplash

A marble backsplash can be the highlight of your kitchen. You can choose to use a single slab of marble, or you can extend your existing countertop to the backsplash. A solid slab of marble will give your kitchen a traditional look, but can also be a more affordable option. It will also prevent splattered foods from staining your walls.

For a classic look, opt for a pale marble backsplash. This material is very easy to maintain and goes well with dark walls, floors, and cabinetry. It also pairs well with gold appliances. In addition, marble is long-lasting and low-maintenance, making it an ideal material for a busy family kitchen.

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The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it makes sense that it would play such an integral role in your house’s overall look and feel. It’s also a space that people spend a significant amount of time in, so it must look its absolute best. That’s why Vancouver Kitchen Renovation is proud to offer Kitchen Design and Renovations in Vancouver, BC. We believe that a well-designed kitchen can transform the way you live, and we’re committed to helping you create the perfect space for yourself and your family. Whether you’re interested in updating your existing kitchen or building a brand new one, we can help you achieve your dream kitchen. We’ll listen carefully to your ideas and preferences, and together we’ll figure out which options will work best for you. Once we’ve determined what you’d like to see in your new kitchen, we’ll put together a detailed proposal outlining everything we propose, including a breakdown of the estimated budget and timeline. If you decide to move forward with our proposal, we’ll begin working immediately to bring your vision to life.

We understand that to be successful is to stay ahead of the curve. That means staying current with the latest technology and design trends. We always want to improve our products or services without breaking the bank. That’s why we stay connected to the latest technologies of NKBA, National Kitchen and Bath Association. In addition, at Vancouver Kitchen renovation, our primary focus is providing sustainable kitchen design and renovation packages, and we believe in sustainable living. Sustainable living is a way of life in harmony with nature. It is a lifestyle which focuses on the preservation of our environment. Sustainable living is a philosophy emphasizing respect for the environment and concern for its well-being. This means we should take care of the planet and treat it as if it were our home. We should try to preserve what we have and protect it from destruction. If we do this, we will enjoy the benefits of the earth’s resources for many generations. Whether you’re planning a major remodel or adding finishing touches to your current kitchen, we’d love to discuss your project. Book your showroom consultation online.

Main Areas of Service in British Columbia:

Vancouver

North Vancouver

West Vancouver

Burnaby

Coquitlam

Squamish

Whistler

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider first when remodelling my kitchen?

There is no single solution to this question, as everyone has different priorities. However, some things to consider include the room’s layout, the type of appliances you want, the style of cabinets and countertops you prefer, and any storage needs you have.

Once you have made your decision on your must-haves and are confident in your choices, you can begin to look at various kitchen designs. If you’re working with a limited budget, it’s often best to start with the big-ticket items like appliances and cabinets, then fill in with minor details like paint colours and light fixtures.

Taking things one step at a time ensures your kitchen remodel precisely what you want it to be.

What is the average time it takes to renovate a kitchen?

Once the cabinets are manufactured, the process should take around three weeks. However, the design and/or custom cabinet manufacturing can take months. This means that the whole process from start-to-finish can take several weeks.

What is the best way to adapt to Vancouver’s climate with a white kitchen?

White kitchens are popular among homeowners in Vancouver because they brighten up the space and create a modern look. To bring warmth into your space, however, you should consider natural elements such wood as there isn’t much sunshine in Metro Vancouver.

Statistics

Experts also recommend setting aside 20 percent of your budget for surprises, including unpleasant demolition discoveries. One is water damage, the electricity that is not up to code, or other budget-spiking gotchas. (hgtv.com)

In large firms, the commission charged by the GC ranges from 15 to 25 percent of the total job cost. (thespruce.com)

This is rather grim, but according to Business Insider, 12 percent of couples consider getting a divorce while renovating their home! (familyhandyman.com)

“We decided to strip and refinish our kitchen cabinets during a heat wave with 90-plus-degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity in a house with no air conditioning. (familyhandyman.com)

It’s a fantastic thing about most home improvement projects: no matter the job. It often seems like the last 20% is the most difficult. (familyhandyman.com)

External Links

thespruce.com

Open Floor Plan: History, Pros and Cons

Find professionals to estimate kitchen remodeling costs

houzz.com

Houzz

The Kitchen Workbook: 8 Elements for a Craftsman Kitchen

homeguide.com

2022 Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator

2022 Home Addition costs

familyhandyman.com

Do’s and Don’ts: A First DIY Subway tile Backsplash Installation by Family Handyman

Create an Open, Craftsman-Style Kitchen (DIY)

How To

Ten kitchen renovations you could do yourself.

DIY Home Improvement Tips For The Average Joe

It’s not always an option to do a small kitchen remodel. This is a great way to transform your home into a modern, beautiful space. You can do many things to improve your kitchen without spending too much money. Here are some ideas for small kitchen renovations that you can do by yourself.

Add a backsplash to your kitchen – If there are no tiles around the sink or countertop, then a backsplash will be the best option. This adds style and colour, and can make your kitchen appear bigger and more spacious.

Get rid of old cabinets. They provide protection from water splashes, spills and stains. They give your kitchen a stylish look. If you notice that your cabinet doors look worn out, you should replace them with new ones.

Paint your kitchen. Not only will it improve the look of your kitchen, but you’ll also save money. Paint gives your kitchen a fresh look and modernizes it. You will find it much easier to clean.

Update your appliances – Updating your appliances is an excellent idea because it won’t just increase their lifespan but also make them look newer. If you know which appliance you need to upgrade, do it. You can also ask someone who is familiar with how to install these appliances.

You can also add a bar to your kitchen. You’ll be able to entertain your guests and have additional work space.

Make a breakfast corner – A breakfast corner doesn’t need to cost a lot. All you need is a small dining table and some chairs. To make it more comfortable, you could add cushions.

Add a pantry to your kitchen – A pantry should be a part of every kitchen. It is an ideal place to store food, recipes, and other essentials.

Install an island. It gives your kitchen a spacious appeal and provides ample work surface. It is also very attractive when combined to wood flooring.

A wine rack can be added to any home. You can also use them at home. There are many options for sizes and designs. You can choose whatever suits your kitchen best.

Did you miss our previous article… https://vancouverkitchenrenovation.com/kitchens/waterfall-countertops/

The post How to Create an Old-World Kitchen first appeared on Vancouver Kitchen Renovation.

source https://vancouverkitchenrenovation.com/kitchens/how-to-create-an-old-world-kitchen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-create-an-old-world-kitchen

[dustedmagazine]

Neolithic — Shattering Vessels (The Other)

Shattering Vessels by Neolithic

It’s been a few years since we last heard from Neolithic. The Baltimore band’s 2019 self-titled EP was a crusty, stanky blast, a logical and strong development of their contribution to the excellent split 7” with Martyrdöd from the year before. In the interim, Neolithic’s songwriting has corroded and cankered, sinking deeper into the death metal elements of their muscular, overdriven variety of stenchcore. Not that the decay and putrescence has softened their sound. If anything, Shattering Vessels is a tougher, meaner set of songs than any the band has previously issued. It’s music for the contemporary mosh pit, in which the headbangers and grotty punks share a reeking, riotous space.

The atavistic truculence and speed of most of the songs on Shattering Vessels suggest some commonality with the bludgeoning wave of caveman death metal now flooding through underground channels of the music’s circulation. Neolithic’s band name seems to seal the affinity, but while they share the absolute worship of the riff as a thing-in-itself, songs like “Terminal Lucidity” and “Arrow of Entropy” are a bit more evolved. The sonic resonances of some Swedish influence render the songs’ textures grainier and more varied. Certainly shifts in time signature create dynamic interest, with engaging suggestions of dramatic narrative. 

Given the guttural delivery from singer Evan Harting, listeners are largely left guessing about what might be narrated in the tunes. The exception is “Impious Devotion,” which features some clean vocals; it’s unclear if it’s Harting’s voice, but someone is clearly pissed at the institutions and creeds of organized religion. After a long, anti-clerical screed, drawn from Schopenhauer, the singer snarls, “Failing structures of mankind / Pale pyre, built from shit / Piling waste upon itself.” The emphasis on “shit” and “waste” are in strong accord with death metal’s longstanding interest in abdominal yuck and organic rot — but Schopenhauer? That’s higher-brow stuff, a bit more obscure and philosophically more certain than the usual, half-baked pilferings from Nietzsche. 

Another quotation from Schopenhauer, from the closing passage of his book-length essay The World as Will and Representation (1844), prefaces the next track, “Futility and Lamentation.” There’s a lot to lament and to be pessimistic about, but it’s unclear that Schopenhauer’s strong investment in individual will provides any sort of coherent redress or effective resistance. If you just want to sit around and feel bummed but superior about it, sure, read the German, and rock on with it. But Neolithic’s music isn’t mopey. It’s full of raging negative affect. Maybe next time around, the band can quote some Bakunin, or Bolo’Bolo. Until then, the explosive sounds of “Arrow of Entropy” will do just fine. 

Jonathan Shaw

[kingdoms-of-fate]

IMPERIAL FEDERATION

DOLIAN

The world of Dolian is a planet dominated by one large bottomless ocean. wild storms rage across the surface making the water choppy and dangerous, with many ships sinking below the waves. While some try to find the missing vessels to salvage its cargo, the ocean bottom is miles deep at the shallows and near endless everywhere else. Attempts to mark the depths have been attempted but even ropes 3000ft feet in length have found no ocean floor, leaving many to wonder what is at the bottom.

Sheets of organic material float upon the surface of the ocean. While mostly an algae like substance,They appear to have eyes and limited intelligence. The eyes will move focusing on objects and the sheets swim together in a swarm often away from danger.

Rising throughout the ocean are forests of black spires , dozens to 100s of feet tall. found in clusters no one is sure what causes the rocky formations to form as the stone seems to have no magical properties, nor if they even reach the bottom of the ocean.

While legends claim the spirea are part of some thorny sea creature truthfully no one knows as what lurks in the bottomless depths remain a mystery.

However the few dives that reached the bottom, report city's of black pyramids and pylons. the material is impervious to damage and the structures seem to hum. While no one has brought proof to the surface of there existence, sailors report strange lights that move in the depths and unexplained frothing of the sea as if something is stirring below.

Cults of the sea worship the mysterious of the ocean, building temples to the creatures of the deep. While sacrifice is illegals many believe the cults bring humans offers as tribute , feeding the ancient sea monsters, to keep them at rest.

The sky is lit up by intense solar storms that rage across the heavens. The pulsing of lightning flashes at all times of day and is bright enough to see by at night. During the greatest of the storms, Hair stands up on end and metal sparks.

A few islands dot the surface the land covered in thick trunk like plants budding with leaves and berries. The berries are edible but sour and the leaves can induce itching is exposed.

The islands do support other life but it is often small animals and the land is poor for farming. Diets are mostly fish and the organic soup floating on the ocean, revolting to outsiders but the rubbery texture is said to be pleasant by the locals. While many live on the islands, most work on the mining platforms built across the ocean harvesting mostly water gel . While some gel gets turned into elemental oil, vast amounts of water gel is used on the more arid worlds of the Federation to irrigate land and provide the people drinkable water.

For more information on the depths of Dolian please submit top level clearance to the head librarian of Examplia.

[clatoera]

29 for ao3 wrapped !!

29. Favorite Line/Passage you wrote this year?

Okay sooo I answered this with my favorite line yesterday, so i'm going to go with my favorite passage. It's actually the beginning of Chapter 3, as the initial bloodbath in Clove's games unfolds. It's a favorite because I thought the way I described eviscerating someone was going to land me on a watchlist. It may have!

it's

"This was what Clove was made for. She knows it in the exact moment she feels her knife sink into flesh for the first time, with a startling lack of resistance that was both satisfying and exhilarating. Sure, they practiced on the carcasses of animals, to learn the way skin swallows a knife in a way that a firm practice dummy would never. She memorized it at fourteen, when they placed a half of a pig in front of her for the first time. The way a blade penetrates skin, the gelatinous texture of subcutaneous fat, the sound of fascia ripping from muscle, the splitting of muscles against the grain, the feeling of metal on bone. Clove reveled in it then, and now, as hot, sticky blood shoots from a severed artery and right onto her face, she throws her head back in an open mouthed laugh as warmth coats her face. 

She pulls the knife backwards, and pushes the bleeding boy backwards onto the snow, leaving him to make those disgusting yet enticing gurgling sounds as the blood suffocates him. 

For just a second, Clove watches the way the blood stains the snow around the fallen boy, spreading like watercolor on a canvas. It is more beautiful than she could have imagined.

Next is one of the girls from 11 or 12, she isn't sure which, but she easily hits the dead center of her chest. If the pulsing squirts of blood are any indicator, she cut right through the vessel behind her heart, letting her bleed to death in seconds. 

She got the boy from 11, a quick slice from ear to ear that leaves him bleeding out like livestock. 

With knives locked between her second and third and also her fourth and fifth digit, she takes out two kids at once when she releases the blades with a single flick of her wrist. 

Clove couldn’t really tell you where her allies were, or who killed who. The boy from six, maybe, she isn't really sure and doesn't care, came up behind  her when her back was turned. She was focused on retrieving one of her knives, but she could sense the intrusion in her space. It takes less than a minute to run her leg under the boy’s knees, knocking him flat on his back in a bed of plush snow. She stabs the tip of the knife right at the base of his sternum, and then gives a long, slow drag down the entirety of his abdomen, viscera and blood spilling out through the sliced fabric and flesh. "

Thank you friend!!!

[luverofsupernatural]

These Hands of Mine: ch 9 Morning After

Ninth chapter ( Master List,  Previous: 8 - Nightmares, Next: 10 - Planning for the Future)

content warning: hospital, blood, fear, medical

A/N: so, I know that I’m slow to update this, and I apologize for that. But, I’m still working on it, and trying to edit to have it be how I want. I also want to say right now that I am posting chapters as I write, so unfortunately, if I want to add in something to say chapter 3, I can’t do that and assume everyone will know. So, if I need to change or add history, it’s gonna be in one of this. Thanks for reading this and please do reblog if you enjoyed.

___________________________

First thing Jackie remembered of the hospital was waking up, refreshed. Groggy in his head, but no agony to be felt. Blindingly bright light burning his eyes was a sharp contrast to that peaceful state. Shielding his eyes with his arm and squeezing his eyes shut, Jackie wanted to give himself a moment to adjust. But just moving his arm sent signals to wake up every part of his body. Texture from the sheets and bandages wrapped around his body. The metal needle stuck in his blood vessel, releasing some kind of drug in him. A numbing agent, floating through him, seemingly coating his cells, telling them everything was fine, when his mind knew that wasn’t possible. Heart beats were quickening, temperature rising quickly, blood starting to pound in his ear, and his mind racing while fighting the anesthetic he could feel seeping into his brain.

Opening his eyes to the dizzying light and tearing the thin sheet away, the hyper-awareness only heightened. Beneath the wrap on his chest, he felt the ends of his ribs catching on his tissue with every breath. The boot on his foot exerting enough pressure that it felt like it would cut off blood flow. Despite that, the drug now seemed to reach every point of his existence, even down to the very tips of his extremities, leaving a creeping sense of renewal in its wake. But reality, pain, took root. His leg felt like it was shrinking, as if his lower leg was being squished to fit all inside his knee and hip. Jackie went to grab at his thigh, try to physically get a handle on what he was feeling, and he suddenly froze, focus shifting to the very bane of his existence. His hands, now covered in a fresh, thinner layer of wrappings, looking abnormally normal. But he could still feel where the divets were, recall every failing and fracture of them. Turning them over and over, slowly, looking for the flaws that were there but hidden from view. That numbing agent seemed to be reaching every single point in them, preventing him from fully experiencing the pain he knew in his heart.

But, the smallest bit of hope crept into his face when his mind started to remember. Remember the nothing. The absolute silence of the surgery, the block his mind had created after leaving the house. No pesky intruders, no having to fight, just the sweet peace of having no thoughts and no responsibility for a few hours. But even more importantly, the nothing in his hands. There hadn’t even been any sensation before. But now? Now there was numb. A spark in him tried to wiggle his fingers, and then that smile faded. Everything seemed to sink into the relatively squishy mattress beneath him. Head half-way buried in the pillow, legs stuck in invisible depressions made by his own weight, and hands lazily draped over the side. Tilting up slightly, he looked at his hands again. Moving his arm, he made his fingertips hover on the edge of his bed, trying to feel the slight bend in them that mimicked the mattress. He wasn’t making them do that — it was just gravity at work now — but that wasn’t the point. Returning to his restful position, Jackie let himself smile, closing his eyes to the light. He didn’t sleep, but he did just lay there, focusing on feeling with his hands while everything else calmed down. Calm to the point where it wasn’t laborious to breath anymore.

Eventually, his brain reached the point that it was getting restless with all the inactivity. Not like before either. This was more of a. . . a desire, a need or wanting to do something, having the energy to do something. Much nicer than the relentless chattering of before. Singular, calm thoughts. That’s what he had right now.

The light wasn’t as disorienting this time round. Jackie propped himself on his elbows and took a look around the room. Nothing special. It was small, there was a window with shades blocking out the sunlight, a couple of chairs– !, and his brother, lounging with his legs off one arm of the chair and back braced against the other arm, his hat positioned so that it covered up half his face. “Doofus,” Jackie teased with a small chuckle. Looking around, there wasn’t anything within arm’s reach to playfully throw at him. “Never could sit normally, could ya?” Jackie continued, unsure why he was exactly messing with Chase. It was fun though. Felt like the old days.

There was a shifting and small groans escaping the formerly sleeping man. Swinging his legs down onto the floor, Chase leaned back, finally tilting his cap, giving Jackie a glimpse of his mischievous face. “Just one more thing ya love ’bout me, ya big oaf,” Chase retorted with a smile. Jackie’s smile widened at that. “How ya feelin’ bud?” Chase asked more earnestly, leaning forward a tad, hands sitting contently in his laps.

Jackie looked back down at his hands, focusing on the feeling in his fingertips. “Think I’m better. Not so much pain anymore. And it’s quiet.” Jackie closed his eyes and took a breath through his nose, so deep that his ribs started digging into him, but their tips weren’t sharp like before. Breathing out, his eyes slowly fluttered open. “It’s much nicer than I’d thought it would be.” His body wanted to slump back down, but Jackie wanted to keep talking with Chase. It’d been ages since they had a proper chat. 

“Much nicer nurses too,” Chase added, biting his lip and letting it go, his eyes drifting up as his mind wandered.

“Shut, up,” Jackie chided him, lifting his arm and throwing an invisible pillow at his brother.

“You’ll see,” Chase smiled playfully. Taking his cap off, Chase ran his fingers through his hair, combing it back into place. It looked almost twice as long as Jackie remembered. But, that wasn’t the only difference in Chase. Stitches, bandages, bruises, and flecks of dried blood. Then Jackie started remembering the haze that was last night. He had told Chase about . . . just losing and his broken bones, not the cat trying to kill him. Then he got very sick. . . Chase left the room . . . Jackie squeezed his eyes shut to try and visualize, focus on the memories. Chase had come back, and was bleeding. . . He’d helped Jackie hobble down the steps and then set him on the couch. His head started throbbing, and Chase had placed a damp washcloth on his face unprompted. . . He knew he got to the car somehow, and that Henrik was there, and so was Chase, and they were arguing, but all Jackie could remember clearly was the pain in his head. There were so many gaps though. Hopefully they’d come back with time, but he had to start asking questions.

“How’d you get those cuts on your face?”

“Smashed into a wall,” Chase answered nonchalantly, focusing on trying to get his legs to fit criss-cross in his chair. When he finally finished, he looked back up at Jackie and did that dopey smile. Even though it looked sincere, something inside Jackie was saying that there was more.

“Just a wall?”

“Well I accidentally smacked,” he did a sweeping wave with his hand for emphasis, “my hand into my dresser, and may have bumped my head on the edge of it too, but nothing more than that.”

“Uh-huh.” Jackie nodded slowly along with his words. Definitely not the truth. But, Chase would clam up if he was confronted, unfortunately. Guess he’d have to leave it alone for now. “Why were you and Henrik arguing?” Those two had never been necessarily close, and growing up Chase hated being compared to Henrik, but he thought the two of them were past that stuff now.

Chase’s brow furrowed, his jaw got visibly tighter, and Jackie glimpsed his hands clenching. But, then Chase placed his hands flat on the arm rests, opening his mouth wide for a large sigh. Even after that though, his eyes still had a death stare in them and any trace of joy had drained from his cheeks. “Because that doctor should have known better,” Chase sneered.

“But Henrik wasn’t–”

“Doesn’t matter! If he truly cared about your well-being, he would’ve brought you in days ago instead of letting you rot in your bed!” Chase spat out, contempt dripping from every syllable.

“This wasn’t his fault, Chase. I’m the one–”

“Don’t make excuses for that quack!” That’s it.

“Chase! I should have been healed by now. On My Own. Except I’m not. Because I lost my powers. And that’s not something Henrik could have known. If it’s anyone’s fault that I’m like this, it’s my own.”

“Don’t say that. You’re just–”

“I’m just what? Hurt? Yeah, I get hurt, Chase. It’s part of my job. And a bigger part of that is taking responsibility for the consequences– for my actions which have consequences. Because I’m the one that saves people. And that inevitably includes myself. Damaged or not.” Jackie laid his head down, his whole body getting tired and his head growing hot. “You’re not my dad, and I’m not a child. So you either accept that this is my reality, or get out.” That last line had more bite to it than Jackie wanted. But he didn’t want Chase here if he was just going to bad-mouth Henrik. Whether hiding it and waiting for Jackie to get better was a good decision or not, it was his idea, and they were both culpable, and it’s what had happened.

Heavy steps reached Jackie’s ears. Guess he had his answer then. In his mind, Jackie was clenching his sheets, trying to hold tight to something, but all he felt was that numbness pricking at his fingertips.

“You deserve better than this, Jackie.” Chase sounded so sad. Almost made Jackie want to apologize. But neither brother budged. “You were my brother before you were a superhero.” Chase knocked twice on the door frame before promptly exiting. His words hung in the room like the stale air. No tears would form or fall nor sore throat sour his breathing. All there was was the usual pain that came with breathing. And the flame of a wish, that he didn’t have to be the superhero.

_________________

tag list: @sayrvespen , @alvie-ashgrove, @sadcat5555, @randowaffle, @friezzzboiii, @maybekatie, @theblackphoebe

[artificialqueens]

Échappé / Chapter 8 (Branjie) - DenDenMonMon

A/N: So this is gonna be sexy times, mixed with sad times, aka regular lesbian hours. Yep. Okay.

AO3 Link

Chapter 8

Vanessa woke up in a bed that wasn’t hers. The cool duvet felt nice around her naturally hot body. The pillow, filled with some exotic bird’s feathers, was soft against her cheek. Her own bedding didn’t feel as comfortable. Those were definitely not hers. She was going to freak out, check her surroundings, find a way home; but not just yet. Her first instinct was to sink deeper into the gazillion thread count and enjoy the luxuries of a blanket that hadn’t become stiff with all the washing and drying, and a pillow that hadn’t deflated after being used for years.

Her limbs stretched in every direction, her lips stretching into a content smile. The smell of coffee reached her nostrils and a sigh escaped her softly.

It had been a long time since she found herself in a situation like this. She was pretty wild when she was a teen, and had woken up in strangers’ houses more often than she would like to admit. The mattresses had never felt that good, though.

Even if rusty, she still knew the procedure. First thing on the list was finding out where she was and who she had spent the night with, everything else would pan out after that.

She moved her eyes around the room. Everything looked clean and organized. There was nothing homey about it, no family pictures in frames or quirky decorations. It was most likely a hotel. That was when it hit her.

Brooke.

She had spent the night with Brooke, in the condo she had rented during her stay in Los Angeles. That was why the room looked so generic. Although, Vanessa had to wonder if that was how Brooke kept her own place.

Throwing the covers to the side, Vanessa allowed the slightly colder atmosphere, created by the air conditioner, to envelope her naked body. Small goosebumps appeared on her skin at the change of temperature. Her nipples reacted right away, growing hard immediately. She brought her own hands to rest on her breasts, trying to warm them up with her palms, unsuccessfully. They burned slightly, maybe from the cold, maybe from the harsh treatment they received the night before, or early morning, rather. Looking down, she noticed the red dots all across her chest, little love bites that marked her as Brooke’s. Vanessa had never liked hickeys, they were tacky and degrading. The need to flag someone as taken showed nothing but jealousy, fueled by insecurities. This time, she found them… erotic.

The burst blood vessels were right below the cleavage line, invisible to the world. Surely, they would heal in the next couple of days, when she had to go back to work. For the time being, they were just hers.

Pieces of clothing were scattered around the room; she went around picking them up, but she soon remembered the other garments that had been discarded on their way to the bedroom. There was a red robe draped on the back of an individual sofa. Vanessa figured Brooke had left it there for her. She put it on, the delicate fabric hugging her with its softness. Then, she saw the towel. She could use a shower.

The bathroom was big, probably as big as her room. It was nice. Once again, she made the decision to enjoy the moment and took her sweet time under the water spray. She tried every floral shampoo bottle on the shelves, and clean her body with bars of exfoliating soaps that hurt more than sooth her skin. Even then, she had a smile on her face. It felt good to treat herself like that, to rid her skin of all dead cells, to lather her hair with scented conditioner. She deserved that. She was worthy of a shower head with just the right amount of pressure, with water that reached just the right temperature.

She was worthy of being treated the way Brooke had intended to right from the start. Vanessa didn’t even know why she had rejected Brooke so much. Since the moment they met, Brooke offered to help her, to provide the financial aid she needed, and Vanessa had refused to even listen. She was too proud to accept the money, no matter how badly the center needed it.

They clearly lived in completely different worlds. Vanessa had lost count of how many times she felt like she didn’t belong. Whenever Brooke invited her to step into a small part of her life, Vanessa had immediately realized she didn’t fit. She didn’t want to fit. She liked her life, she liked being banjee. Because being from the hood meant no expectations. Nobody would want her to do or be more than the stripper that she was. She was good at it, she was praised for it, she could handle it.

Then came Brooke, who saw something in her, something she hadn’t even seen in herself. Brooke told her she was talented, that she could do greater things than taking her clothes off, that she was meant to be so much more. Vanessa hadn’t believed her, but because it was scary. Stepping into the unknown was not in her. She was okay with staying inside of her bubble, in her comfort zone, where she knew what she had to do and knew how to do it well. There was no need for more. And Brooke meant more. Brooke had made her feel more things than any other person. Brooke had walked into her life, literally out of nowhere, and turned it upside down in the best possible way. Vanessa could already feel her heart abandoning her chest and finding safety in Brooke’s soft hands. Hands and lips and legs that had made Vanessa touch the early morning orange sky. They hadn’t just had sex, they had made love in the only way that two souls meant to be together knew how to. She gave herself to Brooke fully and completely and, maybe for the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid.

If the magical dawn they shared, if all those expensive bottles of soap, were just a taste of what being with Brooke could be, maybe she could give it a try. She felt ready to let go.

By the time she was done playing with the cleansing products, and the existential crisis had been tamed, she stepped out of the cubicle and into the warmth of a white cloud of steam.

She dried herself, placed the robe back on, and shook the water out of hair, leaving it to dry by itself.

Vanessa found Brooke in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, elbow propped on her hip as she supported a cup of coffee. She wore a robe similar to Vanessa’s but in purple, it was mostly opened at the chest, revealing the valley between her breasts. The other hand held her phone close to her face. So close that her eyes squinted, trying to get a better view of the content in the device. First came a small smile and then Vanessa found herself giggling softly. If they had met in another life, years, decades before, Vanessa figured she would have found Brooke reading the newspaper, maybe a forgotten cigarette resting in an ashtray next to her.

“Hey, Mami,” Vanessa snaked her arms around Brooke’s waist, stepping right into her space and forcing her attention to abandon the phone completely.

“Hi, baby.” Brooke smiled sweetly, before reaching down to place a soft kiss on Vanessa’s lips. “Oh, I’m sorry about these,” she said as a finger traced the misshaped marks of her own lips on Vanessa’s chest.

“Nah, don’t worry about them. I kinda like them, actually.” She smiled up at Brooke, who didn’t miss the chance to kiss her again.

“Did you sleep okay?”

“Okay?” Vanessa asked in mocked surprise. “The last time I slept that good was at the womb, bitch.”

Brooke laughed openly, showing off her perfectly white teeth. “We don’t have to do anything today but sleep, if that’s all you wanna do.”

“I have better ideas in mind. Thank you very much, Miss Thing.”

Standing on her tiptoes, Vanessa stretched her neck to fully capture Brooke’s lips with her own. She tasted the coffee and faint touches of that cigarette she had imagined. Brooke’s tongue wasn’t as smooth as the night before. The tiny buds scraped the inside of Vanessa’s mouth, after being struck by the hot beverage. It didn’t bother her. Vanessa was enjoying the mixture of the soft pink lips, and the roughness of Brooke’s tongue. A moan escaped Vanessa as she lost herself in the textures attacking her mouth at once.

Heads moved side to side as the kiss found a rhythm of its own. Their mouths knew exactly how to work together in perfect synchrony. Hands ran over the soft fabric of the robes, trying to make contact with any available bit of skin.

Suddenly, the sound of a cellphone, coming from the living room, stopped their hot makeout session.

“Leave it,” Brooke ordered in a soft whisper, recognizing the ringing device to be Vanessa’s.

Vanessa pressed her body hard against Brooke’s, trapping her between her tiny frame and the cabinets behind her. Taking advantage of the loose robe, Vanessa’s hand seemed to have a mind of its own and moved to cup Brooke’s breast. She pinched the nipple hard, forcing Brooke to stop the kissing to release a loud grunt. That gave Vanessa the green light to continue. She undid the poorly tied knot and pushed the robe down Brooke’s body.

Brooke was all porcelain skin and tight muscles. Vanessa let her fingers ghost across the protuberant ribcage, down the small waist and rested her open palms on the fleshy hips. She looked straight into Brooke’s eyes, the green crystal-like pupils pulled her like the weakest metal.

“You are gorgeous,” Vanessa whispered. “So stupidly gorgeous.” She connected her lips to Brooke’s neck as she complimented her beauty over and over, just like she had wanted to do since the day before. Her lips traveled down, dropping butterfly kisses on the way, until her knees hit the floor. “I think I’m gonna have a little taste of Brooklyn this fine morning.” She laughed against Brooke’s skin, her joke sounding hilarious to her own ears.

Brooke visibly went through several layers of sensual fog, until she was able to gather the strength to open her eyes and found Vanessa’s stare. “It’s Brooke Lynn,” she stated.

The look of surprise was surely written all over Vanessa’s face, because she had no idea where that comment had come from. “What you bitching about up there?”

“It’s Brooke Lynn,” the same words were repeated, as if the more Brooke said them, the more sense they were going to make. “You keep calling me Brooklyn, like the city, ever since the day we met. That’s not my name. I’ve been meaning to say something, but the time never seemed appropriate.”

“And you think this is?!”

Vanessa didn’t give her a chance to reply, her hands took hold of Brooke’s butt and pushed her towards her face. She immediately found Brooke’s most sensitive spot and ran her tongue against it. Just as expected, Brooke dropped the subject, nothing but groans of pleasure left her lips after that. Vanessa made sure to really take care of her, to treat her like the queen that she was. Her ears paid extra attention to every reaction, tuning into Brooke’s desires and pleasing her exactly the way she wanted to be pleased.

Soon, Brooke’s leg was up on the counter, giving room for Vanessa to move freely. Brooke was intoxicating, and Vanessa had already become an addict. The taste, the smell, the feeling, there was nothing about making love to Brooke with her mouth that Vanessa didn’t like. She kissed and licked and sucked, even after her lips went numb. Her mouth proved to be unable to separate from Brooke, not when she was responding so openly to her.

Brooke being so vocal about what she felt, about how much she liked it, about wanting more, only increased Vanessa’s want for her. She came first, without even being touched. Brooke’s hand pulling at her hair, the loud moaning, and the hips thrusting against her face, were enough to push her over the edge. She allowed Brooke to fuck her face for as long as she needed, until she found her climax. Vanessa pressed her tongue against Brooke as she came, and licked her clean of her orgasm, feeling her shake in the aftershock of pleasure.

Her joints cracked when Brook brought her leg back down, her sore muscles complaining at the uncomfortable position.

“That wa… Oh, God… I just, I don’t think I have ever cum so hard.” Brooke took hold of the marvel countertop, trying to find something to ground her from the spinning of the room. “I’m literally shaking.”

Vanessa stood up, chuckling, feeling proud of herself. She used the short sleeve of the robe to clean her face. She felt wetness all around her mouth, dripping down from her chin. “It was my ple–”

Before she could finish her sentence, the ringing of the phone found her ears again.

“Come,” Brooke took Vanessa’s hand, pulling her out of the kitchen. “Let me pay you back.” The look on her face left no room for interpretation, her intentions were as clear as the day outside.

The insisting device made Vanessa stop in her tracks. “Just lemme virtually flip off whoever the fuck is interrupting the sex fest.”

Brooke bit her bottom lip in anticipation. She made an act of dropping the robe again, letting it pool at her ankles, and theatrically lifting her feet to step away from it. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

Vanessa watched the perfectly round ass swaying side to side as Brooke sensually walked into the bedroom. Vanessa felt a grunt coming out from the bottom of her lungs as she practically ran to the living room.

When she fished the phone out of her purse, it was no longer ringing. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name next to the seventeen missed calls. She quickly swiped on the notification to return the call. Nothing could have prepared her for the devastated voice that picked up on the first ring.

“Vanessa, where were you?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Elena, baby, I’m here. I’m here. ¿Qué pasó?”

There was silence on the other end of the line, she called Elena’s name but got no response. Vanessa looked at the screen, the timer of the call was still going, letting her know they hadn’t been disconnected. Then came a heartbreaking sob. Elena cried on her side of the line, no words would come from her, only heavy breathing as tears punched the air out of her. Vanessa didn’t know what to do, she kept requesting an explanation, whispered promises that everything was going to be okay, even when she didn’t know what was going on. She begged Elena to talk to her, as silent tears ran down her own cheeks.

“Elena, you are scaring me,” she finally confessed. She knew that, no matter what was happening on the other side of the call, Vanessa needed to be strong for the girl. She needed to become the pillar Elena could lean on and find unwavering support. “Talk to me, niña.”

A shaky breath answered her request before actual words were spoken. “It-it’s… my mom,” Elena exhaled with a struggle. “She– Vanessa, she wasn’t moving,” the tone of her voice when up an octave and, suddenly, she was spitting what happened in a freaked out rush. “I didn’t know what to do. She wouldn’t wake up. I called an ambulance, but grandma said we don’t have insurance so she cancelled it. Miguel drove us to the hospital. She’s been in there for hours, nobody tells me what’s going on or how she’s doing and my grandma is pissed for all the money this is gonna cost.”

Vanessa was already running around the living room, finding her underwear and tucking it under her arm. “Okay, don’t worry, baby, I’m on my way. Send me your location and I’ll be right there.” She entered the bedroom, not even glancing at the naked Brooke who waited for her spread on the bed, and went inside the bathroom. “Have you eaten anything?” She didn’t have to see it, she knew Elena was shaking her head. “Go to the cafeteria and get something, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Okay,” Elena whispered.

“Hey,” Vanessa called her attention, stopping in her own franatict state. “I’ve got you, okay? It’s gonna be fine.”

There was a sniff, and surely one more head shake, before Elena responded. “I… I don’t wanna go with her. Please, don’t let her take me away. I don’t wanna–”

“You won’t!” Vanessa stated firmly, interrupting Elena’s cries. “I said I’ve got you. Now, go eat. I’m on my way. Love you, kid.”

“Love you, too.”

The line went silent and the screen on the phone went black. Vanessa stood still, in the middle of the vast bathroom, trying to remember how to make air reach her lungs properly. She ran a hand through her hair, the tangled curls stopping her fingers from doing so. It was frustrating. She tugged at the roots, feeling the stinging of her scalp, her lips projecting an exasperated groan. Things simply couldn’t just be okay around her, everything had to get complicated, and twisted, and fucked up. Just when she had been able to find a peaceful moment in space and time, the universe had to find a way to laugh at her face and screw up her wonderful day with Brooke.

Brooke.

Vanessa turned around, her body shaking with uncertainty, but sure that she had to talk to Brooke. She was already there, wrapped in a thin sheet, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom.

“Is everything okay?” Brooke knew it wasn’t, she had gathered as much, but there probably wasn’t any other way to start the conversation.

Vanessa shook her head, allowing her body to fall heavily on the closed lid of the toilet. “Elena… her mom… she’s a drug addict, she parties too much. Elena found her unconscious and a neighbor took them to the hospital. A hospital that they can’t pay for. She’s there, confused, dealing with all of this, with her grandma that is a total asshole and abuses her every time she can.”

Tears ran down her cheeks again, her voice laced with pain, with helplessness.

Brooke walked to her, the sheet forgotten by the door. She embraced Vanessa in the warmth of her naked body, but there was nothing sexual in her actions. She allowed Vanessa to cry inside her arms, hot droplets wetting the skin of her breasts. It lasted only a few minutes, but it felt like hours, endless hours of Vanessa pouring her heart out in the shape of tears. Brooke held Vanessa as she crumbled down and turned into a big wet puddle of nothing; rubbed her back as she slowly took the broken pieces one by one and glued them back together.

“She can use my credit card,” Brooke offered once she felt Vanessa’s breathing stabilizing. “Put everything on it.”

She removed her head from Brooke’s chest, looking at her with big brown eyes. “The hospital prices are gonna be insane, child.”

“I don’t care,” Brooke assured her, her fingers working the knots of Vanessa’s hair. “I’ll call Ben, he can take you to the hospital, and bring you back. I’ll let the landlady know, both of you can stay here for as long as you need.”

Vanessa stood up, her hands extended in front of herself. “Hold it. Ben can take me? This means you ain’t coming?”

“I can’t. I have a lot of things to do, and I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Her bare feet stomped against the tiled floor in frustration, Vanessa suddenly growing angry. “You said we had all day just this morning, bitch. Oh-oh, I get it. You only have time when it’s sex time. You selfish like that. Alright, alright. I see it.”

Brooke let out a sarcastic huff. She walked back into the bedroom, Vanessa could do nothing but stare at the defined muscles of her back. “I’m willing to pay for all the medical bills of the alcoholic, drug-addict mother of a girl I don’t even know. Tell me how’s that selfish.”

“You do know her!” Vanessa yelled from behind her. “Her name’s Elena, you’ve had talked to her, you’ve had lunch with her, you even fucking danced with her. So don’t come to me and say you don’t know her!”

With the phone in one hand, and her credit card in the other, Brooke stopped cold in her tracks. She stood there with her mouth opened in shock. “Hey, you are not angry at me, remember? I’m just here trying to help.”

“You are trying to throw money at us, like you have been doing right from the start. We are not one more of your million charity cases, hoe.”

“This is unbelievable.” Brooke rolled her eyes, dismissing Vanessa’s words.

Fully clothed by this point, Vanessa stood right in front of Brooke, looking up at her with anger in her eyes. “Once you get your head out of your ass, you are gon’ believe it.” She shook her head before storming out of the room.

Brooke chased after Vanessa, her long legs allowing her to walk at a slower pace. “Hey, come back here. This is not over.”

Without stopping, Vanessa lifted her hand above her head and showed her middle finger. “Goodbye, Miss Brooklyn,” she said as she walked through the front door.

“It’s Brooke Lynn!” Brooke pointlessly yelled at the closed door of her rented condo.

[thehomewarehub1]

Top Bathroom Basin Trends for 2024: Elevate Your Space

As we step into 2024, the world of interior design continues to evolve, and the bathroom is no exception. One of the key elements that can dramatically enhance your bathroom’s aesthetic is the basin. Whether you’re renovating or simply looking to refresh your space, staying ahead of the trends can help you create a stylish sanctuary. Here are the top bathroom basin trends for 2024 that you should consider.

1. Minimalist Designs

Minimalism remains a strong trend in bathroom design for 2024. Clean lines, simple shapes, and uncluttered spaces are essential. Look for basins that feature understated designs, such as rectangular or oval shapes in neutral colors. These basins not only provide a sleek appearance but also complement various styles, from contemporary to Scandinavian.

2. Natural Materials

Sustainability is more important than ever, and the trend towards using natural materials is on the rise. Basins crafted from materials like stone, wood, or recycled materials add a touch of nature to your bathroom. They bring warmth and texture, creating a serene atmosphere. Consider a basin made from natural stone with unique veining or a reclaimed wood vanity for a truly organic feel.

3. Bold Colors

While neutral tones dominate many bathroom designs, 2024 sees a shift towards bolder colors. Deep blues, rich greens, and even vibrant reds are making an appearance in bathroom basins. These colors can serve as a focal point in your bathroom, adding personality and character. Pair a bold basin with softer hues in your decor to create a balanced look.

4. Vessel Basins

Vessel basins continue to be a popular choice for homeowners looking to make a statement. These basins sit above the counter and come in various shapes and materials, including ceramic, glass, and metal. Their elevated design not only adds visual interest but also makes for easy installation. Opt for a sculptural vessel basin to elevate your bathroom’s overall style.

5. Integrated Technology

As smart homes become increasingly common, integrating technology into bathroom design is a key trend for 2024. Look for basins that feature touchless faucets, LED lighting, and even built-in speakers. These technological enhancements can elevate your bathroom experience, offering convenience and a modern touch.

6. Vintage and Retro Styles

Nostalgia plays a significant role in design trends, and this year, vintage and retro styles are making a comeback. Think classic pedestal sinks, ornate detailing, and pastel colors. These basins evoke a sense of charm and character, making them perfect for creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

7. Unique Shapes

Say goodbye to standard round or square basins! In 2024, unique and unconventional shapes are taking center stage. Look for basins that feature asymmetrical designs or organic shapes that mimic nature. These artistic basins not only serve a functional purpose but also act as stunning focal points in your bathroom.

8. Dual Basins

For those with ample space, dual basins are becoming increasingly popular. Perfect for busy households, having two basins allows for simultaneous use without sacrificing style. Look for coordinating styles that match your overall bathroom aesthetic, whether modern, rustic, or traditional.

Conclusion

As you consider your bathroom update for 2024, keep these trends in mind to create a space that is both functional and stylish. Whether you opt for minimalist designs, bold colors, or unique shapes, the right basin can dramatically elevate your bathroom’s overall appeal. Explore the diverse selection at The Homeware Hub to find the perfect basin that aligns with your vision and complements your space.

With these trends, your bathroom will not only meet your practical needs but also become a relaxing retreat that reflects your personal style. Happy decorating!

[dawnjeman]

Interior Design Ideas: Modern English Tudor Design

  Hello, my wonderful friends! It’s great to have you here for a new “Interior Design Ideas”.

Meticulously built by Hendel Homes and with interiors by Danielle Loven of Vivid Interior Design, the architectural direction of this Modern English Tudor residence expertly balances modern and traditional elements, reflecting on the common threads of an English Tudor country house and Hamptons grandeur. The result? A casual, sophisticated home that feels perfectly at ease in its Midwestern foundation.

This modern reinvention of timeless design delights with highly refined and detailed living spaces spread over three floors and I am sure this house tour will inspire you from the beginning to the end.

Try to relax, have a good time and pin your favorite interior design pictures! These stunning pictures by Susan Gilmore Photography and Landmark Photography should fill up your boards!

  Interior Design Ideas: Modern English Tudor Design

This home is a flawless modern interpretation of English Tudor architecture and it’s situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in a quiet neighborhood in Minnesota.

The stucco is custom color.

Landmark Photography.

Windows

Windows are Marvin Windows in “Bronze”.

Landmark Photography.

Front Porch

Porch flooring is stamped concrete.

Landmark Photography.

Room to Roar

This expansive home features an open layout, 7,836 square feet, 4 Bedrooms & 7 Bathrooms.

Landmark Photography.

Cars

This home is a classic car collector’s dream! The home comes with a two level four-car attached garage plus detached garage with storage for up to 10 more vehicles.

Landmark Photography.

Garage Doors

The garage doors are custom.

Landmark Photography.

Roof

Roof is combination of Cedar Shake and metal.

Landmark Photography.

Front Door

Front Door: Marvin Windows in “Bronze”. I love the symmetry the windows on each side create.

Lighting: Flambeaux Gas Lanterns – Other Beautiful Outdoor Sconces: Here, Here, Here, Here, Here & Here.

Similar Planters: Here (fiberglass) & Here (ceramic).

Gutters are copper.

Landmark Photography.

Foyer

You will find in this home an unsparing collection of exclusive finishes throughout, from designer wall-coverings, marble mosaics, double herringbone and concrete tile with vintage graphic detail to custom furniture and lighting, all presented with a curated approach that is both upscale and welcoming.

Hardwood Flooring: 6″ Riffed and quartered white oak, eased edge, custom Stain – with Herringbone inset pattern at raised ceiling locations.

Foyer Lighting – Arteriors (discontinued) – similar here.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Great Room

The foyer opens directly to this spacious and elegant Great room. Paint color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28.

All furniture is available through the designer.

Metal and Leather Accent Chair – Casa Midy.

Landmark Photography.

Chandelier

Lighting – Visual Comfort

Landmark Photography.

Coffee Table

Black Raffia Coffee Table: Bernhardt.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Sofas

Sofas from Hickory Chair in Designer’s Guild fabric.

Landmark Photography.

Upscale Living Room Decor Ideas:

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Fireplace

Fireplace is Limestone by Francois & co.

Art & Accessories from Vivid Home.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Openness

The open-air environment is flooded with natural light and enhanced by a consistent color palette which connects the spaces perfectly.

Landmark Photography.

Interior Doors & Windows

Interior windows are painted to match the Marvin Bronze in “Sherwin Williams Medium Bronze”.

Pillows: Throw Pillows in Beacon Hill Fabric.

Throw: Hermès.

Landmark Photography.

Dining Room

Lighting: Visual Comfort.

Dining Table: Custom

Dining Chairs: Custom – Host Chairs in Maxwell Fabric.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Ceiling Paint Color

Ceiling Paint Color: 50% Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore/ 50% Collingwood OC-28 by Benjamin Moore.

Landmark Photography.

Casework Paint Color

Casework Paint Color: Casework – Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17.

Landmark Photography.

Materials

Natural metals, woods, and organic materials conform in new ways with classic silhouettes and rich textures.

Antique Dough Bowl: Here & Here.

Landmark Photography.

Ceiling Treatment

Ceiling Treatment: Reclaimed Alder Beams. The ceiling height in this space is 12′.

Landmark Photography.

Kitchen

This extraordinary kitchen features a custom range hood and open shelving in aged brass and zinc finishes. Kitchen island is made of Walnut.

Landmark Photography.

Backsplash

Backsplash is Jeffrey Court Calcutta marble mosaic tile – installed only at the range wall. Small Scale beveled subway 12″ x 12″, mesh mounted – similar here, here, here & here.

Grout: TEC Bright White.

Pot Filler: Kohler Artifacts Pot Filler.

Range: Wolf.

Similar Kitchen Hood: here.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Perimeter Kitchen Cabinet

Perimeter Kitchen Cabinet Details: Painted Flat panel with custom moldings. Paint color is Benjamin Moore OC-17 White Dove.

Backsplash Between Fridges: Cistallo Quartzite Full Height.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Kitchen Island Countertop

Countertop is Cristiallo Quartzite, waterfall edge.

Island Tray: Here.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Sink & Faucet

Kitchen Sink: Kohler K6427-0 Whitehaven.

Kitchen Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Pull-Down Faucet.

Filtered Water Faucet: Newport Brass.

Paneled Dishwashers: Bosh.

Island Dimensions

Kitchen Island Dimension:  3.5 x 8′

Counterstools are available through the designer.

Landmark Photography.

Kitchen Shelves

This kitchen is full of inspiring ideas! To keep a sense of symmetry (see picture above), the designer added a glass opening to the wall with brass floating shelves.

Hardware – Ashley Norton – similar Pulls & Knobs.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Kitchen Pendants

Light fixtures in iron and brass lend the property a distinct architectural edge. Pendants are Robert Abbey.

Landmark Photography.

Beautiful Counterstools:

(Always check dimensions before ordering.

)

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Refrigerator

A custom buffet is flanked by paneled refrigerator and freezer by Subzero.

Landmark Photography.

Flow

The optimized floor plan offers formal and informal spaces that open to the exterior grounds for fluid indoor/outdoor living and entertainment. Wall paint color continues to be Benjamin Moore Collingwood.

Landmark Photography.

TV

A TV is placed in the custom hutch.

Landmark Photography.

Family Room

The kitchen opens directly to a very comfy and stylish family room/lounge area. Notice the high ceiling, the beams and the tall windows.

Custom Sectional from Vivid Home.

Accent Chair in Clarke & Clarke fabric.

Accent Tables from Modern History & Currey & Co.

Throw Pillows in Opuzen fabric.

Lighting: Visual Comfort Extra Large Lantern in Aged Iron.

Landmark Photography.

Ottoman

Leather Tufted Ottoman: Four Hands.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Hide & Seek

Custom Walnut doors with glass X insets conceal the butler’s pantry and a bar.

Similar Pulls: Here.

Landmark Photography.

Bar

The bar features Walnut cabinetry with Cistallo Quartzite countertop and floating brass shelving.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Butler’s Pantry

This butler’s pantry is truly a dream! Countertop is Cistallo Quartzite.

Backsplash: Cistallo Quartzite 4″ Height.

Floor: Rift and Quartered Solid White Oak with Custom Stain

Chandelier: Visual Comfort.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Paint Color

Sherwin Williams SW 7625 Mount Etna.

Roman Shade in Romo fabric.

Sink: Blanco B401734 Ikon Apron Front Sink.

Faucet: Kohler Artifacts Pull-Down Faucet.

Appliances: Wolf Ovens and Bosch Dishwasher.

Landmark Photography.

Powder Room

Located just off the mudroom, this powder room is elegant and features a gorgeous wallpaper.

Mirror: Here.

Bathroom washstand is DXV – similar here & here.

Faucet is DXV – similar here.

Sconce: Visual Comfort.

Landmark Photography.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is Wallpaper: Osborne & Little Nina Campbell Gold Leaf On a Black Background.

Ceiling: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW6258.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Hall Paint Color

Collingwood by Benjamin Moore.

Landmark Photography.

Main Powder Room

My jaw just dropped! Vanity is Walnut, custom-designed.

Countertop and backsplash is marble.

Chandelier: Robert Abbey.

Sconces: Visual Comfort Light in Hand Rubbed Antique Brass 4”W x 20.5”H.

Vessel Sink: Konbow.

Faucet: Newport Brass.

Similar Mirror: here, here & here.

Interior doors are Alder – custom stained.

Landmark Photography.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper: Schumacher Metallic Strie Silvered Taupe (available through the interior designer).

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Home Central

Custom desk and bookcase are painted in Ben Moore White Dove OC-17. Desk top is Oak, dark stained.

Roman Shades in Robert Allen fabric.

Flushmount: Hudson Valley.

Sconces: Norwell.

Landmark Photography.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is Innovations Achel. Ceiling paint color 50% Ben Moore Classic Gray / 50% Collingwood OC-28.

Accessories from Vivid Home.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Mudroom

Mudroom Flooring: American Florim Charleston 3×36 Glazed Porcelain Tile, Rubble Tile, colors: White, Grey and Timber – installed in a Herringbone patterned. Grout: TEC Dove Grey.

Wall paint color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood. Cabinetry isBen Moore White Dove.

Bench is Oak with a custom dark stain color.

Baseboards: 11″ – Paint Grade.

Landmark Photography.

Stairway

Natural metals, woods, and organic materials conform in new ways, with classic silhouettes and luxurious textures.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort – similar here.

Landmark Photography.

Details

This gorgeous staircase features White Oak wood treads and wood risers. The metal railing is custom.

Window Trim: Sherwin Williams Medium Bronze.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Landmark Photography.

Railing

A close-up on this stunning metal railing. How beautiful, right?!

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Bonus Room

The staircase leads to the kids’ lounge/bonus room. The doorway seem here leads to the kids/teens ensuites and a laundry room. Paint color is Benjamin Moore Black Jack 2133-20.

This room features a long custom desk with White Oak top, custom cabinetry and comfortable furniture.

Art & Accessories from Vivid Home.

Coffee Table: Here – similar here & here.

Lighting: Made Goods.

Landmark Photography.

Boy’s Bedroom

Main Walls: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20. Bookcase Wall: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20.

Euros in Design Tex plaid.

Sconces: Savoy House.

Loveseat by Bernhardt.

Landmark Photography.

Ensuite

Cabinet: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.

Floor Tile: 9.5″ x 19.25″ Enlonged Hex Jeffrey Court Artic Stone Field Hex.

Countertop: Carrera Marble.

Faucet: Delta.

Sink: Mirabelle.

Lighting: Visual Comfort.

Landmark Photography.

Girl’s Bedroom

Accent wall is painted in Benjamin Moore 2117-30 Shadow. Walls are Ben Moore Collingwood OC-28.

Bed is custom. Euros are in Harlequin fabric – Beautiful & Good Quality Bedding: here, here, here & here.

Roman shade in Cowtan and Tout fabric. Bolster is in a Robert Allen fabric.

Loveseat by Bernhardt.

Landmark Photography.

Ensuite

Bathroom Cabinet: Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258.

Floor Tile: 8″x 8″ Geometric Printed Tile Fioranese Ceramic #45 Certosa – similar style: here.

Lighting: Visual Comfort.

Faucet: Delta.

Sink: Mirabelle.

Landmark Photography.

Master Bedroom

Ceiling paint color is Benjamin Moore Black Jack 2133-20.

Nightstands: Here.

Four Poster Bed: CFC.

Fan: Minka Aire.

Landmark Photography.

Wall Paint Color

Wall color is Benjamin Moore OC-28 Collingwood.

Artwork by Emma Lawrenson.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Fabric

Euros, Accent Pillows and Roman Shades in Kravet Fabric.

Settee is custom with Romo Black fabric.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom is luxurious and features a great layout. Vanities are custom stained Oak.

Freestanding Tub: Jacuzzi.

Tub Filler: DXV – similar here.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Shower Tile

Shower Walls: 12x24” Honed Marble Tile – similar here.

Shower Floor: 2x2” Honed Carrara Marble Tile – similar here.

Hexagon Marble Mosaic Tile: here.

Hansgrohe Rain Showerhead.

Kohler Showerheads.

Landmark Photography.

Flooring & Countertop

Floor tile is 12×24 London Calling Honed marble tile (similar here). Wall color is Benjamin Moore Collingwood.

Countertop is white marble.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort.

Faucets: Brizo.

Sinks: Kohler.

Landmark Photography.

Bathroom Layout

Inspiring bathroom layout!

Cabinetry

I absolutely love the stain color on this Oak cabinetry. It works beautifully with the white marble.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Make-up

Beautiful and practical make-up vanity.

Landmark Photography.

Dressing Room

The dressing room certainly has a nice view… but don’t worry! It also features automatic blinds.

Flooring: Carpet; Black Label #2403 Tip sheared wool/viscose blend.

Landmark Photography.

Laundry Room

Countertop is Quartz, Caesarstone Pebble.

Flooring: Porcelain Tile – 8 x 24 #53 West End Pulpis by Tile x Design – similar here.

Landmark Photography.

Basement Bathroom

Sink: Kohler Brockway wash sink – 48″.

Faucets: Kohler.

Soap Dish: Kohler.

Floor: 2x10” textured black ceramic tile in herringbone pattern – similar here.

Shower Floor: 1x1” Black ceramic hexagon tile – similar here.

Shower Wall: 3x12” Beveled white ceramic tile – similar here.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Landmark Photography.

Basement

A custom built-in whisky bar and custom-designed abstract glass shelving are just the beginning of an amazing lower level designed for fun.

The pub table/island is custom.

Landmark Photography.

Cabinetry

Cabinetry is Walnut; Dark Custom Stained.

Susan Gilmore Photography.

Countertop

Countertop is Titanium Granite.

Sink: Blanco.

Faucet: Delta.

Basement Paint Color

Basement Paint Color: Collingwood by Benjamin Moore.

Lounge Chair in Opuzen Flamestitch fabric.

Countertstools: Iron Counter Stools from Noir.

Art & Accessories from Vivid Home.

Ceiling Light: Arteriors.

Landmark Photography.

Exercise Room

The exercise room features custom stained wood with walls painted in BM Collingwood OC-28.

Landmark Photography.

Flooring

Floor: Forbo Carpet Tiles. It’s antimicrobial and wears amazing. This was a glue-down installation.

Landmark Photography.

Gym Bathroom

The gym bathroom features a custom vanity with dark quartz countertop and slab backsplash.

Similar Medicine Cabinet: Pottery Barn.

Faucet: Kohler Purist.

Similar Sink: here.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Landmark Photography.

Outdoors

Design meets function, delineating an optimized floor plan with formal and informal spaces that open to the exterior grounds for fluid indoor/outdoor living and entertainment.

Landmark Photography.

Screen Porch

Ceiling is Cedar planks and flooring is stamped concrete.

Landmark Photography.

Furniture

Outdoor Sofa by Century Furniture. Notice the outdoor built-in.

Fire Table from Outdoor Rooms – similar here.

Lounge Chairs from Palecek.

Custom Outdoor Area Rug.

Landmark Photography.

Brackets

Brackets are custom.

Landmark Photography.

Dimensions

The screened porch is 17’4” x 15’6”.

Landmark Photography.

View

Beautifully designed!

Landmark Photography.

Backyard Goals

Harmonious outdoor pool blends form and function to provide the complete backyard living experience with lush landscaping and an outdoor kitchen for entertaining.

Landmark Photography.

Outdoor Kitchen

The outdoor kitchen features a Cedar pergola.

Landmark Photography.

Outdoor Counterstools

The outdoor counterstools are by Palecek.

Landmark Photography.

Architecture Details

This home truly exudes inspiring architectural details that will stand the test of time.

Landmark Photography.

Trim Paint Color

Trim: Benjamin Moore Silver Fox 2108-50.

Landmark Photography.

Timeless Beauty

I woundn’t mind coming home to this!

Landmark Photography.

  Many thanks to the builder and interior designer for sharing the details above!

Builder: Hendel Homes (Instagram – Facebook)

Interior Designer: Vivid Interior Design (Instagram – Facebook)

Photography: Susan Gilmore Photography (Instagram – Facebook)

& Landmark Photography (including 1st image).

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2019 New Year Home Tour.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Urban Farmhouse.

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Interior Design Ideas: Colorful Interiors.

Interior Design Ideas New Home Inspiration.

Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.

“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

Interior Design Services within Your Budget

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[haveyoueverseenoneinnature]

You don’t remember falling asleep, but you have must have nodded off to the sway of Eridan’s arms and the steady beat of his bloodpusher, because the next thing you feel is being plopped into something soft and sinking in.

You flex your fingers and toes and sleepily burrow into the warmth. A cool hand and the texture of rings on your arms shocks you into reality, and your eyes fly open as you struggle to assume a defensive stance. Your feet slip in the avalanche of pillows and scarves and you fall sideways back into the pile with a soft thwap.

As you frantically attempt to regain your footing (your exhaustion and fear making it a nigh-hopeless task), your eyes focus on the source of the touch.

Eridan is standing above you, his hands gestured outwards placatingly. His cheeks are dusted and his lips are twitching slightly in the way you’re coming to realize means he’s trying to look suitably embarrassed while trying not to laugh.

Your shoulders drop and a relief tingles throughout your body. This lasts for only a moment before, now fully awake, you realize where you are sitting. A pile. You can feel your face burning red, and you’re caught between the urge to bury it in the pile and to not appear obscene by doing so.

You knew Eridan was pale for you, and that still feels weird to think, but you’d hadn’t thought of, no- had been desperately trying to not think of this.

Eridan was now leaning forwards and playing with the stitches of a pillow, looking very much as though he intended on sitting. On the pile. With you. You can’t help letting out a little squeak.

Eridan’s eyes resume their attention on you quicker than a bullet. You’re struck more than ever by the intensity of his gaze. You feel paralyzed in your spot, like a mouse who has just looked into the hungry eyes of the meowbeast.

He steps back hastily and swallows.

“I thought...wwe wwould-” He murmurs.

You yawn and rub your eyes. It’s taking expotionently more effort to keep them open. A small, shameless part of you wants to curl up on the pile and sleep, day-terrors and decency be damned.

“Oh. Right.” Eridan looks disappointed for a moment, before seeming to come upon a realization that makes his ear-fins perk up. “Right! Kar, you must be exhausted...followw me!”

He holds out his hand, and you take it gingerly. His hands are so much larger than yours, and so much cooler. You’re hyper-aware of every spot where your skin touches, in between rings and air.

He pulls you up gently, his other hand holding your shoulder heavy. Not letting go of your hand, he wraps his other arm around your shoulders.

The two of you walk through the halls of the ship, Eridan shepherding you along in a tight embrace that toes the line between lover and turnkey.

The ship is different from what you would have expected from Eridan, to say the least. You’re far from an expert on ships, considering that up until a few nights ago, you had thought you would be culled before you ever set foot on one. But you had seen pictures of the massive imperial ships of war, and the accompanying, smaller helms owned by individual highblood officers. You have seen pictures of Eridan’s hive, an ancient water-ship that had once carried his ancestor.

Although from differing times in Alternia’s history, what those ships had in common was that they were machines of war. Massive industrial growths of metal and flesh, and, from what you had seen in military-set-shows, cold and clinical inside, with sharp lines and utilitarian features.

You would have thought Eridan, with his, as you describe it, “massive military hard-on”, would have the most obnoxiously austere vessel he could get his webby hands on.

But as the two of you walk through the ship, you are constantly set aback by the softness of it. The walls are a light violet, and although the hallway floors are hard, the main room you had been in earlier was covered in plush carpets that you couldn’t help but sink your hands into. The lightning is soft, the type that makes you feel safe and a bit sleepy. There are posters for movies you love hanging aroundyou, and although you and Eridan are walking too quickly for you to make sure, you're almost positive those marks in the corners are director’s signatures. The thought is exciting enough that if it weren't for Eridan’s iron grip, you’re sure you would have spent hours fanboy-ing over them.

You crane your neck in an attempt to see over Eridan’s arms and dumb cape and nearly trip in the process. He slows and acknowledges the surroundings for the first time.

“You can stop to look at them. If you wwant.” He gestures sheepishly and reluctantly releases his hold on you.

You leap forward to examine the one closest to you, a poster for “In Which a Rust-Blooded Prostitute Delivers Services to A Visiting Indigo-Blood, Who In Turn Develops Red Feelings For Her, Creating a Situation Which Emphasizes Caste-Differences and the Difficulties Caste Disparity Can Present in a Relationship”.

You run your fingers over the glass case, examining the tiny signature until your puffs of breath make it too foggy to see. To your great embarrassment, an excited little trill escapes you.

Eridan makes a sound halfway between a squeak and a gasp, and when you look over, he looks surprised and thrilled. His foot is paused midair, his surprise and elation shocking enough to pause the habitual movement.

You want to melt into the wall, escape through an airlock, and never be seen again as you suffocate in the cold vacuum of space. Honestly, how many embarrassing and borderline-explicit things can you in one night?

‘Tis a question long debated by renowned killosophers, you think. No need, for you have found the answer! Infinity. An infinite amount of embarrassment can be amassed by one Karkat Vantas.

Eridan’s on you before you can process what’s happening. An arm slung around your waist in something half-resembling a hug. A momentary feeling like of being popped like a balloon, before Eridan seems to reluctantly resist his urge to squeeze. A hand rubs your side apologetically, and you instinctively twitch inward, knowing claws are so so close to your vulnerable stomach. You’re being half-carried away at twice your original speed, and Eridan is opening a door before you can think to say anything.

The room is large by your standards, but you adjusted for your rapidly changing frame-of-reference, you guess you’d downgrade it to medium. The walls are made of white stone, and the floor is a mosaic of different colored stones in geometric patterns and bits of the same white stone offset against each other.

You had seen this sort of room before, in movies. You look around the room, and yup. An empty pool, with mirrors on the other wall. A rack of fluffy violet and gold towels and bottles of stuff you’d probably have to run at least blue to recognize.

You try to bolt, but Eridan’s arm stays firm around your waist. Your hands shake and your vision is tunneling in on the empty tub.

You swallow. Your mouth is dry.

“You said that we were going to sleep.” You whisper, barely managing to choke out the words.

Eridan gives you a soft grin, and you know from the gentleness in his eyes that it’s not intentional but you can see his fangs peeking out of his mouth like a threat and. And-

His hand is cold on the small of your back. It’s grounding in the warm, damp room but your mind strays to his impeccably trimmed claws, razor-sharp.

“Wwell, you’re going to take a bath first.” He looks you up and down and affectionately pinches at your shirt. “You’re covered in sugar, and I doubt you’vve taken a bath or shower in the last wweek.”

“Ascension was only a night ago.” You frown. It seems both so long ago and an immediate threat. The night and day had been long, but a deep-seated sense of fear and resignation still courses through you, the fact that you are spared from culling still not fully registered with your brain.

He cocks his head and ruffles your hair. Indulgent. A little condescending, you guess, but you can’t bring yourself to be mad about it. That’s probably for the best, anyway. On a sliding scale of highblood-lowblood (mutant mutant mutant) interactions, condescending is pretty lucky.

@actuallysylveon here we go

[fenan-aluminum-foen]

Learn something about the different aluminum alloys

The specific gravity of aluminum is light, the springback during molding is small, the strength is relatively high, it is close to steel, and the plasticity is good. When the product is more complex, it is easier to control than stainless steel, and has electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. For the application needs of different fields, some alloying elements will be added in the production stage to form different types of aluminum alloys and improve the performance of #aluminummaterials.

According to the processing method, #aluminumalloys can be divided into deformed aluminum alloys and cast aluminum alloys. The numbers of aluminum and aluminum alloys are mainly divided into nine series.

Next, let's briefly learn something about the different aluminum alloys with #FenanAluminum #FOENaluminum.

How to express the combined number

International grades (with four Arabic numerals, which are commonly used now):

1. 1XXX means pure aluminum series with more than 99%, such as 1050, 1100

2. 2XXX means aluminum-copper alloy series, such as 2014

3. 3XXX means aluminum-manganese alloy series, such as 3003

4. 4XXX means aluminum-silicon alloy series, such as 4032

5. 5XXX means aluminum-magnesium alloy series, such as 5052

6. 6XXX means aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy series, such as 6061, 6063

7. 7XXX means aluminum-zinc alloy series such as 7001

8. 8XXX indicates an alloy system other than the above

9. 9××× series are: spare alloy group

I. 1XXX means pure aluminum series with more than 99%, such as 1050, 1100

The first series of aluminum has good formability and surface treatment, and its corrosion resistance is good in aluminum alloys. Its strength is lower, and the higher the purity, the lower the strength. Among all the series, the 1000 series belongs to a series with more aluminum content, and the purity can reach more than 99.00%. The 1000 series aluminum plate determines the low aluminum content of this series according to the last two Arabic numerals. For example, the last two Arabic numerals of the 1050 series are 50. According to the international brand naming principle, the aluminum content must reach more than 99.5% to be qualified products.

A series of aluminum is relatively soft, mainly used for decorative parts or interior parts. The commonly used mobile phones are 1050, 1070, 1080, 1085, 1100, which are used for simple extrusion (no bending). Among them, 1050 and 1100 can be used for chemical sanding, smooth, matte, and normal effects. There are The more obvious material texture, the coloring effect is good; 1080 and 1085 mirror aluminum is often used for bright characters, matte effect, no obvious material texture.

Scope of application: High-purity aluminum (aluminum content above 99.9%) is mainly used for scientific experiments, chemical industry and special purposes. 1060 as a conductive material IACS guarantees 61%, and 6061 wire is used when strength is required; 1085 1080 1070 1050 1N30 1085 1080 1070 1050 - Good formability and surface treatment, and its corrosion resistance is the best among aluminum alloys. Because it is pure aluminum, its strength is low, and the higher the purity, the lower the strength. Daily necessities, aluminum plates, lighting fixtures, reflectors, decorations, chemical industry containers, heat sinks, melting wires, conductive materials.

1050: Extrusion coils for food, chemical and brewing industries, various hoses, fireworks powder.

1060: For occasions requiring high corrosion resistance and formability, but not demanding high strength, chemical equipment is its typical use.

1100: For processing parts that require good formability and high corrosion resistance but do not require high strength, such as chemical products, food industry equipment and storage containers, sheet metal processing, deep drawing or spinning concave vessels , Welding parts, heat exchangers, printed boards, nameplates, reflectors.

1145: Packaging and insulating foils, heat exchangers.

1199: Electrolytic capacitor foils, optically reflective deposition films.1350: Wires, Conductive Strands, Busbars, Transformer Strips.

II. 2XXX means aluminum-copper alloy series, such as 2014

It is characterized by high hardness, but poor corrosion resistance. Among them, the original content of copper is high. 2000 series aluminum alloys represent 2024, 2A16, and 2A02. The copper content of 2000 series aluminum plates is about 3-5%. 2000 series aluminum rods belong to aviation aluminum materials, which are used as structural materials and are not often used in conventional industries. For example: 2011 alloy, pay attention to safety protection during the smelting process (harmful gas will be generated). The 2014 alloy is used in the aerospace industry and has high strength. The 2017 alloy is a little less strong than the 2014 alloy, but easier to machine. 2014 can be heat treated to strengthen.

Disadvantages: serious intergranular corrosion tendency

Application range: aviation industry (2014 alloy), screws (2011 alloy) and industries with high temperature (2017 alloy).

2011: Screws and machined products requiring good cutting performance.

2014: For applications requiring high strength and hardness (including high temperature). Aircraft heavy duty, forgings, plate and extruded materials, wheels and structural elements, multi-stage rocket first stage fuel tanks and spacecraft parts, truck frames and suspension system parts.

2017: It is the first 2XXX series alloy to obtain industrial application. As of 2013, its application range is narrow, mainly for rivets, general mechanical parts, structural and transportation structural parts, propellers and accessories.

2024: Aircraft structures, rivets, missile components, truck hubs, propeller elements and a variety of other structures.

2036: Automotive body sheet metal.

2048: Aerospace structural parts and weapon structural parts.

2124: Aerospace Structures.

2218: Aircraft and Diesel Engine Pistons, Aircraft Engine Cylinder Heads, Jet Engine Impellers and Compressor Rings.

2219: Welding oxidant tank for aerospace rocket, skin and structural parts of supersonic aircraft, working temperature is -270~300 degrees Celsius. Good weldability, high fracture toughness, and high resistance to stress corrosion cracking in T8 state.

2319: Electrode and filler solder for soldering alloy 2219.

2618: Die forgings and free forgings. Pistons and Aero Engine Parts.

2A01: Structural rivets with working temperature less than or equal to 100 degrees Celsius.

2A02: Axial compressor blades for turbojet engines operating at temperatures between 200 and 300 degrees Celsius.

2A06: Aircraft structure with a working temperature of 150~250 degrees Celsius and aircraft structure rivets with a working temperature of 125~250 degrees Celsius.

2A10: The strength is higher than that of the 2A01 alloy, and it is used to manufacture aircraft structural rivets whose working temperature is less than or equal to 100 degrees Celsius.

2A11: Medium-strength structural parts for aircraft, propeller blades, transportation vehicles and building structural parts. Medium strength bolts and rivets for aircraft.

2A12 aircraft skins, bulkheads, ribs, spars, rivets, etc., structural parts of construction and transportation vehicles.

2A14: Free forgings and die forgings with complex shapes.

2A16: Spacecraft parts with a working temperature of 250~300 degrees Celsius, welding containers and airtight cockpits working at room temperature and high temperature.

2A17: Aircraft parts with a working temperature of 225~250 degrees Celsius.

2A50: Medium strength parts with complex shapes.

2A60: Aircraft engine compressor wheel, wind guide wheel, fan, impeller, etc.

2A70: Aircraft skins, aircraft engine pistons, wind guide wheels, roulettes, etc.

2A80: Aero-engine compressor blades, impellers, pistons, expanding rings and other parts with high working temperature.

2A90: Aero engine piston.

III. 3XXX means aluminum-manganese alloy series, such as 3003

3000 series aluminum rods are mainly composed of manganese. 3000 series aluminum alloys are mainly 3003, 3105 and 3A21. The content is between 1.0-1.5, which is a series with better anti-rust function. Commonly used as tanks and tanks for liquid products, construction parts, construction tools, various lighting components, and various pressure vessels and pipes for sheet processing. Good formability, weldability and corrosion resistance.

Disadvantages: Low strength, but can be strengthened by cold work hardening. Coarse grains are easily generated during annealing.

Scope of application: seamless oil guide pipes (3003 alloy) used in aircraft, cans (3004 alloy).

3003: For processing parts that require good formability, high corrosion resistance, good weldability, or work that requires both these properties and higher strength than 1XXX series alloys, such as kitchenware, food and chemical products Processing and storage devices, tanks and tanks for transporting liquid products, various pressure vessels and pipes made of sheet metal.

3004: All-aluminum pop-top can body requires parts with higher strength than 3003 alloy, chemical product production and storage devices, sheet metal processing parts, construction processing parts, construction tools, various lighting components.

3105: Room dividers, baffles, movable room panels, gutters and downspouts, sheet metal forming parts, bottle caps, bottle stoppers, etc.

3A21: Aircraft fuel tanks, oil conduits, rivet wires, etc.; industrial equipment such as building materials and food, etc.

IV. 4XXX means aluminum-silicon alloy series, such as 4032

Usually, the silicon content is between 4.5-6.0%, and the higher the silicon content, the higher the strength. The 4000 series aluminum rods are represented by 4A01 and 4000 series aluminum plates, which belong to the series with higher silicon content. Good soup flow, less solidification shrinkage, it belongs to building materials, mechanical parts, forging materials, welding materials; low melting point, good corrosion resistance, heat resistance and wear resistance.

4032 has good heat resistance and abrasion resistance, and has a small thermal expansion coefficient. Piston, cylinder head

4043 has less solidification and shrinkage, and it has a natural gray color after anodizing with sulfuric acid. Dissolving wires, building panels.

V. 5XXX means aluminum-magnesium alloy series, such as 5052

5000 series aluminum rods belong to the more commonly used alloy aluminum plate series, the main element is magnesium, and the magnesium content is between 3-5%. 5000 series aluminum alloys represent 5052, 5005, 5083, 5A05 series. Also known as aluminum-magnesium alloy. The main features are low density, high tensile strength and high elongation. Under the same area, the weight of aluminum-magnesium alloy is lower than that of other series, and it is also widely used in conventional industries.

Applications: lawn mower handles, aircraft fuel tank conduits, body armor. The strength of 5005 is the same as that of 3003. It has good processability, weldability and corrosion resistance. After anodizing, it is well decorated and processed. It is commensurate with the color of 6063 profiles. 5052 is the most representative alloy of medium strength, with good corrosion resistance, weldability and formability, especially high fatigue strength, good seawater resistance, general sheet metal, ships, vehicles, construction, bottle caps, honeycomb panels.

5005: Similar to 3003 alloy, with moderate strength and good corrosion resistance. Used as conductors, cookware, instrument panels, shells and architectural trim. The anodized film is brighter than the oxide film on the 3003 alloy and harmonizes with the tone of the 6063 alloy.

5050: The thin plate can be used as the lining plate of refrigerators and refrigerators, automobile gas pipes, oil pipes and agricultural irrigation pipes; it can also be processed into thick plates, pipes, bars, special-shaped materials and wires.

5052: This alloy has good formability, corrosion resistance, candleability, fatigue strength and moderate static strength. It is used to manufacture aircraft fuel tanks, fuel pipes, and sheet metal parts for transportation vehicles and ships, instruments, street lamp brackets and Rivets, hardware products, etc.

5056: magnesium alloy and cable jacket rivets, zippers, nails, etc.; aluminum-coated wire is widely used in processing agricultural insect trap covers and other occasions where high corrosion resistance is required.

5083: For occasions requiring high corrosion resistance, good weldability and moderate strength, such as welding parts of ships, automobiles and aircraft panels; pressure vessels, refrigeration installations, TV towers, drilling equipment, Transportation equipment, missile elements, armor, etc.

5086: Used in occasions requiring high corrosion resistance, good weldability and moderate strength, such as ships, automobiles, aircraft, cryogenic equipment, TV towers, drilling rigs, transportation equipment, missile parts and decks, etc.

5154: Welded structures, storage tanks, pressure vessels, ship structures and offshore installations, transport tanks.

5182: Sheets are used for processing can lids, auto body panels, control panels, reinforcements, brackets and other components.

5252: Used to manufacture decorative parts with high strength, such as decorative parts for automobiles. It has a bright and transparent oxide film after anodization.

5254: Hydrogen peroxide and other chemical products container welding aluminum-magnesium alloy electrodes and wires with magnesium content greater than 3%.

5454: Welded structures, pressure vessels, piping for marine installations.

5456: Armor plates, high-strength welded structures, storage tanks, pressure vessels, marine materials.

5457: Polished and anodized trim parts for automobiles and other equipment.

5652: Storage containers for hydrogen peroxide and other chemical products.

5657: Polished and anodized trim parts for automobiles and other equipment, but in any case it is necessary to ensure that the material has a fine grain structure.

5A02: Aircraft fuel tanks and conduits, welding wires, rivets, ship structures.

5A03: Medium strength welded structure, cold stamped parts, welding vessel, welding wire, can be used to replace 5A02 alloy.

5A05: Welded structural parts, aircraft skin skeleton.

5A06: Welded structures, cold forged parts, welded and drawn vessel stressed parts, aircraft skin bone parts.

5A12: Welded structural parts, bulletproof deck.

VI. 6XXX means aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy series, such as 6061, 6063

The 6000 series aluminum alloy represents 6061, which mainly contains two elements, magnesium and silicon, so the 4000 series and the 5000 series are concentrated. Good workability, easy to coat, and good workability. 6061 and 6063 are more used in mobile phones, of which 6061 has a higher strength than 6063. By casting, it can cast more complicated structures, and can be used as parts with buckles, such as battery covers.

6005: Extruded profiles and pipes, used for high strength requirements.

6063: Alloy structural parts, such as ladders, TV antennas, etc.

6009: Automotive body panels.

6010: Sheets: Automotive Body.

6061: Various industrial structures requiring certain strength, high weldability and high corrosion resistance, such as pipes, rods and shapes for manufacturing trucks, tower buildings, ships, trams, furniture, mechanical parts, precision machining, etc. , Plate.

6063: Industrial profiles, building profiles, irrigation pipes and extruded materials for vehicles, benches, furniture, fences, etc.

6066: Forgings and Welded Structural Extrusions.

6070: Extruded materials and tubes for heavy duty welded structures and the automotive industry.

6101: High-strength bars, electrical conductors and radiators for buses, etc.

6151: It is used for die forging crankshaft parts, machine parts and rolling rings, which are required to have good forgeability, high strength and good corrosion resistance.

6201: High-strength conductive rods and wires.

6205: Thick plates, pedals and high-impact extrusions.

6262: Threaded high-stress parts requiring corrosion resistance superior to 2011 and 2017 alloys.

6351: Extruded structural parts of vehicles, pipelines for water, oil, etc.

6463: Architectural and various appliance profiles, and automotive trim parts with a bright surface after anodizing.

6A02: Aircraft engine parts, forgings and die forgings with complex shapes.

VII. 7XXX means aluminum-zinc alloy series such as 7001

Mainly contains zinc element, 7000 series aluminum alloy represents 7075. It also belongs to the aviation series. It is an aluminum-magnesium-zinc-copper alloy, a heat-treatable alloy, and a hard aluminum alloy with good wear resistance.

7072 has a low electrode potential and is mainly used for anti-corrosion covering materials, and is also suitable for heat exchanger fins. The skin of the aluminum alloy plate, the heat sink.

One of the alloys with the highest strength among the 7075 aluminum alloys, but the corrosion resistance is not good. The covering with 7072 can improve its corrosion resistance, but the cost increases. Aircraft and ski poles 7050 7050 Alloy with improved 7075 hardenability, good resistance to stress corrosion cracking, suitable for thick plates, forged aircraft, high-speed rotary bodies Back to the strength close to the base metal. Corrosion resistance is also very good. Vehicles, other land structures, aircraft.

7003 is an extruded alloy for welding structure. Its strength is slightly lower than that of 7N01, but its extrudability is good. It can be used as a large shape with thin meat. Vehicle, locomotive wheel outer ring.

7005: Extruded materials for the manufacture of welded structures that require both high strength and fracture toughness, such as trusses, rods, and vessels for transportation vehicles; large heat exchangers, and those that cannot be solidified after welding Processed parts; also used in the manufacture of sports equipment such as tennis rackets and softball bats.

7039: Refrigerated containers, cryogenic equipment and storage tanks, fire-fighting pressure equipment, military equipment, armor plates, missile installations.

7049: Used for forging parts with the same static strength as 7079-T6 alloy but requiring high resistance to stress corrosion cracking, such as aircraft and missile parts - landing gear hydraulic cylinders and extrusions. The fatigue properties of the parts are roughly equal to those of the 7075-T6 alloy, while the toughness is slightly higher.

7050: Plates, extrusions, free forgings and die forgings for aircraft structural parts. The requirements for the alloy to manufacture such parts are: high resistance to exfoliation corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, fracture toughness and fatigue resistance.

7072: Aluminum foil and ultra-thin strip for air conditioners; cladding of 2219, 3003, 3004, 5050, 5052, 5154, 6061, 7075, 7475, 7178 alloy sheets and pipes.

7075: It is used for the manufacture of high-stress structural parts and molds that require high strength and strong corrosion resistance for aircraft structures and futures.

7175: High-strength structures for forging aircraft. T736 material has good comprehensive properties, that is, high strength, resistance to exfoliation corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, fracture toughness, and fatigue strength.

7178: Parts requiring high compressive yield strength for the manufacture of aerospace vehicles.

7475: Aluminum-clad and unclad sheets for fuselage, wing frames, stringers, etc. Other parts that have both high strength and high fracture toughness.

7A04: Aircraft skins, screws, and stress components such as girder stringers, bulkheads, ribs, landing gear, etc.

VIII. 8XXX indicates an alloy system other than the above

8000 series aluminum alloys are more commonly used in 8011 series, which belong to other series. Most of them are used as aluminum foil, that is, the kind of aluminum foil used for pills. It is not commonly used in the production of aluminum rods.

IX. 9××× series are: spare alloy group

9XXX Spare application field 9XXX series belongs to spare series, and technology is so advanced now. In order to cope with the emergence of aluminum plates containing other alloying elements, the International Association of Aluminum Plates and Strips has specially indicated that 9XXX series is spare series, waiting for another new variety to appear to fill 9XXX. Series of blanks.

Thanks for your attention

Fenan(FOEN) Aluminum Co.,Ltd.

(Aluminum factory/manufacturer/supplier/international trader ,since 1988)

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