Kitchen Reveal!

Hello Chickens!

Goodness we are having a time trying to get Spring to really get Sprung over here.  But the weather foibles are not dampening the mood over at the Chateau, because I am delighted to report that the kitchen is finally 100% finished!  Which seems appropriate because it coincided with the release of my new book, WEDDING GIRL, which so far, people seem to be enjoying...  if you haven't picked up your copy yet, I hope you will, it is the perfect thing to get you into your summer reading!

Now on to the yummies!  Today I have some great pics to share with you of the new kitchen.  Credit for all photos to the most excellent Mike Kaskel, architectural photographer extraordinaire.

Ready to see????

This is the view facing South, of the U shaped main cooking section.  On the back wall are the BlueStar Rangetop, hood and gas oven with and the La Cornue Flamberge rotisserie.  On the peninsula the Gaggenau induction cooktop and steamer.  Under the window, the Blanco sink and faucet.  And of course, the glorious Poggenpohl cabinetry throughout.

A different view of the U, capturing some of the steel beam details...we love how these original beams are fitting into the contemporary design!

A pretty good view from the back porch door of the whole space, you can see the baking area across the way, and you can really see the Cosentino/StoneMasters counters in all their glory, plus a peek at the custom Larchwood Canada butcher block.

Standing in front of the rangetop looking across at the baking section with the BlueStar electric wall oven and the Gaggenau warming drawer underneath.

Getting a look from the end of the island, you can see the integrated Miele dishwasher to the left of the sink.

The baking nook!  Another hidden Miele dishwasher to the left of the sink, and the Marvel wine cooler to the right.  The TV is hidden behind the artwork!

Standing behind the dining table and looking out, you can get a look at the Marvel fridge and freezer.

Final look at the main cooking wall, highlights the backsplash, a single pane of back-painted glass...so easy to keep clean and a really slick look!

Poggenpohl drawers can hold up to 200 pounds of stuff!  And I'm in love with these plate and bowl organizers, the racks lift right out of the drawers for easy use on buffets or for setting the table.  Genius!

This is what a happy Polymath looks like!

That is the little photo tour of the day...I hope you like seeing the finished product as much as I am enjoying cooking in it!  There will be many more details to come, but when I saw these pictures, I couldn't resist sharing them with everyone who has been following along on the journey!

Yours in Good Taste,

The Polymath

A Little Love Letter...

Hello, Chickens!

I know you are all waiting on house updates, and I promise there is so much coming down the pike your heads will spin... but today I want to talk about the most important thing I've ever done to my house.

I moved this guy into it.

Charming Suitor and me at his niece's high school graduation party 2010

Now you all know how I feel about this house, but let me tell you, after 20 years of living in it, it never looked so good or felt more like home than when my Charming Suitor moved in.  And let me be clear, this was a big deal.  At the time, I was still renting.  CS owned a lovely arts and crafts bungalow in a beautiful and coveted neighborhood.  He loved his house.  Lucky for me, he loved me more.  Or as he will tell you, "I knew that you and that house were a package deal.".

Five years ago today, this happened.

I can tell you that it has felt like five minutes and five lifetimes in all of the best possible ways.  Not only do I love this amazing man more every day, but I LIKE him more every day, and that is the coolest thing ever.

In the past five years we bought our Chateau and sold his bungalow, and completed two and a half years of renovations.  We have had travel adventures galore, both domestic and abroad, and special family memories and visits with friends.  We have cooked a lot together, for each other and for loved ones.  We've gained a brother, a niece and two nephews.  We became dance school dropouts.  We've seen great art and great theater and heard great music, and also the opposite.  Our families have become family to each other seamlessly and effortlessly.  We've eaten a lot of great food and have drunk a lot of great wine.

We have purchased an inordinate amount of kitchen appliances.

Nothing is easier, more comfortable, or more fun than us.  Just ask us.  We're cute as flipping bunnies.

One of the best gifts my CS gives me everyday is his support of my work.  He is so proud of me, my biggest cheerleader, my personal PR department.  And more importantly, he is enormously respectful...of my process, of my schedule, of the endless quirks that go along with being married to any full time artist.  And he never thinks of it as not a "real" job.  Being with him, having him in my life has made me a better writer.

So on this, the five year anniversary of our I Do's, it seemed only appropriate to take this brief moment to do two things.

First, and foremost, to publicly acknowledge the extraordinary man I was lucky enough to marry five years ago today and to thank him for still being my Charming Suitor.  For being as demonstrative and romantic today as he was when we were courting.  For being my rock, and letting me be his.  I am without doubt the most blessed woman there is, and I am truly grateful everyday.

Secondly, since he would literally be annoyed if I didn't...

On May 3, my newest book WEDDING GIRL will be released.

What is more appropriate to promote on my wedding anniversary?  I'm really proud of it, and I think you will love it, so I hope you will pre-order it.

But I also want to mention that if you have never had a chance to read my book OFF THE MENU, it is a love letter to my Charming Suitor, and was inspired by our real life romance.  Essentially, I took about 80% of our courtship, including some of our actual email correspondance, and plunked it into a fictional story.  So if you want to take a trip down memory lane with me and CS, it might be a good time to revisit this one.

Think of it as an anniversary present to us!

A very happy May Day to one and all...and a very happy anniversary to my Charming Suitor.  I can't wait to see what the next five years bring!

Yours in Good Taste, (and madly in love)
Stacey