Saturday, January 5, 2013

A little trip to Paris...

I hope every one has had a beautiful start to the New Year! Welcome 2013! I know I'm welcoming it for sure :) I have lots of new ideas, lots of kitchens and miniatures I want to design and create! It's so exciting starting off the new year with a list of projects. That's the first thing I did when the clock struck 12. I made sure my list was made and then I started finding all my inspiration photos, putting together my thoughts and then putting the ideas to paper. Making the list always makes me feel productive and starts the dreaming going :)! We all know one thing for sure, the new year is filled with possibilities and that's what makes it exciting!
But, lets take a little step back for a sec... before I can move on to new items and designs, I first had to finish last years project: The Paris apartment kitchen! Truth be told, it's not all the way complete, I'm waiting on deliveries of moldings, fireplace corbels , and a few pieces of very unique furniture and it has some more lighting work to complete. But, it's almost there! I thought I would show you the "work in progress" so far.
So.... Lets step into a different part of the world for a bit... Imagine you are in the heart of Paris, in a beautiful old apartment , with perfectly in-perfect pale pink walls, a little bit of vintage wallpaper, old flooring, pieces of furniture you found at a local market sale in the back streets of Paris, a fabulous new stove/range you saved for forever, a mix matched collection of your favorite antiques , and then... enough passion for a view of what the rest of Parisians are doing all day long that you preferred to cook with a view of it every day... You just got back from your morning walk to get a croissant and coffee. You're arms are filled with fresh flowers to arrange and your market bag is overflowing with fresh breads and treats for the day ahead.

Where to place it all? Well these old Parisian kitchens are not known for a lot of counter space... So the small counter and refurbished kitchen island will have to do... :)


You put away your market items, arrange your flowers for the vase on the mantel, and sit at your little island to finish your coffee. It's time to look around and realize that each piece of furniture has it's own story, that each antique or newly found item is something you love. You're in Paris after all, and that was always your dream. So every thing after that, is just icing on the cake....


And of course, its a beautiful day out. :) The Sun comes through the apartment just as you like it, and that's why you took it. Despite it's age and need of work, you fell in love....



Knowing that it needs work and isn't perfect, you also know that adds to the charm of it all. You'll light the candles for yourself or when friends come and no one will notice anyway :)





And a sweet little lamp on the counter gives the space a cozy feel too...


It's the perfect place for you to cook and come up with new recipes and linger about puttering...









You know you're spending the day today again in the back streets of Paris, scouting out markets for that perfect reading chair you want in here , and half the fun is the search, the lingering in the markets, the people you meet along the way. You need a little something special for the corner :)



It's coming soon,that special piece, so until then and until the apartment is complete, you will love it anyway... After all, it came out of the love, romance and dream of Paris...




Thank you for coming along on a tiny tour of my apartment kitchen, as soon as I get back from the Parisian market I'll photograph all my new finds and the last details of the kitchen. Till then,Bonjour sweet friends!

23 comments:

Alice - Wisteria Lodge said...

This is adorable! I love every bit of it :-). Can I ask how the candles on the table appeared to be lit?

janice15 said...

O MY CYN, ITS SIMPLY ADORABLE.. I LOVE YOUR WORK... HAPPY NEW YEAR. I WISH YOU THE BEST...WITH LOVE JANICE

Anne said...

Absolutely beautiful! You add so much detail and charm to each piece you create!
xx
Anne

My Wee Life said...

Happy new year and what a wonderful project - I so want to be there ! you've created a wonderful atmosphere both with words and pictures :)

Donna said...

Thank you so much,Cynthia! I enjoyed my little Parisian vacation completely! Your work is always perfection! And I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see the final pieces! Much Love <3

arlete said...

olá Cynthtia!Adoro seu trabalho, é perfeito.Te desejo um 2013 maravilhoso com muita criatividade ,sucesso e que Deus abençoe seu talento.Beijos

Pearl said...

Oh Cynthia this is totally me! I'm definitely moving into this one. You do amazing work!

Mary Ann Potter said...

Oh, my goodness, what a treat! I too am a miniaturist, and I found such inspiration on your site this evening! Your Parisian place is enchanting. I'll be visiting again. There's a page on my blog called "My World in Miniature." I'd be honored if you'd visit it sometime.

Xandra Dekker said...

Wat een prachtige keuken..en zelfs het uitzicht uit het keukenraam is Frans. Heel mooi.

Groeten Xandra

Minna said...

Your kitchen is an incredibly beautiful! Love the colors and atmosphere you have created there. Happy new year, I'm looking forward to see how the project list will become real!

Irene said...

What a lovely room! I too am curious as to how you lit the little candles and I really like all the additional little touches you've added to the walls.

The unit in the centre of the room and the little pink painted cabinet are super pieces. I haven't seen anything like those before.

Cynthia's Cottage Design said...

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for your sweet comments on the kitchen! They mean so much to me! I wanted to pop in and answer a few questions. The candles are lit by the magic of Photoshop :) But actually they do have candles out there that are electrified. I just didn't want to run a wire to the middle of the floor to the island. The beautiful little pink table and gorgeous hutch are made by Maritza Moran. Her furniture is always so beautifully done and so unique! She can make anything and her talents are never ending !

Here's a link to her online shop:
http://www.maritzaminiatures.com/

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and thank you always for stopping in and taking the time to leave comments and be so supportive and wonderful!

Big hugs and kisses! xoxo Cynthia

LadyV said...

I so enjoyed your post! New follower here!

Peace,

Vee

Mary Palumbo Collings said...

Your work is truly amazing, so much detail, and so perfect! Happy Sunday...

Candy said...

I love your kitchen!! I want to live in Paris and have a kitchen like that:) Maybe in the future... So sweet furniture and accesories:)
Hugs, Candy:)

Inge said...

All the best wishes for 2013. Such a lovely kitchen you have made this time, I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you!

Vistiendo Sueños said...

Me acabo de enamorar de tus trabajos!!!!

www.minisantonia.blogspot.com

miniacollection said...

It's simply enchanting. You really managed to give it a wonderful French touch. I love it.
Geneviève

Ascension said...

Absolutamente real y fantastica!!!
Un precioso trabajo.
besitos ascension

Michelle said...

Well if this isn't the cutest thing EVER, I don't know what is!!! You are amazing, Cynthia. I want to live there!! Hope all is well. I'm back to blogging after a long absence. :) xoxo

Ruth said...

Hi Cynthia! I'm getting ready to open my very own Etsy store in a week or so. I will be selling mostly miniature perfume bottles and other toiletries but hope to expand and eventually sell things like elegant purse and wardrobes, everything and elegant miniature lady would require. I am going with mainly a shabby chic theme but don't have a tonne of experience with shabby chic so I'm learning as I go....I have some good tutorials to follow but if there are any tips you can pass on I would be most grateful. My last blog post includes a picture of some of the items I will be selling in my shop. I love your new pictures, as usual.
XX
Ruth

kitchen mixer said...

i love it, its so cute and very lovely..this one really looks perfect, i hope my kitchen would really looks like this..

Unknown said...

I just can't get over how stinking cute your goodies are!
Daisy~