I love a good before and after

One of my daily reads is Erin Gates' blog "Elements of Style," the companion to her thriving design business in Boston. If only I were in Boston, we would be friends perhaps (I also feel that way about Erika Powell, but I digress... blogs somehow make me feel as though I'm creepy without ever intending to be).

This morning, I had to share her kitchen remodel for a client. I can't tell you what a fan I am of marble and white in a kitchen. And I also have a hard time letting people do anything other than white on a cabinet (painted is always fine, but wood makes me really want to grab them by the shoulders and shake them until they drop the subject).

So get a load of this baby:


I love how clean it is, without losing any amount of prettiness. I think that's a hard combination to pull off so kudos to Erin.

These were the befores, by the way:

Ode to Celerie

I've been pouring over Celerie Kemble's book "To Your Taste" and realized that I have a bit of a girl crush.

Celerie, your spaces are refreshing, your style and take on design -- inspired. I wanted to give you a big (straight) kiss when you acknowledged that there are no design emergencies, but yet still defended the profession and honored the place that good design has in people's lives. You seem to strike a balance that I find refreshing and I admire the pages where practicality takes center stage with inventive solutions.

Plus, let's face it, you rock a personal style that conjures up a more inspired Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Simple elegance, but slightly edged in prep school angst, like Carolyn if she hadn't been preoccupied with being all "Kennedy." I mean, photos of yourself in a marble bathtub? Balls man, balls.