All of the entries for the AyA Kitchens BlogPodium Bound contest are posted!  It’s so fun to see what everyone came up with.

Not sure I should play favourites, but I’m thinking it’s pretty cool to be in the running with Nancy Marcus; I’ve followed her blog, Marcus Design Inc., for a looong time!  (It’s full of gorgeous design inspiration - you should check it out.)

And I’m loving the composition and fresh colour of this design by Jessica Bauhuad of My Love is Growing!

So go check them all out.. which ones are your favourites?

1. Chesapeake Shadow Oak Door, AyA Kitchens & Baths
2. Antique English Knob, AyA Kitchens & Baths
3. PARQ Wall-mount Bridge Faucet, Kohler
4. SR13 Cashmere, Para Paints (wall colour)
5. SR55 Convertible, Para Paints (pantry door colour)
6. George Industrial Single-pole Pendant, Rejuvenation
7. Gray Marble Wall Tile, Lowes (backsplash)
8. Sunflower Mosaic Tile, Saltillo Imports (tile boarder around island)
9. Banda in Navy, Tonic Living (counter stool upholstery)
10. Vintage French Square Counter Stool, Restoration Hardware
11. Custom Range, Viking
12. Boudoir Vanity Tray, Urban Outfitters
13. Artisan Stand Mixer in Cobalt, KitchenAid
14. Bella Porte in Twilight, Dwell Studio (Roman window shades)
15. Vintage Linen Sailboats Tea Towel, Belleocchio on Etsy (framed for wall art)
16. Vintage Linen Port Townsend Tea Towel, Time Valley on Etsy (framed for wall art)

There you go, folks! My dream kitchen! (Or one of them…) ;)

Like I mentioned yesterday, I was inspired by Mark Challen’s great dark wood kitchen from House & Home, and the beautiful pendant light from Rejuvenation.

I love the look of white or painted cabinetry, but I think wood cabinets are under appreciated these days. And in a space like this with high ceilings, plenty of windows, and open concept, why not? The touches of cobalt blue, the dark wood, and the brass accents all lend themselves to a sort of boat-builder aesthetic, so I added the nautical vintage tea towels from Etsy as artwork, and the wide blue stripe on the counter stools to tie the look together.

Here’s a closer look at my illustration:

What would your dream kitchen look like?

(This is my entry for the AYA Kitchens & Baths “BlogPodium Bound” Contest. You can also see it on my Pinterest board here.)

I’ve been working a bit this weekend on my AYA Kitchens Contest entry for Blogpodium. (You can read about it here.)

The gist of the contest is that you need to create a mood board of your dream kitchen.  Um, OK.  If I must. :)

I’ll have the official post for you tomorrow - my design is basically a “jacked up” version of the kitchen in our dream house. (With a bit higher ceilings, more cabinetry, pricey finishes, and transom windows, of course.)  And I used brass, because I’m loving it right now.  However, I wouldn’t really use it in my kitchen because the hardware in your kitchen is a little more long-term and expensive, and I’m not sure I’ll always be loving brass.  I’d actually really love chrome finishes in my kitchen - because in style or not, I like chrome.

My inspiration came from two places.  This gorgeous kitchen featured in Canadian House & Home:

Mark Challen’s Kitchen, Design by Priscilla Wikkerink, Photograph by Donna Griffith for House & Home

Isn’t it gorgeous?  Surprising, maybe, to some of you since 98% of the kitchens I post are painted or white.  But I’m full of surprises.  Keeps things interesting.  And the other inspiration was this gorgeous light fixture from Rejuvenation:

George Single-Pole Industrial Pendant in Old Brass and Cobalt

I first saw it in Lonny Magazine, and have loved it ever since.  So pretty, right?  

Anyways, there’s your sneak peak into my “dream kitchen” design.

Also, I should note that this is one of many “dream kitchens” in my brain… I could probably make 5 mood boards.  But I don’t think I’m allowed.  By the contest, or my husband. ;)