I’ve got lots o’ kitchen opinions from designing more of them than I can count so here are 10 of my go-to kitchen design tips 🙌 The full original live house tour of our old place is now up on y ou t u b e 📺 photos and explanations of every angle and decision are also shared in my newest (and my personal favorite) book FEELS LIKE HOME (available anywhere that sells 📚 !! L) ❤️ #kitchendesign
Things are starting to arrive at the Meadow!! 🛁 Our 19th century English copper tub arrived!! This baby was a STEAL and way cheaper than new copper tubs but isn’t in great shape and we still need to fix pitting etc so I’m hoping we can make it work. It was supposed to be green 😭😭😭 and I’m so sad it arrived cleaned up but we’ll figure out a way to get her exterior green again!! *** UPDATE*** my amazing (and way more observant than me!) LL&Co project manager designer just informed me that she watched this video and the WRONG copper tub was delivered!! 🙏🙏🙏 Which means my green baby should still be still green!!! (This one is also ours but for a spec project but after seeing how it feels in the barn and the views out the doors- we’re now thinking it needs to get installed there instead.) tub in a design studio anyone?? 🙋♀️🛁
a down to earth home is… {an excerpt from my book, DOWN TO EARTH} 🤎
Though this house is only temporary, our people, pups, and things came with us and it embodies an easy, down to earth way of life we’ve come to love so much. Form function, timeless pieces, natural materials, a strong indoor connection, and an emphasis on people over perfect are all part of creating of a down to earth home. I delve deep into lots more of it in my book & would love to know- what’s a down to earth home to you?
{feel free to use this audio and make a video and share your own “down to earth” home. Tag so I can share 🤎}
Sharing sources from my product collections: patterned pillows throughout are Lauren Liess Textiles @laurenliessandco | sofa is the “lady” LL x @taylorkingfurniture | living room rug is the “willow” LL x @rugs_usa | kitchen cabinetry is the Arcadia from LL @uniquekitchensandbaths | girls’ bedroom lamp is the “chanterelle” LL X @troylighting | puppy room light is also LL X @rugs_usa | dining room light is LL x @troylighting
controversial kitchen stance- forget the work triangle!! I love a separate fridge/ microwave/ drink station so my hot (cooking chopping) lane stays free and clear 🫶 I attempt to do this in kitchens whenever I can in some way or another. One thing we’re doing differently in our next kitchen – in an attempt to reduce our microwave usage (by make it less convenient)- is we’re putting our microwave behind a door- but still it will be set apart from the main cooking areas. My newest book FEELS LIKE HOME details out this entire kitchen (whole house actually) along with some of my favorite client projects and is a good one for digging in and understanding the whys behind the designs. (The full house tour is also now up on our y ou tube channel!) 🤍
Welllllll… it’s been a LONG time coming but we finally have a video update of what’s been going on with our “forever” house project at the Meadow 🌿 the full episode is up on our Y O U tu be channel !!🌿 it’s been 2 years since we moved out and we’ve had some MAJOR delays and have been in our “temporary” house much longer than expected. We didn’t start our documenting much of the project so this first “episode” is the best I could do with cobbling together what footage we had but as the episodes go on it should get a bit better 🙂 this first episode shares our story/ the project overview/ and first 2 years of the project. Things are finally cooking over there so I’ll be able to share more real time posts like I did with our current house / the “horse country modern” project!
A new (for us) way to lay hardwood floors!!! Thanks to the CarrMichael Construction team for being patient with me as I map out a plan that requires the most meticulous installation brain-burning of calculations!! (But don’t worry, we’re all creating new neural pathways and working on neuroplasticity!! 😜) ps- a New Meadow episode is up now on you. T. U be!!
The geese fly over every morning 🤍 I miss our pet geese, Love and Story, so much 💔 I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out how we can safely have some again on our (very) wild property. Our original geese had been free-ranging for years when we inherited them with our last house and free-ranging during the day was fine there… but something got them from the sky (hawks or eagles) during the day right after we moved to the Meadow. 💔 it’s closer to bigger nature/ the river etc and bigger predators and so we can’t free range them and I’m not sure how happy they’d be if they were in a pen for most of the day. (And how bad the mess would be.) We’ve thought about livestock guardian animals like dogs or a donkey… anyone have experience with geese who don’t free range and/ or livestock guardians for fowl? 🤍
I loooove pot pies and this was our first attempt at making homemade(ish) turkey pot pies!! For a little background on where we’re at health wise in our house- we try to avoid processed foods (meaning we never cook with them or use them at home but when we go out to restaurant/ friends family etc all bets are pretty much off) which means a lot more cooking from scratch.
BUT we found these organic non-processed pie crusts and they have made life soooo much easier when we don’t have time for homemade crusts (which right now is most of the time🤪) 🥧 I’ll be honest- these were THE BEST tasting pot pies from a filling standpoint we’ve ever tasted. (I’ve definitely had better crusts at restaurants but these were still super tasty.)
INGREDIENTS:
organic/ pure ingredient premade pie crusts
butter or cooking oil
onion (chopped)
celery, cabbage (chopped)
carrots (chopped)
frozen peas
garlic (minced)
salt & pepper to taste
a bit of fresh rosemary
cooked turkey (chopped)
chicken broth
pinot grigio
flour- a few tablespoons
DIRECTIONS:
Set oven to 400.
cut out centers of pie crusts and set aside.
Blind bake pie crust edges on 400 for a few minutes
FILLING:
Sauté all the veggies in a pot , adding salt and pepper.
Add in the cooked chicken & any herbs.
When chicken is heated, add in some chicken broth, Pinot Grigio, and flour until desired consistency is achieved. Simmer out the alcohol and let the sauce thicken, adding more broth or flour as needed.
Ladle fillings into the pie crust tins.
Cut the pie “tops” into patterns and arrange on top of the pies.
Bake for 20-30 mins on 400.
HOMEWORK THIS WEEK: do yourself a favor and make these babies!! Share with #ididmyhomework
Come tour the Meadow House with me my husband!! Our next episode is UP on you t u. Be! From antique tubs to moongates to how we are doing our cove ceilings, we’re sharing all the details 🤍
the German schmear basement in a still photo 🤍 check out our recent reels to see the before pics how-to of one of our favorite basements ever! Design by Lauren Liess Interiors | Renovation by CarrMichael Construction | photo by @helennorman
One of our biggest yet simplest transformations in my new book, BEACH LIFE: The attic at Beach Cabin! (Swipe for before & check out the book for all the details.) Imagined as a hangout space for the kids, we wallpapered in “captain’s log” paper, repaired the windows, added hvac, painted the floors and covered them in the “juniper jute tile” rug from my collection with @rugs_usa layered the room with found objects. I wanted to make a clean, warm version of the “Goonies” attic ☠️ and we filled the chest with pirate coins and other treasures for the kids to find. | This was by far their favorite part of the Beach Cabin. 🌊 | photo by @helennorman
One of our biggest yet simplest transformations in my new book, BEACH LIFE: The attic at Beach Cabin! (Swipe for before & check out the book for all the details.) Imagined as a hangout space for the kids, we wallpapered in “captain’s log” paper, repaired the windows, added hvac, painted the floors and covered them in the “juniper jute tile” rug from my collection with @rugs_usa layered the room with found objects. I wanted to make a clean, warm version of the “Goonies” attic ☠️ and we filled the chest with pirate coins and other treasures for the kids to find. | This was by far their favorite part of the Beach Cabin. 🌊 | photo by @helennorman
Working on the landscape design over at the Meadow and incorporating some of my favorite things from our old house… including geese! 🪿 🪿 🪿
Beach Life over at Dune House 🌊 this project was SUCH a doozy and came with its share of emotional challenges. Not every project is sunshine and roses but I do know we need these types of situations in our lives to grow and get stronger. BUT! this kitchen IS all sunshine & roses… I absolutely love cooking it in and feeding a big crowd. I picked the “dune”-colored cabinets from the peachy-pinky sand on the dune right outside and went with soft undulating terracotta tiles that would blend right in. The cabinets are the “spartan” with cut-out pulls from my collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths and we continued the tile right behind the glass where we store the drink ware & tableware. | photo by @helennorman for my new book, BEACH LIFE, where I share the story & all the details of this project.
Introducing my newest drop with Rugs USA: THE BEACH EDIT! Inspired by my new book “BEACH LIFE,” I’ve lovingly handpicked my favorite beach-inspired rugs from my #LaurenLiessxRugsUSA collection and added some NEW COLORS in our best-selling styles ! Perfectly timed for summer, I can’t wait for you to bring these warm, beachy vibes into your home!
The orangery at the Meadow 🌿 a happy place just off of the kitchen garden that will have a fireplace with a cauldron and a cozy pair of chairs, an old stone sink for washing veggies and flower arranging, a wall of shelves for storage, and our dining table. The masons are working on the fireplace and I could not be more excited about it!! I’ve been sharing progress update videos on our you t u be channel 🤍🌿 design by us construction by @carrmichaelconstruction
Slowing down ✨
Of all the pictures I post this one might have me the most excited. Our windows are going in at the Meadow!!!! 😆 This is the view out our family room (the old garage) to the front courtyard where I just learned we’ll be seeing beautiful winter sunsets out of 🌅 We’re doing a combination of antique reproduction oak windows modern (with the thinnest reveal possible) windows & doors and it is SO good to see progress!! @otiima_usa @carrmichaelconstruction
My favorite kitchens are timeless, hardworking, and comforting. I like it when a place takes you away and makes it easy to create in. This classic white kitchen is a forever favorite with simple shaker cabinets and subway tile an island built out of reclaimed oak 🤍 from my book #feelslikehome | designed by @laurenliessandco | renovation by @carrmichaelconstruction | photos by @helennorman * We a very similar shaker style with slight modifications in my new cabinetry collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths
My favorite kitchens are timeless, hardworking, and comforting. I like it when a place takes you away and makes it easy to create in. This classic white kitchen is a forever favorite with simple shaker cabinets and subway tile an island built out of reclaimed oak 🤍 from my book #feelslikehome | designed by @laurenliessandco | renovation by @carrmichaelconstruction | photos by @helennorman * We a very similar shaker style with slight modifications in my new cabinetry collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths
My favorite kitchens are timeless, hardworking, and comforting. I like it when a place takes you away and makes it easy to create in. This classic white kitchen is a forever favorite with simple shaker cabinets and subway tile an island built out of reclaimed oak 🤍 from my book #feelslikehome | designed by @laurenliessandco | renovation by @carrmichaelconstruction | photos by @helennorman * We a very similar shaker style with slight modifications in my new cabinetry collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths
All about striking exterior transitions at the moment 🤍 (by @ronitlee @ama_mrp @_airesmateus ) As things are finally coming together at the Meadow I’m seeing our framed views come to life and could NOT be more excited!! The window and door boards came off this week as the frames to our @otiima_usa windows are being installed!! Things have been crazy but I’m working on some videos to show our progress!!
The striking simplicity of sculptural forms is something I love playing with. When we moved last time it became apparent how many sculptural objects I’ve amassed throughout the years… It looked a bit like Medusa’s garden with all the heads/ people / animals 🤣 {photo from my newest book – FEELS LIKE HOME- of our #houseinthewoods @propertycollective project 📷 @helennorman }
