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Cabinets Bring the Kitchen to Life

A kitchen remodel can be so exciting, and if you aren’t living through yours right now then we have your fix. Normandy Designer Leslie Lee has been blogging about her kitchen renovation since it began and today we get to see one of the biggest design elements be placed…the kitchen cabinets.
Gary, Sophie, and I were traveling for a few days, and arrived home to this unbelievable sight.  I almost shed a tear when I saw the cabinets in place.  This is coming together exactly as I envisioned it.  I can definitely understand that homeowners (who aren’t designers) have difficulty envisioning what their new space might look like.  It’s so important to rely on some who can visualize it.  Let’s just say Gary is lucky his wife is in the remodeling business – ha!

There are many pieces of the puzzle yet to be completed (countertops, trim, sink, and faucet, backsplash, electrical trim, floor staining, appliances), but it is really shaping up.

A few of my favorite cabinet details:

– The area where the microwave will be built in, and the diagonal wine cubbies were installed. The depth of these cabinets was reduced to allow for a little larger seating area on the island.

– The leg details on the side of the island. I had to do some special depths on the cabinets here too in order to get the look I wanted. I love how the legs break up all of the paneling on the side of the island and provide visual interest.

– The four little drawers next to the location where the beverage fridge will be installed are so cute – I love them!

The countertops are being fabricated now – so hopefully those will be coming next.”

To read about this entire kitchen remodel, starting from the beginning, just click here and you’ll see where it all began.

Brown Irish Soda Bread

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I began searching for an authentic Irish Soda Bread recipe that I could create for my family.  Proving once again that it’s not what you know, but who you know, I found just what I was looking for from Normandy Designer Kathryn O’Donovan.  Kathryn was raised in Ireland and I was thrilled to find that she did indeed have a good traditional recipe she could share with me. She forwarded this along, and the only payment she required of me was a quarter of the finished loaf (which I happily provided).  I found this to be very quick and easy to make and know that it will make a great addition to our holiday.  Enjoy!

Brown Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Soda bread is best eaten on the day of baking, but it slices better if left to cool and “set” for several hours. It is delicious with good butter, farmhouse cheese, and some crisp sticks of celery or a bowl of homemade soup.

Makes 1 loaf

450g/ 1lb/ 4 cups wholemeal (whole-wheat) flour
175g/ 6oz/ 1-1/2 cups plain (all purpose) flour
7.5ml/ 1-1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
5ml/ 1 tsp salt
About 450ml/ 3/4 pint/ scant 2 cups of buttermilk

*Variation Cream of tartar can be added to the dry ingredients to provide the acid instead of buttermilk.

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/ 400F and grease a baking sheet. Combine the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir in enough buttermilk to make a fairly soft dough. Turn onto a work surface dusted with wholemeal flour and knead lightly until smooth.

2. Form the dough into a circle, about 4cm/ 1-1/2″ thick. Lay on the baking sheet and mark a DEEP cross in the top with a floured knife

3. Bake for about 45mins, or until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack. If a soft crust is preferred, wrap the loaf in a clean dishtowel while cooling.

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