Advisement: This is a long post with dozens of photos. You may want to get a cup of coffee, or glass of wine (depending on your time of day and time zone) before you dive in.
I love talking to people and hearing their stories. Everyone’s got their own story to tell, and when you sit down with someone and really talk to them, you can learn so much. This story is about Ed and Nan.
Don’t you love hearing how other people met and fell in love? I do. I often ask that question. Ed’s and Nan’s story is one of my favorites. I should have videotaped them because they both lit up from inside when they both answered my question. I almost could feel the love shining through their eyes and smiles. So I want you to picture me right now with a sappy smile on my face while I’m typing. Because that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Ed and Nan met later in life after a lifetime of twists, turns, bends, and burns. They met in 2010 and married a year later. They lived in a gorgeous home on the water in Galveston Bay, Texas. They decorated their home with so many hues of blue and installed flooring the color of blue-denim. Their home reflected the sun-kissed beaches of Galveston Island.
After Ed had been rediagnosed with cancer, it was Nan who suggested they run away. Yep, like a couple of kids, they sold everything they owned (with the exception of a few treasures) to live a life full of adventures in Costa Rica. Like I said, I should have videotaped them because they shared so many wonderful stories of the places they lived, the beaches they visited, and the many friends they made.
Eventually Ed got homesick for their adult kids and grandkids. So this time, he was the one who insisted they sell everything, once again. This time they had their hearts set on relocating to Florida. Nan searched online. They had two criteria’s: the home had to be in a community and on a canal. Nan searched high and low, spanning from Venice to Naples. They finally found a home that made them both squeal, “This is it!” The home was located in an upscale neighborhood located in Riverwood. They made an offer, sight unseen. In fact, neither of them had ever been to Port Charlotte, Florida. Yep, that’s right. The first time they set foot in their new Florida home was right after they bought it.
They lived in that home happily for four years. But they longed for a bigger home. Ed and Nan are social butterflies, they love to entertain. This beautiful home was one where residents are active with their neighbors and in the community around them. So, when the larger house across the street became available, they leaped. The house had 2,049 sq. ft. and had been built two years earlier. After they purchased the uninspiring beige house, they seized the opportunity to dive into a total transformation. During the next four years they updated and furnished every room in the nine-room home, leaving the kitchen for last. This is where I came into the story.
Here is something you should know about Ed and Nan. They didn’t just like blue or just love the color blue. Ed and Nan were obsessed with it. Their previous homes had always been a stone’s throw away from the ocean, with wide open blue skies above. In today’s fast-paced, plugged-in world, it’s more important than ever to take time to relax and unwind. Ed and Nan wanted their home to have the calming effects of a wide-open blue sea and the distant horizon beyond. They wanted to create a place they and their families would love to come to renew, refresh, and revitalize their selves.
There was nothing wrong with the previous kitchen, but it was simply uninspiring. The former kitchen’s thermofoil cabinets, beige backsplash tile, granite countertops, and an arched doorway which dissected the kitchen didn’t fit the style they wanted.
I wanted to create this take-your-breath-away moment right when you walk in the kitchen. We succeeded in that goal with Aspect Cabinetry. With the mix of their favorite colors, the homeowners paired the upper Maple cabinets in white Shaker-style and the lower cabinets with indigo stain on American Poplar wood. This created a simultaneously comfortable and elegant kitchen. Ed’s and Nan’s pristine white kitchen cabinets are anything but ordinary. We double stacked the cabinets with glass fronts to place emphasis on the far back soaring wall. Speaking of that back wall, we closed off the arched doorway, added a coffee bar on that wall, increasing the floor space. We installed a tall pantry with roll out trays next to the refrigerator and added a custom pantry door (that matches the cabinets and moldings) to the walk-in pantry.
When Ed and Nan contemplated a new kitchen, they were looking to achieve a super comfortable, user friendly, casual-modern-beach-house theme. As empty nesters with several adult children and grandchildren, and a community of steadfast friends, they considered the kitchen to be the true heart of their home. Whether quick or more thoughtfully prepared, meals for family and friends are important and the idea of togetherness drove many of the decisions they made for this project.
The countertops is Cambria’s Portrush which is a beautiful quartz with a creamy white background, elegant streaks of navy blue, gray and black, and shimmering fine pieces of gold. Imex Stone located in Fort Myers did a great job installing the quartz.
Nan designed the striking tile backsplash. Pucci Tile installed the white subway tiles with random linear gold metal bars. Nan also found and purchased the gold farmhouse sink and champagne gold hardware.
The homeowners decided to replace the average Joe ceiling fan with this beautiful modern one. They also replaced the blue glass pendants with new gold ones from The Local Lighting Shop located in Punta Gorda.
Once this remodel was completed, the homeowners confessed to walking into their kitchen each morning feeling like they were living a wonderful dream in the most beautiful kitchen they’ve ever owned.
While working on each one of my designs I have grown and learned in different ways as a new set of challenges and opportunities presents itself. One thing remains the same every time, however, it takes a lot of people to create a beautiful kitchen. I couldn’t have managed this project without a very talented team, and I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped with this kitchen: Just Counter & other stuff Bill Rice, Tommy McCaffrey, and Aaron Shaffer.
For the past eight years, Ed and Nan have hosted for friends. In fact they’ve had over 190 dinner parties with unique themes and menus in Riverwood. They’ve enjoyed every minute of it. They’ve made friends for life. For Ed and Nan, life was meant for good friends and great adventures. But they were ready for another epic adventure. So, they sold this gorgeous home, less than a month ago, along with all of its furnishings and accessories to begin a new chapter in the majestic mountains of North Carolina.
One more thing before I go. When Covid hit and we were all isolated, Nan fell into a funk. In a last-ditch effort to pull herself out of her funk she decided to put her creative talents to use. What began as a quick side-project to get back on track, Nan started creating unique art with decoupage seashells. Each shell has a story and they can be used as a trinket dish for wrapped candy, jewelry, keys, soaps, coins, desk essentials, business cards, holiday ornaments, or just as a fabulous piece of art to enjoy. All shells can be customized. A monogram or name can also be added to make it personalized. You can find her crafts on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/eachshellhasastory.
If you’re reading this blog, Ed and Nan, I want you to know that I wish you both all the best for your next chapter! May many good things continue to come your way as you continue to follow your dreams. I hope your new home in the majestic mountains will be surrounded with peace, happiness, and love. May the weather forecast in the insanely magnificent mountains provide you with breezy, blue, and white.
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