Another person recommended this Jasper Pendant lamp from Pottery Barn.

The Deal Hunter Nick Olsen (can we just acknowledge Danielle Claro's genius in coming up with his blogger name which is a pun on the movie title "The Deer Hunter"?) has been suggesting some pendant lights for me. I love the last one he found, though I wish it weren't silver.

One of his commenters, ilovedesignsomuch found this other site Ark Lighting for me. They've got these which are also interesting:

Glass instead of metal?

Anders Knutsson paints and draws trees. Some of them even glow in the dark. They're really, really cool. I met him a few years ago when I went to the Affordable Art Fair to shoot a video for Domino (which we have yet to post except on the domino Facebook fan page). You can go there and watch it because I haven't gotten it  up on the site yet. But while you're there, become a fan of domino!

Anyway, Anders Knutsson does beautiful work. At the press preview I ran into him again and bought a print of his Big Copper Beech tree. There's a love story behind the tree, which can be found in the Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island, but I knew I'd forget it.

In an effort to figure out what sort of a kitchen I need, Kate F and Susan Serra have been trying to ask me if I cook and I just keep ignoring them. Here's why: I *used* to cook, and I've been unwilling to admit that I no longer really do.

When I'm feeling self-pitying about living alone, I like to say that I only ever eat standing up in the kitchen--which is mostly true. Ask my neighbors; it's so embarrassing. There's nothing that makes me feel more lonely than catching myself standing up in front of the sink with a shallow bowl of food...like a horse at the trough. I picture A or his gf over there feeling sorry for me and it sends me into a downward spiral of chaos and despair.

But that's just me being melodramatic--these days I eat standing up while I'm on the phone with my long-distance paramour. Plus which, living alone is no excuse for eating alone and/or not cooking: I lived by myself when I was a graduate student in Iowa, and I cooked *a lot* then. People even came over and shared meals with me. I made such good salt-crusted roast chickens that two vegetarians broke down and ate them.

I suppose the truth is that I don't cook anymore. Partly because I'm not lollygagging around the house, pretending to write a dissertation.

Kitchen designer Susan Serra who's been helping me out told me about this eco-friendly, Danish kitchen cabinet company she represents called Hansen Living. I missed them at ICFF, but look how pretty their stuff is. If I were actually replacing my cabinets and had more money to spend I'd be into this for sure. Next house.

Dang, that emerson beat me to the overhead fixture punch. And she got her lamp for 99 cents at a stoop sale. Grrrrr. This is EXACTLY the one I want. We'll see what that Nick Olsen comes up with. I sent him the challenge.

My coworker Katy Elliott was just in here telling me about this amazing story about cheap ways to decorate that she's planning for the early July and it makes me want to hoolah hoop. A different friend Katie showed me how in Palm Springs.

I'll also be doing a round up of scrappy decorating tips, so send us your vote for your favorite Cathy Halley scrappy things.

thanks to wjc for photo

I'm splitting the one overhead light into two in the kitchen. Like any of these? Have better ideas? By all means, post a link.

This first one is an aluminum alloy pendant light from a story we did on green kitchens.

Then there's this one from Restoration Hardware.

This one's from Target:

Plain brushed steel from Home Depot:

I'm in love with Ta-da Lists. Have been for a while now. Just rediscovered the To Do List I made for my apartment.

To Do for House

recaulk tub
replace kitchen sink and floor
strip hardware on kitchen cabinets
get flat files
get headboard and footboard attached to bed
shades for kitchen
rug for kitchen
get rid of tv
faucet for bathroom sink

DONE (in grey on Ta-da List site)

rip up tile floor in kitchen
rug for bedroom
shades for living room
tree mural
get curtains
have floors refinished
choose paint colors and paint
strip hardware on doors/escutcheons
recover couch
get new glass cut for tabletop
get desk with drawers
fix doorknob on front closet
hang mirror in bathroom properly
vet books
get lamps for everywhere

I called the contractor for the kitchen yesterday. Can we just pat me on the back for a second?

Fought the heat and the traffic this weekend to pick up the rest of my IKEA kitchen order at the Long Island store. IKEA kitchen designer Betsy Olivera (pictured here on the right) helped make the purchase process smooth. She went to FIT and when I told her I worked for domino and wanted to take a few photos, insisted on sharing the glory with coworkers Jigna Shah and uh oh, she forgot to give me his name...

I now have everything I need to start the renovation, including the butch Loviken faucet. The challenge today will be taking the time to call the contractor and the management office. Wish you could make me do it...

If I weren't fast approaching early middle age, I'd say I'm now officially Generation Y, airing all my dirty...dishes. Wouldn't you?

Question: should I stain the kitchen floors the same color as the rest of the house? That honey brown? Or darker?

Here's what they look like in rest of house--remember?

Former kitchen renovating blogger Thaddeus Kromelis sent an email with cute pictures of his kid the other day. Which reminded me that he had blogged for us about renovating his kitchen. Which made me go look at his posts. Which sent me into a panic because I have no plans for a hood for my stove. Do I need one? Never had one before. There's not even a vent above the stove. Is this just one of those things you think you need because everyone else has one? PS: Please don't be alarmed to see Brooke Williams' picture on Thaddeus' old posts. It's too complicated to explain why it's like that, but it's like that...

Sorry so silent. Been away in Palm Springs at Ruby Montana's Coral Sands Inn. Ruby was the consummate hostess. She's one of those people with stories to tell--I get the feeling we just scratched the surface. Palm Springs is a mid-century modern lover's paradise--I think it ought to be the next domino city guide. And Ruby's old-time retro motel with kidney-shaped pool and kitschy rooms is the place to be. Hoping someone I was with took some shots of the decor. If not, head on over to her website for some more pics--not sure who took that one up top, but isn't it heaven?