The Skinny

Narrow kitchen to the left of the entryway.

"Maltman" - my newly-acquired, in-need-of-TLC duplex - was treated for termites last week, and is, at the moment, being cleared of weeds and unwanted tree roots wreaking her foundation. Sexy. But enough about 'em bugs and roots. You don't want to hear about that, the water damage, or the electrical wiring messes involved in a massive renovation. On to the good stuff. The renovation project dearest to all interior design lovin' hearts! As fancy pants chef Daniel Bolud pointed out, "Kitchens should be designed around what’s truly important—fun, food, and life.” Will keep this in mind as I tackle my 8.5 foot wide space.

BEFORE

The beautiful wood-paneled space I'm working with. 

She's approximately 8.5 feet wide and 14.5 feet long.

As is, the kitchen has two doors. I plan on sealing the un-pictured door that leads to the garage so that I can get in some additional counter space.  I also plan to shift the entryway into the kitchen - enlarging the door while I'm at it. More symmetry and more light! Layout plans? I'm going galley.

Look carefully. A bench near the window. That could be fab. 

The seating near the window would be a nice consolation prize - seeing that the kitchen will no longer have an island.

What? No island?!? Yeah. No island. As implied the mention of a galley kitchen, the space-hogging island you see in my BEFORE photos will be removed. For as much as I love such features, unless Maltman's future inhabitants are all Nicole-Richie slim, this 2' wide obstruction is a no-go. 

And storage at the end of a counter? What a lovely surprise. 

Color scheme. I'm having a hard time deciding between the ease of a so-fresh-and-so-clean white and the drama of a white and charcoal pairing. In my flips, I often went with a medium gray:

But Maltman doesn't get quite enough light to justify a large dose of gray, let alone charcoal. So I think I'm going white. White kitchens to the interior design world are the little black dresses of the fashion world. It's tough to go wrong with one, but it's also tough to avoid ending up with a generic room.

If I do go white, some Carrara will need to be incorporated. A warm slab can help the kitchen feel less stark and cold. But installing a high maintenance stone like Carrara as a countertop in a rental is just an awful idea. So perhaps Carrara subway tile on the walls will definitely be a consideration.

Sick of the usual rectangular subway tile? There's always the option of going square. And gosh, that brass just warms up the otherwise-stark space, doesn't it?

Tiling all the way up the wall (behind the open shelving) makes a huge difference, doesn't it?

The light warm wood used for these open shelves go so well with the white. 
And the choice of grout color can also make a big difference.

Oil-rubbed bronze hardware is lovely when paired with white. 

And a dark-counter is a very practical, yet elegant way to go.

Ooh. A wall of storage! When laying out Maltman's kitchen, I musn't forget a sizable pantry. Open shelves look nice and all - when styled but magazine editors - but us real-people need a place to hide our souvenir mugs and plastic baby utensils. Enter the pantry.

While I probably can't indulge myself and install two walls of charcoal cabinetry, this doesn't mean I'm giving up on a touch of charcoal and possibly brass. The pairing of charcoal and brass equals instant sophistication and richness, no?

Here's a dream kitchen by Jessica Helgerson. That Granada cement tile kills me. In a good way. Since Maltman's kitchen is so narrow, it may be tough to pull off a floor pattern of that scale. Not that I'm not considering it. How gorgeous is this look?

The white farm sink and traditional bridge faucet in chrome against a charcoal backdrop? Handsome!

Meeting with my contractor tomorrow and will be presenting my inspiration boards and layouts. Final boards to come.

Yogurt Beards

Yogurt beards are all the rage in Silver Lake. Just keepin' it classy, people. As always...

Playing Hooky

In your very own nooky! 

The lower unit of my fixer has nook potential. See this?

With a touch of imagination, paint, millwork and upholstery, it can, quite possibly, become this:

 source unknown. plucked from pinterest.

Well, a variation on the same theme... Due to code, I'll need to keep the stair railing. I also can't install a window in the nook seeing that the lower unit of the duplex is located in the basement. But enough with the comments regarding feasibility. A version of this awesome nook is going to be installed in my project fo-sho. I'll install a source of light to make up for the lack of natural light, and ooh, while we're at it, a small shelf for books beneath the bed/bench would be lovely as well!

Renovations can get dull unless you make room in the budget for unique details like fun nooks. 

Follow up photos to come.

On the Side

Some artwork I can't afford to buy by one of my idols, Barry McGee

The purpose of this blog is to waste cyber space as well as physical space. To that end, I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I blabber on about babies and post borderline offensive doodles of boobies, but there's much more to what I've been up to than well, baby and boobs. I've got work-work, and while I haven't shared much about my side-projects here in the past, I think it's high-time I start.

Though my background is in finance and animation (a peculiar but lovely combo) I've always taken an interest in home renovation projects. "Taken an interest in" is to put it lightly. Upon graduating from film school (and newly-pregnant with Olive), I ran the home and apartment renovation arm of boutique real estate development firm, Local Construct. (Read more about what they do here.) During my year with the company, I oversaw the transformation of 10 homes and 4 eight-unit apartment buildings here in Los Angeles - staging the properties to sell/lease once they were completed. Not bad for a knocked-up lady, let alone any lady.

Once my little one was born, I tried to get back into the groove of work, but doing so made me sad. I'd drive to the office and secretly cry in the ladies room. Who knew I'd be one with so many feelings. I ended up accepting the fact that I couldn't have it all, and quit my job when my baby was 3 months-old.

Fast forward to today, Olive is now a full-blown, happy toddler, aged 20 months. She's much more manageable, and I'm finally able to take-on renovation projects again. With the help of a sitter - three days a week - I'm trying my best to make things happen.

My latest project is a 1960s duplex located in the desirable area of Silver Lake. I've decided to name her "Maltman." Here are some shots of the babe in all her fixer glory. We're talking roofing, plumbing, electrical, foundation and cosmetic fixes for two units. The upper unit offers 3 beds, 2 baths, and 1 powder room while the lower unit offers 2 beds and 2 baths.

Here's Maltman from the street.

Her curb appeal at the moment may be minimal, but that's going to change.

Entryway of the upper unit. It's got great light.

The spacious (hehehe) 8.5 foot-wide kitchen for the upper unit.

The brightly-lit (do you sense my sarcasm?) master bath complete with turquoise tub and bidet.

We're going bright and airy. Lots of white with touches of black and charcoal for contrast. Open, modern, relaxed with an industrial and vintage twist. Follow-up posts to come.

Little by Little One Travels Far

Untitled works of Olive Huang. 2013. Crayon. 

Abstract expressionist in the making. I love it.

For as long as I could remember, I've had but three big hopes and dreams. They are, and have always been, in no particular, as follows: (1) To have a dog, (2) To have a baby, and (3) To write and illustrate a children's book. I've got one and two of my seemingly feasible list ticked off, my number three has proven more difficult than I imagined. When inspired, I go nuts scribbling and jotting down everything that comes to mind. When done with my brain dump, I feel proud and accomplished. Days later, I revisit these same notes, and more often than not, I find problems with each and every idea I'd come up with. "It's not new. It's not fresh. I don't love it. Moving on." I've got a problem. I'm SEWIOUS. (If you have a moment, watch this.) I'm suffering from a crippling creative block. I'm in dire need of inspiration. And so, I turn to Olive.

All I have to do is listen to this toddler and I'll have an unlimited supply of fodder for children's books, right? Having her is like having a factory! Um, yeah, NO. The little nut isn't speaking yet - at least not in proper English - so I'm just going to have to remain patient. Everything has its own time. But it's coming... First words will soon become first sentences. And Mama's going to make the most of it all. 

Blog post title is a quote by J. R. R. Tolkien

London, Baby!

Olive exploring The Thames. Or, quite possibly, just her toes.

The French are known for being reserved, but the folks who helped me board my London-bound Eurostar were anything but. Seeing that I was traveling alone with Olive, a huge suitcase that United Airlines tagged as HEAVY, and a diaper bag large enough to fit a second baby, the woman who checked me in assigned a buff long-haired porter to me. This kind gentleman led us to the front of the passport line as well as the boarding line and then handled my luggage until I settled into my seat on the train. I wasn't traveling First Class, but it sure felt like it. Eurostar, this is a shout-out!

All this said, I was feeling pretty darn good when we crossed into the UK. "William, Kate, George and Lupo, we've made it!" Ahh, to be able to communicate again... in English. What a luxury. And to be able to reunite with le huz after being apart for two days apart (he was working in Frankfurt, Germany), priceless.

As was the case for Paris, I'd brought along a book covering London. But I barely referenced my copy of London with Kids, for I had guide in my friend Angie whom I've known since we were 13. A yummy mummy to a gorgeous one year-old of her own, she knew exactly where to take me and Olive. But I was alone on my first day, and had to call the shots. I selfishly took the kid to Tate Modern because I like art. Munchkin's meltdowns often occur in museums because I restrict her from touching the works. So imagine how lucky I felt when our cab arrived at the Tate and the little one was asleep!

An installation by Dan Flavin at the Tate.

Olive would've touched this.

Anyhow, rather than providing the play-by-play of our time in the UK, here are my suggestions for those trying to survive-and-thrive with a tot under 2 years of age while in London. They worked for me, and hopefully they'll work for you.

1) Do bring/borrow a stroller. At this age, these little ones weigh a ton, and you really can't enjoy a pedestrian city like London without walking a bit. Buses in London run everywhere, all the time, and are more accommodating for strollers than the subway/tube. And cabs, though pricey, are spacious and stroller-ready. It rained a couple times while we were walking around, and as much of a pain as it was to have to navigate the sidewalks with a stroller, it was nice to see Olive fully-protected by the stroller's rain cover, tucked away in deep sleep. Babies are happier when they sleep!

2) Do take your kid to Hamley's. It's the FAO Schwarz of London, and Olive's mind was absolutely blown when she saw the display of Thomas the Tank Engine. There are a lot of display toys laying around for kids to play with, and it's best to allot the little ones with plenty of time to sample them all. Olive had little more than a Kindle to entertain herself with back at the hotel room, so I let her roam in the store for an hour!

Olive & Sam at Hamley's. Same height.

3) Do visit Victoria Park in Hackney. Sure, it's all the way out on the east end of London, but if you're got a kid and you actually like your kid, a trip here is well worth it. A 25 minute cab ride from Central London or a one-hour ride via public transport is all it takes. The children's play areas at Victoria Park are AMAZING. There's a paddling pool, fountain, duck pond, man-made rocks to climb, slides, baby swings, miniature houses on stilts, free clean public toilets... never take anything for granted! Olive loved this park. And the Pavilion Cafe located on the north end of the park serves fresh and tasty food at a reasonable price. Angie and I had lunch there with the babes. I wish Los Angeles had a place like this.

Munchkin with twig "crayons"

Nice house, Miles.

4) Do go for a traditional Sunday pub roast. On the weekends, pubs are surprisingly family friendly. Le huz and I met up with friends at The Water Poet in Spitalfields for a really great meal. Olive enjoyed the food as much as she enjoyed her company. That's a lot! 

The Littles giving me baby side-eye. 

No photos while we're eating, Ma.

5) Do drop by the Spitalfields City Farm. If you're already in the 'hood due to your pub roast, stroll on over to the park and farm nearby. It's free, safe and fun for kids. Le huz and Angie's huz took a quick nap in the park while we showed the kids chickens, donkeys, ponies, pigs and more...

Runaway.

Strange reaction to chicken.

6) Do make time for afternoon tea at least once during your stay. I don't actually recommend bringing the little ones, as there is way too much china to keep away from them. That said, Angie and I, thick-skinned mums, braved public-judgment and brought Olive and Miles along because we had no sitters and our desire for sweets was just that great. We splurged on Pret-a-Portea the Berkeley hotel, and it was an incredible experience. (We made a reservation.) I busted out the baby crack (iPhone streaming Elmo videos at minimal volume) to keep the munchkin quiet and wolfed down a delicate collection of cakes and fancies, inspired by the world's finest designers. Angie and I had been touring the parks of central London with the munchkins all morning, and afternoon tea was the perfect remedy.

Earning her right to afternoon tea, she runs sideways in Hyde Park.

They do things differently here.

The Littles in London

Olive & Miles in Green Park.

Dolce, Oscar, Prada, Balenciaga, McQueen, Blahnik and more. 

All made edible!

7) Do allow ample time for wandering. Good stuff turns up when you're not looking!

Olive exploring Piccadilly. 

Adopted by Uncles Luke & Jasper for the day.

Whole Foods in London has quite the sense of humor!

Russell Brand in Neal's Yard.

The flowers that inspire Liberty prints outside of Liberty London.

Dancing in the street with mommy's dear friend, Auntie Jenny.

London, you were fun. No doubt about it, we'll be back.

All smiles post-dim-sum, with her doting Uncle Chuan. 

Patron of the Arts

Cy Twombly. Tate Modern.

Olive Huang. Le Meridien.

It's happening folks. I'm living the dream. The munchkin began creating some serious artwork while in Paris and London. The trip paid off! Get a load of that energy. That madness. I've got an accidental abstract expressionist on my hands, and I'm psyched. Children's artwork is the best.

We'll Always Have Paris

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” ― Thomas Jefferson

Now what if you fall asleep during the walk?

Munchkin and I are back on American soil, and boy does it feel nice. So in case you missed the memo - because you have a life - the little one and I spent the past two weeks galavanting about Paris and London. Le huz was traveling for work and we were his stowaways (aka hotel leeches). Olive had been a good traveler up until this trip to Europe, so I decided to take on the challenge... 

While le huz fulfilled work duties from 8am-11pm, I entertained the monster to the best of my ability. I'd been to both cities multiple times, but never with a child. Knowing this, I did as much research for the trip as I could. We were only going to be in Pair-ree for four days, and I wanted to make the most of it for the both of us.

While in Paris, I relied heavily on this lovely book. Wandering in a heatwave on my own is hell. Wandering in hot weather while pushing a chubby baby along cobblestone is just insane. I wanted to be open to the Paris that Olive would want to see but needed to have a rough idea as to what places would be baby friendly. The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children provided some excellent options when I was out of ideas.

My suggestions for those trying to survive-and-thrive with a tot under 2 years of age. They worked for me, and hopefully they'll work for you.

1) Do take advantage of Parisian parks. Olive clocked in some major hours in various parks across Paris from small plots in Le Marais to the beloved Jardin du Luxembourg. They're plentiful and free. Unleash your little beast in one. It ensures a hearty nap.

Chillin' in Le Marais. 

2) Do take your kid for a spin on a carousel. When not asleep in her stroller (being pushed around by her stinky, sweaty mommy) Olive enjoyed spotting and riding carousels sprinkled about the city. The one kitty-corner to the Eiffel Tower was her favorite. Each time she caught a glimpse of the structure, she'd point and yell, "UP!"

Jet-lagged child staying up beyond her bedtime at the Eiffel Tower carousel. 

3) Skip the Louvre and head for the Pompidou. The Louvre's glass pyramids are worth a snapshot, but don't bother bringing your young child into the museum. A meltdown is sure to occur. Not that they don't occur at the Pompidou. Olive showed little appreciation for modern art - frowning and screaming her way through the main floors of the Pompidou. But she really enjoyed the children's gallery, Galerie des Enfants, located on the mezzanine. The museum's eye-popping "inside out" architecture didn't amuse her as much as I'd hoped, but the surplus of nasty pigeons that gathered around the the building were a hit.

Ooh... it's the Beverly Center!

4) Do take a breather at a Parisian cafe. Les Duex Magots in Saint Germain des Pres is a famous one I used to drop by when visiting in the past without a child. (Brasserie Lipp - located across the street is good too!) With a baby in tow, I prefer to seek out spots where I'm able to pull my stroller right up to an outside table and avoid making a scene just to get seated. Olive and I enjoyed people watching - and fruit salad munching - at this Parisian classic.

Selfie of les duex magots at Les Duex Magots. 

5) Do shop for your baby since French clothes are special. Celebrity-loved Bonpoint and Bonton are worth a browse. The gingerly stylized outfits are so gorgeous, but also incredibly expensive. Petit Bateau and Alice a Paris offer duds that are more affordable, but no less lovely.

Mommy & daughter photobooth fun at Bonton in the Marais. 

6) Do take a stroll along Pont des Arts. My not-so-easily-impressed daughter loved so many things about this pedestrian bridge that crosses the Seine. Built in 1804, the metallic footbridge is a destination for couples wishing to memorialize their love. Sweethearts from near and far visit the bridge to attach padlocks emblazoned with initials and messages before throwing the locks' keys into the Seine below. Olive and I attached a lock of our own. Be forewarned that your child may not take the throwing-of-the-keys-into-the-Seine bit too well. Olive was traumatized.

Not one to settle for low-hanging fruit.

7) Starbucks is your friend. Feeding my monster while in Paris wasn't exactly easy-peasy. We were staying at a hotel, and at any given time, was only able to store a small bottle of milk or small container of raspberries in the minibar for Olive's dining pleasure. On more than one occasion, Starbucks came to my rescue, offering my anti-baguette baby some welcome options for breakfast (hotcakes with syrup , fruit salad and freshly-squeezed OJ). More importantly, Starbucks (at least the two that I visited) offered that rarely-seen-across-Paris changing table for the baby in the bathroom. When traveling with a baby, I try to be flexible, not snobby. I'll take what I can get!

Forgive me father, for I have sinned. Starbucks for breakfast in Paris.

Four days flew by rather quickly. Before I knew it, I was packing our super heavy suitcase and loading her up in her Ergo carrier to catch the Eurostar to London. Olive and I will always have Paris, and I look forward to sharing photos of our mommy-daughter bonding trip with her when she's older and capable of understanding... next up, London, baby!

Au revoir!