Mary Ila, Author at Spaces And Places

The Best of Paris: Our Recommendations

International, Paris, Places, Planning Travel

Our trip to Paris celebrating our daughter was full of unforgettable moments. From amazing food to discovering hidden gems around the city, it was an experience we won’t forget. We had an absolute blast in a baking class, dined with incredible views of the Eiffel Tower, and found some local spots that became instant favorites. As for shopping and sightseeing, Paris didn’t disappoint. Want to know more? Click here to find out where we ate, shopped, and explored!

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Design Series: The Light and Bright Kitchen at Greenwood

Design, Remodel, Spaces

Everything in the Greenwood house kitchen was original to its 1960s build—right down to the appliances, floors, and cabinets. While the layout was surprisingly open for its time, the space lacked natural light and modern functionality. We’re reimagining this kitchen from the ground up, opening walls to create better flow, adding light, and incorporating custom design touches that blend classic charm with contemporary style. From custom shaker cabinets to a stunning granite island, this bright kitchen renovation is setting the tone for the entire open-concept living space.

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Trip Reveal: London and Paris with Paige

International, London, Paris, Places

Next month, we’re heading off on a special adventure with our middle child—London and Paris await! This trip is a mix of sightseeing, nostalgia, and celebration, with highlights like afternoon tea at The Ritz, a day in Oxford, shopping in Paris, and even a baking class. The grand finale? A magical 11th birthday in Paris, complete with a visit to the Eiffel Tower and a special milestone—ear piercing! From iconic landmarks to unforgettable meals, we can’t wait to make memories together. Let the countdown begin!

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7 Steps for Planning a Trip for Kids

Places, Planning Travel

Planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip for your child is both exciting and a bit daunting—especially when the destination is completely their choice! Inspired by Bob Goff’s tradition, we’ve committed to taking each of our kids on an adventure of their dreams to mark their transition into adolescence. Our oldest chose the Bahamas, and now it’s our middle child’s turn.

Where will we go? That’s still a surprise. But in this post, we’ll walk through the steps we took to plan this trip—from budgeting and timing to researching and booking. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

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How to Budget for a Kitchen Renovation

Remodel, Spaces

So, budgeting for a kitchen renovation? Expect to shell out around 25% more than you thought! Prioritize what matters most—like appliances and cabinets—and don’t hesitate to cut back where you can. Our final cost breakdown had appliances at 33% and cabinets at 26%. We scored some great deals by shopping around, especially for stone. DIYing labor saved us cash too, avoiding that 10-15% general contractor fee. Just a heads up, it took about three and a half months from demo to finish, so plan your time too! In the end, totally worth it!

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Flipping a 1960s Gem: Breathing New Life into a Family Home

Remodel, Spaces

The Greenwood House, a charming 1960s rancher, is poised for modernization while retaining its historical essence. It features three bedrooms, outdated systems, and compartmentalized spaces. Renovations aim to create a stylish and functional family home, including a primary suite, open living area, mudroom, and safety upgrades, preserving its legacy.

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The Kitchen Remodeling Journey: All the Countertop Choices

Remodel, Spaces

The post discusses 35 kitchen countertop options, detailing their pros, cons, and price ranges. The author highlights a preference for Bianco Rhino marble, while noting durability concerns. Recommendations include seeking guidance from knowledgeable friends and involving family in the selection process to find the best countertop for one’s kitchen.

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The Kitchen Remodeling Journey: Fixtures and Finishes

Remodel, Spaces

For me, the fun part of a kitchen remodel – or any remodel for that matter – is picking out the pretty stuff. The hardware, the lighting, the countertops. The stuff that makes the space unique. So I enjoyed the process of picking out the details and letting Drew handle the details of how to make it all work! Our designer, Erin, was really helpful in sourcing the details and getting discounts that we wouldn’t have been able to get ourselves. So when you look out what we picked out below, remember the prices you see aren’t what we paid!

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Great Antique Finds Across the State of Alabama

Alabama, Antique Finds, Places, Spaces

For our kitchen, we knew we wanted to mix old and new elements to create a distinct look. One of the ways we brought in the old was in our pantry doors. We love finding off the beaten path places. Through recommendations from friends, we found two great places to source old elements at each end of Alabama. The first is Charles Phillips Antiques in Theodore just outside of Mobile. Eight warehouses make for fun browsing underneath the live oaks. We found the doors for our pantry here while the kids enjoyed playing hide and seek throughout the property. Charles

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The Kitchen Remodeling Journey – Step 4: Find a good cabinet contractor

Remodel, Spaces

Finding a reliable home construction and remodeling contractor can be challenging. However, a highly recommended cabinet maker, John Marc Cabinets, provides essential services, including understanding design preferences, accurate measurements, and effective communication. They adapt to changes and maintain timelines, contributing to a successful kitchen renovation process. Recommendations for contractors are encouraged.

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