Dark Nero V8
Karriem Drewery
Elegance in the pack and balance in the flavour. The essential that achieves excellence. The intense notes of cocoa enhance the fragrance of Hazelnut (35%) in a dark chocolate truffle with no added sugar, with sweetener. A pleasure break that can be granted with a light heart.
Our Sole Nero Dark Roast is deliciously robust and smoky. You won't find any hint of third wave coffeehouse in these beans; our dark roast is meant for the coffee drinker who misses the Seattle coffee of yesteryear.
This low footed stone planter establishes a regal aesthetic to your yard or garden. Crafted using high-quality fiber cast stone in dark brown patina finish, this planter features a wide mouth and a low footed base perfect for housing your beautiful greenery. Place the stone planter in strategic locations be it indoor/outdoor as a standalone piece or use it in multiple sets.
The dining room floors are done and we're in love! We went with a checkerboard pattern on a diagonal using a more natural-looking stone (as opposed to a stark black and white), but they're actually matte porcelain tile from Bedrosians! They are oozing with character and feel warm and bonus, are super durable. We originally introduced this idea with a slew of inspiration photos here, and it's kind of surreal that ours are now in place.
These are the exact tiles we used from Bedrosians. This is the dark one (Nero) and this is the light one (Magnifica Calacatta Oro). I can barely believe that they are porcelain because they look SO much like the real thing.
The installation took about 3 days, plus 1 day of grouting, and we captured the whole, fascinating process in this fun video that's a mix of time lapse and close ups and fun effects thrown in for good measure.
The last time we shared the dining room, the heated floors just got installed and self-leveling cement was poured. It cured over the weekend and they started laying the tile first thing Monday morning.
The very first thing they did is notable. They found the exact center of the room and placed the first tile there. At first I was like, hmph! interesting! But that quickly turned into awe as I realized the symmetry it created around the entire room. All the edges are identical and it makes me so happy.
We went with 1/16" leveling spacers (they ensure the whole floor stays level) that can get kicked off as soon as the floor sets. When they arrived the following day, they always kicked them off and started new.
I got the question a lot: Why tile only in the dining room? The funny thing is, I almost chickened out and extended our wood floors into this space, but then I remembered our reasons why. We really wanted this room to feel special and unique. This style of floors is so classic and I knew the room could take a show piece. There are also SIX doors from the outside leading into the dining room (5 french doors and 1 big arched door that will be at the end of the room) so we wanted it to be a really durable floor, too. And ultimately, it's an entertaining space--so a beautiful, durable, classic floor that would serve as the backdrop for us, our friends and family for years to come was definitely the answer.
Each tile is 24"x24", but the lighter tile only came in a 30" square so they cut down every one. We'll be using the scraps elsewhere in our home. The happiest coincidence was definitely the way the black triangles hit the center of every door and wall. I asked our tile layers how they DID that. And he said, we found the center of the room, but that was luck! (I guess it wasn't all luck--we found the center of the room when deciding where the doors went, too.)
We looked at 25 swatches of grout and picked the one that matched the darker tile perfectly. The grout lines are so small, it really disappears. The end result feels warm and classic. We're dying to load in the furniture that's stacked up all over the house (check out where we're headed with that in this post), but we're patiently waiting for the completion of the double sided fireplace and all the trim work this room is also getting.
The fireplace is underway right now (should be nearly finished this week!) and I think that original arched door should be back in place sometime soon, too! This space was never a part of the house. It was an enclosed hot tub room when we bought the house, but now I can't imagine our home without it. And yes, our first dinner party here will have formal invitations. :)
OMG! This is GORGEOUS. I was just getting ready to order honed marble for our new additionwhen I came across this. WIthout a doubt just as beautiful and so much easier than marble. How were the edges when they cut down to 24x24? Did they have to do anything extra that you know of? My husband is just trying to gauge how much extra work it will take for him to mkae it all uniform.
With the mandatory quarantine, you inspired me to finally update my kitchen and dining room combo with this tile. Will you share the grout that you chose? I can't find where you linked it. Thanks so much and great job!!!!
Hi! I've run across your blog here and there over the years but never got fully reeled in. (Did you write a post a looooong time ago about questions you ask each other to stay connected and feel loved? Or was that someone else? Because I loved that post but can't seem to find it.)
Anyway I just stumbled on you again while researching dining tables and I just love your style. I live in Italy right now so I'm hoping to find a "real deal" table, but it's hilarious how RH and other US companies imitate the Italian style as well as (if not sometimes better than) what I can find here. Thank you for giving me hope that when we have to return to the states in a few years, maybe I'll be able to create a touch of the European feel in our future home.
I'm also very sorry for the loss of your cabin. She looked like a real beauty. Obviously it's such a relief that no one was there, but what you wrote about it having a soul really resonated with me. Lessons of love and attachments in life are always tough ones to bear.
I look forward to see what art you put on the walls. Over the years only one piece of art have you chosen that I didn't personally care for, but all others have blown me away. I especially love the moody ones you pick.
Holy crap - the view from the large arched door, through the dining room, and through the archways into the living room...AMAZING!!!! It's just so beautiful. I can't believe there was a time when you were only going to have one archway! So happy to see this coming together for your family. You will make so many memories in here!
Oh my WOW! It is more beautiful than I imagined! I am actually not at ALL a fan of black and white checked tile...but these tiles are stunning and together, they are a dream. Just have to day - my favorite clip from the video is the girls dancing & spinning on the new floor. :)
I have to say... I'm an architect and my tastes tend more modern/midcentury so initially I was a little wary of the more traditional checkerboard pattern. But holy moly, this is stunning, you have totally converted me to the idea and I can't wait to see what you guys do furnishing the space.
It's so beautiful! I think you'll be very happy you chose porcelain. I clean homes for a living and the natural stone floors like travertine and marble stain easily and you have to be very careful what you use to clean them because a lot of cleansers will damage the sealant on them, so it makes them difficult to clean. You were smart with your choice!
Your design continues to inspire. We built a washroom around the one in your previous home and have zero regrets. We loved the mirrors and lights and duplicated them in our Reno.
I would love to know more about the doors your chose for the dining room. We are replacing a garden door this year. ????
Thanks in advance!
That insta closeup of the floor (with your feet in loafers) sold me on what was previously a materials choice I wasn't entirely sure about. Suddenly I caught this vision of a substantial, ageless stone and wood home with an old world feel. Mmmm yes!
What a beautiful room and the fact that it will also be so full of function makes it doubly beautiful. This room will be the backdrop to so many memories for your family. Not only Thanksgivings and Christmases but birthday parties, sleepovers, hot summer afternoons and chilly white snow days.
The picture where you can see all the way through your living room into the breakfast nook & kitchen I saw the arched cabinet you bought for the kitchen phase I and thought it was another doorway and couldn't place where in the world that door led...and then I realized it was that cabinet. The arches match perfectly.
Wow, it looks FANTASTIC. Really stunning. I'm super impressed with how meticulous your tile crew was - they cleaned up! And as soon as I saw it, I thought "dance floor opportunity," so it was fun to see your girls twirling on it!
I LOVE the matte finish, it looks almost ethereal, kind of dreamy. We are looking at marble vs porcelain for our master bath renovation, any suggestions on not going with marble? I am leaning away from it for upkeep purposes, but my husband loves the marble! Help a girl out :)
Well it's just amazing looking. And I love the pair of openings on either side of the fireplace. I love the view from each one. Question about the heated floors: just how reliable are they? How would you ever repair them if something went wrong?
Our home is about 25 years old with the heated floors elsewhere still going strong. Our heated front sidewalk just went out this winter and the electrician said we just need to replace the thermostat mounted in the garage and it would be good as new. So I think pretty reliable!
I'm picturing your daughters as teenagers and how you created such an amazing space for special occasions like dinner before dances. It was always a struggle to find age appropriate ways to participate in more 'grown up' activities when they really aren't grown up yet!
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