Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Kitchen

Well here it is, the long awaited kitchen reveal.  Is it finished? Of course not, because nothing in this house is EVER finished, so you might as well see it as we go.  I think I may be entering my "blue" period. I love how fresh and different everything looks, but I am already looking for ways to incorporate a little red here and there.  I like to stretch myself a little but I still need some of my favorite things and colors :>) Don't we all?
So grab a cuppa, this is a longer post than usual but I just had to show you the progress
A small collection of blue and white plates adds some color to the corner
I looked back at my archives, it looks like the last time I painted was 2010. I find it fascinating how my taste has changed over the years. I credit blogging and especially Pinterest. It's so easy to gather rooms I love on a pinboard and then analyze what they all have in common. 
 
That is a real boon for someone like me who,
a. Tends to fly by the seat of my pants without a plan when decorating.
b. Likes so many different things it can make me confused about what I want and where I want to go with my decorating.
 
This is the 2010 mini remodel. It really brightened up the kitchen but it wasn't long before I realized it just wasn't doing it for me. I had abdicated and let my daughter choose the color. It was pretty, but it wasn't me.
And just for grins this is what the kitchen looked like before that. Yikes! This was one of those times that I woke up and decided to paint that day, (see point a. above). Earl was gone hunting, I had a day off and that is just how impulsive I can be. I did this in early November, just before the holidays and I am sure that the warmth of the color going into a cold, dreary Michigan winter influenced my choices. I loved it at the time. It was fresh and warm and felt a little daring.
This is the same corner today.  Ahhhh, fresh cottage farmhouse.  We changed out the lights, painted the kitchen a warm creamy white (I dumped all my leftover whites together, no lie. The only bummer is I will never be able to get this color again.) I have all my paperwork junk hidden in that cute thrifted basket on the shelf, with another basket below to hold my potatoes. It works great, out of sight with enough air circulation that they don't spoil quickly.
Here is a larger view of the kitchen, quite a change from the dark red and oak cabinets of yesteryear.  We painted the cabinets right after the 2010 photo so they need some touching up already.  The wood countertop is from Ikea, of course, and it is by far the most economical counter material we could find.  The whole thing cost around $500 and I love it! It's warm and beautiful. We didn't stain it, just finished with natural dark tung oil and citrisolve which did darken it a little and is a fabulous finish. It is all natural, non toxic, (although we do not use our counter for cutting!), and best of all since we finished the counter in the winter when we were not able to open the windows, the tung oil had a citrus scent that was much easier to deal with inside than a stinky solvent smell.  I have already dripped paint on it (shhhh, don't tell Earl!) and didn't notice until the little drop was dry. It came right off without a trace when I picked at it with my nail. We applied extra coats around the sink and at first we were really careful to wipe up any drop of water we saw, but sooner or later you are going to have water you didn't see, glasses that sweat on the counter and leave a ring, etc. We have found that even those things have not left a mark, it has proven to be a very durable finish!
The curtains were found at Salvation Army last week for $2.99 each. I saw buffalo check valences at Kohls at 60% off clearance that same day for $12.99 which means I got a great deal. I had been thinking of buying buffalo check fabric and these saved me a lot of time and money. I like the color they add and the fact that they don't block the light.  I am enjoying all the white, but you know by now, I have to have some color or I'm just not happy.
The lights are from Home Depot, I was afraid they would glare when we bought them, but I really loved the look. I am happy to report that they cast a wonderful light and don't glare at all. The glass shades are beautiful when we turn on the lights and I love the farmhouse look they give.
The beautiful Irish linen tea towel by the sink was a giveaway win from my friend Barbara at Cornish Cream blog, sent all the way from England. It is gorgeous and I will always think of her when I use it :>)
I know it's wrong to love "things" but I have to say, my new white sink was l♥ve at first sight.  It looks nice and bright against the warm wood countertop and I'm not a stainless steel lovin girl. Earl was lobbying for stainless, but once we got this sink in he loved it too.
This little corner holds my aprons on the mosaic hook that I won from my dear friend Penny at The Comforts of Home. I love it every time I look at it and always think of her. She has been visiting this blog since almost the first post, and that is going on 8 years! I don't know how she found me, but I have been grateful so many times that she did. She is an encourager and kindred spirit and I hope we never lose touch :>)

And finally, the coffee corner, a little red geranium for a touch of my favorite color and a mug tree from World Market (super affordable!) makes this a spot we gravitate to many times a day. Again, coffee spills are a regular occurrence, but the countertop has not stained and seems to just get smoother with use.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed the tour:>)  Things are bound to change a little here and there, they always do, but this gives you a basic idea of what the kitchen looks like now.
Is there any remodeling in your future?
 
 

28 comments:

  1. Kathy, I absolutely love it! Everything is so light and bright and perfectly cottagey. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is so bright and cheerful and totally charming. Love the plates, the counters, the colors, and the sink. The light fixtures look wonderful, too. Well done! Good tips for finding your way through all the choices, too. That is always my problem.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You did such a great job Kathy. I love the cottage feel of it. Now I really want to paint! btw...your account is set to no reply blogger and I wasn't able to reply to a comment you left on my blog. Don't know it that is intentional or not.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Living the farmhouse feel of your kitchen. The counter tops are beautiful ... always wanted wooden countertops.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a difference painting the cabinets did....the kitchen looks adorable...I love those counter tops and would love to have anything but the granite I have...I hate granite!! and Ikea...who knew...but then again I spend half my life in Ikea...it's the best....so now you do need that little touch of red....just a touch...the geranium doesn't count...I would rush back to Ikea and get (only if you have a spot for it) that fabulous red cabinet they have with the glass doors...I have been wanting that for the longest time but no one will offer to build it for me....bummer :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a difference painting the cabinets did....the kitchen looks adorable...I love those counter tops and would love to have anything but the granite I have...I hate granite!! and Ikea...who knew...but then again I spend half my life in Ikea...it's the best....so now you do need that little touch of red....just a touch...the geranium doesn't count...I would rush back to Ikea and get (only if you have a spot for it) that fabulous red cabinet they have with the glass doors...I have been wanting that for the longest time but no one will offer to build it for me....bummer :(

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your kitchen looks so inviting! I love the butcher block counter top. We want to do something like that for our kitchen island. It's on the list....lol. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Kathy! Oh, your kitchen is just beautiful! Congrats on the redo. Now don't cook and mess it up! ;)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kathy
    Your wood counters are awesome!!
    I love it all, of course. I do like the few little touches of red you added.
    I have to some red in my kitchen too. I think it stems from my childhood!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kathy! I love how your kitchen turned out. It has that wonderful farmhouse feel to it. Airy and light with the cream and the contrast of the gorgeous wood counter tops! I too love your sink and those lights.

    Thank you for mentioning me. I am not sure how we found each other either, but it was a lot simpler then. There were very few blogs and we all kind of came together. I am so glad we did "meet" and I do know for a fact that someday we will meet in person.
    Love ya,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  11. So pretty! I love how it turned out.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your kitchen is just perfect! I love what you've done with it. Remodeling in my future? Well, not exactly - just hoping to finish the kitchen remodeling we started about a million years ago. We need to add cabinets to one wall that never had them, a bit of trim here and there and put glass doors on one set of cabinets. Oh, and paint the walls again! You inspire me, dear friend.
    ~Adrienne~

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your new kitchen! I did the same thing a few years ago. I went from dark green cabinets and wallpaper to white cabinets and light yellow walls. So fresh and "farmhouse." Thanks for sharing:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love every inch of your kitchen! You have such a flair for color in just the right places. Thank you for inviting us!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bwaaaaa...I wanted wood counter so bad!! I truly love everything, Kathy! And we are so alike it's scary...your a) and b) are totally me! We just hate to paint here so that may be one difference, it happens about every 10 years!!

    Wondering about the colors of your walls...in some pics it looks green.

    Love, love the cabinets. And the counters. Oh, I said that already.

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such a beautiful kitchen you have there Kathy...love that wooden counter looks so good with the white cabinets.
    The mug tree caught my eye right away, I just ordered it! Thanks for the heads up on it...so cheap!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kathy it looks great! Fresh and cottagey (and I love the plate arrangement). The wood counters looks so good with the white!

    White is hard to get used to (at least it was for me). I think I'd still rather have my green walls in my kitchen :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kathy,
    I love your new kitchen makeover. The white with the blue and touches of red is so lovely. I love the cupboards white and your wood counter pops. Now what's baking?

    We are in a rental house here in North Carolina, so nothing to makeover. Back home in Massachusetts, I would love to tackle the family room.

    Have a great weekend. Out to explore some more.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  19. So cute! I especially love the blue transfer ware plates (I collect and sell it so it's hard for it not to be my favorite!) and that Bakery sign is adorable!
    Your blog is so cute!

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your kitchen is gorgeous, Kathy! Love all you've done. Those lights are fabulous. Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love your kitchen. Could it be because it reminds me of mine a little big maybe? I too love the butcher block counter tops. And you are so right - they are far and above the most inexpensive way to go and SO WARM and inviting. I also finished mine in the dark tung oil and citrus solvent. Those products are so amazing. I keep them on hand for many other wood projects now. I love your kitchen. - Dori -

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your kitchen. Could it be because it reminds me of mine a little big maybe? I too love the butcher block counter tops. And you are so right - they are far and above the most inexpensive way to go and SO WARM and inviting. I also finished mine in the dark tung oil and citrus solvent. Those products are so amazing. I keep them on hand for many other wood projects now. I love your kitchen. - Dori -

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love your kitchen. Could it be because it reminds me of mine a little big maybe? I too love the butcher block counter tops. And you are so right - they are far and above the most inexpensive way to go and SO WARM and inviting. I also finished mine in the dark tung oil and citrus solvent. Those products are so amazing. I keep them on hand for many other wood projects now. I love your kitchen. - Dori -

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is an adorable kitchen, Kathy.
    Love your counter tops...
    Bet there's lots of good cookin' going on in there...:)
    I still have my cross I won from Penny several years ago. I'm trying to remember how it came about on you getting the heart...it rings a bell but....been too long ago.
    ANYway...love all your hard work here.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm crazy about checks too and your kitchen is totally charming. I LOVE it. The wood counters with the white cabinets is the perfect combination.

    Blessings!
    Spencer

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your kitchen looks fantastic! What a difference paint makes. I think we are going to go ahead and replace all of our tile counters with butcher block since our real kitchen reno is still years away. Yours look great and are inspiring me.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Kathy!!!! Your kitchen is delightful and JUST as I would love mine to look. You certainly have the farmhouse feel going on. LOVE the HD lighting and the buffalo check valances. Way to go!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)