Friday, July 15, 2011

Kitchen Talk and a Recipe

Hubby and I spent the 4th of July weekend painting in the kitchen.  Let me rephrase that.  Hubby spent the 4th of July weekend painting in the kitchen.  I did make seven layer dip and margaritas though!  And I did let him leave to go watch fireworks!

We updated our kitchen about 5 or 6 years ago, and it is time to be updated again.  Our cabinets are white and our island and vent a hood were an antiqued pale blue, left over from my French Country days.  We really didn't like that faux look anymore, so hubby painted them white and it made such a difference!  We also took down the hanging pot rack from over our island and it really opened our small kitchen up.

Up next, new counter tops to replace our granite tiles, a swinging door going into the dining room, and some wallpaper!  Would love to do something like this from China Seas.  Of course I am looking for the budget version!






I will keep you posted.  Anyway, here are some cottage style kitchens that I really like from Southern Living.


Cozy Cottage Kitchen

Great lucite bar stools, blending modern with traditional.

Phase 1: Renovating

I love the backsplash, the counter tops, and the modern pulls.  These details keep this kitchen from being boring!



Creative Cabinets

LOVE the collection of white cake stands on the shelves!  What a great idea to put on those open areas on top of the cabinets!

Phase 2: Decorating

What a cozy eating nook.  So stylish!


Artistic Expression

Chic gallery wall!  Don't leave artwork out of your kitchen.  And you don't even have to use a rooster motif!

Ikea has a saarinen style table for under $200 if you like that look for your kitchen!

DOCKSTA Dining table, white Diameter: 41 3/8 " Height: 29 3/8 "  Diameter: 105 cm Height: 75 cm






Create an Illusion of Space

This kitchen is another favorite!  The dining room is a great example of mixing modern and traditional with the antique display case and the lucite chairs!  Love it!

If you like that look, Ikea has some similar chairs to the ones in the dining room.

TOBIAS Chair, clear, chrome plated Width: 21 5/8 " Depth: 22 " Height: 32 1/4 " Seat width: 18 7/8 " Seat depth: 18 1/8 " Seat height: 17 3/8 "  Width: 55 cm Depth: 56 cm Height: 82 cm Seat width: 48 cm Seat depth: 46 cm Seat height: 44 cm

Pair them with an old dining room table found at the thrift store!


Small Kitchen Design Ideas: Galley Layout

I love the huge ball lighting!  So much better looking than florescent!


Small Kitchen Design Ideas: Details Make a Difference

Open shelves are perfect for displaying everyday objects like coffee mugs.  Use all white mugs for a more cohesive look!


I do appreciate a modern, streamlined kitchen, but these cottage kitchens that blend new and old are more my style!  All this talk of kitchens has got me hungry.  Here is a recipe for Hurry Up Chicken Pot Pie that my family loves!  It is from Paula Deen, so you know its good!  And I always leave out the hard-boiled eggs, and it still tastes delicious!

3 comments:

  1. Just updated my kitchen as well. After having white, white, beige.... I warmed it up to a more rustic look. It is my favorite room in the house. I did not want granite because EVERYBODY has granite, So I chose a chocolate fossilized tile and decorative vcaps, amber glass tile diamond inserts in the backsplash, bigger 18x18 tiles on the floor same color family, kept cabinets white and got all stainless steel appliances and oil rubbed bronze hardware and fixtures, for the adjoining eat in kitchen we painted it Behr's Tibetian Orange and all of my colorful pottery and paintings are in there. The more color the better! :)
    Erin

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  2. Erin, your kitchen sounds beautiful! I agree, I love color too!

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  3. My sister recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
    Kitchen Equipment

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