First of all, I am honored to be “guesting” at Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps of the Porch. It’s a killer weekly linky party, so check it out! Thanks so much, Susan, for letting me share some of my transformations with your readers.
Speaking of transformations, I am having a blast working a bit on my own home. I painted the kitchen ceiling, walls and trim yesterday and then spent the evening arranging accessories. Some girls like to go out dancing…others like nice dinners…I just want to play with my accessories on a Saturday night.
Can I get a witness?
Anyway, here’s what I came up with…
I collected smaller things in metal baskets and on platters to give the counters a cleaner look. I’ve always been one who puts too many things on my counters (mainly because I’ve never had counters I liked), but it gets silly, so I simplified.
I don’t have an official back splash at the moment. Well, I do, but it’s dry wall. I would love tile or bead board, but that has to wait until I can get new counters. Leaning large platters against the wall act as a “back splash” in lieu of a real one. This is a great trick for those who rent as well.
I decided to throw out my traditional paper towel holder, which I never really liked, and tucked a few rolls in a zinc basket. An antique “horse powder” box holds brushes, a mustard crock with Bakelite flatware and some other little things.
An ironstone platter holds cooking essentials on hand by the cook top. Well, the cow creamer isn’t exactly essential, but it looks cute there.
Ironstone and transferware dishes are held on an antique French market balance (a recent acquisition from an antique store.)
I filed all of my “pretty” cook books in a vintage wire locker basket. It keeps them accessible, but organized.
I ordered my hardware today for my kitchen cabinets and purchased the fabric for the family room curtains. I hope to buy the paint for my kitchen cabinets tomorrow, so I can keep the makeover going while I have momentum.
Oh! And I got my cow this weekend! Well…one of them…there has been an exciting new development in the whole bovine story.
More to come…
46 Responses
Darling kitchen. I love the wire basket with the cookbooks in it. Looking forward to seeing your bovine painting! 🙂
Best to you~
Karen
http://www.designthejourney.blogspot.com
Can't wait to see the painting!! And your painted kitchen cupboards. I was so excited to see the title of your post tonight…because I've JUST gotten to the "details" part of my kitchen reno. This project has lasted a YEAR and I can't wait to play with the accessories!! LOVE your cookbooks in the wire basket…great idea.
I'm a stay at home on a Saturday night and play with accessories kind of girl too! Love the new looks!
This is my first post after eyeing your awesome blog for a few weeks! I want to just say that you are just an inspiration re: DIY stuff! The hubby and I (and our two kiddos) bought our very first house (it's a fixer), and the info on your blog really helps me know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel in regards to projects that seem like they'll never end!!! Thanks again! I am a a new follower!!! 🙂
Isn't it wonderful how the everyday items in life can be so beautiful. I love how you arranged them all on trays and baskets.
oh and cool ideas re: your kitchen accessories!!! 🙂
I've always loved corralling things with trays! I can't wait to see your cow picture, I want one too!
Judy
It's fun rearranging or reorganizing.
I am so excited to see your cow and hear about the "whole bovine story."
I'm loving the way you've displayed everything. Your cabinets are really pretty, they'll look great painted. I wish I had the energy that you have, can you sell me some? LOL
LOVE the kitchen, and the cow is adorable!
In my last house, I had no tile on the backsplash either. I used several tricks you did, but I also hung a picture or two. Maybe frame an old recipe written out in your Mother's or Grandmother's hand along side an old photo of the special person. If it's framed with glass it can be cleaned off easily. Just an idea.
HOw fun!! I'm just working on "cleaning up" my kitchen as well and LOVE your ideas for groupings, esp. the cookbooks. I'm searching for an old basket around the house now. 🙂 We JUST installed my new kitchen cupboards and counter top this evening. My back is killing me! :S Can't WAIT to see how you paint yours!! 🙂
my husband takes the kids camping each summer. i keep my plans open so i can follow what i need to make my week most productive. this year, those unpainted cabinets he made will be treated to some mustardseeding. the cabs are sans doors, and will be gifted with some dropcloth drapes.
now i feel that the ceiling and walls need the treatment too. stop giving me so many ideas! i may not be able to hold out til they go.
i am so excited… thank you for motivating me to update things. xow.
I like all these accessories. Looks very organised in the kitchen:)
Love the vignettes you created around your kitchen. Very cool! I need to do this as well!
Makes it cleaner and more organized! Love it!
And congrats on finding your "cow"!! Can't wait to see him/her!
Hugs
SueAnn
Love your use of baskets and trays for creating your beautiful and functional vignettes!
Hello Marian,
Looking forward to your kitchen makeover….I know it will be beautiful.
Enjoy the process!
janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Lovely. So fresh looking and that shopping basket for cookbooks – am SO inspired to copy the look!
wow, beautiful,, just lovely,, I love this
I constantly play with my countertops, I go from sparse and more sparse to completely decked out, trying the in-between look right now. I love my Ivory Tusk painted cabinets and am painting my refrigerator Old white by Annie Sloan as I write, the dishwasher too. Cheaper than new appliances. Hope it turns out. Have a great week.
I love the way you organized the stuff in baskets, it looks great and very practical. Guys like that word.
Marian,
Looking forward to seeing what color you use on your kitchen cabinets! I just scored a locker basket this weekend and wondered where I'd be using it. My cookbooks have found a new home!
Your Friend,
Deborah
I beg your pardon Miss Mustard Seed…a cow creamer is totally essential. Great inspiration as always. Good luck with your cabinets. I'm off to our antique mall to find some wire baskets. :o)
Nicely done! I know what you mean…I tend to crowd mine…because I HATE my counter tops…I need new ones…when we moved in…i thought we could just change them out…but like everything you never know where your money will need to go…I love what you did…simple and functional…
I went to the Annie Sloan Chalk class this past weekend…I had so much fun and learned a few tricks on how to use the chalk paint…I will post 3 ways to use it…soon…Ill post my practice boards today or tomorrow…:)
I would love to talk to your artist about painting a cow for me…If she wants more orders…
Xo, Meme
I know this sounds silly, but my favorite thing is the paper towel idea. I have a big (albeit cute) wrought iron one that I love, but it takes up a ton of space and the hubby has a hard time with it. He yanks his paper towels off, the whole roll comes flying off, then, well, let's just say it is a pet peeve of his. This is a fantastic idea! Can't wait to use your idea (my hubby thanks you in advance as well 🙂
Hi! Looks great. Love the chairs. What kind of counters r u doing? You should send your pics to Ballard design ,Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware , TM'd of coarse,to see if they want to hire you as a design consultant. Not kidding.Or there's a great wholesale co. called Vagabond Vintage, (Atlanta market).You are that good.
Mary
RENONFL@YAHOO.COM
Love using baskets, trays to corral the smalls on counters, tabletops etc. Great idea to use vintage trays against your backsplash to be!
Blessings!!
Thank you, these are very inspiring ideas!
Love you blog, just found it thru naps on the porch.
Your pictures are great! What camera do you use? I'm in the market for a new one..
my DIY blog is 53rdst.blogspot.com
Casual elegance at its finest. Makes me want to cook. 🙂
If you get a chance, please stop by and enter the giveaway I am hosting on my blog.
Happy Monday!
I have been blog-stalking painted cabinets blogs and YouTube posts. I can't wait to see what you do with your kitchen. My too-modern kitchen needs some white paint and sanding!
Great accessories! I love the idea of using a small platter as a tray for stuff.
love it all, but especially the wire basket for the favorite cookbooks. lovely!
Marian, I am living my imaginary kitchen redo through you right now! I can't wait to see what you do to yours! We recently bought an 1890's farmhouse (which was updated in the 1990's) and I'd love to transform the kitchen into a much simplier, cleaner look. Right now it has round edged maple cabinets, green marble countertops, blue-grey tile floors and up until a week ago, it had fruit-laden vine wallpaper! It hurt my eyes walking into that kitchen everyday! Slowly but surely, we'll have the kitchen that was meant to be in our farmhouse and you will too! 🙂
All I have to say is, "Your kitchen table…!" I have searched through the archives but could not find any details of the wide-planked top/finish. Would you kindly spill the beans?
I like the way you corraled your kitchen necessities on the countertop. It looks neat and orderly that way. We're having our new kitchen cabinets installed right now! I'm so excited and can't wait until they are all up. I'll be posting a blog about it when it's all finished. And I might just use a 'corral' for things on my new countertop! I love your blog! It's so fun and interesting to see all the things you refinish. Take care. Blessings, Pamela
beautiful!!! ok so seriously Im going to fly out to VA to visit you and get some photography taking tips! I LOVE your photographs!! and you have the same camera & lens as me- so how come mine dont look like yours?!! *sigh*
I am off to restyle my kitchen now! You know the Nester is a renter so she wedged beadboard between the cabinets and counters in place of a backsplash. My kitchen is from 1967, with newer appliances. The cabinets are still good, but the floor is linoleum. Got to bite the bullet sometime. Got my Annie Sloan Paint today. Do you think it would work on kitchen cabinets? Ann
Cookbooks in the basket! love that idea….smiles.
Don't even notice the countertops and backsplash with all of those cute accessories!
Love that little cow!! Great ideas… thanks for sharing
Wow i like the given pictures of kitchen on your post and thanks for such a wonderful post ..
Great Post!! I am eager to see your kitchen makeover. I will follow your blog to get more information.
This post is really too informative to us, good and suitable collections of images and good description by which any one can get information what they want to this post…….As for as my thinking is concerned this one is the best post.
Thanks for sharing such a informative post.
Kitchen Accessories
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Kitchen Accessories