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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

this is my kitchen

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Welcome to my kitchen. It’s so nice to be back!!!!

It seems like forever since I last blogged, between getting sick and then trying to catch up with Life. Whew, yesterday we just sent Michael off to his senior retreat until Friday, so I plan on getting some things done around here.

First things first. Buy some fresh flowers. Clean the kitchen. And of course, invite you in. 

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There’s something incredibly Spring-like about the fluffy, white blossoms of the pussy willow, don’t you think?

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I’ve never done a post on my kitchen before, and quite a few of you have asked about it. The real reason is that the lighting in here isn’t the best. But I just discovered this wonderful website that’s helping me learn all about my Nikon D90. Check it out if you’re a beginner like me. I’m finally figuring out about aperture and F-stops and ISO, which is what I need to know in order to shoot good photos in here.

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My kitchen is not grand or particularly big. No custom cabinetry in here. These were the original orangey, stock oak cabinets that were painted white. (Someday I’ll share my horror-story with our painter, but that’s a whole other post).

Those glass paned doors? I think we found our same style doors at Home Depot (this was years ago) purchased them, and simply took them to a local glass shop for the glass inserts. As you can see, the microwave simply sits on the counter.

My next kitchen project will be to paint these black chairs and table. It’s part of my “lightning up” phase. Remember my white bricks? Well this is the same room.

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I’ve never really had a decorating budget (maybe when we write our last tuition check?) so there’s lot’s of DIY projects around here.

We put a pot rack overhead because the ceilings are so high. I consider myself a vintage décor gal living in a more contemporary floor plan so I’m not a fan of the angular ceilings. You have to work hard to create coziness.

Which reminds me, I need to lower my chandelier. We lifted it for one of our parties and forgot to put it back again, in case you noticed.

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I chose tumbled marble for our backsplash and granite for the island, and although it’s been wonderfully durable, I chose it for its resale value rather than my love of it. And here we are, eleven years later… haha. You can check out my Pinterest kitchen board to see what I might choose these days.

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I hang old baskets for warmth. And I’ve got one of my favorite antique trunks overhead too. Do you see it?

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I have large Saltillo looking porcelain tiles throughout the house and although it creates a feeling of warmth when you enter my home…now that we’ve had wood upstairs, I’ve fallen in love with wood. The tiles have been amazing for ease and durability though. While the boys were growing up I had annual Halloween parties, Christmas caroling parties, and birthday parties, with tons of kids. And I’ve never worried one bit about my home.

I think scratches and dings and smudgy fingerprints are a home’s laugh lines. I’ve got a few, and so does my house.

And for adult parties, tile floors transform into great dancing floors.

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I love my double ovens. It was the best spurge if you love to cook and host family get-togethers.

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Remember when I re-decorated my office? Well I brought the old black and cream valance in here. Yep, just taped it from the inside. I’m not sure how long I’ll keep it here but for now I like it.

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I like to use old silver (plated) pieces for storage. Next to the coffee pot I have stir sticks and sugar and tea packets hidden inside.

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An old trophy holds some kitchen utensils.

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Here’s a shot of the other side of the room. Do you want to see how dark and red the bricks looked before I painted them with ASCP? Go HERE.

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A few final thoughts

When we bought our house it was considered a total fixer-upper. I still remember finding a drawer filled with real estate broker cards because of all the people who must have looked at it and rejected it. And of course, we tackled the kitchen first, knowing that we had so many other things to do.

I now wish I had waited a bit longer, so I would have grown into my taste more. But since I can’t change all the brown tones in here, I’ve been using a white paintbrush to change things. I think our houses reflect who we are at any given moment, so I guess it’s natural they keep changing with us.

Maybe this is the motto of a true DIYer, eh?

Today I’m just grateful for everything I have. And I’m loving that my Flu is gone, and that you’re here today visiting.

 

xoxo

Leslie

 

I’m linking up at these creative places:

 

32 comments:

CEO Lisa Anne - L.A said...

Dear Leslie,
I love your spacious kitchen! It is gorgeous! I would love to have all those cabinets. Love your granite countertop! The roses & pussy willows are so pretty! Glad you are feeling better. Thanks for sharing.
hugs,
Lisa

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Glad your feeling better Leslie and I'm so glad you shared your pretty kitchen with us!! I think all your rooms are cozy and I love the way you accessorize them!

michele said...

so charming, leslie. my favs are the double ovens (want!) and that trophy put to excellent use.

kitchens tend to look outdated quickly. ours is 6 years new but beginning to look a little frumpy to me. she needs to be sexified along with my dining room. a backsplash will prob help her.

thanks for the peeks!

michele

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

what a beautiful kitchen! love the tiles!!

Unknown said...

Not Grand or particularly big?
OMG!
It's Grand - AND it's big - And it's absolutely beautiful!!!
Love the flowers
Hugs,
Suzan

Sew a Fine Seam said...

It's lovely Leslie! And it is huge compared to my kitchen! Now that my girls are getting bigger we stumble all over each other trying to work together in the kitchen :)

Mom and Camera said...

Gorgeous pussy willows and photos. So spring-like! Thanks for the link today! ♥

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I think it is grand AND big!!! I love it. Our tastes sure DO change over th yeras. We built our last house and I had blonde oak cabinets for 29 years! I ended up hating them and wanting to paint them but my hubby wouldn't hear of it. We just movd and I now have black cabinets that I LOOOOOVE!!!! Your flowers are beautiful, I need to get some fast. Love your pot rack too, again, had one in the old house. Maybe I should do one again. XO, Pinky

Natashalh said...

Wow, it's beautiful! I love the backsplash and the flower arrangement is a fantastic touch.

Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside said...

Absolutely beautiful! I love the tall ceilings and the vignette up top!

Marissa Deen said...

I love your baskets! They're so cozy. :)

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Leslie, I am glad you are feeling better! Your kitchen is really big and very pretty. Love the trophy and the cute floral arrangement. Thanks for sharing your kitchen at the Open House party.
xx, Sherry

Christy James said...

Um, hello? Your kitchen is GORGEOUS! I want to pin your valance but don't see a pin button. I'll check you out on Pinterest and have a look. You really do have a beautiful kitchen and thanks for giving us the "no big deal" secrets behind it all cause it makes us feel like we could have it, too...someday:)

XO,
Christy
http://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com

Bonnie said...

You did a great job in your kitchen. It is so spacious and inviting. Your flowers are so pretty and has just a happy feeling.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Leslie, YOu are way to hard on your kitchen. I think it is really gorgeous!!! I love the glass cabinets and the room and the backsplash and your windows!!!! Beautiful!!!!!
Hope you are totally on the mend... flowers will make you feel better!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Beautiful, warm and inviting. I love your kitchen, along with the great job you did and all the pretty vignettes! Hugs,
FABBY

Christy James said...

I found your valance and pinned it, plus a couple of other things too:) You have such great taste! (That's why I subscribe!)

Enjoy the rest of your week and glad you're feeling better!
XO,
Christy

AntiqueChase said...

stunning kitchen! love everything!

DIYbyDesign said...

Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful. The flowers are so pretty too. Thanks for joining in at DIYbyDesign. Happy to have you be a part of the party.

The Divorced Lady's Companion to Living in Italy said...

Very glad you're well. But you're putting me in deco mode. I think I need to repaint my kitchen and report back to you! Xcat

Anonymous said...

Hi Leslie! I'm glad you're feeling better. The flu was nasty this year. The pussy willows are beautiful. I'm thinking you need to do some flower arranging posts! Your kitchen and house are just lovely. Thank you for sharing your home with us. BEAUTIFUL!

Unknown said...

I'm so glad you're feeling better, Leslie...your kitchen is wonderful...I've just bought some pussy willow which I mix with eucalyptus looks so pretty as do the roses.
Keep well ;-)
Catherine
xx

Pamela said...

Wow your kitchen is amazing. I love how big it is! Thanx for sharing it with us at THT.

Ladies Holiday said...

I love the splashes of orange against hte more neutral tones...lovely kitchen- cook us up something good!

Pitter and Glink said...

I'm so glad you're feeling better! I adore your kitchen. It looks so bright and open!

Unknown said...

I just keep thinking it does not look like a kitchen that get cooked in

Anonymous said...

I love your kitchen, and if it is working hard for you while raising a family, why change a thing? When we bought our home 12 years ago the kitchen had just been redone, and not to my taste, but it worls so well that I have come to love it for what it is!

Art and Sand said...

You say your kitchen isn't large - I think my (really Steve's) kitchen would fit into your kitchen at least twice. I want so much to do the glass front doors, but not on all of them and I don't know if the style door we have will work. It is just 99 days until I retire so maybe I will take time to investigate. I think the glass looks so classy. We painted our cabinets white a few years ago and it totally brightened up the kitchen.

I would love to come by, eat and kick up my heels on your Saltillo tiles.

Pam Kessler said...

Glad you're feeling better. I would love to hear your cabinet story. I have always resisted painting my cabinets, but just recently have been toying with the idea. Yours look wonderful though. I'm anxious to hear how they've held up over the years. And why did I not know you were on Pinterest. I'm slightly addicted to that place.

Lori said...

Love, love, love your kitchen! Glad you are feeling better!

Mommy Evolution said...

May I have your kitchen? Please share it on a terrific linky – Design Décor Tuesday. www.designdecortuesday.blogspot.com. See you there! ☺

Unknown said...

It's simply lovely. It looks homey and comfortable.I think you've done a great job!

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