With the New Year, I decided I was ready for a change in the kitchen. Something a bit more farmhouse, more rustic, and less fussy. Here is a picture of our kitchen taken by Jennifer at "The Old Painted Cottage" when she featured our home on her blog in August 2010.
I wanted to remove most of the floral elements, tole trays, bird houses, white accessories... It's a New Year and I'm ready for a change!! I decided that I would do this change without buying anything new, just use what I have on hand. When watching decorating shows they always tell you to remove everything so you can really see what needs to be done. So, I removed EVERYTHING from above the kitchen cabinets and placed it on my center island.
{Of course I didn't think this was going to be blog-worthy so I never photographed that mess...so sorry. I may never learn!}
I also didn't plan ahead because this wasn't really a smart move late in the afternoon... Taking everything off the upper cabinets at 5:00pm... Not only was there crap antiques all over our kitchen counters but my family decided they were hungry and I should feed them! Do you believe this? Can't they see that I'm very busy??
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese anyone??
(don't judge!)
After cooking a gourmet meal, I went around and "shopped my house" for rustic, farmhouse, vintage accessories I already owned. Opened closets, took pictures off walls, made a big mess... You know the drill! I put all my inspiration pieces in the kitchen and started to feel very overwhelmed.
What had I just started??
My kitchen cabinets are staggering heights. Since our home was completely rebuilt a few years ago, I often get asked if we designed the kitchen. We did not. We purchased the home after it's completion. I didn't choose any of the kitchen finishes although I would say the majority are my taste. Since the ceilings are very high, the builder went with a staggered look to the cabinets. I'm not sure I love this look and it certainly makes them hard to decorate. Nothing I place up there seems proportioned or well balanced. I really struggle with decorating this space.
I decided to take a few minutes to search blogs, Pinterest and magazines for kitchen ideas. You know what I found?? Everybody struggles with "over the cabinet" decorating.... It's Hard!!
So here's where I'm at today....
My Puritan Bakery box, which I found at Flea Market Wednesday, made the cut... It stayed in the same spot. I tried a few other pieces (a big basket, a large wicker trunk) but decided to stay with the wood box. I did remove the floral tray that was behind it.
I'm going to move to the "right" for each of the photos
so I can give you a tour...
The area over the microwave...
This area was the hardest in the entire kitchen. I originally had an antique tole bird cage and floral tole tray above the microwave (both for sale soon on Etsy). I replaced them with an old sifting screen, large scale, chunky glass/silver salt shakers, brown transferware platter, and a concrete baby chick... still not sure about this... does it look too staged?
Moving right again....
This area was a bit easier... I placed some lattice pottery, another (smaller) scale and a brown transferware platter. The platter is one of my favorites and it was hanging on the wall next to my kitchen table. Look at that empty nail....
I now have to find something to hang on the wall in it's place....
I also added an antique pickle jar which I purchased last year from Restoration Hardware in Woodland Hills, California. When that store was closing, RIP, I got this jar at 75% off... It was still expensive but worth every penny. I filled it with Vintage Silver plate which was purchased at a Thrift store. My family doesn't care for the dainty utensils but when I have a party, it's nice to have extra silverware...
Moving right again, you can see my favorite concrete chap...
Given to me by my mom...
after I begged her for years!
He's all decayed from being in my mom's garden... perfect patina!
The kitchen looking towards the {winter bare} backyard...
An antique fragment hangs over the sink. Probably from an old iron fence. I don't love the hooks that Mr. AntiqueChase used to secure it to the wall, but it's up for us me to enjoy.
It has remnants of old green paint which I just love...
A couple of vintage cement chickens
can watch over me while I do dishes...
An antique french basket over the fridge...
It has a fake ivy in it for a hint of color...
Wait... is that the phone ringing??
Yes it is!
1980 called and it wants its fake Ivy back??
Tell me...
Should I ditch the fake ivy or is it acceptable up there??
Now, looking back towards the sink...
Notice anything??
I moved my chicken crate
(which was under the coffee table in my prior post)
and it's now a plant stand of sorts....
Holding a real plant...
a succulent ring left over from my Thanksgiving table.
Just when you told me you liked the chicken crate under my coffee table...
I was too embarrassed to tell you I had already moved it!!
I removed the antique the bread boards that were propped over my stove...
I loved the bread boards there
but it started to feel too heavy.
For now,
I added a simple old drying rack...
I love the weathered wood...
the gray patina is fabulous!
I added a rustic tin chalkboard to the kitchen. Purchased in December from WUSLU. My teenagers always leave their dirty dishes in the sink...
they say
they can't tell if the dishwasher is 'clean or dirty'.... It's not that hard people!!! Open the dishwasher and look!
However, I am onto them...
and now there's no excuse!
I was using chalk to mark the "status" of the dishwasher... but Mr. AntiqueChase suggested using a magnet which works well. I need to find a cute magnet, or take some vintage do-dad and make one!
The wicker tray on the center island is new... I got it this week! I received a gift certificate to Restoration Hardware for Christmas. The tray was on clearance with an extra 10% off which make it a great price! The wicker is a grayish tone which matches my drying rack by the stove... It has a large rope detail on the top which looks beachy, like spring!! I placed three old demijohns in it. The demijohn bottles came right from my dining room table....
Old remnants of wicker and rope....
Some curly twigs thrown in...
I love the generous size of the basket on the island.
It's just what I needed!
Wow, it looks so clean right now...
deceiving!
Did I ever show you these little french prints above my kitchen desk?
I have 8 of them...
All purchased at flea markets
and I found four at the Salvation Army.
The glare is so bad on them, I'll show you more later...
Antique bread boards back in their french artillery basket...
And the pile on the floor by the fireplace...
the mess I am left with today...
stuff that didn't make the cut...
I will be
stuffing this all junk in the closet
selling this all at my next garage sale!
So, tell me...
Do you struggle with decorating over cabinets??
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