what's old is new...

or how I took all of my old stuff
and used it in a new way.
kitchen 2012

Before we get started
let's review 
what I was going for:

VINTAGE-that almost goes without saying

WHITE-lots of it

LACE-a bit here and there

WOOD-to warm things up

PRIMITIVE-a touch but not too country

NEUTRALS-gotta have ironstone and tea-stain, too

and

ROSES.

 Let's start here.

This is where I spend most of my time:
doing dishes!

First, we  removed the cabinet doors under the sink.

Yes, I got the look.

the areyoucrazy look

We'll just say I pulled out the
 it's my christmas present  card.

 After I reassured My Mr. that the doors  would be safe
and 
that we could always put them back on if we wanted to,

he willing obliged.

Next, I unburied my sewing machine.

We tried to act like we've always been bff's

but let's just say it was awkward at times.

Hats off to those of you that sew...

Me? 
I'll take a paint brush.

Anyday.

I made the curtain and the ruffle (you are impressed, aren't you?) 
out of a dropcloth 
and installed it with one of those spring-ey type curtain rods.  
I found mine at our old-fashioned hardware store.

I also had  My Mr. remove those double faux fake panels under the sink and cut me a single piece.

 I applied a glazed rose applique' from my supply stash.

The hardware matches my pantry and was found on ebay.

Moving to the right are my glass cabinets.

I have narrowed down 
my everyday dishes  
to  vintage white.

Are you surprised?

The dishes got a little lost with the white background

so we  My Mr.
 cut a thin board  to fit the back of the cabinet.

I covered it with  leftover  embossed  wallpaper, 

 painted a base coat of my wall color,
and

 glazed it with walnut stain.

Oh, more lace.

I do love me some old lace.

I love this piece of chippy rusty metal.
I found it at The Shabby House.

My BAKERY sign that I made

 to the left of the sink

 is  the pantry 

in case you missed it

you can read about my pantry project

here

 and

here

aww...chippy, brown ironstone
I already had it hanging there with the rusty fencing
I think it shows up even better now.


The ceiling is covered 
with an embossed paintable wallpaper
that looks like  tin ceiling 
and 
painted with high gloss paint.

the chandy
was hanging in the barn for the barn sales


another "pleeeaaase, it's my christmas present,
 won'tcha  please put it in here?
It will be easy."

See the fridge?

Those things are hard to hide...
I have always wanted to have a built-in fridge.

This one really is too big for the space.

It is the one we had when we moved in

and it just keeps on a-runnin'

I'm saving my pennies for one 
of those 
fancy-schmancy french-style ones

in a 30 or 32 inch size..then we'll build it in.

Here's the top of the fridge.

LET TRU-BLU BE YOUR BAKER

I've had this baking powder sign for 25 years.
My Mr. uncovered it in a wall 
 in one of our first homes.
 It's kind of special.

I think it is perfect.

The high chair is from my grandmother.
My babies used to sit in it 
when we went to her home for dinner.

 rust, lace, numbers and roses

I loved how this corner turned out.

A few of my favorite things

more chippy white

before and after


I traded out the buffet for the dark wood piece
It was in the barn...I use it for a display piece for the sales.

Did you notice that I finally put that  rose print IN a frame?
This gorgeous frame was stashed in the hallway to my bedroom.
Doesn't everyone have a stash of picture frames lining their hallway? 

 a sweet trivet found thrifting
advertising a bakery from a small neighboring town
one of my  rose teapots
my perfectly rusty birdcage

a few answers to some questions that have been asked:


1. curtain rings found at wal-mart


2. the wood countertops
island: oak  slab/food-grade epoxy clear
we put that on for durability
pantry : pine / polyurethane clear finish
this area won't get much use or water
the main countertops are still formica with a wood edge

I am in love with my kitchen...I have only purchased a few items...
mostly it was paint and re-arranging and using what I had in a new way. 
 There are still a few things that I want to do...
aren't there always?  

linking up:

White Wednesday @ Faded  Charm 

Tuesday Cowgirl Up @ The Farmhouse Porch 

Cozy Home Scenes

Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time

Tuesday's Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday @ Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

PRIMP Your Stuff @ (PRIMP)

Thriftin' on a Thursday @ Savvy City Farmer

Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence

 Remember my pantry project?

part 1

from here 

to here

next, we moved on to part 2

I showed you this corner

it was even less efficient 

this was where stuff  was piled on the floor

and 

remember 

how I told you 

that the only, original sink was in the  pantry?

There it is..under that piece of sheeting. 

We put it  there to add a bit of extra counter space.

purty, isn't it?

Really now, I had a hard time with this

Don't we all want  farm sinks, right now?

 Those that know me

know that

i.am.a.purist.

especially, when it comes to old stuff .

But, girls, I am on a mission

to finish this house and clean it up.

The sink did not help me to reach those goals.

If I wanted to get that stuff off of the floor,

the sink had to go.

(It's not gone forever...I am still brainstorming

for another place to put it)

I moved in this bookcase

It is an old one that I picked  at Stars

and have moved it all over  the house

trying to find a good home for it.

It fits perfectly here.

I will probably find a small microwave that will fit  on the shelf.

After the storage was complete

I could move on to what I really love to do.

Playing with pretties.

 a window treatment I'm playing around with

I used a vintage apron

 a collection of mini white ironstone pitchers

 The chair landed there by accident.

I needed something to stand on

and 

once it was there

I really liked it...

We'll see if it is in the way or not.

 I want to show you my sweet cake box 

I found thrifting 

a couple of years ago.

"She is dressed for a ball, awaiting Werther, and he arrives to find her in the midst of her young brothers and sisters, cutting bread for their supper."

Aren't those sweet words? 

Just don't look it up on google..the novel isn't so much.

I love  how this space has turned out.

It is so bright, fresh, clean

and

pretty.

It has become one of those spaces that give old houses 

so much charm and character...

Even putting groceries away is fun...for now.

I am almost finished working in the rest of the kitchen.

I'll be back soon to show you all.

White Wednesday @ Faded  Charm 

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday @ Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

PRIMP Your Stuff @ (PRIMP)
Thriftin' on a Thursday @ Savvy City Farmer