Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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


 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

65 comments:

EllenaElizabeth said...

Just love it and thanks for showing it all to us. I am more our less house bound and just love 'getting out' like this. Thanks for sharing.

shannon i olson said...

a trip to your blog always makes me so happy. I love your place!!

Shabby chic Sandy said...

You have my dream kitchen--I love everything you have done!

NanaDiana said...

Oh-It looks just wonderful. I'll bet it is your favorite room in the house. I love it all~from the curtain below the sink to the carriage on top of the fridge. You have a wonderful eye for display and using what you have. This is a place I could sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and a chat in any day of the week-xo Diana

Rebecca said...

Really charming, Miss Gracie! I like the fabric covering the under-the-sink storage. Softens things somehow...I'm all about natural wood - so like the island top & the piece you brought into replace the buffet...I like narrowing down the everyday dishes to all white, too.

OK. I like it ALL!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I so love the look of your kitchen. I am crazy about the doll in the stroller on the fridge...so pretty. I enjoyed the step by step descriptions!!

Anne said...

I just LOVE your kitchen.It looks AMAZING.Truly would be my dream kitchen/house if I had my wish.

debi said...

Positively gorgeous!! Your kitchen make-over is oh so dreamy.

On Crooked Creek said...

Rene,
This is lovely...Farmhouse Chic! I adore how you worked in all the elements that you love...lace, primitive, roses and rust!!! You are one brave lady...believe me when I say that I understand your relationship with your sewing machine! Mine...like our late cat...loves "Mr. Ed" and "puts up" with me! Ha! Thank you for showing us with a bit of creativity and a few dollars, we can use what we have and still enjoy the beauty of our homes!
Fondly,
Pat

miss flibbertigibbet said...

I am one of your new followers and I love what you've done with your kitchen! It's funny that you showed off the top of your fridge....my post today was asking "what's on top of your fridge" ....no cereal boxes allowed! LOL I love all the white and your old things are lovely. Hope you'll stop over and visit me too..
Lorraine

Gail said...

Thanks so much for the tour, its lovely!
I had to laugh reading about removing the doors beneath your sink! Why don't men have the vision that we do? Why oh why oh why? It adds sooooo much character to a space.
I love all of what you did!

chateau chic said...

Your kitchen is absolutely FABULOUS! I love it ALL!
Mary Alice

podso said...

I love what you did inside your cupboards behind the white dishes! So creative. Your kitchen is just lovely and I would feel very at home working in it! Thanks for the tour!

Rose Garden Romantic said...

Oh, I love your kitchen! I love vintage, lots of white, lace, neutrals, and roses, too! So pretty! Every last detail is perfect! I hope to have a cute vintage style kitchen like yours someday. I'm so tired of my rental kitchen with it's cheap wood cabinets and dark jungle green walls! Ewww!
Michelle

Anonymous said...

Your kitchen is amazing and your are clearly a very talented lady! I'm a new follower, can't wait to see more :)
Cas x

from me to thee......... said...

love the changes you made...what I REALLY love that caught my eye is, the dishes (ironstone, rose plates, pitchers tea pot) love when dishes are brocken, crazed, stained and well worn!!!! And the ironstone platters with the fence, AWESOME !!!!....bits of old lace, beautiful, just love it all!!

Pamela Gordon said...

Your kitchen is just beautiful! I love everything you did with it. You did a wonderful job with so many sweet touches. Pamela

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Oh my goodness I absolutely adore your kitchen redo!! I have to redo mine and you have completely inspired me ~

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

I adore your kitchen..You and I have alot of things in common style wise we are user of antique pieces..I love coming by see and seeing all you do..you do have that magic touch my dear friend..Love it all and love your blog..Now you have what I call country farmhouse at it's very BEST..Hugs and smiles Gloria

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

WOW Rene! Your kitchen makeover is absolutely AMAZING! Everything just pulled together so nicely, it looks so warm and inviting, rustic, yet feminine! I would spend hours in it...not cooking...just looking! (*_*) ~Stacy~

Cathy L. Calamas said...

i'm seriously in awe of your kitchen. Truly beautiful, peaceful, comforting and sweet.

Diane said...

Your kitchen is just beautiful Rene. I like the punch of the darker wood pieces with everything else. Thank you for sharing. I'm sure I'll refer back to it again and again. Diane

Seawashed said...

Oh my, I love your new kitchen too. I think it just may end up in a magazine Rene. You know how much I favor white...all shades of white...so I just adore what you have done. I too have dark wood with my whites. It is a comforting combo.

The Vintage Vagablonde said...

did u stain the formica and add wood to the edges as trim? We have formica in the rented mobile and its a dingy yellow. landlords are awesome and will let me make home improvements. just dont have the $ and since its not ours....we want to make simple changes.

As always.....u r amazing and have a flair for making things look beautiful!

we r on a 20 acre horse ranch and its wonderful but the mobile needs some updated....touches so it doesnt look ....well, like a mobile home...ha!

Unknown said...

I LOVE your kitchen! It looks amazing! I espescially love the old scales and the iron stone platters!

❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ said...

As always, you inspire me with what you do in your home! It is so homey, inviting and vintage...all things I love. I need to search through my small stash of things and bring revamp them OR go shopping for some of those 'this and that' vintage items. It's so much fun ;)

PCovi said...

wonderful, wonderful! I love it all!!!

Unknown said...

Oh my! I don't know where to begin. The display over the refrigerator I think is my favorite, notice I said think! Everything is so pretty but chippy too so it is perfect. You have a great eye for the details and know I should get out my vintage frames my mom gave me to use in displays too. Thanks for the idea.

vintageandart said...

l don't blame you for being in love with your kitchen...it's truly awesome, what fabulous taste you have.

Unknown said...

it looka realy beauty, I love to see that all, wonderful ! Specially I love your teapot, I love it ! big hugh Kathrin

Kathy said...

It looks fabulous!, I have really enjoyed watching your progress. I love it all

theromanticrose said...

Troppo bella!Dolce,romantica,vintage!Si respira profumo antico!Bravissima!Rosetta

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Your Kitchen is so full of charm!! I am so envious of your high ceilings leaving you so much more room to displays things!
Love your floors too!!
Just beautiful!!
Congrats on a project well done!!

Hugs,
Deb

the old white house said...

When what you already have is that fabulous, the results will be stunning! Everything looks just beautiful, every last detail... beautiful. The old sign is awesome, the fact that you found it in a wall and saved it shows me that we are kindred spirits, not that i didn't already think so!
Happy Wednesday!
t.xoxooxox

Sheila Rumney said...

Love all the details! Beautiful! Makes me want to go to shades of white.

Curtains in My Tree said...

You have a dream kitchen with all you good stash's of treasures. Love it all

makes me want to go home and rearrange my kitchen again

Ana said...

Oh Rene, You've got me ooohing and aaahing and a little bit of drooling too...Hee, hee, hee. I love everything little space in your dreamy kitchen. Beautiful job. Enjoy your new space.

Hugs and Kisses,
♥Ana

Elizabeth said...

I love the highchair and the top of your fridge and the chandelier and all the white,Oh I love it all!

Anonymous said...

Uh, speechless, beautiful, I have so much work to do!

Tina said...

Oh - I Love your kitchen. It´s SO beautiful. Love all the decorations and displayes - sign...

Cindy said...

Your kitchen looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I love it, Miss Gracie, it is so vintage and authentic looking, it's perfect in my humble opinion.
Hugs, Cindy

Anonymous said...

I LOVE every inch of your home! It looks so warm and comfortable...and you have the best treasures which I adore how you display each one of them.
I love coming to visit you...I get so many ideas. :)

The is the perfect kitchen to me.

xo Sarah

Passionate for White said...

I would kill for your kitchen!

Pieced Pastimes said...

Your kitchen is simply beautiful. I love all the wonderful vintage details. Using your "old stuff in a new way" seems to be your forte. Thanks for sharing.

Privet and Holly said...

I think the end result
is simply amazing!
My hubby wouldn't go
for the skirted sink look,
so hats off to your man
for indulging you! And
I'd say you and your sewing
machine made beautiful
music together!

xx Suzanne

Susan@avintagefarmwife said...

So many pretty things! Love your style!

marie said...

It's beautiful and full of inspiration! Hmmm...I wonder if I can convince someone that it's okay to remove "under the sink" cupboard doors? : )

I recently found your blog and I'm loving all my visits!

Faded Charm said...

Your kitchen is truly amazing and so YOU!!!! I'm sure you will enjoy cooking and baking in such a lovely area:-)

Hope all is well!
xoxo
Kathleen

Leah C said...

Oh how I love your kitchen! You are an inspiration:)

Amanda said...

Every little thoughtful detail in your lovely kitchen is just perfect, and so you! Thanks so much for sharing! I always enjoy visiting you here, Rene!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Olive said...

It is just about eight kinds of awesome:-0

The Charm of Home said...

It is beautiful Rene! Love all the vignettes in it. Makes for a nice space to sit and have coffee. Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

Just a little something from Judy said...

I consider it a privilege to be able to step into your beautifully done kitchen this evening. What attention to detail and what carefully thought out decorating are shown in each picture. A cozy, white kitchen like you created, must be so much fun to walk into each and every morning. You did a great job!

Tania Pelletier said...

What a beautiful space... I could just look at it and dream all day long! :) I was wondering how you did the little garden fencing with the plates above the door. Is the fence actually holding the plates there or are the plates hanging and then you just stuck the fence in front of it? I love it and would love to do something like this in my kitchen!

Tania

Mimi said...

What a beautiful kitchen. Love the lace touches in the cabinets. Would love to stop by for a cup of tea.

Iesha Williams said...

Sigh... I'm in love. Can you come help me with my kitchen... pleeeeease!? We have some of the same bones but the rest needs some pretties like yours.

Iesha Williams said...

Sigh... I'm in love. Can you come help me with my kitchen... pleeeeease!? We have some of the same bones but the rest needs some pretties like yours.

Katherines Corner said...

gorgeous! I love the little touches of lace too. Everything is so wonderful. Hugs P.S. the latest giveaway is up. Come on over and get you entry in :-)

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

OMGoodness, I am ALMOST speechless!!!! This is all gorgeous! I will ahve to come back cause I ahve to go make dinner. This is my first visit but I will be your newest follower. I LOVE your blog and can't wait to see the pantry. From what I can see here it is my DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a "dishaholic" and NEED STORAGE SPACE!!!!!!:):) XO, Pinky

Miss Kitty said...

Just beautiful! So many other folks thought so too...I have seen your makeover featured as one of the best on several blog party sites but this is the first time I have had a few minutes to come over and see all your pretties. Your vignettes are great. I love you lace accents. I bought some old linens and lace off ebay a couple of years ago for my daughter's wedding reception. I was amazed at what treasures folks were willing to part with.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I just love your kitchen! I don't know why we haven't found each other before. I love your blog. So happy to know you, please come over more often, now that I followed you I can see what's new with you faster. Enjoy what's left of Sunday.
FABBY

Mandy said...

Your kitchen is amazing. It makes me feel like I could "live happily ever after"!

I'm your newest follower.

GennieG said...

I am in total love of your house and I am drooling! Your decorating talents are spectacular. This is the look I love and am trying to achieve. I don't have much room and I wanted those cup handles but didn't like the ones at Home Depot so I have to order online. Also love your curtain made of drop cloth. You are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing!

Amber Lyon Ferguson said...

I just can't get enough. Your house is breathtaking! We create very similar vignettes and I get a lot of inspiration from you. Awesome idea with the rusty fence and ironstone. I love the old composite doll on the fridge. My husband is all about antiques and he lets me do just about whatever shabby girly-girl stuff I want, but he is creeped out by my cracked and crazed dolls so I keep them in my antiques booth (priced NOT to sell) :)

Replacement Kitchen Doors said...

Your kitchen is awesome !!