Sunday, March 29, 2009

Kitchen Before and afters

Well here it is....
Reveal day!!.....
Wellll partial reveal day.......
As you know Ive been planning on and talking about my kitchen redo for over a year now.
But because of various obstacles
It has been delayed, :(
The good news is that I have finally
started it and my kitchen is
getting there slow but sure.
I wanted to start showing you
some of the photos so that you can
see the transformation as it unfolds.

So Lets get started....
In this photo below you see the
original pink striped wallpaper,
I started to strip it already.
The china cabinet I had painted green with an
antique glaze a few years ago..
I liked it but I really wanted to have my
vintage china more open and displayed prettier.....
plus I desperately need more counter space
and since we cant do a major remodel at
this time I have to work with what I have.
So my brilliant brainstorm was to remove
the top of the cabinet to open up the top
of the buffet so that it could be used as counter space.

But my brilliant idea was not so brilliant because when we lifted it off we found a gaping hole!!!!

But it was hubbie to the rescue he filled the hole in with wood,
and for now I have the wood covered with a runner,
I'm hoping to get granite counter tops and also put a piece of granite on this piece to make it seem like part of the cabinetry.

I put up this scrumptious pink and cream
toile floral wallpaper from Grammercy.
I hung this shelving unit that someone
was throwing away on the wall.
I think it was part of some type of bedroom set.
I painted it white, and could now display
my china openly but still keep the counter space.

But the display part was a bit of a challenge!!
I can usually go into someones house and
tell them exactly what they need to
change, hang, rearrange...etc.....
but sometimes when it comes to your
own house you can get a block.
I didn't know where to start or what to do.
I stared anxiously at the wall for a long time.
Then decided just to start and let things start flowing....

Well things didn't flow too well.
Everything looked too blah..
too white on white....
I love that look when others do it,
Rachel Ashwell does a more neutral pallete with touches of color,
and Karla my new Jewel of the month does a more neutral color scheme,
Her home is beautiful!
but for some reason when I try to do the look I cant pull it off.:(
I realize along time ago that we can get inspiration
from different sources, we flip through magazines, go blogg hopping etc.. we see ideas that we love but the key is to take the
idea and make it our own,
Come up with our own interpetation of the look.
I dont consider my house shabby chic, or Victorian,
I have found the best way to describe my style is
.......English Cottage......
Its more embellished than shabby chic and has more color, it is full of china, roses and elegance but still very cottage and relaxed.
Not too overdone dark and heavy like Victorian sometimes can be.
I had some friends visiting last week from Paris and when they
saw my house they immediately said "oh your house is so English"
that is what I always thought but it was nice to have it confirmed.
I tend to need more color,
I like soft pastel color but I need more punches of it.
So I decided to paint the back of the shelving
unit a beautiful shade of green.
Its Martha Stewarts Index Card Green paint
that I had mixed at my Benjamin moore paint store.
Just so that the china stood out a bit and
not got so washed out against the white.

Immediately when I saw it I new I like it!

Now I had to arrange the china better,
At first I was arranging it and it looked like china soldiers all lined up.
too predictable and uninteresting.
I started adding other pretty display pieces in
with my limoge china to add interest and more color.


I cut up some pretty hankies into 4's and
used them as little shelf runners.


I decided not to use the rose canisters on this wall after all,
I will use them somewhere else.
I put the pink lemonade canister on the top of the shelf.
That is one of my favorite pieces...
It came all the way from Australia,
Mandii one of my previous jewels of the month
found it for me and sent it.
Notice the mosaic shelf above the
buffet hanging in the shelving unit.
That was made by my friend Nancy who
is the greatest mosaic artist ever!!!!
I will be blogging about her more soon and
also showing another piece she has
custom made for me for the kitchen that
is to die for gorgeous!!
When I saw it I told her I had died and
gone to pink china heaven!!
wait until you see her work!
She is unbelievable!
for now you can look at her website found at
look at her gallery and you will see what I mean about her work.
I still have to get the top of the buffet decorated,
its still not right or the way I want it but stay posted
for more updates on the kitchen and I will
be showing other sections of it as they get finished.
Take a look at the new Jewel of the month for April,
Its Karla's Cottage, and it is beautiful!!
you can see it on my website, just go to jewel of the month.
Hope to post more soon,
things are starting to get better for me,
its been ruff but I'm getting there.
thanks for your support and patience!
hugs,
Sandy

25 comments:

Connie said...

Well, hold me back and be still my heart!!!!!!!! It's magnificent so far, chickee! Hope you're doing better since our long chat a couple of months ago.

Also, the "captcha" for word verification on her is "barke"!! Love to the "pup", sweetpea!!! Hah.

xoxo,
Connie

Anonymous said...

The wallpaper, the new display shelf, the china, THE LEMONADE JAR!!!!!!
Perfect I love it all!

Anonymous said...

Hi, The TV/Wall unit is very nice and beautiful, Costumers will easily attract to this type of wall units as they are simple and beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Hello Chica Dee,
Love,Love,Love your new wallpaper,everything is turning out just beautiful, once again chica you have out done yourself...give yourself a pat on your back for me....heehee

Unknown said...

Can you hear me gasping all the way from the Windy City?!!! It turned out so gorgeous...what a difference the green made. And I love how you arranged all your china. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
XOXO
Jillian

Sandy~Romantique Inspirations~ said...

Hi Sandra, I really enjoyed how you displayed the process to achieve a certain look you want it to become. Decorating or transforming a room takes time and I can't wait to see the finished results. Just by what I have seen, I think its going to turn out fabulous.

Have a Wonderful Day-

Cathy said...

Hi Sandy,

I am so glad you finally gave us our sneak peak at your kitchen redo. It is absolutely gorgeous. I feel like I am in my own home. I think we own some of the very same pieces. I know I too own that gorgeous pink lemonade container. It's one of my favs too.

Everything looks absolutely beautiful. The mosaics, the china, the wallpaper, the figurines ~ all 2DIE4.

I've missed chatting with you, but took a much needed break from blogging and creating. I'm actually still trying to get some rest. Hopefully my creative spirit will come back soon.

xo Cath

Jennifer Hayslip said...

WOW!Everything looks soo beautiful and lovely! Wallpaper is stunning pattern! Your china collection is jaw dropping!!! I am soo envious of your lemonade beverage container. I have been looking all over for one! Do you have any idea where I can find one besides Austraila? hee! hee! :)

shabby*vintage*dreams said...

LOVE IT SWEETIE!! looks amazing!!I havent been able to come across anymore of the lemonade jars but I shall keep looking for ya!!
Hugs always
mands
just going to pop over and see the jewel of the month!

Daydreams and Nightmares said...

Thanks for stoping by my blog. I haven't been blogging lately myself-too many issues involving family. But I hope to have some new projects going on soon. I LOVE all you have going on in your kitchen. I re-did mine and it seems to take forever, but it is so worth it! I will be be watching!
Gloria

The Vintage Vagablonde said...

Missed you...hope all is going well.
Loved the Jewel of the month...as always.

As I said before..you are the only gal I know who can make collections look perfect and not cluttered!

Looking forward to the whole kitchen pictures....Talk soon~Sheri

Sherry Williams said...

It's really pretty, Sandy! Your home should be in a magazine!!
Wish you could come and help me decorate my kitchen!
hugs,
Sherry

Anonymous said...

Love the wallpaper! It is certainly coming together beautifully!

Fleur de Bee said...

Sandy I am drooling over that China!!! Who makes it? Hey did you get your earrings I mailed you? I was just making sure you are enjoying them! Lovely re-do of the kitchen...it is so you and breathtaking!!

Much love! xx Molly

Jennifer said...

Oh how fun, even if it is hard work! The transformation is so pretty. I love the colors! Happy Easter!

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

Oh my gosh your CHINA is STUNNING!!! What a pretty blog you have! Thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind comment!

mendytexas said...

Oh WOW! Your china is exquisite!! I love all of your gorgeous photos...
:)mendy

Le_Vintage said...

you did an incredible job decorating you're kitchen you have a natural talent!! thanks for sharing Karla's Cottage with me it's beautiful as well. every picture you posted just got better and better =]

can't wait to see the rest of the kitchen!

Lednar De Nalloh said...

That wallpaper is stunning and I'm so in love with all of your beautiful china. I'm so inspired, makes me want to decorate my place now. Thank you for sharing!

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

I came over from Flickr and I'm so glad I did. You have a beautiful blog and website! Just gorgeous! It's my favorite shade of pink. I will be back often.

Cindy
Dusting in Pearls & Rosehaven Cottage

{oc cottage} said...

YUMMY!!! Every single inch of it!

m ^..^

"Create Beauty" said...

So very fabulous!!!! Lovely. Inspiring....

Anonymous said...

Oh my... sooooo pretty. What a transformation. I think I have a shelf like that out in the garage... hmmmm - now you got me dreamin' again! Happy Mother's Day!

the*pink*princess said...

WOW,Sandy,that is looking so beautiful!!!! I really love all the pink,and i especially love mosaics!!

Lesley : )

lisa_d said...

WOW! I never thought this design is so beautiful. You kitchen accessories was so beautiful too. “Simple, colorful and elegant!”

Deirdre G
real estate in Philippines