Monday, August 30, 2010

The Heart of the Home!



I'm so excited to be linking this post up to the Heart of the Home Party over at Note Songs!

Won\



*This was originally published in August*
God bless my little kitchen, I love its every nook
And bless me as I do my work
Wash pots and pans and cook
And may the meals that I prepare, be seasoned from above
With Thy great blessing and Thy grace, but most of all Thy love
As we partake our earthly food the table before us spread
We'll not forget to thank thee, Lord, Who gives us daily bread
So, bless my little kitchen, Lord and those who enter in
May they find naught but joy and peace and happiness therein.
*Author Unknown*

Let me introduce you to the Heart of our Home!
Here is what it looked like when we first laid eyes on it...


Isn't our Realtor's purse cute? She is a very stylish lady!
You can't see them now, but there are 2 sky-lights up above that made me almost collapse with joy! You don't know how much that light is like a life-line in the rainy months here in the NW.
Here is another angle
What you can't see in these photos is that there was tile missing on the counters, doors hanging off their hinges, and the door to the appliance garage in that far corner was permanently opened half-way. But, you know what I just saw...my very first real, honest-to-goodness pantry! Who cares about tile as long as I have a place for all of the cereal this family eats! And a GAS Cooktop! Be still my heart!
We set to work spiffing it up, changing out fixtures, banishing the green desk chair to the play-room, replacing knobs and tile until the space slowly transformed into this...

Our old house had all white cabinetry and I had just fulfilled my dream of choosing new counters, back-splash and appliances right before we moved. Isn't that the way it goes? So, getting used to the dark woodwork took some time and some tweaking in terms of decorating but I love it!
Here is another glance...

You know what I realized while I was taking pictures of my kitchen? Just how "Staged" those magazine photos really are! I mean, those fake lemons look so much better than the overly-ripe bananas and squishy tomatoes that were in that fruit basket!

My ever-so-handy husband switched out the faucet and it went from looking like this...

To this...
And it actually works too! Trust me, that is a
step up from how it was before.

I also changed out the knobs from this...
To this...
The reason I picked this particular knob was because it wasn't quite as dark as a true Oiled Bronze to allow some contrast against the dark cabinet. It also has just a hint of gold to blend in with our door handles and hinges.
Here is another view of my corner window...
I have a great view of the mountains (when the blinds are actually open!) while I am doing the dishes
and I will share with you in another post how I decided upon
this particular window treatment.

These are my little Rooster Cannisters. Another great TJ's find!


I love it when folks pull up a stool to visit with
me while I am cooking.
I literally stalked these like a woman possessed for weeks and weeks at Tuesday Morning! They were over my budget and not a necessity so I waited...and watched...and waited some more. And then, they finally went on CLEARANCE
(truly one of the sweetest words in the English language)
and I managed to snag 3 of them!
This is my other favorite way for them to be used...
We definitely know how to rock the
 "Bed-Head" look in this family!


Here is a view of the desk area in the kitchen...
In this season of life, with the amount of traffic this area sees, having a desk chair here isn't happening. Plus, this is the perfect space for a 3 year old to hide when we are playing hide-and-seek. It is NOT the perfect space for her 34 year old mother to hide during said game! I do try it (at the begging of my rascals) but it isn't a pretty picture folks!

Here is the infamous Appliance Garage. It now goes up...


And it even comes back down!
Ahhhh....it really is a wonderful feature!
Here is a look at the kitchen when the upper lights are on...
I tend to be somewhat of a hermit in here and don't usually have lots of lights on (maybe its so I don't see any grime!) 
but these are great when we want to add a little bit
of brightness on a dreary day. I love the molding on that ledge and it is truly the very first thing I noticed about this space.

I never knew how much I would enjoy glass cabinet fronts and how much they help to break up the dark wood.

Can you tell which plates were currently in the dishwasher at the time that these pictures were taken?

Here is one last look at my kitchen as you would see it coming in from the dining room...
Well, I hope you have enjoyed this little tour and I really wish you could come pull up a stool and have a cup of coffee! Oh, and some banana bread that I will be making with those overly-ripe bananas that were mysteriously missing from the fruit basket!
From this Southern Girl at Heart,
Vanessa

58 comments:

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Gorgeous Kitchen! You did a fabulous job making it more warm and cozy. I love the curtains and your choice of knobs. Beautiful bar stools and I absolutely love your cannister set! I also love the photo or your bedhead family enjoying the morning paper, how adorable!

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Oh Vanessa! It is just so pretty, warm and inviting! I love it! It went from a nice real estate showing a great kitchen to a home!! Mine definitely needs an overhaul!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I love your kitchen. I know I would love to sit on one of those stools and talk to you while you are baking some of that yummy banana bread!
Hugs,
Penny

Erin @ ekat's kitchen said...

Vanessa, you have such a beautiful room. I'm suffering from kitchen envy right now. Great job decorating!!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Vanessa, I love your kitchen and the openess of it with the tall ceiling. Love that you have a view from your sink. Great canisters. You and I have the same dishes I think. Mikasa Country French? I just got mine a couple of weeks ago with their huge sale going.

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Hi Vanessa,
Your kitchen is gorgeous! I love the dark wood cupboards- so elegant! You did a great job warming it up and making it feel like home.
:)

Lindsey @ FRESH AIR + FRESH FOOD said...

Love it Vanessa - especially the pic of your family. Priceless! And I would have to agree, Clearance may just be the best word in the English language, right after chocolate!

Karen said...

Soooooo enjoyed looking! I love your kitchen! Such wonderful countertops and cabinets. I can just see you in there baking up shrimp and rice & tomato pie. See ya! Karen

Anita Diaz said...

Vanessa, I am LOVING your kitchen!! It is different from any that I have seen lately, and I'm wishing it was mine!! The photos of your family is too cute! We do a pretty good job with the bedhead thing here too, lol! I love the dark wood cabinets and the countertops. We really want to do some kind of tile here but I have a bar that has too many angles, so I think we will have to reconfigure it first. I love all your accessories too. Just fabulous!!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love your kitchen. It is big and gorgeous. Your finishes and decorations are perfect. So bright and cheery. Stunning. Hugs, Marty

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Your kitchen is gorgeous Vanessa! I love it! The cabinets are beautiful! I love the rich color of the wood! I love all of your decorative touches...the canisters, the stools, the curtains...everything;)!

I adore the pic of everyone at the island...it really does look like the heart of your home;)!

Love love love!

Enjoy!
Cathy

All That Glitters said...

I'm in love!!! I have white cabinets and I hate them!!!! THey show too much dirt!!! I really love your ceiling!

Melinda said...

Hi!
Popped over from Between the Naps... your kitchen is beautiful.
The curtain fabric matches our color scheme here.
Love the "bed head" picture.

Melinda

Anonymous said...

Wow, I wish I had that kitchen! Beautiful and cozy! Good job with the decorating! :)

Needles Everywhere said...

Your kitchen is just breath taking. You have done such a wonderful job with it. So warm and inviting. I adore all the details (cabinet pulls, faucet, etc).

Anonymous said...

Oh, your kitchen is so beautiful! You are so blessed!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Traci said...

It looks great! I'm currently trying to talk my hubby into redoing our kitchen.

sheri said...

What a great kitchen - i had dark cabinets in the house we just left and it gives such a rich, classic look!

And those babies? I could just eat them up! Too sweet for words. (i, too, have some bananas rotting, i mean ripening, for banana bread and i think tonight's the night! LOL. Thanks for coming by today :)

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

Such a wonderful, warm and inviting kitchen. I would love to pull up one of those stools and watch you cook :)

Thanks for your visit and for all your kind words! It means the world!
XO
Kristin

Debbiedoos said...

Venessa, I was meaning to tell you the same thing regarding the background of our blog. Well now onto your kitchen WOWZA! It is gorgeous, so open, and warm. I love those rooster canisters...so cute!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Vanessa, You have such a pretty kitchen. Love your accesories and your curtains too. Hugs, Sherry

Sue said...

I love dark wood, so naturally, your cabinetry speaks to me, Vanessa. I glazed our dark cabinets when we first moved it and gave them a French country look, but I'm now thinking of taking them to an antique/worn black. Oh dear, another project looming for me.... LOL
Glad you have gotten the room to where you want to be. It looks like the perfect place for everyone to congregate!
~ Sue

Anonymous said...

Vanessa, I found your blog popping all over blogland. We seem to have the same taste in blog backgrounds and we both live in the Northwest - I'm in Oregon.

Your kitchen turned out beautiful! I love all your changes and additions. I love the curtain fabric and actually had my eye on that very same fabric.

Yes, fake fruit always photographs so well and yes, I have fake lemons above my kitchen cabinets :)

Melissa Miller said...

Vaness your kitchen is my dream. It is gorgeous and just perfect in every way. Love your window corner and curtains. How precious are the tuscan stools. Love it all! Thank you very much for the great tour. I'm so inspired! :)

Gayle said...

Vanessa, I LOVE your kitchen. I've always favored dark wood cabinets, and these are gorgeous. You've done a great job, making this your own. So warm and inviting.

Debbie said...

I think your kitchen is wonderful, bedheads and all!

I really do love it and think you've done a beautiful job decorating it and making little changes with BIG impact.

I need a whole new kitchen. It is the thorn in my flesh.

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

your kitchen is beautiful! the window treatments are very pretty, can't wait to see the tutorial on those. Just love the pic of your family, your kids are adorable. I'm a kitchen hermit too, lol.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Vanessa, you have a beautiful kitchen! I would love to have a spacious kitchen with an island like that, but we do not. You've done a great job making it your own.

Pamela said...

Looks charming Vanessa!! It has taken me awhile to get use to our dark cabinets as well.

Pamela said...

P.s I forgot to mention how I LOVE your rooster canisters!!

Unknown said...

You did a great job in the kitchen! Super pretty!
Following you back :)
Frenchy

Melanie said...

I love every inch of it! You truly are a southern girl at heart. I think I see some of the same cookbooks that this southern girl has:) Send me your email so that I can reply when you comment on my blog!

Kristens Creations said...

What a beautiful kitchen! Love the cute curtains and clock. Kristen

Anonymous said...

Oh, I've just got to sit down! Your kitchen is wonderful and so beautiful and soooo big! Everything about it is so gorgeous. I know you're so very proud of it!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

order said...

indeed the kitchen i the heart of the house and your heart is very beautiful.

order acai

My Dream Canvas said...

This is beautiful!! I m hosting a 50 dollar CSN Giveaway and would love for you to stop by. Thanks Anu!

Dining Delight said...

Making my way on the tour through your house and it just keeps getting better! Your kitchen looks wonderful! Your subtle changes(and "staging")have truly transformed it! I sat and stared at your "bed-head family" reading the paper for quite a while and just smiled...what a great pic that just oozes with "family life at its best!" and shows how your kitchen is truly the heart of the home!

DD

Nancy said...

Love your kitchen (really the whole house) pics! Thanks for sharing. Come visit me sometime!
Nancy @ funwithnancy.blogspot.com
I'm a new follower :)

Staci said...

Love the kitchen! You have beautiful accesories. Wish I had an appliance garage and a desk! Looks great!

www.camachouse.blogspot.com

Miranda said...

This is absolutely beautiful!! I'd love to have a kitchen like this :-)

http://hanginloosewiththetuccis.blogspot.com

Patty said...

Gorgeous kitchen and I will be happy to pull up a stool and have some banana bread. :) Your blog is beautiful and from one Southern girl to another, thank you for your wonderful hospitality. :)

Unknown said...

You have an amazing kitchen!
I love the office area. That's a great trend for kitchens.
Also the stoleaway for the appliance is definitely a must have.

Allison Shops said...

The changes you made all look nice - good job! Love the bed head photo. Stopping by from Note Songs party. I hope you'll drop by Atticmag to see our kitchens - it's a three for one!

Allison
Atticmag

bj said...

This is a very beautiful kitchen..
xo bj

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I love your kitchen. Love your pretty cabinets and the tall ceiling is fabulous. You have everything decorated so beautifully. Love it. Hugs, Marty

Unknown said...

What a great kitchen! I love the sink at the window and the curtains are darling. You made some really great choices in personalizing your space. It is really pretty!

~Liz

SmilingSally said...

Hi Vanessa,

I love your kitchen, especially your appliance garage!

I like Tuesday Mornings too.

Check out my book giveaways.

Anonymous said...

Hi Vanessa! Oh, I've said it before - your kitchen is absolutely wonderfully perfect! I love it. I love how your took this beautiful kitchen and made it even more beautiful! You have so much room sna space! I love your corner sink and windows!! Thank you so much Vanessa for coming to my party!
You are a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Unknown said...

So beautiful and big kitchen, you add some pretty details!!!

Hugs
Charo

Adrienne said...

I love the way you took a big, pretty kitchen and made it a beautiful, home-y place to join family and friends. It's gorgeous! Thanks for sharing it with us.
~Adrienne~

Desires of the Heart said...

Vanessa,

What a gorgeous kitchen and you really made some great changes! I just love the ceiling with the sky lights! I have similar colored cabinets and I love them. I envy your little desk to keep track of all the paper etc. Thanks for sharing it all, so lovely! Linda

Love Of Quilts said...

Gorgeous Kitchen! Trish

Christie said...

Sometimes life just gets in the way of sitting down with my bloggin' buddies! I LOVE your kitchen and all the touches that you add to make it so inviting and comfortable! LOVE the door knobs and faucets! I am a 'detail' person, but somehow I have overlooked this little thing and now after seeing your beautiful ones, mine are glaring at me like you wouldn't believe! Is that coveting?? :) Staging is a lovely thing...I am sure my friends that see my perfectly clean spaces are having a good laugh!! I had to remove several appliances for my photo shoot!! I put the toaster oven on the lawn because it needed a really good cleaning and the ants attacked it! Rob just laughs and laughs!! My favorite picture is your sweet, sweet family which truly make the 'Heart of the Home!' On follow up to your funny comment, I am sure folks think I have no one to talk to the way I write books over here! Have a wonderful Thursday! We are trying to get ready for this wedding shower and it is so much work! I start to see everything that is dirty! I know it will be fun...if it will just get here!

Nanette said...

Hi Vanessa,
Very nice changes. The dark cabinets look very pretty with the light floor. A view of the mountains would be wonderful from your kitchen window!
Valerie

Melissa Searle said...

I love your dark cabinets! :) Perfect. Beautful colours, too! :)

Crystal @ Ordinary Days said...

GORGEOUS kitchen!!! I am so glad you stopped by my blog and thank you for your sweet comments. I'm excited to check out the rest of your blog. :)

Crystal @ Ordinary Days said...

GORGEOUS kitchen!!! I am so glad you stopped by my blog and thank you for your sweet comments. I'm excited to check out the rest of your blog. :)

Emily {Frilly Details} said...

Your kitchen is just gorgeous! It's so warm and inviting. I am very envious of your built in desk. I would love to have something like that!