House Tour 2012: The Kitchen

The kitchen, although not exactly ready for a magazine shoot anytime soon (or ever), really isn't bad. When it's all clean and tidy, I like it! This whole level, actually, is pretty neat and cheerful now. Which is encouraging, because three short years ago that was definitely not the case.

I shared the living room earlier, and the kitchen in combination with that room, gives an overall "bright" feeling. Even though the kitchen really isn't all that bright... you still somehow get that feeling. The white cabinets make all the difference. There are certainly things I look forward to changing in here, but I'm fine with how it is for a while. This level is the last level we'll be remodeling. It's going to be kind of a big deal. I spend, seriously, about 90% of my waking hours in these two rooms. Not looking forward to major upheaval. But, that's still a few years away.

Today it's not upheaved.

This is the kitchen from the living room door...



And from the other side of the room, looking at the living room door.







I broke my white sugar bowl the other day. (I should've taken a picture, Deb!) Never fear, I had this one stored away. It's very... blue. It looks a little like flow blue china, but it's not. It's from Cracker Barrel circa 2002.











Can you see me? That dress was a very bold purchase for me. But I love it. True confessions? It's a maternity dress from last summer. I don't care. It's so cute. And the waist is high, so who would know? Unless I blabbed it to them. Which is likely.







Tablescape.

ha ha. Just kidding. I don't really know what is going on in this corner. I know I bought the piggy at a flea market because he made me smile. The picture is of Sam and I whilst engaged. It's to remind me to pray for him. And it also makes me smile. The frame was just one I had from previous houses... not loving it. And the Coca-Cola woman is just very, very random. I don't know where I bought her, but I can vaguely picture the place. Like a general store of some sort (?). Maybe in Door County (?). Random.



The mason jar has "craft idea sticks" the kids and I painted last summer.



So, I have to ask. Have none of you guys been wondering what on earth is UP with my table and chairs? I mean... they're pretty bad. You're all very kind to not comment on them! We bought this set about 10 years ago. When I was deep in the throes of my country phase. I know, you can't even tell, can you?! Anyway, my kitchen then was very white... beadboard on the walls and stuff. My main criteria for choosing a kitchen table at that point was that it have benches. Because the eat-in part of the kitchen wasn't very large (about as big as this one) and we couldn't fit a long table, but we needed to be able to seat 8 people. This is, literally, the only table I could find in our price range at the time. I've never liked the color of the "wood". But, it has its good points. It's tile top which is awesome for watercolors, markers, playdoh, etc. Well, maybe that's its only good point. I almost always have a tablecloth on it when it isn't being used as a craft/project table.

I could, of course, replace it... or at least the chairs... but there are other things we're spending money on right now. The kitchen table will get dealt with.

Later.

So, now you know :)



That window. Who would put a garden window on the front of a house? We did not replace it when we did the other windows, because we have BIG PLANS. Remember that major upheaval I told you about earlier? This window is heavily involved in that plan.



I had a hard time getting a photo, but Sam put our flag out for the first time this Spring. We don't really fly our flag much in winter. I really do not know why. Other than because we don't want to mess around with taking it in and out of the garage in the cold weather. We don't like to leave it out in the dark... it doesn't have a light on it. Anyway, it was very cheerful today - blowing in the sunshiney breeze.



I had really wanted to do two things before I took these photos this morning. I really wanted to polish my silver pitcher. Didn't happen. And I really wanted to get to some great, colorful, SPRING craft with the children to hang up all around the clipboards. Well, negatory on that one, too. I like this little art wall best when it's fuller. Not just the clipboards.



And, wrapping it up, here we have Baby's royal throne. If you ask me, it looks kind of like a stormtrooper. Do you see it?

That's all for today. I'm planning on getting the entryway and family room up tomorrow, but I'm not sure it will be in the morning. Thanks so much for reading these house tour posts, guys!

Now, to go enjoy the sunshine!

(Here's the chalkboard door post - if you're interested!)

displaying the children's art

Our kids - all four of them (boy included) - have an ongoing love affair with paper. They write. They draw. They cut. Paper has been an intimate part of my everyday life since SweetP was just starting to scribble. And it looks like it's here to stay. The negative side of this paper-oriented subculture is that there are constantly little bits and growing piles scattered all over the house. Try as I might to harness it all, the paper wins every time. The positive side is that I will have plenty of momentos from our children's younger years to cherish when they fly the nest.
Many of my favorite drawings get displayed for a time on the refrigerator and then carefully put away in my special 3-ring binder. Others that are some of the children's favorite get stored in simple, white paper-sized boxes from IKEA. When the boxes get too full, we start to get rid of a few things, always holding on to those that are the most prized (no one is allowed to toss drawings, paintings, cards, poems, etc. without Mama's okay, though). Sometimes I rescue a discarded lovely and put it in my folder instead of letting them pitch it.
The refrigerator has been fine here, but it's not really positioned in a place where the artwork is showcased. And, honestly, creations x four = a very packed fridge front. Sometimes the papers get to me a bit when all I want to get is the milk and, instead, I'm bombarded with watercolored tulips. So, I've been thinking up some way of displaying the children's art in the kitchen eating area. We eat all of our meals there, and the space has been needing something more personal anyway.


I tossed around a few thoughts, and felt very original and creative when I decided to go with clipboards on the wall. However, then I looked through Ashley Ann's archives to get a good look at her boys' bunkbeds and saw the walls in their room. Not so original of me after all. Guess it's more like forgetfulness.

But, I'm glad that at least my subconscious remembered the clipboard idea. And I'm glad I wanted to see her boys' beds because now I can give her props. I was apparently inspired by her clipboards. I added sticky felt pads to the back so my wall wouldn't get all scratched up by clipboards swinging to and fro as they are wont to do when in a high-traffic area like our eating nook.

I was bothered by the "Office Depot" insignia (did I spell that correctly?) on the clip part of the boards. It just somehow seemed dorky to me to leave them that way. I wandered through Office Depot looking for a suitable way to mask the words, and even asked an employee about label options. Tip: if you're going to cover up "Office Depot" on any of your Office Depot merchandise because you don't care for the way it looks and you're asking a sales person for assistance with that project, choose your wording very carefully. Who knew Office Depot peeps had such an allegiance to their logo? I did not mean to offend. Honest.
I came up empty-handed at the OD, but I went home and punched out some textured scrapbook paper. Maybe I could just hang a tag over the clip and the words would be hidden (?).

Or not. The tag thingy hung over too far. Words still clearly visible. Now, this is not a do or die part of the project. Really - I could have just left them as is. Ashley Ann did, and she certainly doesn't do much in the way of dorky decor. Her house is Inspiration Central. She also seems really cool to hang around with, which I like. Anyway, I could've left things well enough alone. But, I figured if there was an easy way to personalize them a bit, why not?

Back to the scrap supplies. Punched out six holes, used six scrap stickers and good ol' Elmers Glue.

I think I like 'em!

Not sure about the string. I had it on at first, but then I took it off. All together, that many bows looked a little too crafty/handmade to work with the rest of the kitchen. {maybe}

Here they are sans string and all in place :)





So, there's that! Thanks to hubby for the leveling and nailing to get them into a nice arrangement. Now, off to work some more. It's a painting day :)

The Kitchen - (un)Styled

A few days ago, I mentioned on Twitter, that I was hoping we'd have some lovely, sunny day soon so I could take official pictures of the kitchen progress so far. I never really got good after shots when we finished up the first stage of our work in there last fall.

Of course, there have been a number of sunny days already this spring, but I also wanted the kitchen to be really clean for the pictures. (And we cook 3 full meals in here each day). A bonus would be I could also style the kitchen for the photos. You know, buy a pile of artichokes to spread out on a wooden cutting board. Place fresh flowers beside the sink, ready to be cut and vased. Lemons in a pretty little bowl. Things like that. (And we cook 3 full meals in here each day - and watercolor paint, and draw with markers, and...) Hmmm... it might not happen. Or if it were going to, it was going to take some serious effort. I have enough on my plate that requires serious effort ;)

So, I let that idea go.




But, then, we were making pancakes on Saturday morning. Apple pecan pancakes before we started in on the rest of the caulking, priming, and painting in Bedroom 3. SweetP was doing most of the work, but I was cooking some apples in butter and cinnamon for her to use.



Yum.



While we were making breakfast that morning, I looked around the kitchen and really liked the way it looked. It looked useful, and happy, and it looked like family. So, I fiddled with a towel and moved a pitcher of orange-pineapple juice around, and took some shots.

Our kitchen as it looks today.

Lived in. Loved in.

Unstyled.

Welcome, New Refrigerator

We think you're pretty fun.

Mama thinks you're pretty white

and that you make our cabinets look beige,

which I guess she didn't like, but she only cried for a few minutes. Mama can be kind of silly sometimes. We love her anyway.

Then she said she'd deal with the color part later, and hung our paintings up :) That made her smile.

You're very shiny and bright, Refrigerator.

We're glad you're here. Now we don't have to keep our milk in the garage anymore.

The End.

Posted several days later: I just wanted to say that perspective is everything. So my fridge is too white. Oh, well. I cried for a few seconds - more at the thought of possibly having to repaint the cabinets than anything else - but in an hour I wasn't thinking about it anymore at all. Life goes on and, in the grand scheme of things, that extremely white fridge matters very little except that it meets a need for our family. I really am thankful to have a new fridge to keep food for us all. We have been given so much. Lord, help me not take it for granted.

Nary a Classic Fridge to be Found

Well, not within our price range that is. It's the handles that present the problem. You would think you could find one fridge that has just a normal, traditional refrigerator handle on it, but no. It's a conspiracy, I tell you. A conspiracy that keeps us coming back for "updated" appliances every ten years whether we need them or not. I left Home Depot scowling.

But, eventually, we chose a refrigerator that will do. I like it, and I'm very, very thankful that it's coming in the morning. Our garage has been a decent replacement fridge for the last week and a half (yay for freezing temps), but I'm ready to get this new gal in place. Sam's employer has some kind of deal with Whirlpool that gives us big discounts. We were able to get the refrigerator (Whirlpool Gold) for nearly 40% off the list price. What a blessing, considering we weren't really planning on this purchase this month.

I've never had anything but the standard freezer-on-top-one-door style, so I'm interested to see how we like the new one. The too-easily-dated-for-my-tastes-handles are hard to see, but here's a photo of it...



I've also never had a freezer on the bottom style. Have any of you? What did you think of it? A little late to ask now, though, isn't it? We chose the french doors mainly for looks, but also we figured it might be nice in our galley kitchen. Novel to have the fridge open and still have room to pass through the doorway that's right there. Well, maybe. Thanks to everyone who chimed in with their two cents on whether or not we should order it in white. We did. So, now we have a black stove, a cream dishwasher, a white fridge, and a black microwave. I'm hoping that the magazines don't call too much this week - I'm rather busy for a photoshoot these days.

It is fun, though, to get a new appliance in! I hope it won't be too terribly long before we can get the others in, too. Here's the stove I have my eye on (really hoping the whites match up well)...



It's a duel fuel range with a double oven. The bottom oven is convection. Love that! I am excited about this little girlie.

Maybe, just maybe, after all of the children have completed their higher education, we'll spring for one of these puppies.



We actually debated it for a day or two. Apparently, Big Chill has showrooms in both Michigan and Tennessee, and they sell slightly damaged models at discounts. But, there weren't any in white and we needed a refrigerator ASAP. If you have a spare $2700 hanging around, maybe you can splurge on a new one now and send me photos :)



Or, better yet, make me a wall calendar. Because I just think they are so great-looking :)



Don't you?



And about as classic as they come.

But, I really am thankful for the new, white fridge that's coming in the morning. Maybe when the Conspiring Appliance People declare that our handles are totally out-of-date in a few years, we can figure out some way to switch them out instead of buying a more up-to-date version ;) Ha! Take that Conspiring Appliance People!

I'll post a photo or two of the refrigerator "before and after" tomorrow. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Man Ears and Dead Appliances

So, we're going through the drive through at McDonald's last night, and Sam says something under his breath about a noise coming from one of the glowing, golden arches. I hear nothing. Do you think men hear pitches that women do not and vice versa? Is there any research on this topic? Seconds later, Little Dude pipes up - unprompted - and says, "What dat noise? It goes zzzzzzzzsh". Are you kidding me? Clearly this was a case of man ears. Finally, after intently listening for a few seconds, I heard it, too. But, I would never have picked up on it had my Y-chromosome loved ones not pointed it out.

Fast forward a few hours and the children are all in bed. Sam is reading The Deerslayer and I'm typing the post about American Foursquares. Suddenly, he looks up from Natty Bumpo and says, "The fridge just broke". Again, I have no idea what he's talking about. "Didn't you hear it?", he continues. "That sound was no good". Man ears. But, guess what. He was totally right.

Our fridge kicked the bucket.

We were planning on replacing the fridge, just not yet. I had wanted to get all the appliances around the same time. I don't know why, probably for the same reasons that I want to have a name for our design style, a clear designation for our inspirational period, and I always begin anything new on a Monday (and preferably at the beginning of the month). But, it broke. So now the money we were planning to use for lighting is going to a new refrigerator that I'd rather not buy right now. Oh, well.

I'd rather not buy one right now because I have absolutely no idea what I want. Actually, I kind of do, but it's not a realistic option. If money were no issue and if I were daring enough, I'd buy one of these... in red :)

If for no other reason than so I could then also get one of these (ignore the leafy stenciling and just absorb the porcelain awesomeness...)









Sigh. I shall not covet. It's not healthy to stare at porcelain and chrome in this greedy manner. Moving on... :)

I cannot buy a beautiful, gleaming, sparkly, shiny, refurbished O'Keefe and Merritt nor a Tappan nor a Northstar nor a new Big Chill. But I wish they made a calendar so I could put it up in my kitchen the way some guys put up fancy schmancy vintage car calendars. And, actually I'm not supposed to be thinking about stoves anyway. It's my fridge that's dead.

I have no idea what I want to buy, but I do know that I do not want stainless steel. I really believe in my heart of hearts that this stainless steel bandwagon is on its way out of town, and there's going to be a new Appliance King in town. Have you seen the colored washers and dryers? Red ones? Of course you have, and I'll bet you anything the next appliance trend is going to be retro stoves in all kinds of cheery, pretty colors. Like red :)

But, we can't afford a cheerily colored fridge right now. And I don't want a stainless one. I have to choose between white, bisque, and black. Honestly, none of the refrigerators I've looked at online today (and there have been a LOT of them) did it for me. I keep asking myself, "What's the most timeless choice?" and "What will still look good in 12 years?" or "What looks good now and would've also looked good back in 1998"? Oh, and "What costs less than $800?".

What do you all think? What makes an appliance withstand the test of an entire decade or - let's be really ambitious - two decades?

I'm thinking white. Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage has all white appliances and her kitchen is fantastic. And no one doubts Maria's sense of style when she eschews stainless and shows us all her gorgeous vintage-inspired kitchen (again, with all white appliances).

So, maybe white? But there's the issue of the white possibly not looking right with the white of our cabinets. We could just get wild and crazy like Jennifer did. Hmm. I'm kinda stuck on this one.

Ideas anyone? My yogurt is hanging out in the garage tonight :)