Really -- you're not at the wrong blog! I'm sure I'm not the only one who never imagined I would have a blue kitchen.
But first...a little background info so you know how I got here.
Remember this?? I loved it, I just wanted to try something different.
So I did.
You might be asking why at this point. I really wanted to add the family things I find around here to my kitchen and give it a more truly vintage feel. If you remember, my great grandfather bought this house in Balsam for his summer property. My dad grew up here, and since my grandfather saved everything from the house when it was torn down, we have slowly been adding trim, doors, windows, etc., to our house on the same property. Oh how I LOVE this house and wish it had been preserved.
Here is my grandfather in the old kitchen before the house was torn down. I love my grandmother's cafe curtains, and you will see the scale on top of the cabinet later. That countertop is still here in the little guest house. No, I didn't use that:-) I would love to have marble countertops but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen in this lifetime. I'm thankful for what I have.
Back in May I painted the red walls blue. That was a big step for me because I really liked the red. I was really surprised when I found the same color paint was on the backs of the old trim. I knew I was on the right track.
After painting the walls, I didn't like the natural wood tone of the cabinets so I decided, after MUCH thought, to paint most of the cabinets the distressed grey color from the old house, while others got a stained walnut treatment to match the old trim, and a couple were painted black. Here you can see the old trim next to the cabinet I stained. I'm happy with the match!
It has taken me all summer to do this little project.
I'll just stop talking now and let you take a look. It is definitely different from most of the kitchens out there.
Wood trim from the old house gives this sink somewhat of a farm sink feel, although my grandmother certainly didn't have a farm sink, so I'm staying true to the original kitchen.
Cafe curtains made from my grandfather's feed sacks, and an old Southern Railroad lantern in the window. My grandmother's cows are very happy in the window next to her blue Mason jar.
A little dish that came with flour sacks to grandfather's store holds locally made soap...
The 1912 scale is the one in the photo of my grandfather above. My mother let me "borrow" it. I fell in love with these Lincoln Beautyware brushed steel canisters from the 1950s and thought they would add a little sparkle. They are usually chrome, so I was lucky to find them in this finish.
I made the window shade with drop cloth fabric and denim ticking. The hand-hooked wool rug belonged to my grandmother.
I changed all the drawer pulls to cup pulls. The cabinets were sanded, painted with Colorplace "Grand Smoky Mountain" then sanded and rubbed with Minwax walnut water-based gel stain.
My kids love this rotary phone even more than they love the old typewriter! They fight to answer it, and they always use it to call.
I love having the children's artwork on the refrigerator. I change it out as they bring more home from school.
LOVE my 1950s square chrome cake carrier:-) My mom gave me the canning basket, and the 12-bottle Coca Cola carrier was hanging in the garage.
I've made several feed sack towels to use around the kitchen, and this print with the four leaf clover, is one of my favorite.
The screen door is another piece that came from the old house.
Well, this is my new, blue, vintage kitchen. It was quite a departure for me, but I'm so happy to have used so many colors and accessories from the house my dad grew up in. My grandmother, who we always called by her first name, Isabelle, would probably be asking me why I want all this old stuff. I only wish I could tell her that it reminds me of her and granddaddy.
I miss them so much, but it makes me feel close to them to be here raising my three children where they raised their three.
Anita
I'll be joining:
Wow Us Wednesdays
Tutorial Tips and Tidbits
Inspiration Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Metamorphosis Monday
Before and After
Anita, i love what you did to the cabinets. So much more interesting than the woodtone! And as always your vintage decor is perfect. I have a rotary phone too but on the wall!
ReplyDeleteLove the blue in the kitchen. You have made wonderful changes. You know, I have a downstairs bath that has a lot of red - I still like it - but I want a change. I could really identify with your feelings! I'm gonna do it now! Linda
ReplyDeleteOh ANita....you know I LOVE BLUE! Your kitchen is gorgeous with these changes. LOVE everything. You must smile when you see it every morning. What a great job you did.
ReplyDeleteI love your blue kitchen! It looks so peaceful and just etched with memories! LOVE it all! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI love the new look of your kitchen Anita! You have filled it with so many wonderful treasures. My favorite photo is the one of the side of the kitchen island with the cast iron frying pans. Did you use cabinet knobs on the other side of the island where your cutting boards are hanging. I love the new look and the new color!
ReplyDeleteAnita, the blue is fabulous as is your entire kitchen..
ReplyDeletewe have the same countertop... smile
Anita, this is just fabulous! You have not missed a single detail. Everything looks so warm and inviting. I love it! Your grandparents would be so proud of how you are using their treasures!
ReplyDeleteI love a house decorated with meaning and memories. Yours is perfect. Sally
ReplyDeleteWow! Love your blue vintage kitchen! Perfect for displaying such treasured heirlooms!
ReplyDeleteLove how you incorporate each piece and the stories that are being passed on for generations.
Great job Anita!
Your new kitchen is gorgeous! Perfect! I love the way you can use things from your family's past to bring something new to your home.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Wow!! Anita it all looks just incredible and you have totally captured the feeling of a well-loved family homestead. The charm and character it exudes is just beautiful and you did such a great job! Thanks in advance for sharing it at Inspiration Friday this week!
ReplyDeleteVanessa
Love the color! Your kitchen really brightened up. I just love the curtains you made.
ReplyDeleteLove the blue. You have so many delicious goodies in there...the silver tray, silverware, retro canisters and the old scale that has been handed down! Love it. Enjoyed all your old photos. Lovely post, lovely kitchen!
ReplyDeleteYour changes to your kitchen are beautiful. The best part is how you used your Grandparents things. What a beautiful house it looked like it was...but so glad they preserved some things. Something about the blue on the trim.
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, wow and wow!!! I have to say that I was surprised that you painted the cabinets, but I love the new look. The feed sack curtains are very cute and the I love the hanging lantern on the curtains. The whole thing came together so well. Love it all!
ReplyDeleteThe new colour sure did brighten it up a lot! Wow... just beautiful Anita. Wanting the dish towels!
ReplyDeleteCheers. Gee
I just love your kitchen!! It looks like a real farmhouse kitchen with all your special touches.I love every detail.The color is gorgeous, and i love your curtains.That is a special warm and inviting kitchen.
ReplyDeleteKathy
I LOVE your kitchen re-do...so personal and charming! Hopped over from House of Hawthorne's facebook post...I am a new follower!
ReplyDeleteAnita, your grandparents would be so honored.I love the new blue color and that rug under the sink is beautiful! All the vintage pieces are so nice but especially because they have a personal meaning for you. I am so glad you shared your newly decorated kitchen with us. You did a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is lovely and what a great tribute to your grandparents.
ReplyDeleteAnita, I really like the new color combinations in your kitchen. It's so special to be able to use the rug and feed bags from your grandparents. Great way to remember and link previous generations.
ReplyDeleteHi Anita! Oh, you've been holding out on us! I'm loving your new blue kitchen and love all of your wonderful family sentimental pieces too. Your cabinets look great with the way you've painted some of them. Everything is just wonderful and I know you must be loving it!
ReplyDeleteYour family members who have gone on would be so proud!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Love your kitchen Anita! I think you did an amazing job with the colours and the cabinets look wonderful in their new colours! Have a lovely week! Angie xo
ReplyDeleteBravo, Anita! The new color scheme is so fresh and so vintage at the same time. Congratulations on really personalizing the space!
ReplyDeleteAnita,
ReplyDeleteYou've outdone yourself!!! This is amazing. So warm and inviting, and nothing is run-of-the-mill! Just wonderful!
Anita- I absolutely LOVE it! It is just charming and has so much personality...from the color to the gathered material covering- I just adore it all! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteAnita I adored your previous kitchen. Who could imagine it could get any better!? Your new space is BEYOND amazing!!!! I love all the special family momentos you have thru out.
ReplyDeleteAnita-
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the kitchen tour- so special! Each and every time taking min. was worth it -you did good!
Sweet post, Anita! Your kitchen looks great! Of course, I love the blue! ;o)
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm new here & I love the blue! I'm your newest follower too!
ReplyDeleteI had to smile with I saw the chrome flour and sugar cannisters. I grew up with the same cannisters in my parent's home. I enjoyed your kitchen tour. I know it is filled with sweet memories~
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you've used so many family treasures in your kitchen. Not many children get to see and use items from previous generations. You are giving them such a sense of family and a connection to the family land. We live in the old house that my husband's grandfather built and we have some old family things throughout it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty transformation and I love all the history that goes with your home. I saw several organizational tips that I will definitely be trying. Have you gotten used to the change?
ReplyDeleteHi Anita, I love your previous kitchen, Your cabinets look great so many family treasures in your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteBlessing
XO
Isora
Hi Anita, love it all, breathtaking and so beautiful and fresh but nods to your wonderful heritage and love for why you are a great lady today. The blue is so rich and different. The flour sack curtains and ruffle towel are the best. The touches, rug, telephone, colors, pink tea cups, basket of your home grown produce doesn't get much better. The screen door and cross above it all remind me of my heritage, childhood and things I am blessed to have because my grandparents had vision like yours. Love the beautiful photo of your grandparents, I feel how you miss them...same with mine. Thank you for all the effort in sharing this post.Bless your new kitchen.Of course blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteAnita,Isabelle and grandaddy would be so proud of you,your kitchen is wonderful,I love all the choices you made and you have so many wonderful memories and so many treasures,to hold on to.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletePS Anita, heart your Coke wooden box!!!Coke bottles, were sold in my grandparent's corner grocery store in town...still love Coke!What great items, meaningful and with purpose you have now.
ReplyDeleteThere are no words for how much I love your kitchen! I loved the cozy warmth before but the darker cabinets with the blue walls just take it to a whole new level. Anita, you have an amazing eye for detail and how you incorporate your family's special pieces is just a gift. Love every bit of it!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnita, Your kitchen tells us exactly who you are! It is so personal and unique and has a great personality! It is one-of-a-kind! Thanks for walking us through your changes and the reason behind the change. I think this is a kitchen to live life in! I am so happy you shared this with us!
ReplyDeletePlease come by and join TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS and show off your stunning kitchen with us!!!! TTT is going on now!
You know, I always love the things you do, but this kitchen may be the best thing I have ever seen...from ANYONE. I swear that if I could have a kitchen that reflects me(and my heritage/loved ones), this would be so close to it. You take chances that just astound me in such a good way that I am almost speechless(as if ;)). I am going to show this to my mom(for her new kitchen in the next year)because there are just so many things to love and admire here. Sending you a hug for sharing this, inspiring me, making me smile, making me tear up and because I am so happy for you!Thanks Anita!
ReplyDeletewow! what a transformation! amazing!
ReplyDeleteI like what you did to the kitchen! That blue is really pretty!
ReplyDeleteYou had a fabulous vision and a stellar execution of what it took to bring about a great transformation. I wish I didn't have to go to work. I had to go through the photos quickly. I'll come back later and take more time. Those curtains are perfect and your cabinet and wall colors make for a pleasing sight. I also just love your use of the history of the place and your inclusion of the old photographs. Perfect! I'm your newest follower. Hope you'll stop over at Quirky Vistas and visit and follow too if you like.
ReplyDeleteLiz
I love the blue kitchen. I so want to try that color somewhere in my house. Your home looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteOh Anita, I LOOOVE the "new" kitchen! It all looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing all your family treasures and why you used them. My Mother-in-law's name was Isabelle, it is a beautiful name. I am surprised at how much I love the blue, and that YOU used it;):) But it looks wonderful. Your kitchen surely is the HEART of your beautiful home. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous shade of blue you picked for your kitchen redo, Anita. I loved all the family history and it's so neat that you and your family had saved so much from the past--it's lovely and obviously a well-loved part of your home. Thank you for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteIt is all just breathtaking...I LOVE it, every single bit.
ReplyDeletexo bj
I love every inch of your kitchen! The cabinets are so gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen is packed with so much personality! I LOVE it all!!! Great Job!
ReplyDeleteLove this kitchen...every part of it!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful beyond beautiful...
ReplyDeleteI am speechless....
You are very talented.....!!!
Crystelle
http://www.crystelleboutique.com
Hi Anita, I've been away a lot the past month and am trying to visit around and catch up with my blog friends. I love your new kitchen look! It is so pretty with all the sweet vintage things you've added along with the new colour theme. Your cabinets look great too! A perfect colour. I also like the new rug in your living room (recent post). Blessings, Pamela
ReplyDeleteOhh! The new blue look of kitchen! It is good. I also love the curtains you made.
ReplyDelete- Mehul
Marble mantel
Your kitchen is absolutely breathtaking. seriously, stunning. I love every little thing you have done with---and am so pumped at how you were true to the original house. The details make everything so cozy. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into it all. I especially love the feed sack towels...awesome.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through pinterest (the screen door) and am absolutely LOVING IT. Your photos are so great---and everything here just feels so cozy. Thanks for sharing some of your life.
It looks amazing - like a totally different kitchen. I think my absolute favorite part though is the hanging wood cutting boards. That's just genius. I bet you love cooking in it now...how inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the blue paint color, from which company? I also have a farmhouse of the old late 1700 -early 1800 Lancaster County 2 front door style house. We are currently repainting 2 downstairs rooms and I think your color may be just the one for my study -office. Thanks for sharing your blue kitchen! Really like it. Linda @ bushel and a pickle
ReplyDeleteLinda the color is "Secluded Guestroom" by Colorplace at Walmart. I have used a lot of their paint, which used to be made by Sherwin Williams, and I love it. This blue was an exact match of paint in my great grandfather's house, so one reason I chose it.
DeleteCould you tell me what color stain you used for your cabinets and what brand! I love the gray! Thank you!
ReplyDelete