--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI ladies, love this forum, I'm a newbie at design and learning tons from this forum.
Last summer I redid my kitchen. Tore down a wall between the family room & kitchen & put a bar counter & stools. Put in maple cabinets stained a light cherry (cinammon coloured) (looks faded in pics), tropical brown granite countertop, tumbled marble backsplash and brownish/black ceramic tile. Paint is tyler taupe but I added a bit of a taupe to it because I found it a bit too yellow. Invested lots of $$$.
Now, after learning more & "getting into it", I have a few things that I might have done differently. Thinking I could do it now, but second-guessing myself because the reno was just done one year ago & not sure I want to spend too much more.
So, I'm thinking:
1. Get the island stained a dark brown or black, similar to my table & chairs (the stain there is called "tea"). Wondering if this would cost a whole bunch, would be yuck to strip the stain & varathane and don't make to screw it up.
2. Paint the kitchen walls a bit more of a "yellow" colour...feels like it's all too much of the same colour.
3. Need some colour & something to give it a WOW factor, I feel that's missing. The window nook over the sink could handle something here and I'm not sure what to do.
Can you help? I like my kitchen but as noted, it needs some TLC to make it pop or give it a wow factor. Thanks in advance for all your help & ideas.
Fillagirl
(Images to come, having trouble resizing photos)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| kitchen 006.jpg | 81.89 KB |
| kitchen 002.jpg | 86.24 KB |
| kitchen 5.jpg | 83.87 KB |
| kitchen 3.jpg | 72.88 KB |
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
Oopsy, sorry I'm late on this post but I'll still put in my 2 cents :) I also like your utensil holder, I use an old enamalware jug for mine. I love to re-purpose! I love all the accessories you purchased but I think I would stick to the birds & the plant in the window & leave a little space. I really love the patterned red fabric you found & agree with the others that it might be worth a look to find a co-ordinating fabric for the kitchen windows. Great job fillagirl, I definately don't think you need to paint your island!
FYI
Above post #26 has the utensil holdera I like best or that I vote for !
:)
I like your holder, Fillagirl... it's an attractive shape and the colour is great. What I like about it is that it's out of the ordinary - it's unexpected. I agree with everyone about repurposing things... the "holder" I purchased is actually a cookie jar.
I agree with Janetc, I re-purpose things all the time.
i think as long as it has enough room for your untensils, which it looks like it does than i think its perfect. I like using objects for other reasons then what they were meant for...i use a ceramic milk pitcher. If you change your mind i would try and find something that is red or lots of red in it.
smiles
janetc
OK, now looking at Tangotori's nice utensil holder, I'm having second thoughts. The "jar" I picked up at HomeSense iss more of a planter than a utensil holder, but it was the right colour....is it too much of a stretch to use it as a utensil holder? Please be honest...
HI PP, thanks for the input, I'm going to take the Tuscan ornament down & have another look, or I was thinking of painting it a shade darker than the walls, to give ithe walls some texture.
TT, here's a photo of my red holder - it's from HomeSense.
While it's a bit higher than I'd like, it works and I'm hoping I can get another similar piece.
I'm coming in late - jeesh i'm a lurker and here i am posting! LOL
I really like your kitchen, I would lose the new fixture you hung over the door, i love the red printed fabric and would try to find something similar for your breakfast nook. The red apples are brilliant and you are well on your way without staining the island.
Keep going you are doing awesome!
thanks for your input MacsMom...I'm going to see about returning (?) the fixtures, I got them at Cdn Tire not that long ago, maybe worth a try if I still have the boxes. They are actually an oil-rubbed bronze, but not "popping" enough.
Birdies are from Home Outfitters....rest is HomeSense, my fave store. Picked up another brick red accessory yesterday ("jar" to hold my kitchen utensils ) works great.
As an afterthought - you could always take down your lights and spray them. Debbie Travis (as well as Tremclad) have some hammered iron finish spray paints. Something like that might work and would be inexpensive.
Fillagirl - your acessories look great. I am loving the birdies. Where did you shop Homesense? I too love the red print fabric for the kitchen. Keep looking for something for the eating area. You will find it. I think it has already been said but I really see your room with darker lights. I think the colour of them right now just gets lost. We had a nickle colour six light chandelier over our harvest table that we replaced this week with a black wrought iron drum style hanging light and what a difference. I think going with a dark colour would help tie in your wall phrases as well. As for the piece above your doorway this is just my opiion but I don't think it works with what you have going on in the room. I know it was suggested to move it to the other door but you have alot going on over there with your things on top of your cupboard. It might just be the paint colour of your walls with it but it might also be the style. One last thing, is it just the angle of the pictures or is your table not centred below your light. Good job on the accessories shopping. I would keep them all and just rotate them a ound to give you a new fresh look whenever you feel like it. I do that with all my Homesense buys - I keep them in the bottom of my hutch and just keep rotate them in and out of the rooms as I feel like it. Of course it drives DH nuts, but that is part of the fun of it :laugh:
I like the tuscan piece but I think it would look better over the doorway beside the computer desk because this doorway does not have the wood frame .JMHO :)
accessorizing is fun but sometimes a daunting task....ecpecially when you live in my area. I can really see how your pops of color are already bringing life to the room.....love the patterned fabric on the small window and i do think it would be nice to see the dining area with the same red, but at the same time i do also like the fabric you chose for the dining area. As for your tuscan piece above the doorway, what really matters is whether you really like it, if so i would say leave it. and i do think it looks nice there. Good luck
smiles
janetc
Thanks for all your feedback...unfortunately, did not have a coordinating stripe to go with the red floral, so I may have to keep looking for a floral with a stripe that coordinates...I'll keep looking.
Tangotori - apples are faux - from Michael's, $14.00 for a bag of 6.
Thanks, I'll keep you updated. One more question - do you think I should "lose" the Tuscan wall ornament above my door? I'm having second thoughts about it.
I'm loving the patterned red fabric for the kitchen window! It's already been said, Fillagirl - but could you find a coordinating stripe for your bay windows?
I DO very much like the brown stripe, but it's just not working with the red in the other room.
And I think your bowl of apples looks terrific! Are they faux or real?
Hi Fillagirl....I love the floral red fabric & think it would look awesome once made up..I really like the striped also but find it doesn't give the punch of colour the red does...Was there a co-ordinating fabric in a stripe that matces the red ? I think the fabric for the dining area & kitchen would look good if it was co-ordinating .....prehaps the solid red on one window & the patterned on the other or if you love the stripe a co-ordinating fabric for it .....The accessories are very nice ...the apples look soooo.... real.....You could make placemats or runners for the table with the curtain fabric...Your kitchen is going to look absolutely gorgeous once the window treatments are up.. :) You have very good taste Fillagirl....The birdies are adorable :)
I am really liking the pop of red colour. Even the simple display of apples.
If you go with either red fabric for the kitchen sink window, I would be inclined to find a similar / complimentary fabric for the dining area. Meaning, red/tan stripes or design to keep it flowing.
here are more pics - excuse the mess...
OK, shopping for accessories & fabric was not as easy as I thought it would be!!! Bought:
- faux apples but didn't find a glass bowl so used existing bowl - like the punch of colour it adds. Also bought green apples & pears, but they were not bright enough
- fabric for kitchen window - ??? Not sure about either, but like the punch of colour it adds.
- fabric for eating area window - stripes...think I like it but sure need some colour on the table. Thought if I went with this fabric, I could change out my accent colour without changing the curtains.
- bought a couple of statues/knick-knacks for the kitchen nook - LOVE the little birdies but are they too small? Also, not sure about the"tuscan-style" vase, but thought it tied in the ornament over my door...
OK - your turns - yay, or keep looking?
I think your kitchen is beautiful, i agree with others, just needs some hits of color. How did you make out on your shopping trip? Love Tangatoris rooster
smiles
janetc
I'd live with the island as it is for a while before committing to a permanent change of colour. Do all of the other ideas suggested & then see if you still need/want to change the colour of the island.....paint the walls, window treatments, accessories etc.
I am in a similar situation; just renovated the kitchen. I love it but it's a lot of white and brown. I went to fabricland and found curtain panels for $6 each, in a blue/cream/brown pattern, so I bought enough to do panels on the door and window in my adjoining TV room, and 2 extras to make romans for my kitchen windows. I'm hoping this will brighten everything up and make it less boring. I'd post pictures but of course, the curtains are not hung yet! Definitely recommend checking fabricland because they had lots of nice options and the price was right!
Thanks for all your great feedback, your inspiration pics, and your mock-up Smoodgie.
While I like the look of the darker island, I will try the simple fixes first to see how that works and then make a decision.
First thing tomorrow I'm going shopping to HomeSense & Pier 1- to buy a large bowl and either green pears or red apples to put on my island. I'm thinking red or orangy-red as an accent colour with a tiny bit of green (can you have one main accent colour, and then a secondary accent colour?) Then on to Fabricland - I will try a roman blind on the windows in a few colours & patterns to see it that helps make the room "pop" as well as look for a significant piece to put on my window nook. And I will check out that fixture at HD, I like the style.
Thanks again for all your help & ideas...I'll keep you posted.
Excellent mock-up, Smoodgie!
Not quite the wall colour you had in mind, but how about a dark brick red like BM Sundried Tomato or Bonaparte on the walls with a dark brown island?? As mentioned before, painting the island would be easier than staining it. BM Black Bean Soup is a nice deep brown. And how about changing out your light fixture for something in a wrought iron finish, like this one from Home Depot....
Hi Fillagirl; I like your kitchen just the way it is, very,very, nice ...All you really need are window treatments & a few coloured accessories JMO....I have posted a few pics of roman shades :)
Here is an inspiration pic for your breakfast room.......
I see why you would want add some more life into your kitchen's colour scheme, however I am not so sure that painting/staining the island is the right thing to do, especially in a dark brown or black. That would just add more of the same...just a little darker.
I agree with many others who have suggested that you gradually add some life and colour with accessories like bowls of fruit (real or imitation), curtains, roosters. etc. You could also find a series of colourful prints for the wall.
As for the curtains/romans.....I would think twice about hanging anything on the window over the sink. I would be afraid that it might end up blocking too much of the minimal natural light you now get into the room and will defeat the purpose of livening up the room. Just a thought......
I like the idea of the island in a different colour but before I made that huge of a commitment I would try the other suggestions first. Try the least expensive options such as fruit paint blinds before I went all out and restained the island. I also agree the stool just doesn't go with what you have.