Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Kitchen Update.


l really hope you enjoy having a peek at my new look kitchen and are inspired seeing the big impact paint can have on a space. Though the kitchen has always worked on a functional level being that it's set out well, receives great natural light from the bay window, as well as morning sun due to it's Easterly aspect, my main issue was the out-dated, dingy orange timber stained cupboards. As the house was built around 20 years ago, it's to be expected that things end up looking like they're stuck in a time warp after a while, and except for the bench tops which were replaced a few years ago, our kitchen was straight out of the 90's.
(There's a before picture at the end of the post).

The space now seems so much lighter, and is more open and airy. My Sister's an interior designer and she selected Antique White USA for the paint colour...l think she's chosen perfectly. (Thanks Sis :-)
The plain pantry door was replaced with this leadlight one to tie it in with the leadlight of the overhead cabinets. l kept all the same appliances since they all still function perfectly fine.
Looking from the dining room into the kitchen, the family room is to the left. 

Flowers and candles pretty up and soften the space. 
  
The handles and doorknobs were all bought online where there's a huge range to choose from. The porcelain has a fine (deliberate) crackling through them which l think gives them the vintage look l was going for.
  
 
 Small shelves at the end of the cupboards hold jugs at the ready for bunches of flowers.
l still love the original feature tile so no need to change anything there.
 

In the kitchen looking out....on a very dark Wintry day. 

  
 
Now if only l could convince hubby to paint out all the timber skirting boards and architraves in the house....but l guess that's a battle for another day haha:-)
 
 This is the only before photo l have, taken about 12 months ago, but you can see just how orange the cupboards and bench look.   
 
 A (fuzzy) photo l took of the work on the bench, still in progress. Hubby removed the corbels for the pine lining which he nailed directly onto the hardwood bench. The corbels were then returned to their original positions, and architrave was nailed along the bottom edge. This not only neatens the edge, but also gives the bench more of a sense of solidity.  
 
 
 
Thanks so much for popping in for a visit and l hope you all have a great rest of your week.
 
Til next time,
 
Bron.
 
 

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Midwinter Visit.




The painter was here for almost two weeks, so it's been a bit of a mad rush to have the kitchen back together in time for daughters' weekend visit. The last door knob was put in place late yesterday evening just a couple of hours before they arrived, so no time for photos yet, but l'll try and post some next week....We haven't got a lot planned for the weekend as Winter is intent on asserting herself .... so it'll prob'ly be spent by the fire with home made pizzas.....My cooking skills don't extend much beyond that..... and a bottle of wine should dull the tastebuds, haha.. 

 
It was a sensational Winters' morning here a couple of weeks ago so l seized the opportunity to take a few pics to share. The sun was beautiful and warm and a real reprieve from the usual grey, chilly days we've been having. The colours were inspired by the Autumn tones of the dying roses, which to my eye were beautiful just the same.
 
 
The curtain panel was found at the opshop for only a dollar....so pretty.... what a shame there weren't another couple.....don't want much do l:-)
 
Still trying to fit in a bit of painting time.....experimenting with ocean scenes and drippy, water trickles.

Old hats found at a garage sale, a few pics..... and then out to my stall to be sold. 
 
A couple of new/vintage perfume bottles.....love'em....to keep for now.
 

Found a couple of pictures from my photo files l haven't shown before..
 

Fluffy Spring blossoms, from my garden a few years ago.
 
 
Pink Summer roses.

 
 
Wishing you all a happy, sunny weekend.... thanks so much for stopping over and also for your lovely comments.
 
Til next time.
 
Bron..