Tuesday, April 27

KITCHEN MAKEOVER: IN WITH THE OLD, OUT WITH THE NEW

Greetings, dear reader!

As many of you may know, I am currently in the throes of changing my kitchen from it's warm, sunny tuscan theme, to a red/aqua 1940s retro kitchen. I have been gathering things for a year or two now (my favorite part) and am now beginning the process of taking out the Tuscan and putting in the retro! Here is my kitchen as its former self:


All of the Tuscan goodness you see will be carefully placed in a box and sold as a "Tuscan Kitchen In A Box" for mere PENNIES on the dollar considering what I paid for it all! I'll post it here before I put it on Ebay so my readers can have "dibs" if you so choose!

When I have the new window treatments for the kitchen, I will be ready to make the switch...I have enlisted the help of Sandy of 521LakeStreet fame to give me ideas for window treatments. She recommended (and NAILED IT by the way) the old fashioned 2" aluminum blinds with cherry red tape, using vintage kitchen toweling for valances...BRILLIANT! Here are some of the fabrics I'm considering for the toppers:


What's YOUR vote? I realize some of the blues aren't so "aqua" but since they will be on valances only and not right next to anything aqua, I think they'll be fine. The last (with the yellow) is a vintage tea towel print...I must admit I LOVE the feeling of "happy" yellow adds to red and aqua...but I really LOVE the vertical flowered ribbon print too...AND the vintage appliances, although the color is more "jadeite" than aqua...I think it'd still be fine...if you know of a place you think would have something I would love, put a link in the comments...I LOVE doing this kind of research!

I adore all of the strawberry and cherry print vintage fabrics, but I've done a strawberry themed kitchen before and purchased 'everything strawberry' known to womandom. I got tired of it reeeeeeeeeal fast. Which is why designers say to use "themed" accessories and NOT themed wallpaper, curtains, linens, etc. :-) Live and learn I suppose, yes?

For now I'm leaving the ivy wallpaper and vintage ceiling paper...I just don't have the time, money, energy to change it ALL right now! I think it will keep the red and aqua from feeling like too much...don't you?

I'll be back later with my Saturday (tornado alley) finds and some amazing red/aqua goodness for altered art projects! WOOT!

Hugs and smoochies,
Paula Clare



6 comments:

Angie said...

Ok..I will cast my vote! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the antique appliances fabric! Can't wait to see your newly "bedecked" kitchen!!!

Hugs~
Ang.

ImagiMeri said...

Hi Paula,

Love the new theme you're goin' with. I've got something for you that will go perfectly in that setting, so be on the lookout for a package in the next week or so.

Love ya'
Meri

Beth A. @ Songbird Hill said...

I like them all, but the vintage appliances really caught my eye. That's my vote. Good luck with the re-do!

Hearts Turned said...

How exciting, Paula! Love the retro kitchen plan! Okay...I love the 3rd print with yellow, but I've got to say the first one really grabs me! Can't wait to see it all as it comes together!

Hope you're having a wonderful night!

Unknown said...

Paula,
I really like the kitchen appliance one...but wow...three really good choices....I will tell you on the last fabric, when I got it, the yellow is more of a gold...not really yellow. I was going to make something with it...really bummed me out that the yellow was gold....so just FYI on that one! I actually sent mine back and got something else....:) This is going to be wonderful! :) Sandy

Scrap for Joy said...

Hi Paula,
How exciting to be making some changes in your kitchen! I love Sandy's idea about the blinds and I love all of the fabrics you showed but the appliance one really wowed me....could it be lingering fondness from our kitchen tag swap-LOL? Whatever you decide you say "YOU" so I'll be happy to see what you decide!
Joyce