Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Monday, October 10, 2011

Kitchen Reveal


Okay, okay... I was going to let you think I was Super Designer Woman, who leaps through decorating challenges in one bounce, producing in just days the same results as those on HGTV.   Well, just in case you were thinking all this got done in a matter of days, I will come clean.  The painting was done the weekend my husband went out of town...remember getting rid of my hormonal mood?  The walls were painted during my painting marathon.  The back splash didn't go as easy as I had hoped...so it draggggggggggggggggggged on and on.  The curtains got cut out and then just sat and sat... which is dumb since I used to sew curtains with my eyes closed....it was my business.  Let's just say it has been years and sewing insecurities took over for a month.  Vee kept showing her sewing projects which inspired and convicted me to return to my former sewing days.
(Before pictures of kitchen, click here)

So what got done this week?...finished and installed the curtains, knife block, floor cloth, made wall pictures and arranged accents.  Here she is...................


Back splash... painted solid then stenciled in diamonds and used art tape for the grout lines.  Accent piece - red microwave.

All is temporary and can be painted over if needed when we move.  If it was my own house, it would be real stone...but this gives the look I wanted for pennies.  Sealed with clear matte polyurethane.



In place of a mosaic tile back splash,  I found a temporary fix.  This is a plastic tray I found at Target.  When we move, I can take it down without damage to the wall.  I can also take it off the wall for cleaning.


Walls went from calming green to energizing retro-turquoise blue.  Retro-designed fabric was sewn into kitchenette valances.  They were installed closer to the ceiling to bring your eye up... creating the illusion of higher ceilings.  The hotel vertical blinds were exchanged for 2" faux-wood blinds.




Instead of curtain treatments on the back door, I cut out flowers from the material and starched them to the wall...again temporary.

Floor cloth still needs edges seamed and sealed.  We had some "prayed-for rain", so I didn't get around to sealing it to protect it from wear.






The large space above my cabinets gives me plenty of room to decorate and combine past kitchens with the new kitchens.  Accent pieces from all of my kitchens through the years are finding a new setting place..... Country, Tuscan and now adding new Retro kitchen accents.

More space around the top to add some new items...the hunt makes it fun.



This is the view from the opening to the den. I am standing behind the kitchen sink.
    Here's a Breakdown for those interested:

  • 40% off paint from Sherwin Williams
  • 30% off curtain material at Hobby Lobby
  • Cheap 2" Faux Wood Blinds and Curtain Rods - Walmart
  • Drop Cloth - Lowes - finished 8 x 8 check floor cloth
  • Blue jar accents - 95% off at TJ Maxx
  • Baker's Rack - 50% off at Hobby Lobby
  • Tray from Target - stove back splash
  • Printed off Retro pictures - put in black frame I already owned
A happy wife who is still adjusting to not owning her own home...but learning to live in a temporary home. 
Price Less
I hope you enjoyed the tour...thanks for the accountability...it really worked.
As for me being a huge sports fan...well I am not, I just watch my children play sports and stay up with  what is happening in sports in order to communicate with my sons.
We also live in a city with four professional teams.
Getting the chance to yell...well, I will take that anytime....when it is to root someone on to score.
Todays Creative Blog



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55 Joining in with more words:

Shelley said...

Oh I LOVE IT!!!! Well done - what a fabulous Kitchen - will you come and do mind!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea about starching material flowers around the wall - and your knife block is priceless - and I CANNOT believe your diamonds are hand painted?? (did I read that right) and so perfect in size ... bravo, hats off, deep bow!!! Enjoy your lovely new room x

Karen said...

Love it ~ so bright & cheerful. The backsplash is amazing, you are so talented & the valances are what ties it all together. Great job!

Petra said...

Wow! You inspire me! Have I invited you to our Wednesday's wow yet? How did you measure off your hand-painted diamonds?

Farm Girl said...

Your kitchen is just awesome, I love that floorcloth. It looks amazing. Your curtains are so great. I am totally impressed and the backsplash is really great.
I am so glad you shared. It looks like a completely different house.
Good job!!

Always Nesting said...

You are my new hero!!! The transformation is amazing, just amazing with all the detail. Love, love love every stitch, every inch, every paint! Make sure you link this to every party in blogland.

Are you on Pinterest or may I please Pin one of your photos on Pinterest? It will link back to this post.

no spring chicken said...

I was all prepared to comment a sigh of relief and a thank you for coming clean with the time frame on this project. Whatever. When I look back on everything you have done since moving into your home, and the amazing change you wrought in the kitchen... I am shamed!!

I LOVE, LOVE the window treatments~ I love it all!

Blessings, Debbie

Vee said...

You clever girl! What a nice room you have now...so colorful and cheerful. Your family must enjoy it so much. I love what you did with paint, fabric, and starch. Just terrific! (I don't know how my little projects could possibly have inspired all this creativity. It just shows that God can use anything. =D )

Shelley said...

Really dumb question but can you explain to what floor cloth is - I've never heard of this before? And what type of floor did you place it over. Is it glued to the floor? How do you clean it? lol - sooo many questions !!!

Lisa said...

Beautiful!!! I love the fabric you used for your gorgeous window treatments! It's so bright and cheerful! Well done, Friend.:)

Debbie said...

Oh Janette, all I can say is WOW!! I just LOVE it!! It is truly just a stun. I LOVE LOVE the curtains, the floor cloth (still not sure what that is exactly??) and the back splash is just perfect...in fact such a wonderful idea I would love to steal it, if I thought I could ever do it, which I don't....What I really need is your wonderfully creative mind in my kitchen helping me come up with what to do to bring it all up to date, can you come over for coffee today?? ; )....Oh, and on a tiny tiny little budget!! I can see why you made a business out of curtains btw too...soo cute. Do you have any sort of patterns or do you just measure and create? OK, now I have to give mine some serious thought! Have a wonderful day! HUGS

camp and cottage living said...

Wow Janette,
Everything is so bright and awesome!
It's plain to see you are a talented seemstress-those curtains
are definitely custom. I like the way you reused the fabric pattern again as accents. Great idea.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I crown you QUEEN OF DIAMONDS!! I'm nervous about doing stripes, and diamonds aren't even on my radar!

Your kitchen is beautiful! The curtains are gorgeous! The diamonds are so professional... I don't even WANT to know how you do that! :)

And one of my very favorite things are the flowers you cut out of the same fabric and starched to the wall. This whole kitchen is too cute for words! You need to have your own tv show... Janette's diamond designs on a dime... it would be a hit!

GREAT JOB Janette, you hit one over the fence!

xo

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

Oh my goodness, you have displayed some major talent in redoing your kitchen. That diamond pattern would have made me crazy but you made it look perfect. The flowers around the door is so imaginative and cute. The whole room looks great!-----------Shannon

Canadagirl said...

Okay Janette you need to fly up here and help me add some pizzazz to my home now! [o= You did a wonderful job and so much character. That is why I love it so much. It just screams Janette. [o=

Blessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary

Unknown said...

Oh I just love it!!! So really pretty. I would love to eat breakfast in there. My bedroom is a bright gold and when I got the paint the guy mixing said to me "what are you going to paint in this color?" (he didn't like it) I said "My bedroom" to which he said-"you really want to wake up to that every day?"
LOL Made me laugh and I said "I think it will make me think of the sunshine every morning when I get up" I love happy colors-I can't wait to come have tea at your table in this beautiful kitchen. :)
Love it-wasn't the rain great?! Only bad part was walking around San Antonio in it but I still didn't complain-it was wonderful to have it.
Love ya-have a great day.
Jill

Amy said...

Oh wow! It is gorgeous!! We are about to move into a rent loft and I plan on using some of your ideas! Thanks! Amy

Sue Anne McKinney said...

LOVE it!

Karen said...

Beautiful Janette! I especially love the fabric you chose for those curtains. And, I love that tray you found at Target! What a great way to use it as a decorative piece. I feel inspired!

Alice said...

Very nice. I like that you really had fun with it, it's not boring at all:)

Debbiedoos said...

Such a happy kitchen!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Wow! Wowowow! What a clever retro lady you are! June Cleaver would be proud! Super ideas - every one! I was completely fooled on a first look before reading how you really did this. One talented lady, mi'dear!
Joy!
Kathy

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Talk about IMPRESSED! What a cute, cute, happy place you created! Hats off to you for a "job well done." Thanks for the tour, it was so enjoyable! Happy week to you!

Sandy said...

Beautiful! Love it all! You sure
have made your kitchen and dining
area a happy place. It would even
be a joy to be in there cooking.
Well, maybe not a joy, but at
least there's lots of pretty
things to look at while you cook.

Kathleen said...

Wow. You rock, girl! As I meandered around, I felt like I could sit down at any time and sip a Coke while eating some Rice Krispie Treats. Sooooooo homey & charming!

Debbie said...

I'm here for the tour, and I LOVE what you've done! It's so vibrant and happy. My favorite part was the treatment with the starched fabric around the door. I love the way it kind of peeks around the door.

And those valances are marvelous!! No wonder you did it for a living. I love everything about them from patterns to style.

I actually own my own house but still think I would like to paint a back splash. I can't settle on what I want so that would be a snap to change back when I finally do.

You are a thrifty decorating magician.

Southern Lady said...

Never heard of starching material to a wall. Neat idea!

Maryann said...

Super cute kitchen, it's so cheerful, some place you would want to hang out in. The curtains are fabulous! You did a terrific job.

Debi said...

I am Inspired!! Your work is lovely - your attitude is heavenly! :) thanks for sharing

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Wowza, Janette! It's FABULOUS! What a great eye you have for design and how talented you are to do it on a budget. I really love the black and white punctuation throughout! Take a bow!!!!

Tanna said...

LOVE it! LOVE it! LOVE it!! Okay, how did you get 40% off Sherwin Williams? AND what color is that turquoise? LOL! This kitchen just makes me happy to look at it!! I have labeled turquoise one of my "happy colors" this year... and you prove that right again! Great job, Janette! Thank you for sharing! blessings ~ tanna

Christine said...

We all agree... it is pretty awesome. Great details all over the kitchen. I see Lucille Ball has prime placement...love it!

Patty Marker said...

I would love waking up to coffee in that kitchen. Nice job and those window treatments are gorgeous! Patty

Debbie Petras said...

You are so creative! Your kitchen looks great!!!!

I've done basically nothing with our rental. I just had to stop by and say hi since I've not been online much (on vacation in FL).

Love you,
Debbie

Susannah said...

Outrageously fantastic, Janette! Right down to the knife block. Well done, and loved the way you made it all happen for just pennies. Stand up and take a bow!

Hugs, e-Mom ღ

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Awesome! Just awesome! Love the colors and the back splash... well everything! Very nice job!

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

If I pray really hard . . . I can sew a simple straight curtain. Wow, yours are beautiful. Really some creative ways to make a rented space your own. Lovely work.

Fondly,
Glenda

Cecilia Marie Pulliam said...

Such great ideas, Janette! I love it. What a cheerful room to prepare and enjoy meals in!Thanks for sharing.

katie purcell said...

I came over from Mary's blog. Your kitchen does remind me of one
of her journal pieces. I love it.
Great job.

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT! You have to invite me over now so I can sit in it and admire (which is all I would do if I were you)! But, I'm betting you are already mulling over your next project. I can't wait to see what it will be!

Love,

Angie

Marsha Young said...

Oh, Janette, you are what my mom used to call a "working wonder". :) And that was a high compliment.

Wonderful use of colors and fabric. I wish I had half your talent. Blessings to you.
Marsha

The French Hutch said...

Great kitchen redo. I love it. I love the blue too, I promise not a single bird will come. I LOL with that one, so cute. Love your backsplash too. Your very talented and creative. You've just accomplished what I need to do.........Happy Fall

~Emily
The French Hutch

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Oh Janette, I am soooo impressed with your talent and creativity! This kitchen is BEAUTIFUL!! I love your back splash and that painted floorcloth. You have been a busy girl and the time you've put into this has paid off in gorgeousness! Honestly girly, you have major talents and gifts!

I sure would love to know how you create the floorcloths. Do you have a little tutorial you could share? Also, since you used a Lowes drop cloth, does it stay down on the sides when you walk on it or do you have to do something special to make it do this? I really really want to make one of these.

Beautiful talent you have Janette!
♥Lee Ann

Honey at 2805 said...

What a fun kitchen to work in! The color is wonderful and those curtains are adorable!

I have just become a friend and foller - from one Texas gal to another!

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

Great job on the fab kitchen. I am a new follower!!

Leslie @ Farm Fresh Fun said...

Wowza! I am smiling all over after touring your happy place! You created SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ITEMS! That color is perfect and I love how it makes all the details POP. Dreaming my next road trip will take me to Texas and I can drop in for a sewing lesson and fun chat! What a blessing you are to your family and friends. Rental, schmental, it's HOME!
Thank you for the fun look 'round!
xoxo
Leslie

Cathy @My 1929 Charmer said...

Oh my gosh, it's so bright and cheerfully retro. Great job. That back splash much of been time consuming to measure. Thanks for stopping by blog!

Sarah Jane said...

I LOVE IT!!!! It's so bright and happy and would make anyone feel right at home! The colors came together so well! And your Lucy book looks awesome on display! =) I know you've had a blast putting it together, and even more amazing that you did it on a budget. INSPIRING!

Can't wait to see it on Friday!

Sally said...

Wow, well done! What a wonderful atomsphere to hang out in and prepare food in. Take a moment and bask in the success of a job well done. Kudos.

Sally said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Talk about great! What a transformation and personalization of your kitchen.
- Joy

Trisha said...

Janette,
This room is so happy and makes my heart happy! Thank you for sharing your hard work with us. You've done such a beautiful job.

Sharon said...

Can I come and eat at your house??

Janette, this is adorable. I just loved everything about it. You are such a wonderful HOME-maker, in every sense of that word. You create a joyful and whimsical environment for your family that just speaks of love and comfort and closeness.

I know this is a tough time for you right now - but truly, your joy is shining in the way you're creating and infusing your home with your warm and tender heart.

GOD BLESS!

Stephanie said...

What a cheerful place to go every day! So cute! I love mixing patterns but am never sure how to go about it. I have no instincts when it comes to color and design. I absolutely loooove the accent flowers around the windows. What an inspiring idea! I may have to steal it for around my house. I would have never ever thought of that. Great, great job!

SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime said...

I love this project! Thanks for joining us at Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop :)

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! You KNOW I love that aqua and red. You outdid yourself, Janette. That backsplash is unreal--pun intended. I admire you, I would lose my patience in a blink. I love every detail. All you need now is to find a retro 50's diner dinette set. Like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38647108@N08/4614635059/
LOVE it all!!!

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