Monday, June 7, 2010

The Evolution of Our Kitchen


Our kitchen has gone through a couple of mini remodels since we bought the house eleven years ago.

In 2001, we replaced the tile countertops with this granite. It was honed St. Cecelia. Eventually, I realized that I wanted polished, so now it's kind of polished, but not quite!

I could never figure out why the previous owners didn't center this cooktop! It has bugged me forever! I ended up creating this backsplash without a center focus, so as not to attract attention to the stove's placement. I fantasize about ripping it all out and putting the largest commercial range possible here!

The little cabinet on the wall used to be pine. I recently painted it white.

The island was also pine and I painted it black. Why you ask? Because the pine was dated (circa 1989) and really beat up.

When the countertops were replaced, I had this farmhouse sink installed. I still love it!

At the time I painted the cabinets, I also replaced the double ovens and dishwasher with stainless steel. The old appliances were at the end of their life, and I love stainless!
I replaced the panels on the refrigerator with stainless too.

The family room is just off the kitchen. My kids keep trying to talk me into getting a sectional sofa! But, they don't live here anymore, so I'm sticking to this traditional arrangement!

Notice the Charles Faudree book on the coffee table. I have to say he is my biggest influence when it comes to how I decorated this space.

The fireplace also used to be pine with embellishments. I took off the "gingerbread," sanded it and painted it black to tie in with the kitchen island.

This photo shows how it opens up to the eating area and the backyard.

Our casual dining area. When we bought the house, there was a flush mount light on the ceiling. I couldn't wait to hang a proper chandelier. I also hung my collection of majolica plates above the window.

So there you have the evolution of our kitchen! We plan on selling this house in a couple of years so it doesn't make sense to do any thing more. But! If we stayed here forever.....I would definitely replace the countertops! I just love Carrera marble! Next house.....

I'm linking up to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Also to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.
Thanks ladies for hosting!

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53 comments:

JJ said...

thank you for your sweet comment. and may i say...your home is pretty much my dream home. it is beyond gorgeous! every little detail is so perfect!! definitely going to be keeping up with your blog!

Pamela said...

Just gorgerous! This is the exact kitchen i hope to have one day. I love the white cabinets, farm sink and the window over the sink is fantastic. The eating area is perfect and so french country...love the bench! All the pottery and furniture is just beautiful.

All the top designers here in Canada especially our very famous Sarah Richardson always pick honed over polished granite!!
I so enjoyed this tour!
Pamela xo

Kathysue said...

Hi Delores I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles to see my boy. I need to do a little catching up on my fav. blogs. Love your kitchen,love your home, it makes me smile and that in my life is the highest compliment I give!!!! Happy Monday,Kathysue

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Delores, I've never seen anything in either of your homes that I didn't just love, and your kitchen/family room is no exception. It is all so inviting, but elegant at the same time. C.F. is a fav of mine to, but you do a much better job of interpreting his look than I can do. I also love that glimpse of the built in cabinet with the leaded glass doors. All of it is perfection. laurie

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Delores, Your home is absolutely beautiful. I love the kitchen and all the light you get from the many windows. Charles Faudree is also one of my favorite designers and I do love the country French look. I see we have the same pure butter slab.
Hugs,
Sherry

a quiet life said...

its all so beautiful, i love your style. my fav is your table at the window, well, outside of yor pool house!
took a little drive to your valley yesterday, waved to you somewhere up in the vineyards. such a pretty valley!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love your kitchen and your familyroom/dining area. I wouldn't change a thing, I love it just like it is. Gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

Blondie's Journal said...

How absolutely gorgeous everything is. I love how the rooms flow so well. You've done a great job and CF is very inspiring!

xoxo
Jane

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Delores, You have a gorgeous kitchen, family room, breakfast area! I love all the changes you made. All of the windows in this space are awesome!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your kitchen and family room is beautiful!! It does not need anything else.
Enjoy your week.

FLOWERSHOPGURL said...

Your home is gorgeous, I love french country decorating and you have done a perfect job!
Hugz,
Kim

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

This is my dream home! I love every bit of it, so beautiful! The kitchen, AMAZING, the eating area is just the most charming and you've have it decorated so perfectly!
Cindy

for the love of a house said...

Your kitchen is lovely!! I adore all the changes you have made over time- wonderful choices!!
joan

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ahhhh! What a beautiful layout! LOVE all the windows and the verything is lovely!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful kitchen and family room! Oh, my goodness! I just love it! Your changes are so marvelous! I really like your style and I agree with you - I like your sofa and chair better than a sectional!
You are truly blessed.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

What a beautiful home you have! This is my first visit.

Donna

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Your home is just BEAUTIFUL!! Love your kitchen,family room and dinning area just as it is and wouldn't change a thing BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL!!!

Acanthus and Acorn said...

Delores,
I love your conservatory-like banquette area!!! I think all the updates are fabulous!

Tamra said...

Your kitchen is beautiful. Warm and inviting yet very relaxed you must really enjoy it alot.

Rettabug said...

It is all so Gorgeous!! I love your wide open spaces & the massiveness of the pieces. I can't believe you don't cook much in that beautiful kitchen, Delores! Maybe that's why it looks so pretty-clean. :-)
Beautiful spaces & beautifully decorated as well.

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

Everything looks fabulous. I'm green with envy over your farmhouse sink and the windows in your dining area a to die for! I also love the built ins in the dining area. Well heck, your entire living area, dining and kitchen is wonderful!

Privet and Holly said...

BEAUTIFUL. I love the fact that you know your taste and have no fear of launching forward with your ideas! What a lovely, cozy and inviting home you have. Love the banquette dining area!
xx Suzanne

Unknown said...

You did a wonderful job on the whole area, it is just beautiful. Love it all. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy

southerninspiration said...

Oh MY GOODNESS!! It is fabulous, and pretty much a dream home! I love all you've done! It's so very warm and inviting!

Suzanne

The Decorative Dreamer said...

So beautiful! I love all your built in's everywhere! You have done and excellent job decorating, and repainting. I love everything about this space! It would be so hard to leave such a beautiful home!

Lori E said...

I could stay there forever. Great taste.

Barb said...

Just gorgeous. What a great job you have done. Lovely!

Barb

Anita@Theycallmejammi said...

Gorgeous. I love the way everything blends and flows together. Your countertops are great, I think the marble would be a good choice,but don't underestimate how beautiful your kitchen looks today. I'm going to go back and look again and turn a deeper shade of green. =). Come by and visit when you have a chance.

Fabulously French said...

Gorgeous kitchen and I love the way that it has evolved over the years says the girl who is still painting her new kitchen.

A tres bientot,

Leeann x

Anonymous said...

Visiting your kitchen and walking through the pictures to your dinnertable..is like taking a warm loving bath...I would bring you Nieuwe Haring from the Noordzee with chopped onions..as a treat from the Dutch lowlands..for cooling it down just a little..to sit and share...
Have a wonderful day, Delores
Lieve groeten
Godeliva van Ariadone

Katy Noelle said...

Of course, this is all beautiful. Do you mind me being redundant? I love all of the windows! It's so light and airy and the fireplace must be so elegant when lit - with all of the windows, I mean. Do you know what I mean? Open to the outdoors but cozy inside. Ahhhh!

You know, I know Charles Faudree's name but not his work. Have to explore that one!

We need to redo our kitchen but I think that it will be a much more humble project. Our countertops will be the butcher block that we found in the basement of the church. We're hoping that we might be able to wrangle a bumped out breakfast nook, too, and I am thinking and thinking about what kind of "chandelier" to hang - there are so many ways it could go.

This was another taste of inspiration. Thanks ever so much, Dolores!

Love, katy

xinex said...

You havbe a beautiful kitchen, in factm you have a gorgeous house,m Delores. I love everything about it and the way you decorate it I love your commercial size frig. We had subzero frig and the compressor just died and we finally replaced it last month with a cheapie and it does not look quite as nice now....Christine

Joyce said...

ok you can put the sold sign on your lawn as I want to buy your house:-) Love what you have done and the space is amazing. I am remodeling our beach house and am picking out the cabinets today. I always pick white cabinets so that is easy and I want the farm house sink but other then that I am clueless. So many decisions so it would be easier just to buy your house:-) Your house is perfect!
Joyce

Karen said...

I am so smitten with your kitchen. The dining area is fabulous. If this were my home, I might consider cooking a little more often!

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Delores,
All your windows around the family room are delightful, they let so much sunshine in and I think its always so nice to be able to look outside into the garden!. Your kitchen is lovely and the counter space is wonderful. Your home is elegant,warm and inviting.
Take care and enjoy your day!
Hugs, Elizabeth

Heather at Satisfying Spaces said...

You have a beautiful home! I can definitely see the Charles Faudree influence.

Be Colorful Coastal said...

I love your kitchen. Actually it looks a lot like ours but you have added those fun pops of red and they look terrific. Your granite is gorgeous and I covet that red sofa.
Pam

Hill Country House Girl said...

Love seeing the evolution of your house. It is beautiful and very warm and comfortable feeling. I so want to paint some of the pine in my house - it is driving me crazy. And.....I, too, am waiting for my next house to have some Carerra marble! Thanks for sharing with us.

Kelly said...

Ok, I don't usually commnent, because I have to ADORE something to comment, but I ADORE your kitchen and family room combo! Love everything about it!! It's cozy and warm and casual and inviting and timeless, yet interesting at the same time. It's not boring at all. Love your colorscheme and all your country french touches. I love your kitchen table eating area with the banquette seating. Your kitchen is stunning! I'm going back for more eye candy and ideas! Thanks for showing the "whole room" instead of little vigniettes. I can get a much better feeling of the space that way and truly feel that I've visited your home. Why oh why would you sell this beautiful home? It should sell fast though. Who wouldn't want to live there?!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I do so love your kitchen and familyroom/dining area. Your home is just stunning and everything is displayed so beautifully. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, Marty

Anonymous said...

Very lovely.
I stand with you on keeping the traditional arrangement in your family room.
By any chance is your couch a King Hickory piece?
Thank you for sharing.

Kindly,
CJF

nannykim/spindlecottage said...

Love all the windows and the casual dining area--that would be a hang out for me!

Atticmag said...

You have a great kitchen with a wonderful look and space. The changes you made seem absolutely logical. If your question about the off-center range top isn't rhetorical I can answer it. Your choice of backsplash is excellent in that regard. Pulls the eye away. Thanks for stopping by (expect you got in on our sink giveaway). Jane F

Kim said...

Oh heck, I just drooled all over my keyboard! Delores, what can I say that hasn't already been said - how about, your kitchen is drool-worthy!
xoxo,
Kim

Mary said...

How can you even think of leaving this beautiful house! Let us know when it's up for sale...............everything is truly elegant and lovely Delores and, as you're not far from San Carlos where my best friend lives (the one who just took me to Africa!), perhaps I can persuade DH to move to California, ha! ha!

I'm posting on my safari trip, lots of pics and stories of the most amazing time of my life. Hope you can stop by soon.

Hugs - Mary

The Little Red Shop said...

Your kitchen is just lovely!

: )

Julie M.

Nancy Rosalina said...

This is just beautiful and it makes me feel all giddy..lol ;) I'm not sure how I got here...but I am so glad I did...going to visit for a spell, while I'm here! Nancy

The Style Sisters said...

There is a puddle under me from all my drooling! Wow this is my dream kitchen even with the uneven cooktop area. Love love love it all!!
Karin

Renée Finberg said...

your home is beautiful.
all the windows, the built-ins, the kitchen, and everything else are just incredible.

renee

AT HOME BLOG said...

Hi :-) I have to tell ya... this kitchen is a DREAM!!!! I have no more words...
kisses
Etta

It's a Wannabe Decorator's Life said...

Oh my heavenly goodness! I absolutely adore your kitchen! I have the same counter tops and love them! Love the backsplash! Your built in hutch is a dream! I am your newest follower!

Becky in SC said...

Oh how beautiful! I just stumbled onto your blog via Kim @ savvy southern style. We have just recently installed granite countertops in our kitchen and I am so stumped on choosing a backsplash....I have to know what type yours is...I love the "bumpiness"...the color...everything about it!! You can reply to beckandjoe@bellsouth.net
~~Thanks so much!!
Becky in SC

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