Editing the Kitchen ~ Country French Style

The End

The Beginning

I love my kitchen but after 10 years I wanted something different on a no budget/low budget.  Not really something different (unless I had the money to gut it and start over but that's another story) but maybe just make some changes for a fresh Spring time start.  It's no secret that I love a country French style kitchen so instead of the traditional American style built-in cabinet, I wanted to try and recreate a hutch type feel to high light my cream ware and ironstone every day dishes and maybe tweak some other areas. 

Calm, Mascarpone, Monroe Bisque, Bleeker Beige, Coastal Path,  Slubby Canvas.  Beautiful names aren't they but in the end what color of paint did I go with???  Just a simple "white"!  White semi-glass by Valspar...easy to clean kitchen paint. 

When we first moved into this home, 11 years ago,  everything was very dark, including the paint colors.  I spent three months painting, painting, painting.   Everything was changed except the ceiling beams.  I kept those dark, thinking they had a French farmhouse look.  In this photo the kitchen beams are the color all cabinets, window and door trim and baseboards were originally.  

Bobby G. wasn't too thrilled about the idea of removing cabinet doors but I convinced him I was always right.  :)   After scrubbing and cleaning I started repainting all the cabinets.  What a job!  And I remembered this time to wear my handy dandy cotton gloves.  It seems I always start a paint job just after I have had a fresh manicure.  

What's with the chicken wire?  My original plan was to put the wire in the back of the cabinet much to B. G.'s chagrin.  After some arguing......heated discussion....gentle persuasion..... both of us were convinced it didn't look as good as I thought it would and we I nixed the idea.  :)  Continuing on, I added some curvy scroll appliques to the middle support post and painted those right along with everything else.   Now, lest you think my dishes and glass ware are all creamy or white think again.  We had lots of the ubiquitous coffee mugs...you know the type...the ones from your vacation.....Disney World or the beach or one with a huge bass fish on it.  And lots of plastic over sized event cups too. (why I save those I do not know!)   But they were all banished behind other cabinet doors. I also brought out a black and white toile plate and some red checked plates I had hidden away.  Love the pop of color in my black and white kitchen. And to give a little more vintage style, I removed the old pull type handles and added bin pulls to the drawers.  I love them!  They are easy on the hands as well as the eyes.

And here's the after photos. 

And for a little every day whimsy, it's fun to add a little flowered filled vintage bottle right up there with the dishes.

I love the new change.  It sure put a zip in my doo dah!  Until next time....xoxox

So much fun to join in on these parties.  Won't you click over to see lots of inspiration? 

Voila  Thursday......Polly's French Cupboard party

Open House Thursday..... Sherry at No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday......Courtney at French Country Cottage

Wow Us Wednesday ...... Kim at Savvy Southern Style

What's Up Wednesday....Kara at Elements Interiors

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