Wednesday, August 26, 2009

a shared "vintage vision"

I had been a strict Pottery Barn devotee for years. Long before becoming a magazine addict, Pottery Barn catalogs were my strict go-to guides for decorating. Even if pieces weren’t from Pottery Barn, they had the look and feel.



When we bought our house and were packing to move in, I nearly fainted over the above Pottery Barn layout featuring a small space dining area. It had to be. With the exception of the table (because we had a pedestal table already and my tall husband was growing tired of knocking-knees at meals) I bought it all.


"Before" with the Pottery Barn set

Once we settled into our new home I hung blue paint chips all over the walls to determine the right shade. And then it happened …


Country Decorating Ideas Presents #91 • Romantic Country

I bought this lovely magazine and it featured the most beautiful kitchen and dining area in an article entitled, Vintage Vision.





I couldn’t get the green Depression glass hardware out of my mind. I swooned over the same two pages for months over breakfast. I decided I would get the hardware in blue but when viewing it online, I didn’t have the same reaction as I had to the green. Green?



Green!



This changed everything.


I painted directly over the mossy cabinets and then sanded them for a distressed finish.


I ordered the hardware from the source listed in the magazine: House of Antique Hardware.


I painted the walls a pale green and everything else white ...


including the ceiling fan (to which I also added decals).




Plates were displayed


Floral fabrics were hung and crystals were added



And through the article showcasing Elizabeth Holguin's beautiful home, I was even lead to one of the first blogs I'd ever seen, The Shabby Romantic (although I think it has ceased).

Amazing how one magazine article lead me to so many things including shabby style and blogging (which then lead me to reawakened creativity, my Etsy shop, and many new treasured friendships). Warmest appreciation for the editorial inspiration of the Fabulous Fifi!

54 comments:

Theresa said...

OMG, the green is sooooo beautiful and you did a great job! Better than the magazine:) Warm and inviting! Have a blessed day!

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

I LOVE the makeover, Elyse. Wonderful job and I love the green, too!

I think magazines and blogs are great inspiration for so many of us.

Have a happy day!!
becky
xo

Lisa said...

How cool! I agree this is amazing! I wish I had the decipline to have ONE style! hehehe. I couldn't even do my whole bedroom cottage!! I did try I just cannot paint good wood! Your kitchen/dining is lovely and I'm so gald it brought you and your etsy shop to us!
Hugs, Lisa

fairiemoon said...

I am never, NEVER allowed to buy a whole set of furniture AND I am not allowed to buy anything if we have a piece at home that functions...it is a drag. It makes these visions painful and purposeless. But I do get a bit of a thrill out of making do. It is ALL very lovely.

Erin :)

Ana~A Petite Cottage said...

Good morning Elyse,
Your kitchen turned out great! I love the white distressed cabinets. Great job! I also love the green you picked. Do you happen to remember the name? I've been thinking of redoing my computer/library/music room...sounds bigger than it really is LOL! I'm thinking of a soft green like yours. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day!

♥Ana

Sandy Shirley said...

How about painting the dining room chairs a dark maroon/burgandy color to bring out your pinks??

Stayathomemommy said...

Your kitchen looks great I really like the pale green. You did a wonderful job!
Karrie

debi said...

Hooray for magazines and blogs! I love looking through them for ideas.
Your kitchen and dining room are sooo pretty...and I love your green glass knobs.

Lori said...

Elyse, your kitchen makeover is amazing AND gorgeous!!! i would never had thought of using green either...but just look at how fabulous it looks paired with your white cupboards...you did a beautiful job girl, you should be proud!!!

LiLi M. said...

You did such a lovely kitchen make over. I love that green, I have it in my bedroom. It is so peaceful and everything vintage goes with it. And I have white cupboards over there too. You did a wonderful job!

Knitty, Vintage and Rosy said...

Great job on the cupboards, Elyse! Very pretty.

Anthroplogie has lovely hardware as well ;)

Lisa

Pansy Cottage Girl said...

Elyse~My kitchen is waitng for you! You did a fabulous job. Come over and see the pics of the goodies you sent me, giggle!
Hugs,
The Popcorn Princess

Lisa said...

Your kitchen is beautiful Elyse! And I loved seeing your design evolution.:)

Glitter & Bliss said...

OK... I love the green. I love looking at before and after pics. LOVE IT!!!! Thanks so much for your sweet comment and listening to me. I do feel like you can relate. I have Max home today, and I just love it!! Tomorrow he is back to preschool, and I vow to not be so sad. Yesterday was really a blue day for me. I will be thinking of you when your kids start school. It is a transition...that is for sure. But....life is one change after another. Have a wonderfully R.I. day. :) Leslie

Claudia said...

Perfect, Elyse! I love what you did with the kitchen. The distressed cabinets look wonderful and I love the green. I am also inspired by magazines and blogs and they have truly helped to shape the changes in my decorating style.

xoxo
Claudia

Anonymous said...

Oh the Green *is* pretty, Elyse! I don't think I could ever be devoted to just one color! ♥

stefanie said...

looks good, there are always too many pictures its always hard to decide, but i am also partial to green, it goes with everything.

Beth Gales said...

I love the hardware!

Diva Kreszl said...

Your home is lovely, green depression glass is a favorite of mine!

Anonymous said...

Elyse I swooned over the same little nook in the magazine and my breakfast nook was born out of that article- I loved the higher placement of the moldings and of course the lovely green!! Weren't you blessed to have your cabinets green so that the yummy color could peak out from the distressing!!!

It is lovely!!

blessings
mary

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

I love your kitchen Elyse and you did a beautiful job on the make-over! I love the green glass knobs!!!! I wish we were neighbors! We would have so much fun together! Well, we sure have a blast being blogger friends!

Love,
Maryjane
xox

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

aww Elyse.. i really like your kitchen.. the colours are so serene.. perfect green! and so comfy!

Have a great day!
xo
fitty

Sonia said...

What a make over!! I love the green. My kitchen is green too but minus the white cabinets. Mine are oak... I wish my hubby would get over me painting on finished wood. Your kitchen is just fabulous. I love all the vintage details you added too. Just beautiful...
Hugs
Sonia

Carolyn said...

You did a great job on your kitchen. I especially love the cupboards.

Carolyn

Vicki said...

Hi, Elyse,
I remember that very home of which you talk, and I loved her home, too. I love the green color you used for your home. I love green and pink together. You did a nice transformation. I am a romantic magazine junkie, too. Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. Have a good rest of the week. Vicki

Hudson Goods said...

love the vintage kitchen!

Unknown said...

OH MY GOSH ELYSE!!!!!!!! I have had Elizabeth's article bookmarked since the day it came out!!! I LOVE her house!! Your kitchen looks just like it!!! You did such a beautiful job! I LOVE how you did the cabinets!! Love the green depression glass too! I just love your whole house Elyse! Great job!!
Hugs,
Amy

LaurieStar said...

Wow - I love the "after" photo so much better! (But then, green is my favorite color!) I love the color of the walls and I love white. White everything, I say!

beachvintage.com said...

That looks so amazing. I love it. It is great that you can find inspiration then use it like this.

The Feathered Nest said...

Elyse! Your kitchen is GORGEOUS!!! I love the shade of green you chose and those cabinets..and knobs ~ you must smile everytime you walk in there!! Such a beautiful job and I love your blog ~ xxoo, Dawn

Susie's country cottage said...

That's a brilliant transformation of the kitchen. I love what you have done to the cupboards. That aged look is very clever.
I love your cottage style.

Queen B. said...

Ok, this is why people NEED TO LEAVE COMMENTS ! If you didn't leave me a comment on my blog, (thank you sooooooooo much) then I wouldn't have found YOU and this absolutley FABULOUS POST which has all my favorite COLORS and...um..those green glass hardware knobs ?? HELLO ! i have to have them...REALLY !
i LOVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
FANTASTIC :)

Rebecca @ Belle Blog said...

Hi Elyse,
Love the green. I never used green that much, but I am redoing an old shelf I found at the goodwill. I did it in a color called key lime pie. Oh it is so pretty, glad I strayed outside of my usual color palette. Your kitchen is so pretty. I would spend all day there. I love getting a little peek at other people's beautiful homes!! Thanks!
♥ Rebecca

Bethany said...

love those knobs!
You did an amazing job. Your house is so peaceful and lovely.
Hope your little guy is okay.
Sorry I've been a bad blogging friend. Thanks for sticking with me. I love your comments. You always make me smile or giggle. I will hang out with the summer squash too!

Unknown said...

Well, I will add another to the 34 comments already posted. It is just lovely and I have a very tiny kitchen with almost the same amount of room as the avertized kitchen. I also have developed a passion for the green glass and light, almost sage green room color that I am conteplating. I have bought several piece of vintage vaseline glass that I am sure you would love in your kitchen if you haven't already discovered it. Go to ebay and look up vintage green glass or vaseline glass. You will be consummed all over again.
Beautiful kitchen.

Candy said...

Great kitchen make over. And way down the page...the wine bottle garden border, although I have done some your picture has inspired to do more.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing ;-)

Julie Ann said...

Wow- that is fantastic!! The lighter colors really opened up your space and I love love LOVE it!!!

koralee said...

so so so lovely...I adore the green and white....very soft and romantic. You did such an amazing job...magazine worthy in itself!

I have your lovely curtains...I adore them!

Lots of hard work...I know I repainted all my kitchen cabinets white myself! But that work has paid off...thanks so much for sharing ...pure inspiration!

Alyson | New England Living said...

I love it! And I just love doing stuff like that too. You did an amazing job!

EMBELLISH said...

Simply beautiful. I am in love with those green knobs!!

Brenda Pruitt said...

And I must say, you did such a great job you surpassed the magazine inspiration! I love your place. So full of energy, yet muted for relaxation. Can't explain that conclusion... Anyway, you have a delightful, obviously love-filled home and a cute, cute, cute blog that I just love to visit!
Brenda

Sandi said...

Just beautiful Elyse!!! I have wanted to paint my oak kitchen cupboards for some time now and I am told it can't be done?? Something about the grain? I want them painted sooooo bad...should I attempt it?? They are true hardwood oak that my husband and father made in 1982, but they have definitely seen better days.
Blessings~

Roberta said...

Love the green you used Elyse. Just one thing you forgot to tell us...helloooo...the color and brand. It's a perfect and happy color and suits your personality to a T! Very pretty without being fussy! I love it all. xo Roberta

Lori said...

Elyse
Great outcome! I really like the rounded door way! My mom's home had them and it is one touch that warms my heart whenever I see them, lucky you! I crave next Spring to finally do a 360 in my kitchen, from the ceiling to the floor! Happy decorating! Lori

Miss Gracie's House said...

I remember that article...that kitchen was too, too cute. You did a great job getting that same style and vintage romantic feel! Very homey *and* pretty!
REne'

Elyse said...

greetings friends!

fyi

the paint color i used is:
behr (from home depot)
spring morn
430C-2

thanks so much for your lovely comments!

xo

Lady Pamela said...

EXCELLENT! Love this post and all the information. I love my magazines, too.

Karen Valentine said...

Oh I had so much fun reading this post! It was like following a great mystery wondering how it was going end! I totally understand what you were going through. I've been wanting to change things around in my home for quite some time mow. But I've been so afraid... what if I don't like it. I too am mulling over magazines and even my favorite bloggers rooms for inspiration. I know I want a neutral color pallete. In fact Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage has done here home to perfection! The room you created is wonderful. It's such a perfect blend of the looks you were going for. Great Job!!

Karen
My Desert Cottage

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

What a lovely makeover you did of your kitchen! Love the green and the distressed cabinets.

Blessings,
Sandi

Tanya said...

Your kitchen and dining room look beautiful. I love green and never get tired of it but the blue is very pretty too. Both cool and soothing colors.

Cindy@Cutepinkstuff said...

Elyse, thank you for showing my/your fleur tea towel in the last pic of your post! It truly belongs with you in your charming home. BTW, thanks to you I have the Cath Kidston catalog in my eager little hands and I swoon over each page of sweetness! I've been wanting a neutral color palette for awhile, but after looking through the catalog, I'm torn between neutral and pinks/florals. I so love it all!!!

Unknown said...

I don't know it you read past posts. Anyway what a beautiful kitchen! Love what you did.

Amy C said...

this is so awesome, and so cozy, I love what you did with the cabinets too.

Eileen @ Star's Fault said...

Ack! TOTALLY beautiful. Love that you shared your process and inspiration for the final effect. I am a terrible magazine addict too, and have books full of clippings and clippings of the most wonderful decorating and crafting eye candy. I wonder, is there a 12 step program for this?

Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault