My Pink Kitchen

I did it! I managed to clean up and clear off enough surfaces in the kitchen so that a few spots were acceptable for pictures. Several of you asked to see more of the kitchen but, honestly, I'd just be mortified if you saw how not romantic it is in real life! So I only took pictures of the things that I deemed blog worthy (oh, come on, you know you do it too.)! The reality is that I have brown laminate counter tops that are 1st on my list of improvements. And I think I have hubby talked into helping me get the cabinets painted before the cold weather sets in!! I'm in the process of making curtains that will match this stand alone pantry (Sis Boom fabric).

I bought it at my very favorite barn sale last Fall. I go every year -- in fact, one Fall I took a group of ladies from the church on a tour of all the best barn sales. We had lunch by the river - it was so wonderful! Anyway, back to the pantry... It was originally black. Because the barn sale is always held in the Fall, the husband and wife team have one room that's themed for fall colors. The husband makes the cabinets, each one different, and then has a local iron worker create the door. I had to have this baby on layaway for 3 months before I actually got to bring it home. It was ok though because it felt like a really great Christmas gift! Once it was painted, I hemmed some fabric and attached ribbons in order to tie the fabric to the door. I've changed it a few times but I think this one is going to stay through the Winter.

I have a very small kitchen by modern standards but it was this kitchen that made me want the house so badly. There's a carved out nook area where I'm guessing used to be some kind of wood burning oven (there's a chimney directly behind that wall). I have my computer desk in that area now. The bistro set was a reward to myself when I had to work some long hours at one of our local legal offices. That little door behind the flowers is my beloved laundry shoot. We have a full 3 stories not including the basement so, believe me, this laundry shoot is a life saver! Just off to the right of this photo is the basement door and just down the stairs to the left is a room that sits entirely cut off from the rest of the basement. Although the kids think it was a dungeon of some kind, it was actually where the food was stored. Because it's nice and cool down there, they could close it off and preserve the food longer.

The chandelier... I waited about 2 years before I changed out the ugly florescent light because I wanted just the right chandelier. The room is small so it couldn't be something too large but it had to have enough arms to give good light.

The pink stove... Now the pantry stands next to it but at the time this picture was taken, I had a rolling island that came with some stools so that my two little ones had a spot for snacks. As with every other room in the house, the kitchen is always changing.

There are a couple of invaluable items (outside of the obvious appliances) and this little rolling table is probably the most invaluable for me. When we bake, my daughter uses it for all her stuff, when I have alot of paperwork to spread out - that's where it all goes. It's just a multi-purpose table. Those old pine floors... the realtor that owned the house (he was flipping it) bought new hardwood to put in but I was absolutely adamant that I wanted the old floors to stay! They're hard to keep clean but, I love them. We have hardwood through the entire house - not even a lick of carpet - but this is the only room that has the warm, honey colored pine.

Oh, I must be boring you to death by now!! I'll try to not be so wordy... This is the other invaluable item - the pink vinyl step stool. I had to wait a year before the lady behind the counter at Salvation Army would let me buy it. She used it for stacking the inventory. In the window is another old window with fabric behind it. The white enamel bucket holds all the stray socks.

Just to the right of the step stool area is the room that saves me so many messes - the mud room!

In the Winter, all the coats go here. We have old fashioned chicken coop cubbies to hold all the boots and shoes.

And a quick place for wet mittens! (I just glued wooden clothes pins/pegs to a piece of old picket fence.

Well, I feel very strange talking about myself for so long. And I took up Inspiration Friday on top of that! Sorry gals. My house is my treasure (as I know it was a gift from God) and it's about all the stuff I enjoy. Every room is a different style but the style is always old somehow. If my house reflects me, does that mean that I have an old soul (so to speak) or that I'm showing my age???