Our vintage Outdoor Kitchen

An Outdoor Kitchen like no other

 If you can't tell, I usually have 20 irons in the fire. So many projects going at once! So bear with me as I take you from place to place.
Today, we are out back again.

We have a raised deck area where we hope to build a pergola or solid roof structure one day. My husband has, (at my suggestion, ahem) decided to use it as his outdoor kitchen, and why wouldn't I agree? He is an awesome cook! We have collected a few interesting things over the past few years to add to it, making it no ordinary outdoor kitchen. There is no granite in ours and until our grill "poops out"nothing is built in.
So we found this adorable vintage steam table with wonderful crocks, it has a copper tub below to put ice or to fill with hot water to keep food warm. We haven't hooked up the gas burner for it yet. But its such a cool piece that I wanted to share with you what we added to it recently.





We added some corrugated galvanized sheeting to the back and hung a Texas Lone Star that my sister gave us on the back. We had to move it to the side when we put our fireplace back there and it makes it more esthetic looking. Here is the updated photo.

Can't wait to sit out here when the weather turns cool and enjoy a nice fire.

Fall Decor Everywhere

I'm really into fall decorating this year. I love to bridge from Halloween decor easing into fall. 

I had purchased this sign a couple of years ago, kind of went with my "One Hour" Broom Parking sign. Then I found this whimsical witch and couldn't resist her playful nature. (I've always envied long slim legs :) In the evening the candy corn lights give her a warm twinkle and glow. Nothing too much to frighten my young trick or treaters.

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Make your window treatment sing

These were my simple window toppers. I have loved them for many years. Each of our three bay windows had a matching valance like this. My bar stools are covered in the plaid, the beautiful garden print spilling out of the pleated corners and used as cording matched the glass dining table chairs. The beige linen could not have been a closer match to my den walls that coordinate the combined space.

Now the makeover

Changing to my Farmhouse, Shabby Chic feel that is creeping in to each corner of our space

:)

I planned to use shutters beside the center window, as you may have noticed in a previous post. This is the left window. I chose these metal shelves sold by Hobby Lobby since the width of them perfectly hid the wooden blinds when I want full light. For now I have left them in the bronzed finish as they came. I loved this biscuits and gravy sign so much I bought each of my kids one. (Kind of goes along with a family tradition where we tell each other "I love you like.....(whatever your favorite thing might be)" I found this on Decor Steals. I'm hooked on their deals! Not getting paid to say that either.

The little clock is something I picked up for a couple of bucks on clearance. The lunch box belonged to Nick's dad. :)

As you will see, I have two drying racks on the top of two old fence boards, supported by wrought iron  shelf supports. (Confession, the fence boards are not really old. I found a great way to distress them into looking old.....yep, on Pinterest of course.)

The lovely wreath I just bought at Garden Ridge on a sale table for a couple of bucks! The Bouquet sign I found at our local Restore. If you haven't been to your Restore you best look into it. I got my shutters there too! $5 That little green wood crate came with a flower arrangement someone sent me.

Let's stand back with a view of the middle shelf. 

A lantern perches on the opposite end of the shelf. Shelf positioned to hide blind when pulled all the way up. Me likey! :)

This is above the right side window. I love enamelware, thus the colander and tray with Bluebonnets painted on it. (I was thrilled to find this at the Bluebonnet Festival this year). Number 4 galvanized vase came from Micheal's. (on sale...big grin) I'm not sure what all the numbers out there are for in decor these days. You can be sure though that I have a couple of number 5's hanging around because of my 5 fabulous children, now grown. 

Ok now for a full step back view of the breakfast as it is now.

It's very cozy here. Still working on my 2 antique breakfast chairs for this room.

Come in Fall!

This metal pumpkin I picked up last year during a post holiday sale. I just bundled up some fall leaves , inserted a candle stand and I love the simplicity of the fall feel it gives my console table.

Normally I'm dragged kicking into fall grabbing onto summer as long as I can! But for some reason this year, I'm ready for soup, cooler nights and days. Last year the Bradford Pears even gave us some fall color here in Texas.

Fall foliage peaks in the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I've been busy pulling out fall and Halloween things and spreading them throughout the house. So I will share a few of my fall home photos. I have been so inspired by the lovely fall things I find on Pinterest. If you haven't got on yet, you must go check it out. There is a button over there on the right where you can follow my boards if you want.

To my ladies who follow my organization ideas, don't worry I haven't abandoned that part of my blog. Just been in the middle of redecorating the house and caught up in chalk painting and bringing in a new look. 

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Breakfast Nook makeover at Rose Cottage

English: Pier 1 Imports Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before and After

Breakfast Room

I have always loved this view of the door going to the back yard and the garden.  More than anything I just needed a change to the shabby side. After 10 years of the green I was ready for something new.

As you can see some things stayed in place but were altered with Annie Sloan chalk paint. The small beaded etagere was painted with the Ochre. The Seeds of Kindness frame was also painted. I changed out my glass table and iron chairs for 2 antique chippy chairs (not shown, look for these in a future post) and two Pier One Dana Parsons Chairs, with adorable colored covers. I was ecstatic over these covers, they have my Robins Egg Blue I'm incorporating. :) The oak table you see an edge of is an early marriage piece that had been stored in the attic. The walls were done with a warm brown called Virtual Taupe, by Sherwin Williams. I have a lot of garden books which I used to store on the bottom shelf of the etagere. Now I plan to house them in my cute cranberry crate. I still plan to change out my light switch plates. The ceiling fan in the previous post hovers over this table.

You will be hearing about the window makeover soon. In the meantime I love the shutters on the sides of the windows! 

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Give your ceiling fan a vintage twist

I have been so busy on my shabby quest that I haven't posted too often. I have taken a lot of photos to help inspire you to do your own thing though. It's catching you know, ask my daughters! :)
Today I'm posting my ceiling fan makeover. In Houston it is difficult to live without ceiling fans although I've heard decorators despise them?
After seeing the filament bulbs online I had to use them in my made over kitchen. The milk glass shades were okay but I'm in love with the way it looks now.

Here is the fan as it came as purchased from Lowes Home Improvement.

There is a small collar inside the shade. After you remove the bulb you can unscrew it in order to remove the old shade. Sometimes turning the shade counterclockwise will help you loosen the collar to begin removing it.

You are now ready to add your filament bulbs and new shades.

First remove any price stickers and clean thoroughly. Then add the shade, then screw in the collar. You are then ready to replace your bulb.

Friends and family think I bought a new fan! I'm really happy with the vintage look. The bubbled glass of the shade adds to the overall look. I got both bulbs and new shades from Lowes. (Note: even though both my old ceiling fan bulbs and new filament bulbs are both 40 watt, The filament bulbs aren't as bright.) I like the subdued light because we have enough bright light in other areas. Be sure you do not replace your bulbs with a higher wattage than your ceiling fan manufacturer recommends.

 The REVEAL

That hood vent I wish I could delete

 I wish I could replace this old builders hood vent with something fancy and beautiful like you see in magazines, but this kitchen makeover does not include new appliances. Recently while browsing Home Goods store I found a cute wire rack. At the time I wasn't sure what I would use it for, but I knew I loved it.
I discovered that it just fits the space under my hood vent. My DH (darling hubby) doesn't want to replace the backsplash and he dosen't want to drill the tile or grout. So we came to an agreement and a way to mount it.

The mugs gave it a pop of color. The balsamic vinegar container and hot pepper oil we use pretty often. The antique toaster and match holder are just fun. The butterfly is a trivet I have had for years. I think I may need to do away with some of the hooks? What do you think?

Cheap makeovers at my house

I have lived and loved these beautiful draperies for the last 11 years. I saved a ton of money by sewing them myself.


This spring I finally decided I wanted a drastic change. Leaving the warm Tuscan colors and going shabby everywhere! I was able to sell my draperies giving me play money for my new vision.

As you can see things are beginning to take shape. The detail in these readymade panels are so cute. so light and airy.
Check below for up close details.
I used burlap fringed ribbon for tie backs. The panels came from Bed Bath and Beyond, the rod from Lowes and the knobs I'm using for tie backs are from Hobby Lobbby.

The sweet little corner cabinet was my find when my hubby took me to Canton! More on that later.

I will be posting more later about the updates here. Notice the new wall color too!

Kitchen cabinet makeover, before and after photos

This view is of the island prior to trimming it out.

As you can see the tower that houses the microwave and oven stand off the other cabinets, this gave me the idea that I could paint it to look as if it were built separately as a single unit. The lowers on the dishwasher side were also to be designated as dark.

The doors were removed and everything got a prime coat.

The island trim pieces I picked out at Lowes. My island does not have much of an overhang on the lip of the counter so I had to be mindful of that fact when choosing trim.

At the base of my cabinets all I had was shoe moulding. It was very scuffed and blotchy from years of mopping and very scuffed up. We trimmed all of the cabinets with moulding followed by shoe moulding on top. I remembered thinking how tiny the island looked when it was in this stage.

I ordered my knobs and pulls from Lowes. When we attached the knobs they were too big, so I exchanged them for these lovely ovals. Love them so much. As you can see the old white cabinets are slightly distressed. The knobs have a lovely beading detail on them. I am very pleased with how they look.

The pulls add such charm to the drawers. I had already installed an oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucet by Delta and these match perfectly. I also have the oiled bronze look on the ceiling fan, which in Texas you cannot live without. (I have a fun upgrade to the fan I will share soon).

I hoped to capture the dark cabinet look. I think my painter has the knack, don't you?



I am so very pleased with my two-tone design look. I think the dark makes the white appliances pop! The new color on the wall is Sherwin Williams Virtual Taupe. I usually stay away from Taupe because of its tendencies to lean pink, but I really love the rich tone this color has. It matches my Corian counters, grout and tile perfectly. The counters look amazing without going to the expense of granite.

Finished island close up.
For me, the contrast of the dark against the white appliances makes all the difference. I don't think I would have been near as happy with the cream next to them.

I love being in my new space. Now I have to begin on my windows and bringing back some accessories and adding in a few new I have picked up as the kitchen was underway.
I hope if there are those of you out there thinking about whether or not to paint your cabinets that mine will serve as inspiration to help you make up your mind! :)