It Is Okay To Be Different (The Story Of Our Kitchen)

 

Why don't I have a white kitchen?

Lots of people have white kitchens.

...That statement is my answer.

Don't get me wrong...some white kitchens are beautiful.

But we didn't want what everyone else has...

we wanted to be...

different.

That said, let me introduce you to our kitchen.

Handy Hubby and I put A LOT of time and energy into designing this kitchen.

I have to 'see' things, so he laid out the design with cardboard for me on the plywood floor before we made a final decision.

We ordered the cabinets through a little 'mom and pop' store and Handy Hubby installed them.

We chose a Rustic Birch cabinet in the color Saddle.

The cabinets have knots, dents, and dings that add such character.

The drawers pictured above are beside my double oven.

Pots, lids, and bake ware are so easy to access.

That's a lazy suzan cabinet in the corner.

My everyday dishes are displayed in the plate rack.

I love the contrast of the white and blue dishes against the dark cabinets.

To the right is a spice rack that pulls out.

We used a mixture of knobs and pulls with an old patina look.

The farmhouse sink was something I used to dream about.

It is functional and beautiful.

The faucet, soap dispenser and some other counter top accessories match the knobs and pulls.

The glass cabinet above the sink showcases family heirlooms.
(Sorry you can't tell because of the glare.  The kitchen gets flooded with natural light - a good thing, but bad for picture taking.)

To the right of the sink is the dishwasher...disguised as a cabinet.

Blue is a highlight color throughout.

See the sign under the plates?  It reads "I like hugs...I like kisses...but what I love is help with the dishes."

The island has the cook top and bar stools.

Notice the color of the bar stools match the knobs and accessories.

The girls eat breakfast there every morning.

The island is where I prep food.

We also installed an electrical outlet on the side of the island.

The layout is great for serving buffet style meals when we have friends and family over.

More often then not, it is a catch all...papers and bills seem to pile up there.

Above the island is a pot rack with lights.

See the rooster and wheat motifs...adds more farmhouse character.

We also chose black appliances, in contrast to many people choosing stainless.

Not just to be different, but because we like the look.

Yes, when the sun shines a certain way through the windows, it does show every dust particle, but...

We purchased most of our appliances at a scratch and dent store...name brands and new, but because of a little scratch or dent the price was discounted.  It's amazing what a magnet can hide on a refrigerator ;-).

We didn't think granite was an option for our kitchen because of price.
A friend told us about a place that had great prices.
When we went to look they were having a sale!

Still to do...
I would like to add a white bead board back splash and crown molding.
And I am thinking about adding bead board to the island and painting it a white or blue color...what do you think?