Julieta asked how I would finish her (already lovely) kitchen in the comments of my last post. I do already have an idea of her style because we’ve been working on a web project together over at Smart & Lovely, and hey – I was up for a fun distraction.
She’s already transformed her bland, old kitchen into something great:
Really, the only thing she hasn’t finished is the backsplash. I say throw some white subway tiles up and call it a day. Hey, it worked for me. Oh, or she could get all fancy with tile from Ann Sacks.
I would be so jealous of you.
Julieta isn’t crazy about flowers, until she finds just the right floral pattern (right, Jules?). I did include some florals, but they’re not overwhelmingly girly. I worked with the colors she has now, and decided to bring in more of the blue I know she loves.
Here’s a gorgeous fabric for the tablecloth (Amy Butler fabric from Purl Soho):
Maybe for the curtains too? That might be too matchy matchy. Maybe a striped fabric would be better, or another fabric from the same line.
Moving on, here are some other fun touches for the kitchen:
The little dishtowel from Anthropologie is so sweet (sorry, more florals). The Nigella Lawson bowls are designed to be cradled in your arm as you mix, and they’re a really pretty color. Also pretty? The pallette dinnerware from CB2.
I just bought a few of those lacquered cupcakes (the small and medium sizes) for my bathroom redo. I know – bathrooms and cupcakes? I don’t care. I’m putting my ponytail holders and barrettes in them. And they’d be adorable in Julieta’s kitchen, but they would make much more sense there (being in a kitchen and all).
Lastly, there’s the retro blue scale. Perhaps you don’t need a scale in the kitchen? Rubbish. Find a spot for it! You know, either that or you could get a breadbox. ;)
…And perhaps this is the start of a new feature on the blog? Helping others? Or maybe designing a room around a color, fabric, or object?
Or would you rather I just focus on my own house?
janet
July 24, 2007 at 6:13 amI love it! I would love to get your advice one day down the road when we buy a house. Count me as a vote int he Yes, Please column :)
Anonymous
July 24, 2007 at 7:12 amI for one would love your advice for my kitchen! I think the style tray you did for this one is great.
Shawn
July 24, 2007 at 8:13 amI definitely vote for starting this as a new feature.
Lakshmi
July 24, 2007 at 8:29 amI think that’s a great idea. And I think that would be so kind & lovely of you! Perhaps you could take on one a week, and pick a variety of projects, including some that you think would be challenging, perhaps extra small spaces (e.g. our tiny tiny 400sq ft student’s apartment in Manhattan). Or extra small budgets (I adore Anthropologie, but that’s out of my means at the moment). Maybe you could set the theme every week and invite readers to submit queries that match your criteria.
jenni
July 24, 2007 at 8:43 amI would love to see what you come up with for various kitchens. And yes! Everyone needs a scale in the kitchen! :)
Julieta
July 24, 2007 at 9:27 amI love it, Nicole! And thanks for including so much blue–it had to kill you! ;)
amy c
July 24, 2007 at 10:49 amNooooo!!!! Don’t just stick to your own house. I’m clueless about design and I feel like I’m learning just by seeing the choices you make. Helping others lets me (ok, and ALL your readers) see how you’d do lots and lots of rooms rather than just the few in your own home.
Plus, I want to send you some of my rooms :)
Jamie Meares
July 24, 2007 at 10:49 ami think that’s a good idea too.
and so funny, i have those nigella bowls, and the anthro. dish towel!! and i just put amy butler curtains up!
check out my kitchen: http://isuwannee.blogspot.com/2007/07/done.html
Peggy
July 24, 2007 at 11:28 amBy all means, I thinks this should be a regular item on this blog. Your design help would be appreciated by many, and I for one love the Nicole touch!
erin
July 24, 2007 at 12:27 pmDang, that’s a sweet ass kitchen! I love all of the clean white. *Jealous*. You should definitely offer advice on other’s spaces!
Anonymous
July 24, 2007 at 12:49 pmI agree, too! We just bought a new-to-us cottage, and I consult your blog daily as we make decisions on how to furnish and decorate.
Your pics of your bathroom options helped me talk my husband out of wanting a red, white, and blue bathroom (it would not have worked in our space!!). Plus, he now understands what a “mod, graphic floral” is when I describe fabrics. :)
britt
July 24, 2007 at 1:51 pmPlease do add this new feature! We bought a condo built in 1980 and we’re trying ever so hard to make it lovely but neither of us are handy. I’d love to share a shot of our kitchen that isn’t all that different from Julieta.
Leslie
July 24, 2007 at 3:51 pmOh I would *love* to get some advice from you regarding some spots on my house!!! I’d love to snap some photos of some trouble areas. And it would be great if you would just fly on out here too to help me in person!! LOL.
val
July 24, 2007 at 4:18 pmi agree with everyone else in saying that would be an awesome addtion to your blog! my living room has me stumped right now!
raisingirl
July 25, 2007 at 8:34 amOh – that’s a fantastic idea! You realize you’ll be receiving LOTS of pictures though. Umm, like maybe one of my living room that I hate. We’ll see.
Laurie G. (morningk)
July 27, 2007 at 12:54 amOh, yes please!
Mariah
July 29, 2007 at 10:05 pmYes yes! This is so funny b/c we were (are even at 10 pm!) installing our floors (Jacobean!) and I was thinking, I wonder what Nicole would do with this room?? I was going to ask you, but thought, sheesh! That girls got enough on her hands!!! :D Needles to say, I would *love* a new “home help” section! :D Yours is my all time favorite blog!
Vampirella
July 31, 2007 at 8:26 pmI love that kitchen, I wish mine looks exactly the same
jasi
August 1, 2007 at 6:35 pmplease sign me up for some advice. we lost steam re-doing our kitchen. we ripped the whole thing up, tiled the floors, i built ikea cabs and put down some laminate counterto… and then nothing! we ran out of ideas, inspiration, enthusiasm.
a help feature would certainly save exhausted diy-ers like us from ourselves. please, do.
Canned Goods
August 9, 2007 at 2:35 pmNo, please do. I will send you pics as for a room we need inspiration on with a quickness!
the winglady
August 16, 2007 at 11:22 amYES please do this :)