Elsewhere

Elsewhere: Julieta’s Kitchen

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:

Julieta’s Kitchen

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.

Ann Sacks Tile
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):

Amy Butler Fabric

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:

julietaskitchen500.jpg

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?

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • janet
    July 24, 2007 at 6:13 am

    I 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 am

    I 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 am

    I definitely vote for starting this as a new feature.

  • Lakshmi
    July 24, 2007 at 8:29 am

    I 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 am

    I 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 am

    I love it, Nicole! And thanks for including so much blue–it had to kill you! ;)

  • amy c
    July 24, 2007 at 10:49 am

    Nooooo!!!! 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 am

    i 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 am

    By 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 pm

    Dang, 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 pm

    I 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 pm

    Please 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 pm

    Oh 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 pm

    i 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 am

    Oh – 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 am

    Oh, yes please!

  • Mariah
    July 29, 2007 at 10:05 pm

    Yes 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 pm

    I love that kitchen, I wish mine looks exactly the same

  • jasi
    August 1, 2007 at 6:35 pm

    please 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 pm

    No, 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 am

    YES please do this :)