Keeping Up with the Joneses

A glimpse into the busy and very blessed life of the Jones Family!







Friday, May 1, 2009

Home Sweet Home

I thought it would be fun to do the "Show Us Where You Live Friday" from Kelly's Korner. I wish I really had the "Before" pictures to show of our kitchen. This is really Phase 3 from the original.

When we moved in back in 2003, this kitchen was the original 1950's kitchen with ugly, low cabinets, the original chipped tile countertops, an ancient vent-a-hood over the stove and a washer and dryer free-standing on one wall.

We came in and gutted the cabinets and decided on pretty white cabinets painted with one of my favorites whites- Country Stove White by Ralph Lauren. It's a great white without being too bright and not too yellowy. (Is that a word??)

Anyway, we did white formica countertops trimmed in white wood to start, kept the original creamy linoleum and built in a countertop over the washer and dryer.
Oh ya'll... I found a picture of what we did...


Fast forward to 2007... another phase of kitchen redo and add on of 1,000 additional square feet. We replaced countertops with granite, added new cabinetry where the washer and dryer used to be (added a laundry room around the corner as a new home for them), replaced wallpaper with a pretty beige toile wallpaper, got a new stainless stove, ripped up the linoleum and found beautiful wide-plank pine wood floors (who would cover them up??) and opened with an archway reminicent of another in the older part of our home into our brand new family room. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my kitchen and spend so much time there. It's really the heart of the home. Hope you enjoy!!
Here it is....

This is my kitchen island- actually a piece of furniture probably never intended to be a kitchen island- but that's the fun of it. It's different and functional and adds a lot of charm.

Looking towards the family room. I love having a TV in the kitchen to watch the Today show in the morning while I get breakfast ready or just have background noise while I'm working. (As if with 2 little boys there's not enough background noise!)

From the family room looking into my kitchen. I'm a big fan of Country French style- it's comfortable, warm and inviting. I love a house that you can come in and feel welcome and that just begs for you to come in and sit down. I also love blue and white and when I redid the kitchen, it went from having a sunny yellow wallpaper with the white cabinets to the taupe. After several years of that blue and yellow look, I have changed into the taupes and blues and it repeats throughout my house.

26 comments:

Heather said...

Love your kitchen and that island is great!! You did a great job and I love the colors!!

Anna said...

You have a beautiful kitchen...love the changes! Thanks for the tour...

Sue said...

Your home is warm and inviting! LOVE that island...it is PERFECT!
Blessings~LillySue

P.S. Click the "LillySue" link at Kelly's and come visit my kitchen!

Keely said...

Your kitchen is beautiful. I love your idea of using a piece of furniture not intended for the kitchen as an island. I'm always one for something that doesn't necessarily "fit" being put in a room.

teresa-bug said...

I just love your kitchen!!! The island is awesome!

Unknown said...

LOVE that island piece! You got good taste girl!

Jessica said...

What a sweet island!

Sar(Mrs.Teddy) said...

You have such a warm & cozy kitchen, what a wonderful job! I love the island & all the colours! thanks for sharing!

Newlywed Next Door said...

Great transformation! So pretty!

beckylbranch said...

Oh I love that you posted a before and after pic! Your kitchen is beautiful and very bright and happy :)

Tara G. said...

Check out rental out in case you miss that old 50's look! :) You've done a fantastic job- it's charming!

Jane said...

I love your kitchen! You really did a great job! I can see why you want to spend so much time in the kitchen.

Kelly said...

Oh I LOVE your kitchen - it's SO beautiful!!! I can't imagine ever renovating anything but I love to look at other people's work!!! I would want to stay in there all the time it's so pretty!

Ashley said...

The island/table is awesome! I just love what you have done. Thank you for opening up your home.
-Ash-

Single Mom said...

Too cute! The last picture of your kitchen looks just like my layout...And I still have the original 50's everything (including the thing above the stove)! Can't wait to get rid of it! On that picture, instead of having a little bar thing, I have a doorway, and where your doorway is I have a wall and the stove is behind that wall (my fridge is where your stove is and the sink is in the same place as yours) My washer and dryer are where your TV counter is...Behind that wall is my living room. Is this last pic looking from your dining room by any chance?? Where your blue chair is, is my back back door...Could you tell me where exactly you put your W/D??

Your kitchen is exactly what I want to do with mine! I had all these ideas floating around in my head, but I want to keep some of the "old" in this house, it has charm...Everything I had in mind was way to modern/contemporary...

Pam Bowers said...

Very nice. Love the island.

Angie Seaman said...

Very cool kitchen! The table in the center is so unique. Found you thru Kelly's blog. Just got my kitchen tour post up today. Better late than never, eh? :) Thanks for sharing!
Blessings, Angie Seaman
www.angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/ (blog)
www.angelicagracedesigns.com (website)
www.angieseamanphotography.blogspot.com/ (photography blog)

Administrator said...

What a pretty kitchen. I love your touches.. the island, wallpaper, light fixture, faucet.. all beautiful!!!

Martha said...

beautiful kitchen! the island looks great! I love it! :)
Martha

3boysmom said...

What a great kitchen! I love the island. I haven't thought of using furniture as an island. Great idea!

Unknown said...

Hi Natalie! I love your kitchen. It is very warm and inviting. And your family is just precious! Have a great week.

xx said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Love it. Just love it. Impeccable taste...just like your sister.

Karyn said...

Your island is wonderful.

Unknown said...

Your kitchen is so beautiful and bright! Great job :)

-Amanda
Buy pretty Christian Cheap Checks.

Jocelyn said...

Love your kitchen! I'm getting new counters and backsplash this week... can't wait!