Due to a reaction to the overabundance of staged home photos out there in blogland (as well as a lack of energy) I am more and more inclined to show my rooms ‘As Is.’ A healthy dose of reality never hurt anybody. Let’s wander the kitchen on this Wednesday morning.
As usual lately, the table is covered in research, along with pottery and Riley’s Dish Garden. Don’s shoes are under the red bench. The mail is hidden on one of chair seats.
My shoes are right next to the door, under the pantry. No mudroom or entryway here. Open the door? Boom. You’re in the kitchen.
Not a fan of the black stove. But it came with the house and it works. So it stays. Not a fan of the black dishwasher, either. It doesn’t work and hasn’t for 8 years. That’s why you see dishes in the drainer. I’ll get it fixed someday. Or, maybe, I’ll just buy a white dishwasher, which is what I want anyway. Also not a fan of the huge black microwave. Again, it came with the house and it works. End of story.
My bag. I plopped it there when I returned from NYC on Sunday night. And there it sits.
I don’t know if I’ve ever shown this corner. Standard refrigerator and the bulletin board, because that’s what it is really. I could give it a prettier name, but heck, it’s a bulletin board. Beautiful wooden bowl given to us by my parents. Inside that bowl is the hideous popcorn bowl that Don insists we keep. Photos of my handsome nephew David and my great-niece Emma with her brand new baby brother.
Let’s look at some photos.
I call this ‘Dogs I have loved.’ These photos are from the days when I actually had my photos developed at the neighborhood drug store. The black dog is Winston, the first dog that Don and I adopted from the shelter. We moved into our rental house and brought Winston home a week later. The golden retriever is Max, my nephew. His mom is my sister Meredith. And of course, Ms. Scout, reluctantly displaying her heart marking. Riley is represented elsewhere; he came into our lives in the era of digital cameras and iPhoto. That note is from my dad, written in his increasingly shaky handwriting, which touches my heart.
Look at these youngsters! Oh, wait, that’s Don and me. Yikes. We’re sitting on the steps of our Craftsman home in San Diego, having just bought our Christmas tree. That’s Winston nestled between us. Winston had a fearsome bark, hence the Beware of Dog sign in the window.
The view from just inside the kitchen door. The lighting in the photo isn’t that great; I took it early this morning. As Is, remember?
It looks like we collect clothespins, doesn’t it? We use them to secure things that have been opened: bags of chips, bags of cookies, etc. Don’t ask me about the tile counters, which I truly detest. Someday: butcher block.
Morning sun shining on the hutch. Sort of grainy, sorry, but much of this shot was in shadow and I had to tweak it.
And we’re back to the kitchen door. That window on the left is double-paned, thank goodness. Because that crack you see is from an unfortunate mowing incident that took place as I mowed the grass just beyond that window and hit a rock, which flew up and cracked the window. Obviously, we have yet to get the glass replaced.
There you have it. I like ‘As Is’ shots. I also like pretty, staged shots. But this is the reality here and a good representation of our daily life as we live and work in our little cottage.
Happy Wednesday.
Claudia, your home is so filled of warmth and love! I enjoy your home so much more than the staged designer places that make you wonder do they enjoy their homes? Have a great day, Doris
Thank you, Doris!
Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I love the lived in look. I live there too. I am way to busy enjoying my life with my family to stage photos of my house…not to mention putting all that stuff away after. How do people find the time?
I have no idea. I also don’t have the patience for it!
This post is so refreshing Claudia! Your home is lovely–homey, sweet, and truly yours. Well, you probably wish you could make it more yours by changing out what you don’t like but most of us have to live with aspects of our homes we’d rather change but can’t due to finances. So seeing your lovely home as is is a very nice reality check. Thanks, and have a great day.
Exactly. I live with what I don’t like until the day comes that I can make some changes.
Looks roomy! Love all the windiows. I have one dinky one in my dinky kitchen. Your sign above the sink looks like the perfect spot for it! I kind of agree about all of the staging. Maybe I should post the piles of junk my husband insists on leaving on our kitchen counter. There’s a dose of reality!
The windows are part of what made us fall in love with this cottage. Lots of light!
We all live in the real world….some of us just don’t want to admit it :)
Your house is darling, so charming with a definite sense of calm running through every photo.
We also have a black dishwasher along with white cupboards, stove and fridge….it too came with our house and darn if it hasn’t lasted the full 11 years we’ve lived here ! I love to watch HGTV House Hunters. The young couples who want nothing but the best and biggest. Those poor people will never know the joy of having to save for a new patio or to wait until something wears out to replace it. They walk from room to room saying things like “Oh….it’s way too small” or, “No granite? I SAID I WANTED GRANITE!”. I have to chuckle (and feel sorry for them). One of my favorite memories was to start life on my own with hand-me-down dishes, furniture, appliances and slowly replace them with things I’d dreamed of getting, good, solid products that would last a life time
Thank you for sharing your home and your life with us Claudia.
You’re not alone, you’re among friends.
xo
Lori
Those young whippersnappers on House Hunters make me crazy. I want to whoop them upside the head.
Thanks for your kind words, Lori.
Hi Claudia,
I recently found your blog and absolutely adore it. Thank you for sharing your home and garden. I love your cottage and the way you decorate. The photos you share of your garden are truly lovely. I really appreciate the “As Is” concept as that is the way my home is…”it is what it is!!” Ha!
I noticed a sign in your sweet kitchen….”Cottage Home”. I was wondering if you purchased it and if so, would you mind directing me to where I might find one? I would appreciate it very much. I am just realizing my decorating taste is cottage. I have always been drawn to the charm but always felt I had to keep up with the “catalog” look. Honestly, I could never afford the catalog look and so my house always seemed to be a mismatched mess!! Which is so silly at my age…49 (yikes…when did I get to be this age?) Ha!
Anyway, thank you for sharing your sweet surroundings with me. I look forward to your daily posts!! Thank you again for sharing your world with me. Have a very pleasant day…try to stay cool!! Tricia B.
That sign was made by a wonderful woman Rita Reade, who lives in Southern California. I met her when I was working out there and I bought the sign from her about 4 years ago. She blogs here: http://www.mammabellarte.blogspot.com/
I bet if you showed her the sign she would make you one.
xo
Claudia, do I see a pair of Birkenstocks? Are you a hippie?
S
xo
A wee bit. I came of age during that time period. But mostly, I wear them because they are comfortable and good for my feet!
I have those exact pair! Your kitchen is charming. Love the views!
Thank you, Gina, fellow Birkenstocks lover!
Hi Claudia,
Just found your blog today and want to say I love it! It’s REAL, the way real people live. Love that you can admit to not replacing appliances (because of color) simply because they still work. I had a yellow stove for like 25 years (which originally matched the yellow fridge that died a few fridges ago!). It did not get replaced with white until it too died…lol. The ideas you present are doable in my world. Thanks! Going to look at past posts and ideas on this site as well as look forward to new ones!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marsha. I think the vast majority of us can’t afford to blithely replace appliances because of the color!
I would ask you where are our cookies since we are visiting but I know it is too freaking hot to bake ! :)
So…can I have a Popsicle ? :)
See, I like your kitchen. It’s big, roomy, homey, cozy and were I your neighbor I’d feel comfortable just popping over and visiting for a bit…since I just picked three cucumbers this morning and would bring you one or two! :) We have 100 percent humidity today. Yes it often feels like 100 percent but the weather station SAID 100 percent, lol! now that is bad…..
Yes, you may have a popsicle, Debra. Cripes! 100% humidity??? I think ours is 75% at the moment. I HATE THIS WEATHER!
I wish you lived nearby, I’d love for you to pop in (especially with some cucumbers!)
Claudia. thanks for the dose of reality! There is too little of it on many blogs. I love your blog!
Thank you so very much, Carolyn!
Hi Claudia — I love your “as is” posts! When we view other blogs I — for one — don’t think about them as being staged so I feel like my loved-in home is not pretty enough! Or sparse enough….etc… I frequently take pictures of my rooms to see how they’d come across to an objective eye.
On another blog a few years ago the woman put contact paper on her appliances she did not like. Is that something you’d consider for your black? Also, we have tile on our countertops and my darling put FLOOR TILES left over from doing our floors on the counter. In the center he put a pretty marble tile cati-corner and it looks great! The tiles are bigger and shinier than the little counter ones that came with the house and it looks good. Something else you may want to think about.
Enjoy your day; you brighten ours.
They’re staged, believe me, Patricia! Unless the house is a museum, I can guarantee it doesn’t look like that most of the time. I don’t think I want to deal with contact paper, though I saw it recently on another blog and it looked great. But I have so much color and pattern here that I think I’ ll leave them alone.
Let me think about those floor tiles!
Claudia, I’m not sure if your aware, most of the older (10) years and later type dishwashers have a replaceable color panel in front? Usually two or three of the most popular colors. Sometimes they are still there right behind the color you have showing. Also I see them from time to time,at different types of tag sales. If I see a dishwasher, at say an estate sale I always peek to see if they are there. Of course then your stove is still black. Sorry I can’t help you there. -Judy A-
I do know about those panels, Judy, but I must admit I’ve never checked for one. Hmmmm.
But what about the bear? I see a bear in the window on the pic of you and Don and Winston. It’s right up there in the upper right hand corner.
I love real life posts like this. You have an adorable kitchen.
Gosh it does look like a bear – trust me it isn’t. It must be a reflection!
for a minute there I thought you might be Goldilocks in real life.
xo
As is, is pretty and attractive Claudia (in your case:))! I also love the windows and the view! Usually, by the i time arrive anything i might say has been said.It is quite a work to keep up a blog and i am amazed at how you manage to fit it all in along with the rest of life which tends to be a lot to handle as it is,Your home, as your blog appears to be a labour of love.
It is indeed a labor of love, Grace. Thank you for saying that!
Hi Claudia!! Your home is lovely and has a lot of your personality in it!! It is warm and inviting and lived in – just the way a home should be. I, too, am not a fan of perfect houses – I could never keep my house like that! I love that you said you want butcher block counter tops because that is what I have and I really love them, although I know the style these days is granite. I just love the way the butcher block looks – Hope you are keeping cool, Claudia.. Thanks for a lovely tour!! Francine
I look forward to the day I can change these counters out, Francine!
Good morning, Claudia! We all needed a bit of a break from all the staged gorgeous-ness of so many homes! While I enjoy peeking at the pictures, somehow it leaves me with an uneasy feeling of not doing enough/having enough in my home. I love your pictures–they are real and we can all relate to them. My front door opens straight into my kitchen, with a huge island that is a clutter magnet. And my dishwasher is beige, my stove/refrigerator are black and my defunct trash compactor (built in) just sits there and does nothing but take up space! But it’s home, and we love it for the memories we’ve shared, not for whether it looks like a magazine spread. And the young whippersnappers on HGTV?? I also want to slap them around a little too—my husband and I just laugh and laugh at their high handed “not good enough” comments!! Stay cool! xxoo, Martha
It’s the memories and life lived that make a house a home.
I wonder, often, if those house hunters are ‘coached’ in what to say. It all sounds a bit unnatural to me and scripted.
Your home is lovely, doesn’t need staging for the beauty to stand out. I used to use my broken dishwasher as a dish drainer…worked pretty well. Love that area next to the stove…perfect! You do have lots of light in your kitchen…makes it look spacious! Good day to you! ;)
I used to store my pots in the dishwasher! Now that I have the island, I don’t have to any longer.
It looks homey and comfy and loved to me..that is what a home should be..I love your hanging cupboards..and your buffet made into an island..I use the bottom of a Hoosier cabinet as my island..Your cottage is just my style Claudia!
oh, I love Hoosier cabinets, Nancy!
I have another old cabinet similar to a Hoosier that you would probably like also..it is an Oxford made in Oxford Pa. and I have the top and bottom to that one..I was shopping at Goodwill in State College Pa and I found it sitting among other furniture with a price tag of $50.00 on it..I about tripped and fell trying to get to the cashier’s counter to pay for it before someone else got it..lol
Claudia, Claudia, Claudia, Do you know what I’d give for a kitchen like yours with a window over the sink and counter space.. I, too, have a black stove, dishwasher and microwave all of my choosing.. I like to decorate in the country style and I thought the black was more country than white, almond or stainless steel. I love your island and other cupboard that you have for storage..
I’m sorry your dishwasher doesn’t work.. that’s a “bummer”.
Our table usually is full of everything but dishes and has to be cleaned off when we all sit down for a meal. Shoes are found all over this house, except when company is coming. Socks too !
Enjoy your summer and thanks for sharing your home. I love it.
Hugs, Charlotte
Charlotte, I do appreciate the windows I have in that kitchen. I’m very lucky, I know. Though it does limit space for cupboards, we seem to manage just fine. We didn’t until I added the kitchen island. That has made a huge difference.
I like how the morning light comes through all the windows in your kitchen, Claudia. I know you talk about your “little cottage”, but that looks like a wonderful, large kitchen. Of course, that’s from the perspective of someone who has a kitchen too tiny for a table. I remind myself that a family of four used to live in my 1000 sq. ft., early 50’s bungalow.
It’s interesting how architecture changes over the years, how a “spa” bathroom and granite counters seem to be the rage. For me, I want light, and it looks like you have plenty of that. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home.
By the way, I picked up a Louis Penny book at the library last evening: Deadly Cold. A little time in a Québec winter should lower the temperature here.
-Karen
It is a large kitchen and it’s really part of the whole open concept of the living room/kitchen. In fact, I think it’s bigger than the living room. But remember, we don’t have a separate dining room. That space in the kitchen IS our dining room.
Enjoy Louise Penny! Yes, you’re right – a literary taste of winter might very well serve to cool you off!
Claudia,
I love your “As Is” posts. I have been reading your blog for about a year now, and yours is one of the ones I receive by email and don’t delete without reading it. I sometimes receive too many to read them all. :-) I appreciate you showing your home as it truly is. So many of the blogs show beautiful homes that look like they are straight from a magazine. I look at them and wonder “Do they work outside of the house? How can they afford all of the things they have? Who does all of the cleaning? How staged are they?” I prefer a real life blog. THANK YOU for being real.
Also, the Stillmeadow series by Gladys Taber is some of the best reading. The annual reunion of the Friends of Gladys Taber will be in Stillmeadow in June 2014. I do hope you enjoy her books. They make me wish for a much simpler time.
I’m enjoying the Stillmeadow series, Mary Ann. I just renewed the books I checked out of the library, because with all the coaching work I’m doing and the prep work I have to do on Macbeth, I haven’t had enough time to read them.
I too long for a simpler time, my friend.
When the morning sun is coming in so beautifully the way it is in your kitchen, it’s hard not to grab your camera. I love it, it’s warm, welcoming and I’ve always preferred an “eat in” kitchen like I grew up with. I also think it’s neat as a pin, if things are stacked and shoes lined up neatly, I’m good! And believe me, I straighten up the house every morning and it stays like that for about 5 minutes!
When we renovated the lake kitchen, I kept my old white appliances. They were perfectly good and and I don’t like the sleek, modern look (hubby got his way with this house and the stainless steel). I was also able to score a used dishwasher, keep an eye out, it might be cheaper than having yours fixed.
XO,
Jane
Good idea, Jane! I will keep my eye out for a used dishwasher! xo
Claudia I love the as is look. It tells me real people, with real lives reside there. When you commented on the black appliances I actually had to go back and look at the pictures . I had not seen the black. I so busy looking at the charming rest of the room.
My house is as is, and so am I. A take it or leave attitude wins out every time.
You bet, Trudy!
I love that you are showing it “as is” Claudia. It is the reality of how we all live and creative people generally don’t have the absolute neatest houses in the world. I feel right at home. xo Laura
I’m so glad, Laura. Drop in anytime!
A sun-lit home full of love, warmth and looks very welcoming. I much prefer colors, and a ‘we live here’ feeling. Lovely homes on the blogs out there – yours and Brenda’s are my favorites!
Thank you for sharing peeks into your home and garden with me!
Give Scout a hello pat from us!
I will! She’s lying in the ‘tunnel’ as I write this!
I love your As Is pictures because you are everywhere, in every nook and cranny. And I love that David and Max have been features, Max is in a heap of trouble with the law, here at my house. We are setting bail. Where ae the pictures of your other sister’s family? Ha!
Meredith
That Max – I adore him. I miss him terribly.
Other Sister? Missing in action. For 11 years! I’m perfectly content with you, dear sister.
Dear sweet friend,
I feel very comfortable visiting your home. Thank you for the invitation.
We moved into our house in 1982. Three dishwashers and three refrigerators have been replaced. The harvest gold stove remains! HA! My only son said laughingly that I would never wear it out. (He might be correct.) I enjoy reading your blog…sending sunshine and hugs from middle TN.
I remember Harvest Gold appliances, Carol! My mom had a bevy of avocado green appliances – I believe those two colors were popular around the same time!
What a happy, happy space :) I’ve avoided taking any pictures of our temporary home. There’s stuff stashed everywhere, and not decorated to my taste. I miss staging rooms for the blog….so perhaps I should do a ‘get real’ post of what we’re living in with our 2 teen boys and our big black dog Bogart :)
Hey, Cindy, why not? Go for it!
Ah, your posts are always refreshing. I prefer your “as is” posts. They are what draws me here every day. I agree with Judy, check and see if the front panel of the dishwasher is white on the other side. When I got this place 20 years ago it came with black double ovens, a white dishwasher, and a yellow stove top. The front panel of the dishwasher was black on the other side so I flipped it. The stovetop died and my boss gave me a white one. While I am not fond of it it works and there you have it. Debra and I think alike, when I see your home I want to have a cookie and some tea (iced due to the heat). Your home is very inviting. Thank you for sharing!!!
I took a brief look at the dishwasher but have no idea how to check on the other side of the panel – I don’t want to damage anything. I’ll look again later.
Hello Claudia!!!! I love your honest approach. …hey, when it’s been hot with really high humidity, who feels like putting everything in perfect place!!! I REALLY love your kitchen cupboards!!! Love-love -love the hardware that is on them also. So very ” cottagey”….is that a word? Your whole place looks very inviting and homey.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
The cupboards were that way when we moved in – they are very cottagey and perfect for this house. Thank you so much for your kind words, Addie.
I love a daily dose of reality too, Claudia. You have a charming lived in home, and I have to say I prefer cozy and charming to over the top decorating any day!
Me too, Diane, me too!
But where is your skylight? I think your “as is” pictures are great. So much more interesting than some of the staged, “perfect”, shots I often see. Usually in the background of my pictures, if you look close enough you will see “real life” too. Rarely is anything perfectly neat here.
Loved seeing your dad’s handwriting. It reminded me of my own father’s as he still liked to write little notes to me even though it was hard for him. Ann
The skylight is upstairs, Ann. It’s right above my sewing area in the ‘studio.’ And right now, it’s darned hot up there!
I love your kitchen, it is so charming and all the colors work so well together. I have all stainless appliances but my stove is stainless with a black top. I hate that thing, it always looks dusty. I will go to white when things start kicking off.
Me too. Don likes the black stove but I will be pushing for white someday!
Claudia your pictures make me want to sit in your kitchen for a cup of coffee and just soak in the cozy atmosphere. I wouldn’t change a thing its so inviting . Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much, SueZK! I sure do want the kitchen to be welcoming!
Claudia~~~your cottage is charming, cozy, friendly, & inviting. I love it!!
XO, Linda
Thank you, Linda!
Your home ‘as is’ makes me very happy! It looks lived in and full of things you love (and hate….lol ) Oh and I hate tile counters also….horrible to clean! My home is a mess as I unpack I just stack things until I figure out a place for them or they go into the thrift store box! It will get better!
hugs,
Linda
The gosh-darned grout wasn’t sealed and it always looks dirty.
Oh, I just love posts like this. I did a couple a few years ago along the same lines. Sometimes it’s nice/inspirational to look at really pretty pictures, but sometimes you really just want to see the truth about the way things are, too, you know? Thank you for sharing. Plus, it looks completely charming and cozy to me, which is what I want in a living space!!! I love your McCoy collection and how bright and airy it is. ~Angela~
I’m crazy about my McCoy, Angela!
I’ve come to the conclusion that I have a blogcrush on Mockingbird Hill Cottage and everything associated with it! And I love it even more when seeing that it’s “as is” is just like the rest of us live … unstaged!
Aw, thank you, Debbie!
I love your “as is” kitchen! I think it’s bright, cheery, home-y, comfortable, and welcoming. I’d rather see a kitchen like yours any day than one that is too-perfect with high-end stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. My counter tops are the original of our home (25 years old) and are butcher block laminate. One area has two burn holes from where I set down too-hot pots. Oh well, “some day” we will have new counter tops. And they won’t be granite. ;-)
No granite for me either, Melanie!
:( mine is the only comment you didn’t reply to. Oh well.. still love the kitchen :)
Sorry, I must have missed it as I scrolled down – not to worry, I just replied to it!
your home is as lovely as you! thanks for inviting us in.
You are very welcome.
This home is a place I would love to come and share tea or coffee and laughs about the day we had. Thank you so much for sharing your “Realistic” HOME. Love it and oh yes, did you make your curtains and if so HOW?
No. I didn’t make them. I ordered them from Country Curtains when we first moved here.
I love your kitchen cabinets and the hardware on them..Nothing wrong with your “as is”..very warm and cozy..looks loved and enjoyed..
Thanks, Missy!
YAY for Claudia!!!! AS-IS!!! Love your kitchen, as is, and feel better now, as I questioned whether to take my own photo with dishes in the dish-drainer!.. And heck, cut me some slack! I’ve got a 20-year old son living with me, who eats 20 times a day, so THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE DISHES IN THE SINK and/or DRAINER!… You make me feel better now! (0; Anyways, I of course love the color red in your kitchen, but I also really loved that little collection of dolls hanging under the blackboard, by the door! So CUTE!!!! (you know me.. Love my dolls!)…. Hope you’re keeping cool, and enjoying the summer! ~tina
We ALL have dishes in the drainer, or dishes in the sink!
I absolutely adore that kitchen. Just as is. I wouldn’t change a thing. It looks cozy and lived in and I would be proud to have it myself.
Brenda
It’s pretty darned cozy. Right now, the table is full of Shakespeare books.
I love your bright kitchen, Claudia. Do you know how much I would love just ONE window in my kitchen? And talk about great minds thinking alike… I walked around my tiny kitchen yesterday taking photos for an upcoming post. Your kitchen is much more inviting :)
Donna
I know. We’re really lucky with the windows!
I LOVE honesty! What more can I say… :-)
I love your kitchen, Claudia. The colors, softness and realness of it. I don’t think the black pieces stand out at all. I never thought about using clothespins for resealing bags. good idea.
Claudia,
What a beautiful and comfortable looking kitchen! I love all of the vintage aspects in particular. As time goes along, I am leaning more towards that era…the 40’s and 50’s. If this is what your kitchen looks like on any particular day, I applaud you!….so warm and inviting…and yes, lived in. Why shouldn’t it?
Debby