Before I begin, might I take a moment to say “Yay, Boston Red Sox?” Because I am: Yay, Red Sox! What a series! What a nail biter of a game, but they all were. I love my Sox and all the late nights and lack of sleep were worth it. I’m thrilled for that bearded, fun-loving and amazingly talented team.
But no more baseball until the spring? Be careful around me; I’m going into withdrawal. And it ain’t pretty.
Okay. The kitchen. Let me say that, as always, the photos are ‘as is.’ And that includes some problems with light. Yikes, I had a hard time capturing the room. It was either too sunny or too dark. No in between. So, while these aren’t my best pictures of the kitchen (and there are plenty more of them around this blog) they are current.
Here goes. Let’s title this: The Kitchen (in All Kinds of Light.)
Funky light. The shades are redder, the cupboards are more creamy. But there you go.
This is so ‘as is’ that you can see I left a bottle of cleaner out on the island and a water container on top of the refrigerator.
McCoy Pottery is scattered throughout the room; on top of the cupboards, on the island, in the hutch. We don’t have a lot of cupboard space, which is why I came up with the idea for the island. I needed an inexpensive way to create an island and I got it by purchasing a old, dark sideboard at auction for $75. Some paint, some new glass knobs and we now have our favorite piece in the room.
Looking out at the living room. That tall cupboard to the left is our pantry.
This table had a dark, damaged finish and I eventually painted it a creamy ivory. The chairs, though sweet, are a pain. They need to be re-glued. I’m always on the lookout for replacement chairs. The green metal stand in the background is a piece we got at auction. It’s a display stand for chain. I added some dowels and it’s now our Funky Paper Towel Holder. I made the hanging swag lamp from an old lampshade frame and doilies. The table runner was made from four vintage napkins.
The sign was painted for us by Paula of Castle and Cottage Signs.
The hutch. We found it in an antique shop when we we first moved out East. Our rental had a teeny, tiny kitchen and we needed more storage. I changed out the handles. You can’t see it, but the backing behind the shelves is beadboard. Love this piece. As you can see, we still haven’t taken out the window air conditioners. Today, I hope.
The red bench holds all sorts of tools. I made the chalkboard from left over trim on the sideboard-turned-kitchen-island. And the Jumping Jacks are my husband’s collection. I made the hanger from some old trim.
Our favorite cookie jar.
I apologize for the less than crisp photos. Now, if a magazine came in the door and set up these shots, they would be perfect. Any takers? It’s cute, it’s funky and it’s charming, don’t you think? It would look fabulous in a glossy magazine. Sigh. I dream.
Happy Thursday.
Love, love, love your kitchen Claudia! The island looks like it was just made for the space. What a clever idea! Your home just says “Welcome – come on in and let’s have a nice long visit.” It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Central Florida and after being sick for so long I’m enjoying feeling well enough to do some cleaning and enjoy the kids I keep while their parents work. Hope you and Don have a really great day.
You too, Janie. Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
If I was a magazine, I’d be knocking your door down :)
Aw thanks, Rebecca!
Gorgeous!
Thanks so much1
I love your home! You have wonderful taste. It looks so cozy and comfortable.
Thank you, Tana!
Love all the white cupboards. The view from the dining-room is very pretty. Btw…we are big fans of Vernor’s Ginger-ale here. Hugs
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a Vernor’s right now, Deb!
Perfect…..cute….cottagy…..farmhouse with wonderful collections. Hope you are discovered soon. xo
Well, I’m not going to hold my breath on that one, Debby!
So lovely, and so not-your-average-21st century-stainless-steel-efficiency-center, ahh. This is HOME. And why wouldn’t a magazine want to feature this? Couldn’t you try contacting some?? I don’t know how these things work but this kitchen is definitely feature worthy. Enjoy, and know that you are blessed to live in this nurturing cottage.
Thank you, Becky. I’m a little tired of all the stainless steel out there!
Claudia, so glad your beloved Red Sox won! I love your cottage. I love the combo of cream and aqua (or you could say Claudia Blue), with splashes of red. I don’t know how you live is such a small place so neatly. I think I need to take lessons from you. Finished Scout’s costume. Don’t think I can get it to you today for Halloween but will send you pixs until I can deliver it. She is a very discriminating client. Stay warm, Tina
She is indeed discriminating, Tina!
I do love your cottage! It is truly a cottage style HOME. Many of the so called “cottages” in blogland are really McMansions. Yours is authentic and charming and truly represents the people living there.
Oh, you can be sure this is a cottage. Carolyn. I always laugh when I see a blogger describe their very large home as a cottage. Really? I think they haven’t a clue what a cottage is.
Congratulations on the Red Sox win!!! Would love to visit in your cottage–so cozy and welcoming.
Thanks, Denise!
Only 104 days til pitchers and catchers report…looking forward to next season with my A’s and your Sox! ;)
Me too!
Addendum: I am so envious of your McCoy collection! I have been looking for pieces to start my own. It is very hard to find. So far, I have one piece. Have you ever purchased it online? If so, do you have any hints for me?
Yes, I bought several pieces on eBay when I first started collecting. Most of the prices there are pretty reasonable, Carolyn. But there are books on collecting McCoy out there that will give you a realistic current price range for the pieces. I actually found more pieces online at the beginning than I found in shops. Some pieces have been given to me as gifts. But occasionally I find a piece in an antique shop.
You have such a warm, lovely home, Claudia! You know I’ve always admired that kitchen island you made out of an old buffet. That was just genius. And then there are all the cozy touches you add, e.g. the signs on the wall and jumping jacks next to the door. It’s so fun and inviting!
I love the jumping jacks. They always make me smile!
I so love your house! It looks so cozy and full of fun things that hold meaning and memories. I feel like our home hugs me at the end of the day. Yours too, looks like a warm hug!
Melanie
It is a warm hug, Melanie. That’s a beautiful way to describe it!
You have so many perfect little touches (I’d say vignettes, but it’s too overdone! ). It’s all the touches that clearly states cottage to me! Again, so warm and welcoming! ;)
Oh, thank you for NOT saying vignettes. That word makes me crazy! Thanks so much, Donna!
Love the kitchen, Claudia! Looks like you make use of all of your space. These old houses really make us become creative in ways to find storage. All of your pieces look so useful in that quest!!
Did you get the pics of our buffet/ sideboard I sent to you? I sent them to the email address I see when I get a response notification. I truly think they are furniture-related!!
Have a wonderful day!! :-)
Gosh, I never received them and they aren’t in my spam folder either! I’ll check again, but maybe you could re-send them?
Just re-sent them. Let me know if you receive!!!!
I love your cottage, Claudia. You have lots of wonderful collections but it doesn’t look cluttered. Storage is a constant battle with me with magazines and books being the worst. I would love to know how you keep things from getting out of hand. Thanks so much for sharing. I never get tired of seeing your lovely home.
Well, Charlene, I have books piled everywhere upstairs and in boxes out in the shed. Things do get out of hand here. But then I go through all my books and donate those that I know I don’t need any longer to our local library. That helps.
I always enjoy your home tour and the kitchen is one of my favorite rooms. My kitchen is so dark in my new place :( I have Pyrex on top of my cabinets but If I can find a new storage place for them I want to put some of my potter planter collection up there! Your island is one of my favorite pieces in your home!
Are there ways you can lighten up your kitchen, Linda?
Not really. It is an interior room with no windows (duplex) and it has fair lighting but the cabinets are wood.. If it wasn’t a rental I would paint it white. It is OK, but not my favorite room for sure.
From any angle, and in any light, I love your funky cottage! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Donna!
Pretty darn cute in the best possible way. And so classic cottage. Love your flair!
Thank you, Jacqueline!
I too am looking forward to spring ~ but as a St. Louis Cardinal fan ;-) grew up there and you’ll never get Card-fever out of me. But just the same, a very sincere Congrats to all you Boston fans….you totally deserved the win! and gotta love Papi ;-)
Claudia, I just Love your cottage….and I love your real shots….dish drainer and all! From all the house tours I’ve seen on blogs, I was starting to think I was the only one who ever washed a cup and saucer and left them out to drain. Thanks for sharing your lovely home!
Sorry about the Cards, Tracy. They played hard and well and were a formidable opponent!
Our dishwasher has never worked right and I’d love to get it fixed, but there have always been other priorities. Since there’s just two of us here, we hand wash the dishes and that seems to be just fine. I used to take photos and get rid of anything real life, then I had a strong reaction to all the ‘staged’ photos out there in blogland and I decided to be more real. xo
Every time I see your cottage I understand why you are so anxious to get back home when you are away..Home Sweet Home..
Yes, I do love it here and I feel happy in my nest.
Again….love your beautiful, comfortable home. Your home looks lived in, not a fashion shot full of what is the in thing now. I love that. I frame picture that I have taken so that I don’t walk into people’s homes and see things that I have in mine. No Home Interiors, etc here. I would rather see a comfortable inviting home over a showcase home filled with all the new and “exciting” features. Pretty yes, but just not me. Give me an older home.
Oh, I totally get that, Teresa. I don’t want to see anything in my home that I can see all over the Web! I don’t like mass-produced signs, for example. Vintage or hand painted just for me? Great. But not a sign that I can pick up in any shop. And I don’t want to see anything trendy – like chevron anything, for example. I think that’s why vintage, recycled and re-purposed is the way I like to decorate. Then everything has our stamp on it.
Your kitchen is just delightful. I love that it is bright yet cozy with lots of touches of yours and your hubby’s personality. Thanks for sharing it with us. Valerie
You are very welcome, Valerie!
I never get tired of looking at your cozy home, Claudia. It is all so charmingly you. xo Laura
Oh thank you, Laura!
I love everything about your sweet kitchen…but most of all, the sideboard used as a island, the pantry cupboard, and
of course, the hutch. What wonderful ideas, to make a home “YOU”.. Oh and the McCoy Pottery is frosting on the cake!!!
Charming is the word for sure…
Thank you very much, Bonnie!
I always love looking around your place Claudia, it has just the right amount of cottage, cuteness, and heirlooms thrown in. Perfect!
Thanks, my friend!
I love your decorating and because of that I love your cottage. It is just what I would do given a choice. But alas, Hubby’s view must be taken into account too, and although I long for a white kitchen, (and therefore want to paint the cabinets), he like the alder wood cabinets. How I long for a cozy cottage instead of a sprawling mchouse, just like every other one on the block! *sigh*. But I have a home and it’s paid for and I am grateful for it. Just would like to change a few things.
Thank you for the beautiful tour.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thank goodness these cabinets were white when we moved in, or I would have had to paint them!
You are so lucky your home is paid for, Betsy. That’s where I wish we were.
Wonderful flow to your space. I love the little cookie jar and the wooden icecream bucket and all your pretty aqua pottery and those little jumping jack toys. I wish my windowsills were wide enough to set things on, like you have done. But mine are only about 2 inches deep, so not much will fit.
All the windowsills here are wide. I know we lucked out on that one!
Yeah for our Red Sox!!! This was just the thing that Boston needed this year! Don’t know if you saw the awards presentation with John Henry, but he was more than a little rattled when he saw all the smoke around him. Thankfully it was from the fireworks, but it just goes to show, that our nerves are still very much on edge here. I’ll be at their victory parade on Saturday with my brothers. Just wish my husband were back here from his overseas assignment as he would be loving this!
Always love seeing your cottage. Warm and homey is the best compliment that can be given to a home and you definitely have it.
I did see the award ceremony and that smoke was a little frightening! Oh, gosh darn it, I wish we could be at the victory parade – have a great time!
Your kitchen is homey, personal, and inviting. Besides that, you have a view, lucky woman.
-Karen
We do have a view and I know how lucky we are to have one, Karen!
Claudia,, your home is beautiful. You have taught me to enjoy my items that I have displayed because I like them and not worry what is in style or popular at the moment! Doris
Who cares what’s in style, right, Doris? Your home is about you, not trends. Good for you!
I love your kitchen. I´d love to have and island, but in my kitchen that cannot be. And I also wash by hand the dishes and the rest, because here I don´t know anybody that have a dishwasher. Since some time ago the stores have them, but they are too expensive and the kitchens are not built for them. One must have a special installation for the water, I think.
Dishwashers are nice and convenient, but I manage to do quite well without a working dishwasher, Veronica!
Yes Claudia, It is Cute,and Funky,and Cozy,But MOST of all? It’s REAL !
I LOVE Your Cottage. -Judy A-
Thank you so much, Judy!
I like how your cupboards have open space at the top so that you can put things such as your McCoy pottery on top. My kitchen cabinets are topped with an ugly, old-fashioned soffit. Does your kitchen open up directly to the living room? If so, that’s a nice feature, too. It really makes your home light-filled instead of blocked off by so many walls. I hear you on the kitchen chairs. We only have two and they’re cheap ones. I’ve had my eye open for quality wooden chairs in thrift shops and the antique mall for awhile now.
Yes, the kitchen opens up to the living room, something I was not at all thrilled with at first but have come to like.
Claudia, your kitchen is so charming. I love the ways you display your pottery, they are such beautiful pieces. Nothing says “Home” quite as well as a cottage kitchen. I swear I can smell the apple pie in the oven and hear the percolater perking (well that gave away my age, didn’t it?). Thanks for the tour, can’t wait to see the living room.
Because we don’t have a computer anymore, my only Internet access is via my phone, which is very hard on my eyes. As a result I don’t get around much anymore. It was worth squinting and zooming in and out though to tour your kitchen.
Hugs from Texas.
So good to hear from you, Nola!
Claudia, I love your home, and your kitchen is perfect. You know I love all of your wonderful collectibles.
You always inspire me. Everyone keeps telling me I need to do a tour of our home, but for some reason I just haven’t done it. It is easy for me to talk about a home belonging to someone else, but not my own. I am trying to get myself up for it.
Do a tour of your home, Beverly! I would love, love to see it.
I love all your rooms but your kitchen is my most favorite! The white with those touches of aqua-green pottery are made for it and I love the green ice cream bucket.
The ice cream bucket was given to us back in San Diego by our friend Rob. I didn’t really appreciate it until I really got into aqua and ta da! It looks great in the kitchen!
Loving the tour so far!!
Thank you so much, Donna!