Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Designing for Your Life ... My Kitchen

In celebration of their year of blogging, Kari and Kijsa at Ask Kari and Kijsa invited us to share our "Design for Life," spotlighting a favorite room or area in our homes and telling about a favorite item in that room.

With that in mind, I'd like to share my kitchen/breakfast area with you, since it is where we spend a lot of time, especially when we have company.

Although I like a lot of different styles of decorating, from country to cottage to Old World ... I guess you would call my style Traditional.

I borrowed these pictures from my Rate My Space post, so they're not the most recent, but I wanted to get this posted today. If I stopped to take new pictures, it would be the middle of next week before I finished the post because I have a tendency to get bogged down editing pictures (not that I'm obsessive-compulsive, or anything). To see a few updated pictures featuring my fall decor, please read my recent post called It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fall, Y'all.

The kitchen and breakfast areas are in a long rectangular space with a wall of windows overlooking our courtyard. Along with the breakfast table, there's my desk and a game table in the corner which we use for ... well, playing games, of course ... but also as extra informal dining space, if needed.


I found this old bench at an antique shop and it has gotten a lot of use ...

Kitchen pictures ...



My Pantry ...

I love my kitchen and I guess if I had to choose my favorite feature, it would be the Viking induction cook top. It's truly amazing and makes cooking fun.

My least favorite thing is the height of the counter tops. They are 38" tall and since I'm about 4'11," I spend a lot of time on my tiptoes. I believe the standard counter top height is 36" and I don't know what possessed the contractor to make them 38" high. Unfortunately, we bought the house new and couldn't do anything about it.

Thank you, Kari and Kijsa, for inviting us to participate in this fun post.

Congratulations to both of you on your first year of blogging ... We sincerely appreciate the time you put into creating and sharing your elegant and timeless "designs for life." You are an inspiration to all of us.

Sincerely,

23 comments:

Jerri Lynn @ Southern Sassyness said...

I, too, ADORE your kitchen. It's simply one of the prettiest I have seen!

I also have an induction cooktop and love it. I learned all I could about induction before we purchased it, and have never regretted the decision. It's fabulous!

Unknown said...

You already know how much I love your kitchen area! I fell in love with it on RMS! Still think it's fabulous.

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Love your kitchen! I remember seeing it on RMS...gave you 5 stars!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

Love your kitchen! I remember seeing it on RMS...gave you 5 stars!

Anonymous said...

I love your kitchen. It's saved to my RMS favorites! Love your live plants, extra pieces of furniture, colors, etc. Beautiful!

kari and kijsa said...

these are beautiful!! Your kitchen is stunning!! Love the cabinets & that storage!! Your bench is fabulous...great find!! Above all else, it is truly your beautiful details and touches of you that make it just perfect!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Bo said...

I remember your gorgeous kitchen from RMS...it is one of the prettiest and most useable looking ones I've seen. I'd take yours in a minute! ;-) Bo

nikkicrumpet said...

I've always been a HUGE fan of your kitchen...well your whole house really...but your kitchen is so perfect. I enjoyed seeing some photos I haven't seen before. I love love love the bench. I can't imagine any way to improve on this space! Have a wonderful week!

edie said...

I love your kitchen, but I started to salivate when I read "Viking induction cook top" . Wow, that's on my never ending LIST of things I must have.

Unknown said...

Hi Janie,
I love your kitchen. It looks custom built..like you designed and built it and the home!

I love the drawers in your picture..it makes it so much easier to find things.

All your little accessories really add that special decorator touch too!
diane

roseroomnz.com said...

Oh my goodness, it is like something out of a magazine, just stunning. And . . . your plants, gorgeous, so healthy looking . . . Rachaelxo

Anonymous said...

Janie, I like your style a whole lot, you are so creative. What a gift! Blessings, Karen

B. said...

I LOVE your kitchen and dining room!! Love that pantry! Love that chandlier! Love that bench! You have great taste!

Tracey said...

What a beautiful kitchen!!!

Rmomof3 said...

Absolutely beautiful! I would love to jump right on in! Sweet blessings!
Renee

Shell in your Pocket said...

I love the color of your cabinets in the kitchen...that is my favorite! Just beautiful!

The bench is so fun and adds such interest!

Cute blog...love your decorating style!
-Sandy toes

Beneath the Eaves said...

I love love love your space. I am an old world girl myself. I feel your pain as far as the counter tops and cabinets. We built our house and my husband is tall. He wanted them higher. I am 5'4" so I am on a step ladder each time I need something up high. I love my kitchen though and have learned to live with it.
Thanks for sharing.
Debra

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing what a pretty space.

Kathy :)

Vee said...

What an inviting and elegant space. I loved those drawers in your cabinet, too. It looks like a wonderful kitchen to work in; although, I can certainly understand your challenges with the tiptoe issue.

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Beautiful kitchen. I would love to see it decorated for the holidays. You have done a wonderful job of decorating. I also like all the greenery. Sometimes a house is lovely but needs that extra greenery to make it look complete and yours does!
Blessings,
Debbie

StitchinByTheLake said...

I just love your kitchen! I really, really need for you to come decorate mine. Please! blessings, marlene

Linda S H said...

Will you come and decorate my kitchen when I move?? LOL

Amy @ Living Locurto said...

What a beautiful kitchen. Thanks for sharing. I want your pantry. That is so nice. Love your style!