I guess all those fireplace photos I’ve been posting lately have shown a peek of my kitchen and I’ve gotten a lot of requests to show more of it. So here you go!
This is the floor. Black and white marble peel and stick tile. We put those down when we moved in, gosh 14 years ago, and they still look great and I still love them!
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It’s a galley style kitchen with a window seat on one end that looks out onto the deck.
I’m always changing out the pillows. The striped pillow is made from a table runner.
The walls are a pear green but I plan on painting those a different color sometime this year.
The cabinets are a light beige (but I also plan on re-painting them this year too) 🙂 I have a faux ceiling tin backsplash that I just love and will not be changing!
I love my high gooseneck faucet and deep sink, but wish I had a farmhouse style sink! Love those.
The countertop is laminate. If I could have any kind of countertop material I would do soapstone. I just love the look of it. My microwave and fridge are stainless steel because those have been replaced recently. My dishwasher is black (and about 12 years old) and my cooktop is black. My wall oven is white. So I suppose we are committing the cardinal sin of House Hounters (the HGTV show) by having mismatched appliances. The horror! How ever do I manage? AND I have laminate countertops!! ….dear me 🙂
This is a little kitchen cart I got at Goodwill and made-over(click here). I keep my Kitchen Aid mixer on it and it comes in handy as an extra workspace since I don’t have room for a kitchen island.
I framed some toile fabric for this art. These fit perfectly in the spot between the cabinet and wall oven.
I have my collection of white soup tureens on the top of the cabinets on this side.
The cabinets on the other side go all the way to the ceiling and are configured differently. But I’ll save that side for another day since this post is getting long.
Hope you enjoyed a closer look at my kitchen!
Lisa~A Cottage To Me says
Very nice! I love the wall color and all your decorative touches. Great space!
Claudia says
Cheer up, Manuela – we have a black stove, a black dishwasher and a white refrigerator! They came with the house and we’re not changing them out until they stop working! Love your kitchen.
xo
Claudia
Deanna says
It if a very nice kitchen, Manuela! I am in the mood to mix things up around here. Paint is in my future also!
What color are you thinking for your walls and cabinets?
Manuela says
I’m not sure. It’s been pumpkin, red, had toile wallpaper, oh it was a gray for a few weeks…..
Probably a lighter green – maybe like a celery green instead of pear? I just want to lightened up all the colors in my house. That’s why I chose a lighter yellow to paint the main rooms. I probably won’t get to until the end of summer. I have to work on my office and bedroom first!
Manuela
Rhonda says
Good morning Manuela, I think your kitchen is wonderful and I expect you prepare a lot of delicious meals there too. On House Hunters, I think those buyers that turn up their noses at vinyl floors, laminate countertops and anything less than stainless steel commerical grade appliances are just silly.
All our appliances are white and I like them that way, and we have laminate counters that I would like to change but it is not at the top of my list.
Manuela says
I think they’re silly too!
Theresa H. Roach says
I enjoyed my tour of your kitchen! LOVE the black and white tiles! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!
Cindy says
Thanks for the tour of your kitchen. It’s wonderful! We just redecorated our kitchen a year ago, but couldn’t afford counter tops at the time. I also would like a farmhouse sink. Down the road, I guess.
The Working Home Keeper says
Beautiful! I dream of a farmhouse sink for my kitchen too!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
Lou Cinda says
I love your kitchen Manuela! Those floors look awesome! LOVE’EM! Framing the toile fabric is such a great idea!
Love it all!
Lou Cinda
Glenda/MidSouth says
I like your kitchen – very pretty and has a warm feel to it.
Have a good week.
Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Flea Market Makeovers says
I have always loved your kitchen. I have the same tiles in my studio!
Kelley says
Love your kitchen! E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita says
It’s warm and charming, just like the rest of your home. I love the way your house is so “you”!
Susan says
Beautiful! I lived with Alan’s cooktop, white fridge, black oven, dishwasher and microwave for years and they worked just fine! love the cart!
Victoria says
I have laminate too – gasp! 😉 Don’t tell anyone……….. HA! The beauty of your kitchen is that it is a reflection of you and the colors you love and enjoy! I love seeing how you pull it all together and on a budget (pillow made out of dish towel, etc).
My Sweet Girl and I are going to start on the Little House series soon. I read to her while she is in the bathtub and we just finished the original Mr Poppers Penguins and now are reading a book I believe is from the 1920’s called Milly Molly Mandy. I desire to create in her a love for reading just like I have!
For years I would re-read the Mitford Series in the fall but did not get around to it this past fall.
Diana says
I have always wanted a black and white checkered floor. When we had our kitchen floor tiled a couple of years ago, we chose muted green and pinkish (kind of quartz colored) alternating tiles which I really like, but which I am sure is a huge no-no as far as realtors are concerned. I’ve gone with colors and choices that gladden my heart to look at, to go along with my non-standard issue gardening choices, LOL.
Anyway, love your kitchen and your window view. Can’t wait to see what color you end up with on the walls.
Debby Messner says
I love reading your blog. I love that your appliances don’t match. Love the floor and the countertops. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love the color of the walls and love those curtains. It just goes to show that you can still have a great look without all the expensive things. Thanks for sharing.
Diann @ The Thrifty Groove says
I think your kitchen is so charming! I love the colors and all the little extras you have added to make it so welcoming.
Susan says
You have a beautiful, homey, well-functioning kitchen! I get so aggravated when I watch House Hunters and all those young couples think that they can only have a kitchen with SS appliances and granite countertops! Ugh! They know nothing yet about real life and what truly constitutes a home. You have made a beautiful kitchen from what you have, and I love it!
DEBBIE says
Hey there Miss Manuela. Love your kitchen. It is wonderful. I got some great ideas from you a while back, and spray painted some frames black, and used more green in my laundry room, which I now love all because I had seen some pictures of your kitchen, toile, your frames, and how you put things together. You motivated me!
blessings,
Debbie
Manuela says
Thank you Debbie! I’m so glad you got some ideas from my kitchen!
Manuela
Linda says
I love the backsplash and the pear color. I want to replace my stove and have struggled with the mixing of colors issue, but I think that is the way real people live. H&G is what we would all like our kitchens to look like but we can’t all afford to throw everything out and start anew. Your house is so homey. I’m always inspired by it.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
I love your kitchen, Manuela! It is so warm and inviting. I could see coming over for a cup of coffee and a chat! I’m so glad you showed more of it again. I love the floors and I think your cabinets looks great. I’m sure you are ready for a change, especially since you were being so good, what with being on the market. : )
clarice says
Ohh your kitchen is charming, thank you for sharing it. We love a lot of the same things xox Clarice
kim/nannykim says
Ahhhhhhhh, Manuela I love this post. You have so many good things going on in your kitchen and so many good ideas. I am glad you mentioned soapstone and not granite. I have never liked granite. Most granite is too busy for me. I have heard some good things about soapstone , but now I forget what it looks like!!! It is nice having a cozy little window seat!
Sandy says
Manuela, I love your kitchen! It has a very warm and welcoming feeling to it. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy
Vee says
Well the HH crowd can be as snobby as they like about mismatched appliances. I really don’t get it, though, why is it fine to gather furniture and accessories over time, but not appliances? ☺ I love your kitchen.
Terri says
I dream of a black and white tile floor…I shouldn’t say this but things in my house are holding up entirely too well…so well that my husband doesn’t want to change anything at all, lol. One day, one day. In the meantime however, I must ask about the backsplash…Is it tin or that plastic stuff that looks tin and did you install? A friend of mine did one wall behind her stove counter area in the copper look plastic stuff and said it was very fiddly to do. John and I looked at that pressed tin looking stuff at Lowe’s and he asked if I’d like that in the kitchen too. So seldom does he actually ask if I’d like something, it took me a few moments to speak, lol.
On one of the shows Lisa LaPorta suggested using laminate counter tops with a straight cut strip across the back, said it looked as good as marble and was more less upkeep. I’ve kept that info tucked in back of my mind ever since for use in my kitchen some day…
Manuela says
Terri,
I installed it myself. You can buy it at Home Depot. I’m sure you’ve seen it in their kitchen area. You can cut it with a scissor and you can apply it with whatever. Adhesive strips, hot glue, construction glue etc. Just depends on how permanent you want it. I don’t know what your friend means by fiddly? Anyway, as I said, I installed it by myself and I didn’t have any issues.
Manuela
Nelda says
Love your kitchen decorating. Went to see the “before of the kitchen island” and couldn’t believe the transformation!! Wow! It looks great. Also, love the Toile fabric in the pic frames. I have the same type of area at the end of my cabinets, I may do this, love it.
Heathahlee says
LOVE your kitchen! I have a teeny galley kitchen, too, and when I see how pretty yours is, I have hope for mine! 🙂 So the peel-and-stick tiles work pretty well, huh? I need to convince my husband! I’d LOVE to do that because I really don’t want to tile in here…if you drop something on tile, it is GONE, no ifs, ands, or buts. But vinyl tile gives a little bit more, so that’s what I want to do. Convincing my husband of the same thing, however… 😉
Debbie says
Well, of course I love it! Your tin back splash was the inspiration for my niece’s back splash in the little love shack she’s making over. I’ll be anxious to see what creative colors you have in mind this year for the cabinets and walls.
Susie says
Your kitchen is cute and creative. I love that backsplash, your colors, and decorative touches. If HH had complete influence in our lives, everyones kitchens would look alike–stainless steel appliances and black granite counter tops. That can be nice, but variety is the spice of life. I enjoy seeing kitchens that have evolved over time and display the homeowner’s individual personality. It is so much more interesting and fun to have personal touches in the kitchen. You always have the best and most creative ideas put to use in all of your decor.
Cynthia McTigue says
Very pretty I love the trays on display and the toile. I like the whole kitchen.
Patty says
I love the French farmhouse look of your kitchen. The painted trays and toile give it such a homey look. My appliances don’t match either but I don’t even think about it anymore. I am just glad they are all still working! Have a wonderful day, Patty
Rose H says
I love your kitchen Manuela! My appliance don’t match either, but they do get frequent use as I’m sure yours do too – not just a show house, but a REAL home :o)
Thank you for your sweet visit and comments.
Rose H
x
Melanie says
Your kitchen is very pretty…and I think your cabinets are just fine the way they are! The color is actually very nice. All my kitchen appliances are white – and I actually like them that way! I don’t even want SS appliances, lol.
Lean says
Yes I loved seeing you kitchen – it’s great to see how others work with what they have. and make it look wonderful!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Leann
cindy says
Hi Manuela,
I love your floor! It looks so shiny and new and it looks real. When I saw it I thought WoW! Marble floors!!
Your kitchen is lovely and looks very “you”, colorful and pretty!
Hugs, Cindy
Connie says
Ok, I love your kitchen but I’m stunned at the floor! I would not have believed peel and stick could look OR last that long! I have peel and stick and it’s horrible, only lasted a couple of years. Can you tell me the brand name or where you bought yours?
Meadowsweet Cottage says
I love how cheery it is–what a fun place to make cookies and other yummy treats!
Your gingham curtains have always been a favorite of mine. Which reminds me I’ll need to make some of my own this year! Thanks for the inspiration!
spencer says
That area above the cabinets is always a tough one to decorate…. and often looks cluttered. I LOVE your collections of tureens. I swear, I never thought of that and just love it. Couldn’t be more perfect.
I have vinyl floor and laminate countertops too. It is what it is…..and I work around it. Someday we’ll make some changes, but for the time being I’m happy as can be.
Blessings,
Spencer
Sandy says
Love your kitchen! I really love the wall color that you have but you’re probably tired of it and want a change. Your tile floor looks great! It looks like real marble. I have a galley kitchen too and wish it was a llittle bit wider. Love your window seat. Did you build it? You have a reallly nice blog.
~Sandy
Manuela says
Thank you Sandy! Yes we built the window seat. It’s just the kind of cabinet you would use over a fridge with a re-inforced top.
Manuela
Adrienne says
I always enjoy seeing your home. Your kitchen is wonderful – just the way it is. I can’t wait to see the changes you’ve planned. I have work to do in my kitchen. You’re an inspiration to me!
~Adrienne~