Friday, October 8

The heart of the home: the kitchen

Today I'm going to show you my favorite room in our house. It's a good thing I like my kitchen, because it's where I spend most of my time! Take a little tour with me.

Our kitchen is large, open room which includes a casual eating area and a seating/desk area. Here's a view from one end of the room to the other:


And now, a little closer look, going from end to end. The eating area and seating area:


Our table is from Pottery Barn. It's enormous--11 1/2 feet long! I love being able to have a table big enough to seat lots of people. (A side note about Pottery Barn. I love their things, but they tend to be little pricey. If there's a piece I want, I wait for it to go on sale, and then I purchase it with a Pottery Barn credit card. I pay the credit card off in full the next month--adding interest payments to the purchase price would be horrible. But by using the PB card, I get a reward of 10% of the amount I spent in a Pottery Barn gift certificate.) Beside the table is my mother's dough cabinet, which is one of my most prized possessions.



The stairs to the left of this picture lead down to the "terrace level," also known as the walk-out basement. I like the fact that the stairs are open; it makes this level feel more like a part of the house.

The middle of the room:


The bar is where I usually sit and blog! My favorite thing here is the barstools. They were boring barstools from TJMaxx; I refinished and re-upholstered them, and now I love them. Click here if you want to read about them.



The working kitchen end of the room:





One of my favorite features of this part of the kitchen is the lighted shadowboxes at the top of the cupboards. I use them to display pitchers. You can read more about the pitchers here.

Another of my favorite things is the window treatment. I originally made a faux Roman shade using Thrifty Decor Chick Sarah's tutorial. I love the plantation shutters on the windows of the other end of this room, but I wanted to be able to see out of the window above the sink, plus I wanted a pop of color. Sarah's tutorial is super-easy (and of course, since it's from Sarah, it's fun to read!). That's the red shade you see in the photos above.

This spring I wanted to change the shade, and I came up with an even easier way to make a faux Roman shade. You can see that tutorial here if you like.


You know how they say the kitchen is the heart of the home? Well, my kitchen connects to the back entry, the dining room, the living room, the downstairs, the deck, and the screened porch. It really is like the heart of this house, with accessibility to most of the rest of the living space. It's especially fun for parties, where we usually cover the island with food and the bar with beverages. I'm always amazed at how people just hang out in this room.

I'd love for you to come hang out in my kitchen. I guess this virtual hanging out is the next-best thing! Where do you hang out at your house?

Notes: Cupboards are maple beadboard; granite is Santa Cecilia
Drawer pulls and cabinet knobs are from Restoration Hardware
Appliances are KitchenAid
Wall color is Ruskin Room Green by Sherwin-Williams

**I'm joining these wonderful parties:

Show us your life kitchen party at Kelly's Korner
Room by Room at Cottage and Vine


60 comments:

  1. So beautiful! Love the cabinets and the wall color! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. GORGEOUS! Your kitchen is massive girlfriend! What a fun place to cook, bake, and entertain. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a beautiful kitchen. The heart of the home!
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous~~
    I love a table that is large enough to seat a crowd, especially in the kitchen, since that's where everyone tends to congregate!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love your kitchen! i love the openess and the large table. great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful kitchen! You have sooo many cupboards, I am just a teensy bit jealous:-) It does look like a fabulous space for a party.

    ReplyDelete
  7. WOW! Oh my goodness what a truly gorgeous kitchen you have Richella! It is just amazing and very spacious to. I adore your detailed cabinets and beautiful granite. Everything is so lovely. I would feel right at home in here.
    Thank you for the tour. I really enjoyed it.

    Happy fall weekend sweet friend!
    Warmly, ~Melissa :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. So your kitchen is huge!! Love it, the countertops are gorgeous and so are the cabinets!! You have done a beautiful job, it's so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your kitchen is to die for! I could definitely see myself cooking and entertaining in there! How lucky you are!

    Happy Weekend! :-)

    XO,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your kitchen is amazing! I love it! it's huge! The wall color is amazing and I love the sitting area too! You are great with decorating! Mine needs a special touch!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderful kitchen! That table is awesome!

    Blessings~
    S
    QueenofSassySavings.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I might even like cooking in a kitchen like that! Gorgeous!
    I realized this morning that I was not officially a follower of your blog, so now I am and I'm #400! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Holy cabinet space!!! I love it! I may or may not have drooled on my keyboard a few times at all the lovliness that is your kitchen :-) It's just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I LOVE your kitchen and can see exactly why you spend a lot of time there. An awesome awesome kitchen!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My goodness your kitchen is large! That table is great - it must be fun to be able to be in the kitchen and have a large group at the table. Love the countertops and you barstools that you made over! It's all gorgeous!

    Manuela

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have SUCH a gorgeous kitchen! I love how big and open it is...so so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your kitchen is AMAZING!! I love it and I am a little jealous of it!! LOL

    Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Visiting from Kelly's Korner. Love..Love..Love your kitchen. It's like a showroom kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the spaciousness of your kitchen, Richella. :) Still so glad you remade those bar stools---they look fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've looked a ton of posts about kitchen's today and this one is my favorite! I adore it! Love the colors and the warmth. It just really looks like it works :) Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've always loved your kitchen. It's so warm and cozy. AND BIG! I can only wish! haha I love the sitting area too. Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  22. one of my favorite kitchens on here!! love it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. So gorgeous! Love the lighting and chairs. Everything is so homey and cozy. Beautiful.

    http://camachohouse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like to hang out in my bedroom and watch TV....When i can ~
    Beautiful kitchen...Love the red curtains and the green on the walls. Great counter tops...

    ReplyDelete
  25. That is gorgeous! When I opened the page I said wow and my daughter (7 year old daughter) said, "I need that house. Seriously, I need that house." lol

    ReplyDelete
  26. Absolutely beautiful! I love that long table!! Everything is just gorgeous!!
    -April

    ReplyDelete
  27. OMG, your kitchen is GORGEOUS!! I love the wall color, green like mine, and your cabinets with the lighted areas up top are great. Nice granite and I love your table and the sitting area. Just a big cozy room for everyone to hang out in.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow! Your kitchen is gorgeous! My Mom loves to shop at T.J.Maxx. You can really find some good deals there sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your kitchen is lovely! I can see why you want to spend a lot of time there. I love the green walls. The color is very soothing. Carla

    ReplyDelete
  30. Pardon me while I pick my jaw up .. um .. your kitchen is amazing and looks straight out of a magazine!!! Do ya'll really live there? haha!! Seriously .. though absolutely gorgeous!!!!
    Sandra :-D

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the little desk area! I also really like the high glass cabinets. They look great!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I think this is the most beautiful kitchen I've ever seen! I love how HUGE it is...not just with the kitchen area but with the eat in part as well! Look at that huge table you have in it and the railing for the stairs right there! Amazing...all of it!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow!
    Do you cook in there? It's so beautiful and clean!
    11 1/2 foot table!?
    It's longer than my dining room!
    What a blessing to have when you are entertaining.
    Thanks for giving us a tour!
    Hugs, ~me

    ReplyDelete
  34. your kitchen is HUGE! I love all the recessed lighting...they just make the granite sparkle!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Richella, your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! What color are your walls? I may have already asked that, but humor me.

    Love that loooooonnnnngggg table!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I want to come hang out in your kitchen! A big kitchen window is a must for me. I can picture myself sitting on one of your beautiful bar stools sipping a cupt of tea... I love your kitchen!!!!!! blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love, Love your kitchen! It's gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Your kitchen is amazing...I love all the woodwork and how you mixed all the different tones. Nice joB!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Richella! Oh, what a beautiful most gorgeous kitchen you have! That is some table you have! Love your gorgeous cabinets and the little open spots at the top. Your kitchen is so big too! The wall color is so pretty and love all of the light coming through!
    Thank you so much for coming to my party!
    You are a sweetie,
    Shelia ;0

    ReplyDelete
  40. Oh...I love that shade of green...very PRETTY! I also love your cabinets...I'm drooling over the hidden TV...I so wish I could hide mine! Thanks for the tour...I hade an awesome time:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a nice area. Plenty of room for the entire family, and friends. I'm dropping by from Shelia's party. I hope you'll come see our kitchens at Atticmag - three for one!

    Allison
    Atticmag

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a lovely kitchen/area. There's plenty of room for everyone...and friends! I'm dropping by from Shelia's party. I hope you'll come see our kitchens at Atticmag - three for one!

    Allison
    Atticmag

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hi Richella,

    I love your kitchen. What a delight that Pottery Barn table must be!

    Please come and check out my book giveawys.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Your kitchen is so beautiful!!! I love your cabinets and that beautiful long table too.

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wow, this is beautiful. I love the windows above the doors going outside. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love my kitchen. But I have to
    say you really have a dream kitchen!
    Its huge. I also love your formal
    dining room. We also have a
    formal dining room we are empty
    nesters and never use it.
    You are a very lucky and blessed woman.

    Pamela
    NE OH

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a fabulous kitchen!
    You have it all, love the cupboards and the curtains!
    Gorgeous indeed!
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  48. An awesome kitchen! Thanks for sharing!

    ~Liz

    ReplyDelete
  49. So big!!! A gorgeous kitchen!

    Hugs
    Charo

    ReplyDelete
  50. You have such a beautiful kitchen and related areas...it must be wonderful to use this space with your family!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Really lovely. May you have many happy memories there.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hi there!!
    I love, love, love your kitchen, everything about it..you have a really nice home and great style..I think the built the nicest homes in the Carolinas...have awonderful weekend..
    btw, i loved your guest bedroom
    too;^)..

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love your kitchen!!!! I was wondering where the fabric from your faux roman shade is from?!?!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Gorgeous kitchen and I love the color you chose for your walls! Martina

    ReplyDelete
  55. So welcoming, great job making that huge space so cozy! Your table is to die for - thanks for the PB tip.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Your kitchen is amazing! and that huge table, everything's just beautiful!
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  57. Your kitchen is stunning! I love the huge island and that table is fabulous. I'm your newest follower.

    ReplyDelete
  58. You did a great job on that Roman shade. And I love that you have your mother's dough cabinet in your kitchen area. It is those touches that make the biggest difference.

    Thanks for sharing your kitchen!

    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  59. the shades are beautiful and they seemed very easy to make, but what do you do about privacy at night

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I read every one; they make my day. If you have a specific question, please be sure your email address is attached to your profile or leave your email address in the comment; I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Every blessing!