Monday, January 14, 2008

Having Fun In The Kitchen


How does that title strike you? As an oxymoron (fun and kitchen don't mix) or maybe as a little naughty (reading too much chick lit)? Anyway, my fun in the kitchen comes from creating new decorative tableaux. So when the Christmas stuff finally got put away, I had some fun rearranging things. Here's what I came up with.

















After all the reds and golds of Christmas, I love to play up the greens and creams in my kitchen wallpaper. This means adding a battered green tole tray, a pale green ruffled Carnival glass bowl, and a few little hand-painted plates.


A tumbling mass of green ivy replaces the Christmas tree in the big stoneware crock. Two more tole trays, black this time, ground the grouping.


The green and cream flowers of early spring burst forth from a green lattice windowbox, used here as a centerpiece on the kitchen table.






The centerpiece is joined by a small vintage platter, with a lovely spring bouquet in the center. This is a recent thrift store find -- $1.


I realize that I'm trying to create a sense of approaching spring in the middle of January. The afternoon sun just pores through the windows here, so on a sunny day, you can almost imagine the sound of birds and the smell of the garden.


Almost.
























28 comments:

  1. Love the green and cream. How sweet that carnival glass is. Love the recent thrift store find. Pretty spring bouquet.
    Alison

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  2. Everything looks wonderful. I, too, seem to imagine a different quality in the afternoon sunlight that comes through the slider into the dining room. I will always be one who wishes for an early spring :-)

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  3. You're making me hunger for spring! Still, such an inviting kitchen to work in!

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  4. It's all lovely! Makes me want to clean the craft suppliesoff my kitchen counters and mess around myself....someday soon:>)

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  5. I love the platter. I've found some great ones over the years. Everything looks lovely. I come here daily to have a dose of beautiful. Our remodeling project has the house looking like a war zone. It's stressful but visiting your house makes it less so. Thanks! (P.S. Do you have a powder room? ...I was thinking your powder room must be really beautiful)

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  6. I love what you've done. The toleware, trays, old glass, platter - all of it. Nice touch after the decor of the holidays. I, too, want to 'spiff' up things after the Christmas glitz is put away. Still working on it. Thanks for sharing your space with us. And a reminder that spring is not far away! ~Adrienne~

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  7. Hi Mary!
    I'm craving spring too.. I actaully have been on the hunt for bird items also, but our prices just don't compare to the deals you get! I think it s because NH is an 'Antique' state.. there is an antique store (or 2,3,7,9...) in every town. We are currently getting 6-10 inches of snow up here.. Oh, well.. :)
    Enjoy your week!
    :) Abbie

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  8. Great job with all your decorating. It's snowing here today, so talks of spring are most welcome. Janie

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  9. Mary,
    We are getting Abbie's snow as well. I think that we don't get good thrift store deals because we frugal New Englanders just horde stuff and it never makes it to the thrift shops and if it does it gets snatched up and resold at the "Antique" shops.

    I am coveting the large black tray.
    Janet

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  10. Oh Mary, can I come stay with you?? I ADORE your home!! I love your kitchen, it makes me feel like spring is here!

    Thank you so much for your sweet, kind comment on my blog. Opening up to all of you really HAS helped me. I even feel a bit more "normal" if their is such a thing, lol!

    Hugs,
    Amy

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  11. Dear Amy, I'd love for you to come stay! In fact, wouldn't it be fun if we could ALL sit down with a cup of tea and just have a good laugh about hating winter!
    xoxo,
    Mary

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  12. Hello Mary - I love your blog, it's inspriring me to see my house in a different light.
    Since the snow fizzled out here in northern NJ I think I'll go through my china closet and see what is beckoning to come out.
    Joan

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  13. Very pretty..I would say id have fun with you in your kitchen, BUT that would be bad huh?

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  14. Very pretty arrangement! Perhaps consider adding a lamp to the mix (and adding another lighting option) to the area?

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage who adores lamps .....

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  15. Everything looks lovely! Have fun in your kitchen...

    Cielo

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  16. I love it Mary. I'm doing toleware tray twitches LOL! I actually bought one off Ebay yesterday and I can't wait to get it!

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  17. I'm ready for spring too, Mary! It's fun to rearrange things, isn't it? Your new tableaux looks wonderful and I just love your new platter! ~ hugs, Lynda xo

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  18. As always, you have done something great again . You make everything look so pretty :)

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  19. Lovely arrangements! I can't really say that I am longing for Spring as it is 78 degrees here in Southern California today. I wish that it could be a bit cooler here!

    Thank you for the lovely comment you left on my blog. Aren't kitties the best? My two Cornish Rex babies are quite funny looking(as you saw), but they have to be the sweetest animals I have ever encountered. Nice to meet another cat lover.

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  20. Your new arrangement is just full of wonderfulness! I love every bit of it...and I, too, am sooooo ready for spring and summer!
    hugs, bj

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  21. Mary,
    Everything looks so pretty! Keep thinking spring!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  22. Hi Mary That is such a lovely arrangement of pretty things in your kitchen. I always enjoy a visit with you! Rhondi

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  23. Your fun in the kitchen inspires me! Love your trays and all your pretties.

    Michelle

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  24. IT all looks so Springlike and pretty! I love the birdie plates. I have always liked your color scheme too!

    What a fun kitchen in which to pass the time! No matter how you do it!
    : )

    Hugs,
    Sue

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  25. It's Beautiful, love the plates!
    Sandra Evertson

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  26. Lovely display Mary. Don't worry, Spring isn't too far away now sweetie! We went shopping today and bought new clothes in prep for Winter. Come on Winter!
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

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  27. Green and cream is a good combination
    Your arrangement is very wonderful.
    I love the vintage platter.
    Have a nice day
    Regina

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  28. Oh I love that you are adding all those lovely tole trays! I have a hard time resisting those beautiful old trays too. But I swear you get the BEST DEALS! Oh I need to shop at that little thrift store of yours. I never thought of milk glass that way and now I am sorry I have passed it by. Thanks for opening my eyes to it's simple but beautiful elegance. You have such a great eye for things and all your vignettes are so pretty, I need you to come to my house and rearrange things! I will also say a little prayer for Dear BJ. Your DecoratingFanatic Friend, Laurie

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!