Thursday, September 25, 2008

Kitchen Antiques



When I was growing up, we occasionally went to a local restaurant where the walls were filled with kitchen antiques --  pie tins and wooden spoons, and trays with old advertising slogans on them.  




That may have been where my interest in kitchen antiques was kindled.  My favorites run more toward tole trays, silverplate and, of course, dishes.  




I seem to have quite a few green tole trays, to match the wallpaper that I will soon be removing.  (Doh!)  But I do love the black ones, too.  

What do you think of this butcher block cabinet?  It's from Ikea.  We used it as a kitchen island when we still had our old cabinets.  We moved it from the center of the kitchen and switched out the drawer pulls to match our new cabinets.  It holds a terrific amount of large serving dishes.  One of my kitchen designers took one look at it, and said that I obviously was not afraid of open storage.   Actually, it would be closer to the truth to say that it was cheap, the right size, and not too horrible to look at.  It is certainly extremely functional. 




There was a time when I had a LOT of roosters in the kitchen.  I think I have successfully pared them down to a manageable group, but they still tend to populate the countertops.  But I'm searching for creamware now, so I'll have to find someplace to store all the rest for a while...

And of course, all of this will have to come down when I start stripping the wallpaper.  Yikes!

36 comments:

  1. Hi...I love the display you have shown us today...AND...I love the wallpaper! What's wrong with wallpaper? People go to all lengths to PAINT stripes or plaids or circles, etc. on their walls to look like wallpaper...so why not use wall paper...LOL.. ;-) Bo

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  2. I love the wallpaper, too!!!...in fact...I visit your blog everyday JUST to look @ your wallpaper & drapes & DISHES!!...&..cozy stuff...you're not afraid to stay true to your heart...believe me...I de-cluttered my home...for awhile...now...I'm putting ALL my stuff back where it belongs!!!..I couldn't take it anymore...I needed my 'thing's!!...I love your cabinet, too...I wondered where you got it!!..thanks for sharing your 'warm & inviting' home!!...Lacy

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  3. Oh you're on full tilt lately...just ready for some changes??? I love this wallpaper and I love your storage cabinet and I love everything you do to decorate. I'll be curious to see what you do next.

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  4. Mary - I love the storage cabinet.. it's visually attractive and doesn't take the eye away from your lovely things.
    Love the wall grouping also, and the wallpaper. Come and do my kitchen :)

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  5. love the table, love the way you put your display together. strip the wall paper? Someone is so ready for change huh? Change is really good and is in the air. How exciting, Mary!

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  6. Good Morning Mary!

    I adore wallpaper - wish I could have it here in my home, but my walls are too textured - AND I adore your new Ikea cabinet! Love the style and texture it brings to your home and love how your things are displayed. Thank you for brightening my morning with all that is so special and YOU at your Little Red House!!

    Love,
    Kim

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  7. can you please come and help me with my whole house?

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  8. Everything in your kitchen is so nice. I love your choices and the arrangements you put together. The tole trays are gorgeous! Can't wait to see the changes you make. ~Adrienne~

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  9. I love that display! Well, I love your whole house. I could just so move in there and be totally happy? Hm....when should I be there??

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  10. I love your tole tray collection! Wow lots of changes at Little Red House...how exciting!

    annie

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  11. First of all, I love the trophy cups! Oh, and the painted trays. What a wonderful display and yes I also love the butcher block cabinet. What you need is to have Mr. Little Red House put on an addition - a huge butler's pantry!!!

    I get very nervous when anyone mentions stripping wallpaper. It's one of the most horrible things I've ever had to do.

    I'm going to love watching what you're going to do next.

    - Suzanne, the Farmer's WIfe

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  12. I, too, love your whole house. I'm into red tole trays, but your green ones are very tempting. Must look more closely at green ones the next time I am out and about! Good luck on the wallpaper removing; I know it is a huge job. Sally

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  13. mary, i agree with lots of writers: the wallpaper is great! maybe you are tired of it? and the storage "island" is great too! i LOVE open storage, and yours in the picture is lovely so i don't understand the comment you received. you are doing so much to your house between appliance fiascos. are you tired? i like the idea of stuff out, but the reality i live is to have most of it put away. so i live vicariously through your wonderful photographs. jkj

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  14. Love those! Very cute.

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  15. I love all your stuff.........the wallpaper, the dishes and the buffet all the dishes are on.

    I go back and forth in my house~ I get a bunch of stuff out and make it cozy, then I start feeling cluttered up and put some things away, then I...........this goes back and forth year after year;)

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  16. oooo, Mary...this is so pleasing to my eye. just beautiful. The more STUFF I can get around me, the better I like it.
    Is there a reason to remove the paper...or are you just tired of it. I just ADORE it..looks so good in your precious kitchen.
    love, bj

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  17. That looks so beautiful! I need you to help me come unpack my kitchen, maybe then it would look cute.
    Good luck with the wall paper!
    *hugs*

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  18. I love your kitchen antiques. Everythig is so nicely arranged. The open storageg cabinet looks very nice and uncluttered. I also like your wallpaper. I have one of my kitchen walls papered.
    Sweetie

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  19. It all looks wonderful, Mary. I love your vintage pieces.

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  20. I love those trays...I don't see how you're gonna stand putting them away no matter whether they match the new wall or not! The cabinet looks like a wonderful storage piece...it seems a bit contemporary for the antique trays...I guess if you ever felt the need to cover up the storage you can add a cute vintage looking skirt to the bottom part below the drawers. But who even notices it...they're all staring at those gorgeous trays!!!!

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  21. This is all so beautiful how can you bear to change it!? I am curious about what you are going to do to the wall after the wallpaper is off though;>)

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  22. Hey, I like how you changed out the knobs on that Ikea Island that really looks nice. It fits perfectly where you placed it. ~ Robyn

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  23. I love your open storage. I have all my crockery on a table in a corner of my kitchen, simply because I don't have much cupboard space. But actually I like to see all my pretty dishes even if it's not that functional.

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  24. I remember saying it once before that you are a real artist in furnishing your house! Are you an interior designer?
    Thanks for visiting!

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  25. Oh Mary, you have such a marvelous eye for display! I am so inspired! I'm afraid, though, if I tried that arrangement, I'd have a kitty or two curled up on the platters on those open shelves! HA!

    :-) Rosie

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  26. Jeebers, you are really wanting some changes done! I love it though! Changing things us gives a new look and refreshing the spirit. LOVE your trays and that old trophy is the BEST!!!!!

    Keep up the great work and beautiful photography. It is always a treat to come visit you and your gorgeous and loved filled home.

    xoxo
    Becky

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  27. Jeebers, you are really wanting some changes done! I love it though! Changing things us gives a new look and refreshing the spirit. LOVE your trays and that old trophy is the BEST!!!!!

    Keep up the great work and beautiful photography. It is always a treat to come visit you and your gorgeous and loved filled home.

    xoxo
    Becky

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  28. I love your display of toile trays and they look great on the wallpaper!

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  30. Okay, I love the wallpaper too Mary :) I think it looks really pretty with the cream and the matching toleware trays :) I am going through an "it's-to-cluttered-I've-gone-too-far" phase over here so I know what you mean about pairing down. Trouble is, everytime I remove something I end up putting it right back! I am sure whatever you do will look amazing. I love your cozy home :)

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  31. Wow, Mary. You've really got your work cut out for you! I love this display. Such a pleasure to view.

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  32. I love the cabinet AND open storgae. Especially when the things being stored are as beautiful as your things!

    Oh how I love to look at your home. It is one of my favorites and just so perfect.

    Love,
    Sue

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  33. I just found your blog and it's wonderful!

    Love the tole trays! My mom had a great one years ago. We tried to find it so I could hang it in my kitchen, but it appears to be lost. I've also looked at them on ebay but alas, I'm still tole tray free. Lovely display!

    Since I'm an interior painter, I've stripped wallpaper more than a few times. Looks to me like it's time for a change. ; )

    Chickens and Roosters have almost taken over my kitchen too! I finally had to stop buying them ... but every time I shop I still can't help but look for a good chicken.

    Good luck on the kitchen make-over!

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  34. I love your kitchen wallpaper...it's so sweet and eye appealing. The furniture piece is also a delight to the eyes. I may try this idea with a tea cart I have in my small kitchen. Thanks for sharing it!
    Mel's Cabin

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  35. Mary,

    I just love all of your trays. I have one or two and would like to start a small collection. I think that displaying like items together creates such visual impact. Your entire vignette there is gorgeous...love the trophy/loving cup too. I have a couple of them that are smaller. I was just thinking about doing a post with some of them.
    I've blown up that first pic a couple of times. It feels like I'm perusing one of my favorite decorating magazines!

    Hope you are feeling much better now!

    Nancy

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