Monday, September 22, 2008

Simplicity



Yes, I know this is rich coming from the queen of transferware, but I'm really feeling the need to be plain  lately.  




Don't you love this little Wedgwood basketweave plate?  It was a thrift store find.  I think that lack of color or pattern really allows the shape to stand out.




Here are my kitchen cabinets, displaying some creamware and one of my favorite tole trays.  Actually, I'm thinking that a beautiful cream platter would look better there.  Now I know what to look for in my next shopping expedition.  :)




I also collect a lot of milk glass.  I love how the lack of color allows the shapes to be the star.




I have great plans to strip the wallpaper in the kitchen (as well as the bedroom) and paint, maybe a shade or two darker than the cabinets.  I'd love to have a collection of creamware to display here, or maybe my milk glass.  

I guess I'm craving a little respite from color and pattern.  A little simplicity.  That's a good thing, right?

And, just for the record, that doesn't mean that I'm looking to get rid of all my other dishes.  Just in case you were wondering.

29 comments:

  1. I just adore the seeded glass in your cabinet doors. I'm glad you clarified that you weren't giving up your other dishes.....you might have had a big line standing outside your door this morning! HA!

    :-) Rosie

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  2. I love the white contrast on your countertops....change is good;)

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  3. Morning! I have always loved your kitchen and those glorious cabinets! the creamy dishes are so pretty in them and I read your other post about changing your bedroom...change can be a good thing and I can't wait to see the redo...thanks for the tip on removing the wallpaper...hope you have a great week.

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  4. I'm laughing right now becasue I was all set to tell you I would give your transferware, and anything else you didn't want, a good home:>) I love white too, coem to think of it, there aren't a whole lot of dishes out there I don't like! Maybe we should start a 12 step group for dishaholics!

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  5. I can't live with all one anything for long without changing it a little. You must be feeling the need to stretch. Oh boy! Are your cupboards ever going to be full!

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  6. I do the same, Mary. Especially in my red hutch. I use blue and white for awhile, then all roses for awhile, then plain white....

    Like Rosie, I already had my traveling clothes on ...i wanted first dibs on all your dishes!!!
    heh heh heh

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  7. Good morning, Mary. You never have to sell me on the beauty of white dishes and simplicity. I'm right there with you.

    It looks wonderful.

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  8. Hi...I enjoyed seeing your lovely post this morning, but hey...where was that infamous Kitchen-Aid refrigerator??? LOL ;-) Bo

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  9. Beautiful photos, Mary. I love all the white.

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  10. Oh yes...bring it on! I am the queen of cream or magnolia as we say here. Afer tmany years of collecting crockery sets only to find them discontinued I went for plain white. Problem solved.

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  11. I love your cabinets with the bubble glass in the doors! And your collections are just beautiful!
    Seeing your photos always makes my day.
    I hope you have a great one!

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  12. I adore your cabinets. I lust after them. I WANT them. (I WANT that glass in them!!) Do you have high ceilings in your kitchen?

    I love the look of white. White dishes, white furniture. It's so peaceful looking to me.

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  13. It is a good thing. The new Pottery Barn catalog features a beautiful cabinet filled with creamy white ironstone. Visually it's just beautiful.

    You're the reason I got stuck on transferware and since the set I found at Goodwill is brown, I'm going to use them for fall.

    - Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

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  14. Bo -- I'm so disgusted with that refrigerator, that I refuse to publish a picture of it. LOL

    Kacey -- my ceilings are low: about 7ft.

    Suzanne -- I'm still loving my transferware, too. :)

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  15. I am salivating over all of your creamware. I went through this phase several years ago and I still keep creeping more and more white into my home. This phase is very addictive is all I'm saying.

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  16. Those pics just make me sigh...in contentment. Love that look...I collect milkglass as well. You make me want to go back to my idea of painting my cabs...my dh would kill me though. I have the same knobs on my cabs but in black. cherry

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  17. What a beautiful kitchen. You've got a great sense of style!

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  18. Lovely photos.

    And I didn't think for a minute you'd be getting rid of any dishes. ;)

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  19. Hi Mary,

    That's exactly what I have been craving lately too. All my dishes and platters have been really ornate in design - the busier the design the better. But lately, I have also tended toward the creamware with just a pearl and flutes border... what is happening to me? (and you) HAHAHA!

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  20. Oh, what a wonderful kitchen cabinets with those lovely cream plates. And that milk glass in your cabinet doors is beautiful. Everything looks so clean, neat and romantic. If only I could I would just start with great change in my home.:-)Thank you for these wonderful posts of yours.

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  21. Your blog makes me smile. It also makes me use the word pretty, I think I love that word. ; )

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  22. I think everyone was hoping you were going to downsize your collection, offering them as weekly prizes to win. And this milkglass is gorgeous.

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  23. Mary, I LOVE your cabinets and dishes - ALL of them! I'm thinking of painting my cupboards--my early 1960's era den adjoins the kitchen and they both have paneling which reminds me of yours--Thing is I want to paint the cabinets, but not the paneling which is also above the cabinets about 12". Any ideas? I've thought of painting them cream--can you tell me what paint brand and color is on yours? Is it oil based enamel? Thanks! Vicki

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  24. This is the look that I love and often crave. Different shades of creamy whitish colors in the kitchen. So beautiful!

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  25. Mary-I love to change out my dishes too but use the white and creams for summer since you can use so many great color table clothes and flowers. Sometimes I'll sneak in the Portmerion Botanic garden too. I'm a red and blue transferware girl and switch my Blue Willow for the red Tonquin nearer the holidays. I'm so glad you give us dish "junkies" a place to feel ok!!! Some of these patterns came from my Mom & Gram and I feel good carrying on the choices they made with our friends and family. You don't think it's something in our NJ water do you?!!! Have a great week!

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  26. Vicki -- the cabinets were painted by the manufacturer. I don't really know too much about painting cabinets, but Cindy, at My Romantic Home, has a lot of experience in painting furniture. You can find a tutorial on her blog. there is a link to her blog on my sidebar. I hope this helps. Good luck!

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  27. sounds like a great and exciting idea Mary!

    Can't wait to see the change you want to do.

    J

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  28. I absolutely adore your kitchen Mary. I think it is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. My dream of what a kitchen shoudl look like.
    And your creamware is just so lovely...I so enjoyed this.

    Love,
    Sue

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  29. Mary, I could not relate with you more! Infact, I changed things around in an old cabinet last week and made it less cluttered. With the changes in seasons, I believe we all need a change, too!

    Everything is wonderful. Hold on to your dishes though. You may regret getting rid of them someday...speaking from experience here.

    xoxo
    Becky

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