Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Homely One House Tour - The Kitchen


Seeing as I already posted a few kitchen photos last week, I thought I’d start with this part of our house for the Homely One House Tour. Our kitchen has probably undergone the biggest transformation of all the areas in our home. When we moved in, it was functional but not at all attractive – ugly face bricks, dark brown cupboards, chunky cream benchtops, a dated oven and stove and dated wall and floor tiles (see before shots below)...




While we kept to the same layout when renovating, the addition of new timber flooring, cupboards, tiles, downlights and benchtops has made a huge difference. It is amazing how much lighter and brighter this space is now. As for the meals area, we have since replaced the old security screens with the new ‘invisible mesh’ style ones and the window frames are charcoal grey instead of mission brown.

I love our kitchen, but it really needs some homely touches added to it. The wall above the oven/stove needs something but I’m not quite sure what exactly. I’d also like to make better use of the space above the fridge for a display of some sort. Any suggestions? I’d love your feedback…


18 comments:

  1. Amanda!! I can't believe that is the same kitchen! You have done an amazing job in transforming your kitchen into a modern and gorgeous room - well done to you and your husband!!! It looks so much bigger and lighter now and I love the new benchtops too!! You must love being in that kitchen, I know I certainly would. I know you mentioned some spaces that needed homely touches, well I think you really don't need any help as you are so creative!! But a suggestion may be some china plates on the wall in either a pale grey or anything that you love, after all it is your home and you should love whatever you choose:) Thank you so much for sharing these amazing pics and this wonderful part of your home, you should be thrilled with how it has turned out!! ~ Tina xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your lovely comments Tina - we can't believe how bad it used to look either!!! Is always fun looking back at the old photos. I like your suggestion of plates - I have a few images saved in my inspiration folder of plates on walls and I think this would be really appropriate in a kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow Amanda! the transformation is amazing! I'm so jealous of your bench space. I can see what you mean about mission brown when you commented on my own mission brown problems! :)
    I like Tina's suggestion of plates on the wall! What about a hall runner to go along the lenght of the kitchen like the black and white striped Ikea one or three pendant lights to hang down above your island bench.
    This is such a great before & after, thanks for sharing with us. Jx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Just shows what some imagination and good styling can do. From truly ugly kitchen to beautiful space - you've done a fabulous job. Leigh

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful improvement!! It was so dated ( though I think mine could be worse!!) and now looks so modern, fresh and clean.
    I agree that pendant lights hanging down over the island bench would be great too.
    Looking forward to seeing more pics of the rest of th house ( I'm such a snoop!!)
    x

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful transformation Amanda. You should be so proud! It's so serene and fresh! Now I am very biased but I can immediately see a beautiful grey washed French clock up there... but I am obsessed with clocks. In saying that, I do always go with my first thought when making decisions.... and my first thought immediately was the clock! A-M xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. You know what I love best about the before and after images....is how your little plant in the blue pot has grown :)
    Amazing before and after shots Amanda..you should feel very pleased with what you have achieved...fantastic!!

    Your right though..it does need just a little something extra...but nothing major as the simplicity of this kitchen is what is so appealing also...I think it just needs another dimension to this space..perhaps a display shelf above the stove area that you can display some gorgeous crockery on..little tea pots...or your favourite cook books...or even some more greenery in gorgeous little white pots...or some hanging china plates as Tina suggested...or even a vintage style cafe sign....you know like the ones that say..Bon Appetite...etc ...something that adds a bit of colour and personality to this space? Do all of these suggestions suck? because Im laughing at myself right now and thinking..they are crap..lol x

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a transformation! It's great to have those photos to look back on and sometimes cringe a little;) Now you can look at your lovely and fresh looking kitchen and be proud of what it looks like now. I think a clock would look perfect up there on the wall too..xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the idea of the pendant lights hanging down - my friend Krystie has 3 over her bench top which is nice and long like yours and they like very nice and stylish! Maybe those cute measuring spoons you posted about once (the onces with the birds) would look really nice too near your stove! Can't believe the before shots...!! Kylie xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, what a transformation, it looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gotta love the mission brown and internal brick! It's looking good now mate, so fresh and bright, but you are right, it could use a little of your personality in there! What's your favourite colour?
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. wow looks fabbo - well done ! so I am thinking some kind of ceramic art for the wall above the cooktop ... you know like moroccan tiles or glazed plates or something that can take the heat and cooking splatter ...

    now above the fridge. Build a wee little half depth shelf - so the fridge can still have air - and use it for your cook books ... just a thought ... le

    ReplyDelete
  13. Janette - yes a new rug is a definite - I would love a striped one, something bigger than what is under the sink now. Pendant lights would be lovely but seeing as the downlights are a fairly recent addition, I'll hang off changing them at the moment - love the suggestion though.

    Leigh & Sarah - thanks for your kind comments.

    A-M - am liking the clock suggestion :)

    Anna - not crap suggestions at all!! I was thinking teapots or teacups would be cute somehow and had also thought of a vintage cafe sign as I quite like the look of those. Love your suggestions - you are such a wealth of ideas when it comes to all things interiors!!

    Catherine, Kylie, Julie, Flick and Le - thanks for all your positive feedback - I really appreciate it :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for sharing the before and after. It looks soooo much better now! I love the idea to add a rug and maybe some fun art on the walls.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great job Amanda...thanks for showing us the terrific transformation. It's amazing what was considered appropriate decor way back when isn't it?
    Lesley

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lesley - do you think that in years to come we'll look back on how our houses are now and think the same :) Hope not!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Amanda, I came to your blog through BYW. What a beautiful transformation you made!! I love how you decorate your home. I read that you love being a stay-at-home mom and as a sahm myself, it is always encouraging to find another inspiring sahm like you! Kaho

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment - it really makes my day!!