Friday, December 19, 2008

A Country Christmas in Our "New" Kitchen

I have one more room to share with you! If you remember, our kitchen got a little makeover a few months ago. We painted the walls a color called bittersweet. We put in new laminate countertops and a new black sink. An added bonus was new black appliances too...a dishwasher and refrigerator. With all of these put together, we really have a "new" kitchen.



We decided to not put anything on the walls until it was what we wanted, so I still do have some empty wall space (the space above all the cabinets). I'm still thinking and looking for just the right things!

Jason has built me several things for the kitchen. On the table is the table bench he made. We painted it black and distressed it. To give the table a touch of Christmas, I added the prim Christmas cookies to the bowl on the table bench.



The reproduction telephone table will probably be painted black sometime after Christmas. For now, it was left as is. .



Sitting on it in the red and white enamelware bowl is our little kitchen tree. It is decorated with red and white homespun, mini kitchen utensils and cookie cutters.



And here it is all aglow:



The telephone table is near the back door.



Directly across from the back door (that comes off the sunporch) is the pantry.



That's the new sign made for me by Becca of Folk Art from the Harbor. To the left of the pantry is a new prim wooden hanging that fit perfectly.





That's the bowl rack Jason made for me too. To add a Christmas touch, there are sprigs of pine greenery and berries. The addition of the bowl rack made a big difference to that side of the kitchen. Above the bowl rack is the sign from JoAnne.



Right around the corner from the pantry is the stove.





To add a touch of Christmas to the stove, there are some candy canes, greenery, and a friendly gingerbread man in the bowl. And see that miniature santa cup? That belonged to my grandmother. I remember always loving it. She had it out year round in her china cabinet. My mom gave it to me some years ago.



Hanging on the oven door is prim snowman dishtowel.



To the left of the stove is a little countertop space. If you'll remember, I had a hard time trying to decide between tile or laminate for my countertops. A friend, Bev (who just started her own blog by the way), has these same countertops. She and I emailed each other back and forth. She showed me many pictures and I decided on the same countertops she has in her kitchen. I absolutely love them! I love the contrast between the light cabinets and the dark countertops. Somehow, it actually made the kitchen seem bigger (and cozier at the same time).



Keeping company with the crock of rolling pins and punched tin candle is the Christmas serving tray that I won from Sue's giveaway.



Tucked back in this corner on the countertop is the thrift store find that I painted and distressed.



Across the room on the other side is the countertop with the sink. I am really enjoying my new sink too. It's extra large and deep on one side.





The punched tin tart warmer adds instant coziness and yummy smells to the kitchen. The little snowman is holding some lemon cookies that Joy and I made.



On top of the refrigerator you'll find candy canes for sale! :) Actually, come over and you can have one for free!



Over in the corner on the other side of the table is the stepback cupboard Jason made for me. This is my favorite thing in the kitchen. Red is my color! :)





Again I just added a little greenery on the shelves for hints of Christmas. This is such an inexpensive, simple, yet sweet way to add Christmas touches around our home.





On top of the cupboard is a Country Christmas sign along with a wooden snowman bowl and twig wreath.



Up above the table is the shelf Jason also built for me. It has more greenery and a prim Merry Christmas sign.



On the windowsill of the large bay window (otherwise known as the cats' perch) is a primitive pear with a little green wreath. Colt thinks it needs a star on top and it would look like a Christmas tree. (By the way, he thinks this is also one of my "oddest" decorations). :)



On the other windowsill closest to the cupboard are the Merry Christmas blocks I made.



This is a view of the kitchen looking through the pass through that connects to the dining room (over the sink).



There are many more things on my wish list for the kitchen including either braided chair pads and/or a braided rug, a penny rug runner for the table, "something" for above those cabinets, and more treasures I find along the way. But that's part of the fun....the anticipation of what I'll run across and never having it "completely done". It gives me something in which to look forward.

Thanks for stopping by to tour our kitchen for Christmas! I'm going to leave you with more pictures (I know I took ALOT of pictures but I had a hard time eliminating any from the post, so you get them all)! I hope you enjoy them!













Merry Christmas!

51 comments:

Dawn said...

Tammy, its absolutely yummy! Ok I love the bowl rack, does the hubby sale those? Love the little black table bench with the sugar cookies, that is so prim. I love the long wooden stocking sign next to the pantry. Your kitchen could be a photo shoot in a magazine! Love all the goodies on your shelves above the windows! The black sink is a keeper. You have just added all the right touches! Thanks for the tour. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family from me and mine!! dawn

Dawn said...

Tammy, its absolutely yummy! Ok I love the bowl rack, does the hubby sale those? Love the little black table bench with the sugar cookies, that is so prim. I love the long wooden stocking sign next to the pantry. Your kitchen could be a photo shoot in a magazine! Love all the goodies on your shelves above the windows! The black sink is a keeper. You have just added all the right touches! Thanks for the tour. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family from me and mine!! dawn

Laura said...

Oh my gosh Tammy...your home is GORGEOUS! I love all of your decorations and handmade built stuff. I have trying to get my dad to build me a cupboard like your red one. It is beautiful! My dining room and kitchen is painted almost the same exact color as yours...and I think the red looks awesome with it! You have now inspired me to do some more decorating in there, hehe! Thank you so very much for sharing!! Have a wonderful holiday season!
Laura

Janene said...

Tammy~Your kitchen is beyond words!
The bittersweet paint looks like a green...it that right?
Where did you get the paint? And the red and black look so prim with it! What color of red did you use?
Looking at kitchens and getting new ideas for them is one of my obsessions! And yours has given me many many ideas!

CozyGirl said...

Tammy, I love your kitchen ! You've added such wonderful Christmas touches to it and it's so cozy and welcoming ! I love red in my house too ! I have to say it's my very favorite decorating color ! Have a wonderful day !
Janae :-)

Kindra-At Home With K said...

LOOOOOVE your kitchen. I just love how everything turned out in that room. Your Christmas decor is the nice extra touch for the season! Have a great weekend!

Leslie said...

It looks so wonderful :) I have been trying to cut back on the decorating and just add touches to things I already have out. It works so much better and I'm not stressing over where to stash the stuff until after Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend with your family!

Leslie

•♦•©The Olde Weeping Cedar •♦• said...

Hi Tammy-
Your kitchen is gorgeous!
I love all your special holiday touches! ;)
Love your hutch...RED is perfect! Jason does awesome work (ya both do!)-love your bowl rack too!!

~Merry Christmas~
hugs-Kath

Unknown said...

Tammy,

WOW, Everything looks so nice and cozy! You have a nack for adding just the right special touches to a room.

Heather

Yankee Ridge Primitives said...

Wowie girlfriend!! I think Country Sampler should come to your house next! Your kitchen looks AMAZING and that cupboard stands out SO nice with the wall color! I LOVE that bowl rack, I am so going to have to get one of those!

CatHerder said...

Oh I LOVE IT!!! Love the colors, love the setup....AND I MUST HAVE THAT STOVE!!! Merry Christmas

Katy said...

What an absolutely GORGEOUS kitchen!!! I love everything about it! And your hubby is so talented! You are so blessed to have someone who can make you all those wonderful treasures! I love love love the room! Thank you for sharing it with us. I wish we lived close to one another so I could come for a cup of cocoa and sit in your kitchen and admire its beauty!!!!

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Hi Tammy,
You both did a wonderful job on your kitchen, just beautiful I love the paint color too!

The stepback is just right for the room and the greenery just adds to the festive look. Have fun doing above the cabinets I have crocks and kitcheny (is that a word?:) above mine. Hard to find right now but that's the fun of it.
Rondell

Backwoodsprim said...

Pretty,pretty,pretty!!
Love your stove!
Everything looks very nice!
Love it all!

Merry Christmas!
Backwoodsprim

Mandy said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen with us! So many ideas to "borrow"! Love the bittersweet color and the Christmas touches are just perfect - not too much, not too little, just right!

Mandy

Anonymous said...

It looks so warm and cozy in there. Your husband is so talented to make all that furniture for you. Have a very Merry Christmas

~Beth~ said...

I just love everything about this kitchen! You did a spectacular job on all of it. I must say I love that little pear make-do! Did you use a pattern? I love pears and I love them with crows! Enjoy your new kitchen you are so blessed! ~Beth~

the said...

BEAUTIFUL! You did a fantastic job, I keep saying this, but I wish you lived closer so I could come visit. You have a kitchen similiar to mine as far as the color schemes.... and our counters and sink are the same! Great minds think alike! Thank you for sharing this with us, this is where I get my ideas and its great :)

Merry Christmas,
Stephanie

Martha said...

Hi Tammy, my name is Martha!
Your kitchen looks charming, so warm and inviting. I really like you color choices. I enjoyed touring your home!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

OH OH OH OH - each picture made me say that outloud!! It looks soooo wonderful! I love the first picture especially - you can see the reflection of the rest of the kitchen in the windows. And of course, I love the red stepback cupboard and everything else your DH has made.

millerhomestead said...

Hi Tammy, I LOVE your kitchen! It is so beautiful! I also really like your stove. It is so neat. You have done a great job in your kitchen. Also love the paint color on the wall. Have a very Merry Christmas! God bless, Jamie

Simply Shelley said...

Hi Tammy,I love your new kitchen,and all your Christmas decorations are wonderful.Thanks so much for sharing it with us...have a blessed weekend,
Shelley

Anonymous said...

Tammy, your kitchen, as well as all the other rooms that you have decorated for Christmas, is just totally beautiful!! You've decorated everything so nicly, and it all looks so warm & cozy!! Thanks for sharing your Christmas decorated home with me too!! I loved seeing it all!! Jason has done such a beautiful job on everything that he's made for you in your home! Love those lemon cookies that you and Joy made in that santa claus holder too that is sitting on your counter! :) They are sooo delish! Thanks for sharing your recipe that I got from the CS forum!

Merry Christmas Tammy to you and your family!

Love & Blessings,
Lynn/OKC

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Tammy, your kitchen looks amazing! I love everything about it, especially your stove! I have the same ornaments on my Christmas tree, too!

Have a great weekend.

Sandy said...

Hi Tammy,

Your kitchen looks wonderful after all the renovations. And I might add you have quite the handy husband. He built you some wonderful pieces that you were able to add to the room.

Thank You for such a great tour. Always look forward to the tours of your home. It's so cozy :)

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Sandy

Anonymous said...

Tammy what a great job you both have done with your kitchen. I just love all the pieces your hubby has made.
I am dreaming of a cozy kitchen like yours. Enjoy, Janie

Stacey said...

WOW! Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

PrimitiveWishes said...

Tammy, I've been waiting to see pictures of your completed kitchen. It is absolutely beautiful. I'm glad your liking your countertops as much as I like mine. I always hate giving recommendations because everyone has their own tastes. Also, thanks for mentioning my blog in your post today. I am enjoying doing it but have lots to learn. Russ is helping when he gets a chance you know how that is having a son their ages and not home much. Also, I did just posted again today on my blog -- another spoken word performance. I think one that you and your family will like. Have a beautiful day!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

How beautiful Tammy. I still think you need to open your home for a Christmas Tour of Homes. It is incredible.

Love your kitchen Christmas tree. How cute!!!

Yes, Christmas chair-pads would be nice. Someone also decorated with little green wreaths hanging over of the back of the their chairs.
Hugs,
Betsy

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

I love the bowl rack. Where do you find all the great bowls. I especially like the colored ones on the shelf.

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

I love your kitchen..my favorite thing is your stove!..I love those old stoves and I bet it makes the yummiest food too...thanks for sharing your kitchen all decked out..we redid our kitchen 4 years ago and I love it..I always tell my husband at least once a week that I still love it..it is my favorite spot in the house next to my craftroom...I will have to share photos of before and after on my blog...take care...have a great weekend..oh I love your little tree with the small untensils on it...

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I love your kitchen. And I adore the kitchen tree in the old enamel bowl. Absolutely adorable. Merry Christmas!

NanaNor's said...

What a wonderful kitchen! You are blessed with a warm, cozy inviting home and I feel like I've just been at a friends. Thank you for sharing. I'm new to your blog so will have to come visit often. Blessings.
Noreen

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

Prim perfect and gorgeous, Tammy! I love it and I so hope you'll enjoy finding and making all of the treasures you need. Imagine the fun!

Merry Christmas!

Deb said...

Hi Tammy! Everything is just lovely! Deb

Tammy said...

What a wonderful tour- I just your country kitchen- beautiful! Definitely looks like some pages out of Country Living! :D

Hope you can stop by my Christmas tour- it's the post before last. (Unless you already have and I'm just being forgetful in this week before Christmas rush!) ;) I showed my It's a Wonderful Life village and I know how much we both love that movie! :)

This has been such a crazy weather week for us in the NW...and another snowstorm is on the way tomorrow!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs,
~Tammy

{lauren} said...

Tammy..everything looks so wonderful! I love it all...especially all of the furniture your husband has made for you. I'm jealous..wish my hubby was handy like that:) I love your old stove too..it fits in just right! Everything really...it all looks just perfect! Thanks for sharing the pictures. Hope you're having a good time getting ready for Christmas! <3Lauren

Sue said...

Oh, Tammy, it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Your kitchen should be in a magazine. You have done a wonderful job decorating and the cabinet and bowl rack your hubby made are to die for!

Anonymous said...

I adore you kitchen Tammy...it is absolutely gorgeous. That stove is to die for..lol..just what i would like in my kitchen one day.
Thanks for sharing and wishing you and your family a very Merry & Blessed Christmas..
luv Ann.xx

JeanM said...

Thank you for sharing. You did such wonder things and I just might have to borrow a few ideas!
Jean

Zaroga said...

Wow! a gorgeous kitchen... really a beautiful home. You put so much love into it. Jason builds beautiful things.

Zaroga

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Hey Tammy,
I always love visiting you! LOVE the kitchen! It is such a wonderful room full of awesome things! Still jealous of your stove though! LOL!
You have made everything looks so Christmasy.
I hope you & your family have a very blessed Christmas!

Never So Simple said...

Oh my gosh Tammy it looks gorgeous. I just want to come over and cook. :) Jason's handy work and your decor go perfectly together. I still love that table bench I think that is the cutest thing ever. I seen so many ideas I would love to borrow for next year. Tammy you really outdid yourself everything looks wonderful and inviting. Oh your new Santa beside the kitchen door I love him. I could go on and on with my list of oh I got to get me one of those. Thanks for sharing your home with us.

Donna

Shelley said...

I could sit in your kitchen all day and admire all your handiwork! It is such a warm friendly place! And I love that idea of that cookie cutter tree - I might have to borrow that idea from you next year in the log cabin. I think black appliances look great against wood walls (that's what I have too.! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas w/ your family!!

basketsnprims said...

Tammy, your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous, even with blank spaces. You are an awesome decorator & I love everything. I want to wish you and your family a very blessed and Merry Christmas.

Hugs,
Pam

Sharon said...

I just found you through Deb at Country Kisses and you are now in my favorites. I love your kitchen and I love the color red you have done a wonderful decorating job.........just beautiful. You could put that kitchen in any country decorating magazine and win a prize. Christmas wished and butterscotch kisses being sent your way from Ohio. Sharon K

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

Tammy I love your kitchen it is so warm and inviting!!! You and hubby have done a great job remodeling it!! I also love the stepback cupboard!! Have a wonderful Sunday!~Wendy

Wolfie said...

Your home is wonderful. Love it all.

Your hubby does good work!!

Thanks for sharing pics with us.

WOLFIE

Anonymous said...

I like your imagination in making your kitchen functional and trendy. I love the room! Thank you for sharing.

Carol

Farmhouse Blessings said...

Oh my goodness, I THOUGHT I loved your living room best BUT this is like it came from my dreams. Did you hear me sighing after each photo? Really, I did!

Those smiling prim cookies are so sweet and I just ran a put my kitchen Ginger tree in an enamelware bowl with a gingerbread towel! What a perfect idea!

I've just got to back through and take notes this time! LOL

Smiles,
Lea

nikkicrumpet said...

OH my your house is so WONDERFUL! I can't believe what a great job you've done...and how many cute things you have. My heart skipped a beat when I saw those prim Christmas cookies...I'm pretty sure those are the cutest things EVER!