FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

NOTESONGS


I am joining in with MIZZ SHELIA of NOTE SONGS for her
HEART OF THE HOME KITCHEN PARTY.
***
THIS BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN is out of a BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS magazine.
When I first saw it, several years ago, I fell in love, HOOK LINE and SINKER...
*
I dreamed about it at night...I called out it's name....
I thought of it all day long...
I TAPED this photo to my fridge and
slowly, but surely,
brought my own humble kitchen to favor THIS DREAMY ONE...
It took about a year before I was
ON MY WAY...
THIS PHOTO WAS MY INSPIRATION ...
**
Not to copy it completely...
just use the elements out of this PHOTO and add it to my kitchen...
*
 I absolutely ADORED  the style, charm and personality of the french farm house country look....

DREAM kitchen on your left....my little humble kitchen on the right...
I just absolutely LOVE working with an INSPIRATION photo...
Keeps me on tract and more zero'd in on my project...
A really great thing was that I had already painted my kitchen walls
a soft sage...about the very same color as in the BHG photo...

Cuteness scattered throughout my red kitchen...
*
I set about looking for all  kind of elements to add the "down on the french farm" country look..
Altho I  did  adore the extra personality the red lower cabinets offered...
I WANTED MORE...!!
I wanted the charm of  black and white tile...
like KIM at DAISY COTTAGE had...
Sooo, I wrote her for the size of the tile....and MR. SWEET went to work...
*
......with these boxes of tiles...........and grout.............and mortar.....
Yes...THANK YOU, MR. SWEET...
I am in love forever with my black and white tile back splash...
AND, I love YOU, honey.
*
My upper cabinets are COUNTRY WHITE...
Lowers..hmmmm....I have the color written down ....somewhere...*dang it !
Since I am such a stalker and copy kat...
I made myself  EAT CAKE....just about like the one that TINA of CHERRY HILL COTTAGE
has in her kitchen...
This photo shows our pass-thru into the dining room a little better.
Many people looking at photos of the kitchen THINK this is a painting above the stove. :)
*
When I was painting my kitchen, my beautiful daughter said, "Mom, get some new hardware. These have been on these cabinets since the 50's..."
but I loved them so I just sprayed them BLACK...and when she came in
later and saw them, she said,
"OH, MOM...THEY LOOK SO french country..!"
Ya gotta know I loved that !! :))


I have been very happy with my " kitchen of a different color"...
Our house is olden...1957
not old enuf to be really INTERESTING...
and any ARCHITECTURAL elements in the house were added by us...
Tract houses back then were as plain as plain could be..
you pretty much have to add your own personality and charm....
*
The next thing  I would like to add to my kitchen....
farm house sink....
and
concrete counter tops....
*sigh
I just made a cup of tea..and will serve it to you in the breakfast room...
maybe SHELIA will have a BREAKFAST ROOM PARTY soon.
*

...and, aren't we always hungry for ....CHOCOLATE !!
a  triple fudge brownie with slivered almonds
just for YOU,
SHELIA...
Thank you for being such a wonderful host...
This, my dear heart, was a fun party...
ya'll have a sassy day....
bj
I am also linking with:

74 comments:

The Tablescaper said...

Awesome job on your kitchen! I love how you gathered up bits and pieces from other kitchens to make yours the very best!

- The Tablescaper

The Charm of Home said...

Your kitchen is adorable. I love the red cabinets. Very cute redo. Love how you accessorize too. Really love that McKenzie Childs tea kettle! Very nice.
Sherry

Debby said...

Love you kitchen.
You have a beautiful home.

LV said...

You and your better half have done a remarkable job on your kitchen. The original looked good to me. Now it looks better to me than the one in the magazine. Very nice,

Unknown said...

I knew better than go to the bottom first today, BJ ... that brownie, yum!

Your kitchen is absolutely luscious & so french-y! You have given me an idea of 2 different colors for cupboards, hadn't thought of this yet ... I could do pink! Bright idea!

All your accessories just invite me to sit down with you to enjoy that decadent brownie.

Have a lovely eve ~
TTFN ~ Marydon

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

BJ~ I'd never come out of the kitchen if mine looked like yours. I love the black and white backsplash! Your attention to detail is marvelous.
I love it !!!!!!
Yvonne

Debbie said...

LOVE THIS!!! I'm looking for inspiration for my *needs help kitchen* and have been waiting for this party just to get it.

What you did with the photo is exactly what I need to do.

And something ELSE you did is what I need to do. You had courage. Seriously, I lack it with my house. I would have chickened out of red cabinets on the bottom,and that's my favorite part of your room.

OK... writing this in the notes: Learn to be bold and don't be afraid of imitation...

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

BJ Darlin, I am in love with your kitchen. It does look very country french as your daughter said. I love the touches of red throughout and the vingettes above the cabinets are so pretty.

You have given your magic touch to every area of your home.

thanks for inviting us in.

hugs
Sissie

Rita said...

What can I say?
This is just beautiful; I always knew you were talented and with these photos you have blown me away. Congratulations.
You have cozy hub full of love and I am enchanted with it.
Rita

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh, I love your red and white kitchen and the black and white backsplash is just wonderful. You have everything decorated so beautifully. I love all of your accessories. That brownie and cup of tea look so good too. Thanks for the tour. Your kitchen really is wonderful. Hugs, Marty

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I think your kitchen is awesome and filled with character and personality! The color scheme is perfect and could be featured in BHG any day! Love the black and white tea pot and tiles!

Any place the commands me to eat cake is close to my heart!

Midlife Mom said...

Your kitchen is just gorgeous with all your special little touches!!!! You certainly have the knack of decorating even if you do 'borrow' some ideas from others. We all do that! :o) I have a friend that has Kopy Kat Kreations because she takes pictures of things she likes in craft stores and fairs and then makes them herself with her own touches. I think that is a great idea don't you?!

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

"Oh BJ, I LOVE your kitchen"... and "YOURS" is MUCH Dreamier than your Dream Kitchen. ADMIT IT? You can take the OTHER picture down and RIP IT UP! I am in LOVE with your addition of the black and white tile, "It is PERFECT"!!! Oh and the end picture of the brownies, AHHHH!!! The icing on the Cake!!!
Hugs to you,
Donna

Salmagundi said...

You do the best job of anyone with an inspiration photo. You have that knack to go a step further to make it stupendous! Sally

Kathleen said...

You did a great job on your kitchen. It looks better than the magazine because yours is filled with love!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

BJ, your kitchen is just like that photo. Love the red with the black and white. My mom has the same tea kettle. Your kitchen is so charming and cute!!

Allison Shops said...

Fantastic job on your kitchen! And that dessert!!! Stopping by from Note Songs party. I hope you'll drop by Atticmag to see our kitchens - it's a three for one!

Allison
Atticmag

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

Love your kitchen...and your personal touches are the icing on the cake!
This is inspiring me to finish our kitchen...(painted my bottom cupboards a country green 3 years ago and still looking at 1950's white on the top cupboards)You've made it quite tempting to change the hardware and call it done. I'll let ya know!
Thanks,
Lisa

CHERI said...

I love the red with the black & white tiles! Definitely love the letters EAT CAKE!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh your kitchen is wonderful! I love what you've done. What a sweetie your Mr. Sweet is! Love your bright and cheerful (just like you BJ) kitchen -- truly the heart of your home!

A Hint of Home said...

You really achieved the look you wanted. Adorable kitchen redo.

The Old Parsonage said...

I love your "stolen" kitchen! I've been contemplating a re-do if you can call it that - painting the cupboards - they are white now and show the dirt.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Leann

Anonymous said...

BJ, Nice job on your kitchen. Great colors and coziness. Although if I read EAT CAKE every day over the cabinets.....I think I would have to do it!
And, as usual, your commentary makes the post even more special!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

BEEEEJJJJJJJ, what they "hay", now you are waving brownie batter infront of me at 9:00 P.M. and I am suppose to be done eating for the day??? You KNOW how I feel about brownie batter! Slurp! Now on to your gorgeous kitchen. Talk about personality and charm, well, guess who that kitchen takes after, YOU, dear BJ, without a doubt.
xoxo

Shug said...

Wow...you did a pretty good job at accomplishing that dream kitchen...
It looks very nice...
Shug

Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss said...

Honestly BJ, the inspiration photo was a good starting point but your kitchen turned out far cuter. I like that you've spiced it up with other little touches like the black and white tiles like Kim's. (Isn't Blogland absolutely THE BEST for great inspiration?)

Don't worry about being a copy cat. I don't have a lot of creative imagination so I'm a copy cat too. I copied Shelia's Moen faucet! ;)

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I really like your red, black and white kitchen! Enjoyed seeing how it came about with the inspiration photo, etc!

Katherine

Unknown said...

BJ! I think that this is the first that I have seen your kitchen in its full glory... B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I LOVE it!! You did such a great job putting it all together. I need to go back and take another look! :)

~Liz

Adrienne said...

Oh, I always love your kitchen every time I see it! The way it could be better is if I could stop by, knock on your door and sit and chat and see your kitchen for real!
~Adrienne~

Anonymous said...

I adore your kitchen. It is just my style, in fact my cabinets are the exact color of red but mine are upper and lower in red. Never thought of breaking them up with white. I love Kim's backsplash, too. It looks perfect in your charming kitchen. Patty

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

bj, sweetie..I am going to do all the things that you did and see if my FARM sink, new faucets and white cabinets appear. If it worked for you...just perhaps it will for me! :) Why didn't I ask you before??? Just..take some photo's, tape them on the frig...pray a bit??? Do I have it about right? Ok...wish me luck!
(I shoulda come to you earlier!!)

Anonymous said...

Hi BJness! Now I do love your kitchen and it's so you - filled with your fun spirit and personality!! I love how you used the inspiration picture to help you get what you wanted in your kitchen. I love your red bottoms! That didn't sound right, did it? :) Your Mr. Sweets is amazing at all he can do - I love the black and white tiles! Now your decorating is awesome, BJ. You make the prettiest kitchen vignettes ever!! And...you always give me something to eat! :)
Thank you from the bottom of my tiny heart, BJ, for coming to my party!
I don't think you've hooked up to the Linky! You may want to come back over and do that. I want everyone to see your marvelous kitchen.
You are a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful kitchen, I love it!!!

Big kisses.

Beverly said...

I adore your kitchen. And, you have added your charm and personality to perfection.

I just wished I lived close enough to come visit.♥

Kathleen Grace said...

I have always LOVED your kitchen BJ. All the gorgeous details and that black and white check backsplash, be still my heart! Charm and detail galore, thank you for sharing the heart of your home:>)

Edie Marie's Attic said...

I love love love your kitchen BJ!! It's fabulous!! You did such a great job pulling it together for "the look" you love! It's so much fun to create the feel of a room. You really have captured it BJ!!

Hugs, SHerry

The Mr gets a big "atta boy" for his part in it!

Sheree said...

BJ - That kitchen is full of cuteness!! Glad to know others have inspiration pictures clipped and hanging everywhere! :)
Now--- off to make a dessert that looks like yours!!! :o

The Decorative Dreamer said...

I just love your black and white tiles and you have used them beautifully here! I used to have them in our old house that we built on the floor in our boys bathroom. I remember that I just had to have them, and being so excited when they were installed. There is something just so retro devine about black and white tiles. I love the split color scheme on your cabinets and your hardware too. I think if you do get to do a new counter that concrete would be and excellent choice. This is an adorable space! I love it!

Anonymous said...

I could just sit and be happy in your kitchen. It's charming and adorable, plus full of those little touches that make it feel so good and homey.

Chicken Wrangler said...

Very impressive! What a great look!!! Just love it!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh your Kitchen is glorious!!!!!!!!

I taped a picture of a room, to my refrig, long ago. And dreamed of doing our Den, like that.

Well finally, the time to wallpaper/paint our Den came. We went out looking for wallpaper, for above the chair rail he put up. After looking at a zillion samples, I picked one. Loved it!

Came home and realized that it was just about identical to the wallpaper in my long-ago-tacked-up pic. :-) Guess it had gotten under my skin, and I didn't even realize.

Having dream pics around, rocks!!!!

Gentle hugs...

Carole Burant said...

I will be back to catch up on your posts but right now I just wanted to invite you to my birthday party on my blog...get ready to do the jitterbug:-) xoxo

From the Old InkWell said...

WOW! I adore your kitchen! Love the red and white and you have tied it all together so well. You were right about the handles. Aren't you so glad you didn't change them out?!

SmilingSally said...

Hi BJ,

I've always loved your red, black, and white kitchen. I see that you've already visited mine, but did you notice that I mentioned YOU?

Check out my book giveaways.

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

You have a lovely kitchen. The red lower cabinets are wonderful...of course, I love red. Lucky lady to have that fabulous black and white backsplash. Thanks for visiting and leaving your kind comments. Have a great day! Linda

Margitta said...

BJ, you must be the coolest greatgrandmother around! Thanks for your encouraging comment, it was just a drab old brown kitchen I painted white and grey. Love your kitchen, too.

La said...

Holy Cow! I just gained 10 pounds just looking at those scrumptious brownies. You can't show something like that to a chocoholic without an explicit warning.

Your kitchen is stunning and BETTER than the inspiration. Red and Black is my favorite color combination. The tea pot is spectacular!

I think I'm going to have to stick around your blog. That's what happens when you show chocolate to a junky. :o) La

shannon i olson said...

Your kitchen is just beautiful....it's own inspiration now!

Anonymous said...

BJ your kitchen is just lovely! I love the black and white tiles. I wish I would have done that in my kitchen. It's beautiful. I also love all of the charm your kitchen holds with all of your pretty decorations. Sigh....

Unknown said...

A gorgeous kitchen BJ, very pretty colors, and beautiful decor!!!

Hugs
Charo

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi BJ,
I love your red cabinets, its my favorite color..Your kitchen is full of personality and charm..Everything is lovely :)
Have a sweet day, hugs~Elizabeth

Theresa said...

Gorgeous kitchen my friend! LOVE the backsplash! Reckon Mr. Sweet will help Mr. Ganky do me one:) Have a blessed day in your precious home! HUGS!

Kim said...

Hello Sweet BJ! Always been a huge fan of your fun and vintage kitchen girl. You certainly have the knack for decorating that's for sure!
xoxo,
Kim
p.s. Amy says "hi" to Deeds!

Kim said...

Hello Sweet BJ! Always been a huge fan of your fun and vintage kitchen girl. You certainly have the knack for decorating that's for sure!
xoxo,
Kim
p.s. Amy says "hi" to Deeds!

Deanna said...

Absolutely lovely BJ! Your kitchen is just fabulous!

Now let's talk about that sinfully delicious looking brownie.......

Deanna :D

Scribbler said...

Your kitchen is adorable -- but you got me with that chocolate. I think I feel a craving...

Debbiedoos said...

Great job BJ...loving that black and white tea kettle, goes great with the pretty red cabinets.

Sue said...

I don't know which I love more, the look of your kitchen...or the fact that you actually found a picture and created the kitchen you dreamed of. That makes me so happy for you. Of course I always love your red, white and black combo. It is a wonderful space!

Betty said...

You house may not have been born with personality but it has wonderful BJ personality now and I love it.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

You know BJ, your kitchen is so down home country cute and it is way better than the one in the magazine. I like the hardware painted black too for the contrast.
Judith

sheila from life @ #17 said...

oh, I love your kitchen...I've thought and thought about red lowers but never could work up the nerve...and "eat cake" is too funny perched up there...

Unknown said...

bj,
thanks for the brownie and the tour of your fantastic kitchen. i love the words Eat Cake, fantastic!! thanks for your visit to my kitchen blog post.
michele

JEANNE said...

Hi bj, you know I love your kitchen to pieces. I remember when you did the kitchen meme and how much fun it was. Your inspiration came true girl. The look is fabulous. The sign EAT CAKE is darling. I have long admired your French Country kitchen. It is magazine worthy and I mean it.
Love you to pieces too.
Jeanne

Love Of Quilts said...

Love the kitchen....your has the magazine beat. Trish

All That Glitters said...

I'm in love!!! Beautiful warm kitchen!

Take care!
~Jennifer

Laurie said...

Love your kitchen! You did a great job. I am especially fond of the red, what paint did you use? Do you remember the name and number? Thanks.

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

bj, you definitely added personality and charm! Finding things you love and then translating them for your own home is such a skill! I love the final look and your McK-C teakettle! Beautiful job! Linda

Nanette said...

Your kitchen is wonderful! I love the colors. The black and white backsplash is so perky and I love your tea kettle. So cute!
Valerie

Sweetladyelaine said...

WOW!!!! Your kitchen is beautiful!
I'm glad you put your dream into action. It turned out just perfect!

Alycia Nichols said...

Love the black & white tile!!!!!

Melissa Searle said...

Just beautiful! :) I havent seen the two different coloured cabinets alot before, but its quite beautiful! :) Good job.

Lisa said...

Your kitchen is gorgeous! You did such a great job with it. The black and white backsplash against the red cabinets is perfection! Well done! And the chocolate cake has my mouth watering.:)

Entertaining Women said...

Great job on your kitchen. Way to follow through on your dream. Thank you for sharing your charming kitchen. Cherry Kay

Good Time Charlie said...

Thank you for sharing the link! It looks amazing, and I love that Black and White Tile back splash. I love your drawer pulls, they look like mine! You have a lot of character and fun in there. I bet that is a fun kitchen to hang out in. Great work!