Help decorate the kitchen!

[NOTKT]

When we move into the new new house, I think the easiest room to decorate will be the kitchen. Not because it's small, but because all the furniture/stuff in there is going to stay in the space for a while. The tall thing next to the bathroom will not be there, if that helps too.

The couple had no theme or decorating sense, so I'm really using a blank slate. We will be changing the door to a new solid 4 or six pane one. Also the trim needs to be changed, I really think it dates the kitchen. It's the only place that trim is! Upstairs it's white at least! Anyway for now I either just need to remove it or paint it something. Opinions?

Also I'm looking for a good color scheme and a theme for the kitchen and eat in space. I don't really want a physical object theme, but a color or a culture. Make sense? Here is the kitchen/eat in.



http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/wukatie2000/New%20house/432382_19.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/wukatie2000/New%20house/432382_4.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f145/wukatie2000/New%20house/432382_3.jpg

[NOTKT]

The yellow is not too bright but I might want to tone it down a little. Here is what I'm thinking. There is way too much wood in here, maybe cover the table and remove the trim.

I was thinking either an Itialian blue and yellow theme, with this picture as inspiration. The only problem is getting the same color yellow and blue and we will have a lot of blue in the house already.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61vx33F4itL._AA280_.jpg


Or I could go another route and do this :

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/08/09/95/43/0008099543682_500X500.jpg



The kitchen will have to match the family room which is painted blue now. I would like to have it a muted green, I think.

What are your thoughts/opinions!!!???! I need help!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Check out some sites to view already finished kitchens. Unless you want to change out colour(s) every few years, think "long term". Just like fashion, interior design has "trendy" colours too. This is what we do for inspiration.

http://www.hgtv.com/topics/kitchen-color/index.html

http://www.kitchens.com/design-color-home.aspx

If I could, I would move into the Pottery Barn :rofl:

http://www.potterybarn.com/content/shop/srlr1/index.cfm?cm%5Ftype=gnav

[NOTKT]

Hmmm, I need more inspiration pictures, I think. I like the red/yellow, but don't want it to look too country.

[NOTKT]

Here is another picture of the Italian/Mediterranean one

http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2005/10/19/adams_linda_yellowkitchen_lg.jpg

[PGDesigns]

Do your dishes have any color in them? Maybe you could pull some ideas from them???

[NOTKT]

Yea, my dishes are brown, so I can pull those from the floor but that's a great idea.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Here is another picture of the Italian/Mediterranean one

http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2005/10/19/adams_linda_yellowkitchen_lg.jpg

I like the two colour cabinetry (yellow-ish above & blue below). It's warm and cheery. Not so sure about the elaborate tile next to the classic tile though but I do like the back splash.

[NOTKT]

I really liked the idea of the picture, now I need to try and make it into real life, haha. I'm just really trying to update the space with a color already in the kitchen. I'll have to keep looking!

[MrsDM]

Have you checked out the "rate my space" on HGTV? I love that page. They have viewers submit pictures of their kitchens for people to love or give advice on. You may get some good ideas there:

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/multigallery.esi

[NOTKT]

no i didn't know you could do that! thanks! i really need to get some ideas, DH thinks it will be a waste of time and $$, but I just want a space that has SOMETHING! that uses most of the elements in the kitchen already. its just driving me crazy!

[FFC]

UGH it really sucks not being able to see the pics... I wish I had some advice for ya, but it'd be hard to if I can't see what it is you're trying to decorate LOL! I hope you end up with something you adore :)

[NOTKT]

Thanks! Me too! Hopefully it will be easier once I live there. I'm just trying to save some time. I just hope to convince DH that it needs to be decorated!

[FFC]

Thanks! Me too! Hopefully it will be easier once I live there. I'm just trying to save some time. I just hope to convince DH that it needs to be decorated!

Wait a minute here... who does the cooking, you or him?

They say a typical woman spends 1/3 (or something like that) of her life in the kitchen (provided she cooks 3 meals a day). Why not enjoy it while you're at it? Make the kitchen 'your' project. I told Matt that the kitchen is my project, the garage is his (even though I use the garage - he doesn't use the kitchen). We both agree on that even though I still ask his opinion on stuff in the kitchen :) :) :)

[NOTKT]

Very true. But it's 2 people paying for the kitchen. :) And we want other things in the house (ie a new bed) that I guess I'm more willing to compromise than I usually would. Thanks though. I'm coming to you next time I need a pep talk :)

[FFC]

Very true. But it's 2 people paying for the kitchen. :) And we want other things in the house (ie a new bed) that I guess I'm more willing to compromise than I usually would. Thanks though. I'm coming to you next time I need a pep talk :)

LOL! You're right.... compromise, priorities... I have a hard time figuring out what's more important - a new bed or a new couch :rofl: I'm going to come to you next time I need to get my priorities straightened out :D :D

[NOTKT]

I'm pretty good at that! Haha!

[SerendipityCrafts]

And we want other things in the house (ie a new bed) that I guess I'm more willing to compromise than I usually would.

Tell me about it. I would love to decorate more but we have other stuff to buy .... oh like the cow manure & grass seed we bought today to "pep" up the lawn :rofl:

Other "not so thrilling" stuff on our list -

lawn mower
garden tools
seed spreader
blahblahblah

[NOTKT]

Yea, I guess sometimes poop does take precedence haha

[NOTKT]

I would love to paint the appliances black. Anyone tried this? What are your thoughts? I hear about the home shows doing this all the time.

[FFC]

I would love to paint the appliances black. Anyone tried this? What are your thoughts? I hear about the home shows doing this all the time.

I've never heard of painting appliances and having it work. Interesting idea though. I would think you can sand them down and use a glossy 'metal' spray paint... the kind that is made to stick to metal.

[MrsDM]

I've seen it done on TLC and HGTV, don't know how it works in the longterm. I would think it would be an easy fix until you can afford to buy new appliances, or matching ones at least!

[NOTKT]

Yea, not sure how to do that, guess I'll look on their websites!

[wannabeNurse2]

I second the rate my space page on HGTV! I love that show! I am completely addicted to HGTV!

[MrsDM]

Another thought, look at real estate listings in all different price ranges, even though I'm sure you are probably over that! Trust me, sometimes a well staged house gives you the best ideas!