So you might be wondering why nothing has happened on the kitchen this year when I said it was going to be a priority for me to try and get it sorted out and maybe (gasp!) finished this year. Well, it’s now September and the kitchen doesn’t really look too much different than the last time you saw it back in May!
Whoops.
I’m going to attempt to explain in this post so it’ll be a bit long and rambling and so I’ll apologise for that right now.
Here’s the thing. It may seem to the outside world that we interior bloggers know exactly what to do to make a space our own or to give it that magic touch but the honest truth is, I get stuck sometimes just like everyone else. And it takes me a while to sort through all the inspiration, to decide what I really want and then for my bank account to slap me square in the kisser and tell me to wake up and start looking at more reasonable solutions that don’t include getting into debt up to my eyeballs. And then starting again. Rinse and repeat.
As you may be aware, the kitchen and the dining room are open to each other which means whatever I do in one room, it needs to marry up with the other for them to flow visually together. Obviously my kitchen at the moment is bright white and my dining room is dark blue with touches of pinks and orange but those colours are pulled into the multi-coloured floral wallpaper behind the open shelving and my furniture in the dining room is mostly white and of course, both spaces have a lot of brass and gold so they do work together as they are right now.
My plans for the kitchen include getting a new worktop, repainting the cupboard doors and getting new handles as well as replacing the sink and tap. But we also need to trim out the existing tiles which we failed to do the first time around, raise the cupboards themselves about 2cm and get new toekicks.
So of course my brain starts to go into overdrive because I think, if we’re doing all that work on the tiles (with the most likely solution, having to remove the entire top row and all the ones down the sides at the edges to install the much-needed trim) then why not just rip them off and put something new in there?
And then I think, well if I’m going to do that, because I can’t justify a marble worktop which is what I’d love, then why not get marble tiles instead?
But then I have to consider… A few months ago, I’d decided to bite the bullet and go for marble-effect laminate, now that’s not going to work any more with real marble tiles on the splashback and laminate effect marble on the worktops – that’ll just highlight how fake the countertops are, right? So I’d need something different for the worktops. Or should I just keep the white subway tiles and regrout in white and get the marble-effect laminate because that decision has already been made and this worktop decision has run on and on for years now? Gah.
Now let’s consider the dining room. As you may know, I have some plans on changing that too. When I removed my gallery wall, I was left with about a million nail holes all over the wall which all need patching and that means the walls really need to be repainted (if it was only a couple of holes, I’d just touch them in but we’re talking a LOT of holes). All well and good but when you have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to decor, the last thing you want to do is go through all the trouble of repainting and end up with the same look as before. No, I think, why not repaint a different colour?
Now let’s go back to the kitchen… I want to repaint the lower cupboard doors as well. I also want new handles on the cupboards (already picked out but not purchased) so they’ll need to be patched and repainted anyway. And I love the look of a two-toned kitchen and I live with a car sprayer that can do this stuff for me so I might as well take advantage of that fact, right?
But if I change the colour of the dining room, the likelihood is, I’ll have to match the colour of the cupboards in the kitchen – at least they’ll have to be similar anyway, tonal or shades of the same colour would be okay too as long as they work well and tie the two spaces together nicely. At the moment, two colours are on my radar – a dark cranberry colour (similar to the dried eucalyptus above) or an emerald green – a colour I’ve been dying over recently which might tie in nicely to the living room with all it’s greens as well.
I mean, how gorgeous is this colour?
Or the berry red? I struggled to find rooms in this colour strangely but this is kind of what I’m playing with…
Now, my original plan was to paint the lower cabinets dark blue to work with the current colour of the dining room. But now if I change the dining room colour, that probably won’t happen. So what colour do I paint the dining room and subsequently, what colour do I paint the kitchen cupboards?
I’m thinking if I did go for the green, I’d look at something like this…
I couldn’t find a kitchen using a dark berry red for the lowers but you kind of get the idea I hope! It doesn’t have to be the exact shade but something similar might work well.
But the truth is, I don’t even hate the blue in my dining room – it’s just like this weird drama going on in my head saying THERE’S NO WAY YOU ARE PAINTING THAT DINING ROOM THE SAME COLOUR AS BEFORE. Plus, we need a new rug in the dining room anyway – our puppy Quito has done a number on ours, chewing on it, putting holes in it (he’s not doing this as much now thankfully) and he does – yes I know this is gross, sorry – like to use it as a toilet. Dear god. Potty training otherwise is going really well but he can’t seem to let go of the rug despite me dumping about a million gallons of enzymatic cleaners on it and taking him out throughout the day as much as possible – sometimes he’ll come from outside after we’ve stood around for 15 minutes waiting for him to ‘go’, just for him to go straight to the rug and go on there. So it needs to go and I need to find something else… so I think well, as long as I’m getting a new rug, I might as well change the colour while I’m at it.
Plus, we need to finally do the floors in the dining room (5 years on, I’m ashamed they are still not done), the side chairs need re-upholstering and I want to move the TV to the wall where the smaller console is and replace the white sideboard with something in wood – so there’s already money that needs to be spent in here – will changing the colour mean I’ll need a few other new things as well to tie to the new colour palette and will I be driving all those costs even higher?
Everything is interconnected now in my head – I change one thing and it has a knock on effect to everything else. And nailing down what I want to do so it all works together beautifully is sometimes harder than it sounds.
Let’s also add to this that when I mentioned re-doing the tiles in the kitchen Wayne told me emphatically that he’s not going to start ripping out the kitchen before Christmas. So there’s my DIY guy opting out of doing anything in there this year. Not to say I can’t paint or do other things before this time but it does put a damper on it being on the so-called ‘priority’ list. Hmph.
So this is why nothing has been done yet. If I just kept the dining room the same colour, things would probably be easier but that’s just not fun. But it’s PRACTICAL – totally practical. Someone want to save me from myself? Should I just leave the dining room blue, repaint it and get on with the kitchen already or should I give in to the voices in my head that say I should try something new? If so, which colour? Emerald or Berry? Should I go with marble tiles or should I just keep the subway tiles and redo the grout in white? Weigh in below in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!
Hi there :)
On the worktop subject, if it’s of any use to you, there is a company in Bury who are fantastic – they own their own granite mines, so cut out the middle man and offer worktops at incredible prices. We had 5 metres of solid white quartz worktop (incl. a breakfast bar width and drainage grooves, and undermounted sink) for £1600 + VAT, that includes delivery and fitting. That was for our house in Middleton, so we were just round the corner, but even so they offer a great service :)
http://www.mistermarble.co.uk
See what you think!
Hannah
Oh Hannah, wow that’s an amazing price!! Thanks for the recommendation :) I think we’re going to go fairly inexpensive for the worktops only because we’re not planning on staying here for more than around 3 years so I want to do the marble worktops for the NEXT house and save a bit of cash in this one. Saying that, it’s good to know as I might end up checking them out anyway, that’s too good a deal! xxx
Why not paint the lower kitchen cabinets in blue to match the wall & then, even if you are pointing the wall the same colour, you have actually made a change to the interconnecting rooms? Especially if you buy a new rug at the same time.
Also, if the marble countertop has any grey veining in it, then the tiles would probably look good with the grout as is.
Together with swapping the telly wall and upholstering the chairs, you will actually have made a lot of visible changes. (And you won’t be eating takeaways for Christmas!)
There is a Japanese theory called ‘kaizen’ – it is usually depicted as a staircase – meaning that it is easier to make lots of incremental changes than one or two huge ones.
That said, I have been known to paint a pale lemon dining room dark grey, without consulting my husband, so I am being a bit ‘do as I say, not as I do’! I am sure it will look fab whatever you decide.
Hahaha! The last sentence in your comment made me LOL Vivienne!! It’s so much easier to be objective when it’s not your own home, isn’t it?! I think I’m just ‘done’ with the dark grout in here and we need to remove tiles anyway so that’s why I was considering regrouting in a lighter colour but yes, I do agree that small changes will still make a big impact – sometimes I forget this ;) xxx
I know what it’s like with kitchen-solving. Sometimes in bed before I theoretically doze off I’m thinking of the cooker-conundrum I have going on. First I’m going to paint the cupboards but then I’m removing higher cupboards from the wall, which means may as well do the tiles. If I do that I should get new cupboards and I so want built in appliances. It’s then 4am and not only have I built an extension but I’ve hit a spiral staircase going into the loft and a large pond with a fountain LOL the next night I start again painting the cupboards only …but …. But
Re your dilemma, I think you could repainted the dining room another colour and still do blue cupboards – green or eg would be complimentary to blue if similar shades and I think would be very sophisticated. I personally prefer to only choose things I really like – not becsuse they match and omehow because my taste is the constant factor, it works. And re- work tops, it might not be glam enough but I’m thinking of cementing over mine and polishing – well I was but it sounded so difficult but the things you’ve tackled so far am sure you could
Ahahahha!! Oh my god your comment made me laugh about the extension and the fountain – that’s just how my brain works as well at 4am!! ;) The polished cement does look lovely but I really want a light worktop – I have seen it done, however and it’s gorgeous! But probably a bit too industrial for my kitchen ;) I like the idea of doing complimentary colours though, will keep that in mind! xxx
Hahahahaha! This is like listening to my own thought processes and I can’t begin to tell you how much it amuses and comforts me at the same time! At the moment I feel like I need to have a long hard talk to myself, and do moodboards for my entire house so that I know I’m going in the right direction and it’ll all work together. Hmmm. Okay, so let me put my two pence worth in…
I bloody love the emerald green and have been wondering where I could put it in my house too, so of course I’m going to say go with that. And I love marble tiles, they would look amazing and I wish I’d put them in my kitchen, but I just didn’t have the budget…
Here’s what I’d do. Decide on your worktop first (yeah I know – hilarious given you’ve been ‘deciding’ for years). But when I say decide I mean cost two options – the best marble look you can afford, and the best white one you can afford (my friend has Silestone in a marble look and it’s AMAZING). Then let that be your guide. Marble worktop means keep the white metros, and white worktop means marble tiles. My preference would be ‘marble’ worktop and white metros, but it depends on the ‘marble’….
Or maybe not, because if you have emerald cupboards and dining room walls and marble of any sort, I’m going to be so jealous that I might not be able to be your friend anymore…
Ha!XXX
Hahaha! I was hoping you’d weigh in!! Not just you, I’m rather impossible with my thought processes and then just nothing gets done because I can’t bloody decide! I think at this moment (and it changes every 15 min mind you) I’m thinking Emerald with marble tiles and a white worktop but I’m going to take your advice and cost up the two options and see which one makes more financial sense! So that’s where I am with it all today – tomorrow? Who knows, I might be thinking mint green is a better option with fucking hula girls wallpaper. xxx
Go emerald! It looks amazing on both the lower cabinets and the dining room walls! Once you have the lower cabinets looking so stunning, they will be the eye-catcher meaning that you can get away with cheaper/plainer worktop and tiles in my opinion. Can’t wait to see what you go for. Jo
That’s what I’m thinking Jo – if I go with marble tiles, I can probably get away with a plainer worktop because they will get all the attention ;) And I’m actually veering more towards Emerald at the moment – mind you, in 15 minutes that might change! LOL! xxx
Oh and by the way, do you think we should set up some kind of support group – Interiors Obsessives Anonymous?! ;-)
YES!!! I could use all the support I can get! Hahahaha! xx
I love the green, and am planning on that for my hallway next year, either on the wall or in some other less “in your face” kind of way. But I love your blue dining room too, and blue kitchen cupboards etc would still look amazing.
And on that noncommittal note I’ll leave it up to you! Lol.
Hahaha! Thanks Anna! I think a lot of people are loving the emerald too ;) xxx
Without reading the other comments so I’m not swayed by popular thought here’s my two cents. The overriding thought after reading the post was the fact it was hard to find rooms using the berry color. That’s the color I would go with for the dining room. Yes the emerald is swoon worthy but the cranberry is so rich and full of awesomeness. In both pictures the color I like with each is the color of the golden wood. Once your floors are redone it will look great. I think the emerald will fight the mossy green in living room. And your home might read very green. I think your more a pink girl than green. In the kitchen I would have considered a cement or similar (counters) but with the slate floor you have that covered. How about butcher block? It would be the only wood in room. And redo dark grout to lighter. As far as cabinet bottom color which I think is the bigger conundrum pick a coordinating color to the berry. Lighter, darker etc. to the cranberry. Wayne sprays cars. He must be awesome with pin striping too. How about adding a gold pin stripe to cabinets? Something like Emily Henderson’s kitchen backsplash (which is stone and a completely different thing but you get the idea).
Just saying.
Ya know, it’s funny because I asked Wayne his opinion after making him read this post (he doesn’t tend to read my blog, he just looks at the pictures! lol) and he said he preferred the berry as well ;) He’s not a huge fan of green and I do worry there would be TOO much green going on – so yes, I agree with you there that it’s a risk! As for a pin stripe – oooh that’s a nice idea! I might ask him ;) I LOVE EM’s kitchen – swoon! xxx
Disclaimer- I am NOT creative, which is why I indulge in your blog. Also, this is my first comment. I couldnt resist because my brain is fairly organized (note, again, Im NOT creative). Hit the low hanging fruit- subway tile is classic, so regrout with white, then paint the cabinets Emerald- also classic and should pair well with the dining room in its current state. Side note on the berryish color- the color is everywhere since Pantone released Marsala as the color of the year. Its a fab color, but I prefer it on a nice sweater, pair of pants, couch, or in my wine glass ;) After the kitchen gets its touch ups, it will be easier to decide what to do in the dining room. But in the end, you’ll make a ‘just right’ decision, you always do! Good luck!
Yay!! I’m happy you decided to comment anyway Heather and I laughed at your little disclaimers ;) It would be easier to just regrout but we have to remove tiles regardless and add some tiles too to do the trim work so I’m not saving myself all THAT much time by regrouting unfortunately! Booo! But I know what you mean about Marsala – I admit, I’m not too big of a fan of that muddy burgundy but I’m thinking something with more pinky tones! Still haven’t made a decision here of course but I’m loving all the input! Thank you!! Mwah! xxx
Go with your gut instinct, its you thats got to live with it, but i will say a change is as good as a rest. The blue is amazing, i love that colour, the other two colours you have picked, are also amazing, and either one will look really good. As for work top and splash back, tough question , i know at one bit you thought about butchers block, but more and more i’ve heard marble, so plum for the marble, depending on the shade, it should go with either colour, which ever one you finally choose, I know that it will look fantastic, and you nd Wayne will have done a good job xxx
I’m thinking the marble will look amazing with that dark berry colour myself! Gah! It’s so hard when you like way too many things ;) Thank you darling! xxx
Welllll, what I think would look awesome, is the berry color in the dining room and on lower cabinets. Along with the lighter grout on the tiles and the marble look alike counters. With the berry you don’t have to do as much changing in the dining room I wouldn’t think. Other than the rug, which you were already going to do. And if you find a rug with berry and emerald in it, then the next thing would be to use the emerald in your hallway, right??? I think it would be awesome to have as an entry color and a great transition color from your loving room to the kitchen/dining. What about that?
Of course, whatever you do will be awesome, but there’s my opinion!
I was thinking there would be less to change if I went for berry too Lynne! Oooh emerald in the hallway might be an interesting choice though if I didn’t use it here. Good thinking ;) Thanks so much for your thoughts, I’m loving everyone’s take on this ;) xxx
Goodness I think I’ve got a migraine coming on LOL! What’s wrong with sensible??? Hahaha.
I really love that blue. It’s a rich colour that’s actually easy to live with on your walls. The same can’t be said for many other rich colours.
In my early 20s, when I loved *wearing* cranberry, I thought it would translate very well in interiors and painted a room in that dark red sort of colour. I absolutely loved it at first, but got tired of it VERY quickly.
While I have no experience of living with emerald walls, I have a very strong feeling that it wouldn’t be very pleasant to live with emerald walls for very long. But maybe you want that, so you have an excuse to change it again in a few months! You DIY addict, you! ;-)
I actually love emerald as an accent. I love it on the kitchen island cabinets. But you’ll get sick of it on your walls. Trust me
If you want emerald cabinets, how about going with a LIGHT colour in your dining room, and really filling it with plants and some emerald accents so you have some flow between the 2 rooms?
Sorry I’m sounding SO opinionated, LOL! Feel free to ignore all this and give me a virtual middle finger! But then I might have to say “told you so”. Hehe ;-)
Love ya! xxx
Oh you know me – if I get tired of it, I’ll just repaint it!! Hahaha! I know, I know, DIY addict is right ;) I actually thought about going with a lighter colour in the dining room but I’m stumped for which one because I do actually love the dark colour on the walls in here… gah. Still not made a decision yet although Wayne has piped up that he prefers the berry colour so I suppose I have to take his opinion “into consideration” as well ;) xxx
Wellll if you are liking the dark colour in the dining room and aren’t tired of the blue, just do your patch up painting in blue again and leave it at that. That’ll make your kitchen decisions easier too, no? You really don’t want berry coloured kitchen cabinets in an otherwise white kitchen. Save yourself all this self-inflicted to and fro-ing, woman! LOL!
Paralysis by analysis. This sounds like my thought process on every home project I’ve ever done. The subway tile is a classic, so regrout it and call that portion of the project done. Love, love, love the emerald green for the walls and bottom cabinets, but painting the cabinets is a project I wouldn’t want to do very often, so I’d be hesitant to go with such a strong color there. Perhaps paint them a grey tone to highlight the marble veins and then pull the emerald into the room via accessories that can be easily changed when you tire of the emerald in the dining room? Of course, that might not work if you want to use gold(ish)pulls on the cabinets…aanndd this kind of back-and-forth arguing with myself is why my kitchen is still a mess, lol.
Yes Joyce, ‘paralysis by analysis’ is too right! (Love that, I might have to nick that from you lol) I’m not too worried about painting the cupboards because Wayne can do that for me in his workshop in a day! He does come in handy ;) I loved the last line of your comment because at least I know I’m not alone in the back and forth arguing! Hahaha! Thanks so much hun! xxx
To ensure your next rug purchase does not end up scented to attract I have some toilet training tips for you and the pupster. In another life I had an interior design business but I am now back to my first love, dog training. If your pupster comes back indoors and then performs try the following: Take the puppy out on a leash, and reinforce promptly for doing his business (Yes!! works really well) reward promptly with treat and then let him have some off leash play or sniffing for a few minutes. If toilet breaks end with back inside it is not reinforcing enough for the pup. If the puppy does not go within a minute or so go back inside and train or play,keeping the leash on and try outside again. Repeat until success is achieved.I have just decided on kitchen colours and the guy making my kitchen says it is looking really good. Dulux Night jewels 2 on the lower cabinets and white on the upper.The night jewels is to offset the mud shaking-off of four dogs.
Oh thanks so much for the doggie tips Trish! We don’t normally have him on the lead in the garden of course but I will have to give that a go and see if it works. We’re getting better week to week with him in ‘knowing’ when he’s going to need to go but yeah, sometimes there’s a lot of waiting around. I like the idea of going back in and out again and not letting him just ‘hang out in the garden’ for 20 minutes as he does now! ;) Thank you! And YES to Night Jewels 2! I had Night Jewels 2 in here a long time ago in fact – you can see it here: http://www.swoonworthy.co.uk/2013/04/dining-room-oh-my-god-i-think-its-done-mostly.html/
Annnnd Night Jewels 1 in my bedroom – love it. xxx
Oh my word that green is amazing!It would look a-ma-zing with all the gold/brass in there, and the green cabinets are just as gorgeous, go for it I say! I’d keep the subway tile (I just really like it) but re-grout, and then you’d be free to do whatever worktop you like (though if you’ve been thinking about marble that long are you really going to be happy with anything else?)
I totally get that you don’t want to paint the same colour again, and I’m so glad you posted this. Sometimes I feel like I’ve just followed on with design decisions because it’s what you’re supposed to do, or it’s what i thought I wanted, without ever pulling back and thinking about whether I actually like where it’s going or not, so thanks for making me feel less crazy ;)
Hahaha! Yeah I’m just as crazy as everyone else, I promise!! ;) And the Emerald is fabulous although with Wayne piping up saying he prefers the berry, it’s throw everything all up in the air again! LOL! Gah. I do think either colour could look amazing though. As for the marble worktops – I wish I could afford it but as we’re not planning on living here for more than a few more years, it just seems a waste. The next house though? ALL MARBLE EVERYWHERE. ;) xxx
I’d love to hear how you like your marble-effect laminate when you get it! In my dream world I’d replace our greenish formica with real stone but even the so-called “inexpensive” stones are way out of my budget. So I’m thinking laminate is the way to go (basically we’d be replacing laminate with more modern looking laminate).
Oh yes, that’s what I’m doing as well Kaylee ;) replacing laminate with laminate ;) I wish I could afford real marble as well but it would be a pipe dream and as we don’t plan on living here for more than another 3 years or so, it just seems like a waste to get it! My next house though? Oh yes, marble is happening! I will definitely post about the laminate when I get it however ;) Stay tuned!! xxx
Happy Fall, Paint the walls in the dining room. I love the emerald green it’s a winner. Re-grout the subway tiles (classic and timeless) and splurge on your countertops. Whatever countertops you purchase make sure you LOVE them!
Happy Fall Lory!! Love the emerald as well – it’s such a glorious colour ;) I’ve lived with my ugly countertops for so long now, anything would be better! Ha! xxx
If you want something different tan/terracotta works brilliantly with blue ,and looks good for winter and summer . When I got married way back in 1983 ,I had a blue velvet chesterfield and terracotta accessories . It looks great with brass and copper tones .too
Enjoy reading your blog ,pleased you won the award
A blue velvet chesterfield Moira! Oh yes, sounds delicious and does pair gorgeous with golds and browns! Thanks so much for the congratulations, you are too sweet :) xxx
Your brain works like mine, round in circles, the knock on effect of changing one room colour! I think the main thing you’re wanting to change is the rug that your lovely furry dog has already ruined and since he’s already done that you might as well change it all. Perhaps it might be an option to have the original dining room floors sanded and waxed and keep it rugless while he’s teething or bought him his own rug to chew.. My thoughts on painting it Cranberry or Green is that it might feel a bit too oppressive…but you can always paint it out another colour when you tire of it, perhaps make sure your new rug is not tied in colourwise to the wall colour. Personally I love a white kitchen, it’s timeless. I also like the idea of a two toned kitchen with the lower cabinets painted a darker colour. As far as marble goes…lets face it Kimberley, you are not going to be happy unless you get the marble counter tops you want, rather than a second best option, because you will be staring at this day in and day out…forever or until you move and kicking yourself or Wayne in the shins…get the kitchen done first and then see how you feel once it’s all done and then decide on the colour of the dining room walls..there is after all no hurry. From a sickbed of bronchitis and a little bit cabin crazy Sharon x
Awww I hope you are feeling better now Sharon! Bronchitis is so rubbish :( Thanks for your lovely comment and yes, ya know, I was thinking of ditching the rug for now myself either way. I so wish we could go for real marble in the kitchen but we just can’t afford it when the reality is we will probably only be in this house for the next 3 years max. So I am compromising my marble dreams just for the time being (the next house? ALL MARBLE EVERYWHERE! LOL!). But yes, these floors need doing – it’s doing my head in ;) xxx
Hey Kimberly
Love your blog, going to starting my own soon, if I can ever bring myself to actually ‘pull the trigger’! If it’s nearly as good as yours I’ll be very happy.
Love the wallpaper in your sitting room, where can I get it?
Aww that’s great Jane!! And thank you so much for your lovely comment ;) The wallpaper is from Sian Zeng – fantastic resource for beautiful paper. More about it on this post:
http://www.swoonworthy.co.uk/2015/03/new-sian-zeng-wallpaper-in-the-living-room.html/
Happy New Blogging!! xxx
I’m a big fan of all shades of blue, so I’d absolutely keep the current color in the dining room… But I can see how gorgeous it could be in emerald or berry, too! Anyway, I think you like change a lot and tying the cabinet doors to the dining room walls looks like a lot of commitment to me. Are you prepared to repaint the cabinet doors every once in a while?
Apart from that, I’d not recommend to regrout the kitchen tile in white. I’m a renter and I don’t typically know what’s on what, but the grout above the stove in my last house was a nightmare to keep white. I guess there might exist some kind of protective finisher for grout but it definetely wasn’t there. No matter what, it kept looking dingy in no time.
Whichever you decide, I always love what you come up with. The result will be totally worth the wait, I’m sure!
Well it wouldn’t be me painting the cabinet doors, it’d be Wayne! Hahaha! But he has a workshop (he sprays cars for a living) which makes it a *fairly* easy process and they need to be repainted regardless for new handles. So yeah, I think it’s a risk I’m going to take! ;) As for the white grout, if you have a look at the pics, my cooker actually has a glass screen on it that lifts up and protects the wall behind – it’s genius and that wall really doesn’t get at all dirty so I don’t think it’ll be *too* much of an issue – of course I may be cursing at my past self if I find it’s really hard to keep clean!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment though – there’s always so much to think about! xxx
OH, yes…the vicious design cycle. I say better to put it on hold and really figure it out than to start and then want a do-over. I have to say I am really digging the green! I feel like that would be so striking ont he cabinets with all the gold. I know inspiration will strike and you will wow us all with what you decide to do :) xo
I think I’ve made some decisions – whoop! Stay tuned… ;) xxx
I know exactly what you mean. DIY Domino Effect is real. Now I can’t truthfully say I know *exactly* what you mean because I can’t actually change the things in our apartment that I’d like to (if I could, the kitchen and bathroom floor would be napalmed in a hot second), but I have daydreamed about if we owned our apartment, what I would do to it and heavens above, it would be glorious and we’d have to sell our first four kids to pay for it. I also find it’s kind of Design ADD at times – “okay, I’ll just move this one candle stick. Oh, then I’ll need to hang that piece of artwork. And I have to replace that piece because I took it from another room. And that room now needs to be repainted. And before I do that I need to buy new cutlery. And pillows to match them. Oh and let’s not forget a new shower curtain to match that …” WTF, BRAINS? Y U SO NAGGY?
;P xx
Hahaha! Oh my god YES to moving one bloody candlestick and having to buy a new shower curtain and add a spiral staircase and get a new dog because the old one no longer matches. Dear god WHAT IS WRONG WITH US? ;) xxx
The emerald green just kills me….so beautiful and if anyone can make it look amazing it is you. I know how you feel about settling on design ideas, though I an not a designer, it is so hard to nail down exactly what you want in a space like a kitchen where everything is so expensive so you really need to get it right the first time. I say hold out for the marble if that is what you really want.
Aww thanks darling! I so wish I could just get the marble worktops but there’s no way we could afford it right now and we’re just not going to be here long enough to justify it! Our next house, however? MARBLE EVERYWHERE!! lol xxx
Where are you planning on getting your gold handles from? I’m having my kitchen done soon and would like some decent gold handles for my units.
I haven’t 100% decided just yet (I have a couple options I’m considering) but once I decide, I promise to share my sources!! ;) xxx
Could you share the sources your considering? I’m starting the project in less than 2 weeks!
Of my gosh, woman, you are making my head hurt. But seriously, I feel you 100% on the struggle. I have been pretty stalled at my house for the past couple years. Mostly it’s because I’ve been distracted with work, but also because I just can’t decide where I want to go with things or Jason doesn’t agree with paint color choices, etc, etc.
I’ve been shopping for a new rug and a new coffee table forever but I don’t want to make a mistake, so I hesitate. Now we’re considering moving, so I’m trying to figure our whether it will really happen or not because if so, I’ll wait on any changes until the next place. But if we’re sticking around a while, there are changes I want to make so I can love this home again. Ugh, I hate the not knowing.
I feel so much better when I know others go through as much CRAZY as I do sometimes!! I think part of the issue is that I know we won’t be here for longer than another 3 years or so. In that time, there’s plenty I can get on with but at the same time, I don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of time/money only to leave it behind ;) THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. xxx