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On Display

After

Before

I love having some open shelving for displaying our vintage kitchenware to keep our tiny kitchen as cheerful as possible. I've recently changed out a few things that keep this space feeling fresh.
I spray painted the frame that holds Sebastian's artwork and changed out the acid green rack with a natural wood rack in a larger size. It feels much easier on the eye in an already crowded space as this is directly across from our washer and dryer.

After

I used to have the mugs displayed on the rack and everything was limited to three or four colors but I've since added in some pink and replaced the hanging mugs with our vintage pots. (The rest were in the dishwasher waiting for a full load!) I think the pink and brown mix well and soften things up a bit. It's a more casual set up that has an affect on the way I feel when I'm drinking my coffee in the morning.


We got rid of the kitchen cart and bought a hookup dishwasher that slides over in it's place. It's ugly so it doesn't get to be in the picture. I moved the microwave to the corner of the counter top and gave the faux vintage radio to my MIL as it was too hard to find NPR without dealing with super loud static popping in your ear. The teal vintage chair is in Sebastian's room but we keep one in here so he can help me pour and mix muffin batter.

After

I'm a firm believer that your environment can affect your mood which is why I like to change things up a little here and there as time passes. I obviously don't want a million holes in my walls so I look to rearrange things that work within the limitations that present themselves. I also like the challenge of working mostly with things you already have and adding as you go on a budget. Most of my home decor was picked up from the flea market or a local thrift store and given a little TLC. The biggest challenge these days is just keeping it picked up!

Have you made any changes in your home this year? Do you go all out and switch things up with the seasons or enjoy the comfort of things always looking the same?

xoxo,
Rachel

31 comments:

Amy said...

ooh perfect! i'm in the midst of moving some stuff around (ie switching my dining room and studio.)
anyway, you have been doing so well with your 2010 blogging goal.. we are so glad for it! :)

love, amy

Anna said...

This is just lovely - I adore the frame. I have one similar in grey that my husband can't stand because of the colour......so now I feel inspired to paint it another shade.

I agree that environment has a huge affect on mood. I love changing things round, but time seems to be our barrier - we both work 35 hour weeks and have 3 young children.

We have managed this year to put a map of the world up mural which covers our entire play room wall. I love it...and several weeks on it still makes me grin every time I enter the room......

ashlee said...

i love the style of your house...its so cheery:) i love moving things and utilizing what I already have. With 6 kids the decor budget is pretty limited:)

Unknown said...

I love how you changed everything! It is adroable, the color choices are great too. I think I get the big itch every six months or so and the whole house gets a big move around. I love the change and yes it does effect your mood.

crissy

Anonymous said...

I usually switch things around because I am still renting spaces - so most of the time trying to cope with the shape of the rooms and the furniture as I encountered them on arrival. This usually means I never quite settle down and am always on the search for that slightly better solution... Hopefully one day, when I own my very own place, things will be able to stay in one position for a bit longer :)

skunkboy said...

Your house is so adorable! Someday you must come over and help me do this. Hopefully I will live in Springfield by then (fingers crossed for this year). :)

suzy said...

It all looks so gorgeous Rachel. I love your changes. I loved it before, but I love it after too.
I totally agree with how a space can affect your mood.
I will find myself staring at something, thinking it's not right and will find a way to change it until I feel better with that part of the house.
I love to change things around and I am always walking around with pots of paint. I just painted our wooden table white and I love it. I also painted every frame in the house white to bring a cohesiveness to the house when every other pattern is very mixed. I really like how this turned out. When I get sick of it, I can repaint.
Home decorating is one of my most favourite passions and I never get tired of listening to people's ideas or seeing pictures. I think it's wonderful. :)
x

Elsie Larson said...

this looks SO great! i love your style and the blue frame is so pretty!

ashlina {the decorista} said...

lots of cuteness going on in those photos....LOVE

Manon said...

I am always moving things around. It is fun to see how much the feeling of a room changes when you put things in a different place.

Your place looks beautiful!

Trains and Sewing Machines said...

I agree with you 100% about your space affecting your mood. Even cleaning my room after having stuff covering most of the floor is such a breath of fresh air! I recently moved into my parents basement, and I set up a creating area and kind of stopped halfway, and it's just not the inspirational area I want.
I need to find some motivation to get the area into ship shape creating space :)

Elizabeth said...

One of my interior design professors always says "The best interiors evolve" and i think that is the truest statement.


I love the little splashes of pink, too!

Michelle said...

love love. The little wall next to my back door could use some serious hook/shelf action . . . these pics were inspiring. Thanks!

Unknown said...

I'm the same way. I recently just swapped where my couch and chair were, and it made a world of difference. Happy changes. :-)

BuenoBueno said...

i love it!
any tips on how to keep it clean?
how do you get rid of stuff?
im trying and its hard to let go:(
brandi

Jess Tank said...

So pretty! I think your earlier little sneak peaks at things you have been changing up made me start mysteriously falling in love with blue for the first time since middle school. I love the new look! Thanks for the inspiration.

Viva Cindy said...

i frequently change little things around to give me that little boost of excitement. it does really affect your mood. about a month ago i painted my orange walls turquoise and I LOVE IT! that was a huge change and makes me so happy every time i walk in the room.
i love the color you chose for your frame. I have a frame leaning on a wall (not hung) and im trying to decide what color I should paint it.

goldlionaz said...

I love the changes, the look great and make sense. I also love those vintage enamel pots. I have always been curious if those are use-able, do you cook with them?

Roxanne said...

I was an avid room rearranger when I was a kid. I try to do the same in my home today and since we are moving with the Army every few years it's like getting a clean slate to work with. I love the frame in blue; your place is fantastic!

Kara said...

i am always changing things. always.

Rachel Kay said...

it's amazing how small changes can effect spaces. The addition of pink to the area is perfect. Love it all!

Rachel Kay
x

Rachel said...

I love your home- all the color is wonderful! I picked up some amber colored drinking glasses at the thrift store yesterday and noticed you had the same ones! They're really pretty.

Unknown said...

Amazing how small changes can give a totally different feel to a space. You're a pro at spotting that one thing that needs tweaking!

cupcakesandcoffee schwartz said...

LOVE the colors!

Tara said...

I love the coat rack/hallway makeover - it looks so much better now that you've committed to a simpler color scheme - I'm inspired!

Best,
Tara
http://elanvitalanthology.blogspot.com

janel. said...

i change everything almost every year. as my style evolves, so does my home :)

Anonymous said...

At New Years I decided that I needed to repaint my kitchen cabinets. I had originally painted the old wood cabinets blue. But I wanted to freshen them up and painted them a soft vanilla color and the walls a fresh sea foam blueish green. I really am enjoying it and it was all done with paint that I already had. I mixed the blue from a few different paints from around the house. I love the simple changes you made. Just a little difference, but a big impact.

http://inspiredpointsofview.wordpress.com/

Gussy Sews said...

ohhh, i love these photos. i have to go look at them again. bye! :)

Unknown said...

At first I was confused because your Before pics are so cute! But I totally see what you were trying to accomplish. The natural wood rack is an excellent neutral to balance and calm the space.

I made some major cleaning/rearranging changes this weekend! Moved every piece of furniture in the bedroom, and consequently a couple posters. Vacuumed up the dust bunnies and the room feels so much better! I love rearranging every few months to mix things up :)

Meagan said...

Hi! I assume you had painted the frame yellow before? Do you remember what paint you used? I'm looking for a great yellow, and I really like it...

la vierge noire said...

You really did a great job! And I'm in love with your vintage kitchenware!