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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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    • Featured

June 5, 2012

When you don’t have a white kitchen…

When you don’t have a white kitchen, AND you are apart of the blogging community, you might find yourself feeling a little bit…

Lonely…
Isolated…
Like you need to form an “I don’t have a white kitchen” support group.

white, cabinets, dark, kitchen, french country, bright, counters

You might feel like you did when you finally figured out how to peg your jeans like the “cool” kids were doing and showed up at school just as proud as could be, only to realize that they had all gotten even “cooler” and moved on from pegging their jeans to layering two different pairs of colored socks on top of each other. And all you have are white socks in your drawer.

That is a hypothetical example, of course.

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When you don’t have a white kitchen you may actually really love the idea of having one someday.
There would be creamy, off-white cabinets glazed just perfectly to bring out all of the details.

You look at photos and have dreams of making changes that just don’t fit into your budget right now.
You might remind yourself that changing these cabinets means you also have to change both fireplaces in your home and the built-in cabinets in your family room.

Sooooo……

Until you have that kitchen, you might try to find ways to keep things light and bright in the kitchen you do have. Which can be particularly challenging when you also have dark counter tops.
You try to add character and warmth without closing it in.

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You are so thankful for the 2 large skylights up above and these corner windows which you recently refreshed with new toile curtains.

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And you might keep things simplified in that corner when it comes to adding decorative items.

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When you don’t have a white kitchen, I very much recommend that you have a beautiful, ruffled linen towel hanging up. If it is sent to you by a talented and generous friend who sells many other gorgeous items like this in her esty shop, well, then that is even better!

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You may also decide that a sweet little coffee station is in order.
A silver tray, a pretty bowl for holding the filters and a mason jar for the grounds does the trick.

coffee station, kitchen

You might set behind it your most favorite photo of the two sweetest faces in the whole world.
Seeing this every morning as you make coffee will definitely distract you from the fact that you don’t have a white kitchen. And, you may be more gracious when those same two children are yelling for you to come get them yet another bowl of cereal or a toaster waffle. Just sayin’…

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A mint julep cup, which you found at Goodwill, filled with roses you just snipped from your garden will fill your non-white kitchen with a soft, sweet aroma.

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And, just for kicks, you might even use the small, silver ladle which belonged to your husband’s grandmother, to scoop out your coffee grounds.

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If you don’t have a white kitchen, you may come to appreciate having trim and moldings that are creamy white and help create contrast which makes your dark cabinets pop.

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If you didn’t have them already, you would probably add them to your kitchen anyway, as a simple way to make a big impact!

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And if you didn’t already have glass front cabinets, you would probably add those as well.
You could even take off the doors and create some open shelving on which to display your dishes.

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Even if you don’t have a white kitchen, you could still have white counter stools to help tie in with your kitchen table and to, once again, provide some contrast against your dark woodwork.

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They may have even been painted black originally.

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If you don’t have a white kitchen but you happen to have a desk area, why not treat it as another display area rather than just a dumping ground for the endless stream of papers which find their way into your home?
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A new lamp shade is a quick and inexpensive way to update a 20 year old space.

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And you might realize that when you don’t have a white kitchen, you like to keep your surfaces crisp and clean. Apothecary jars add just the right touch without making it feel closed in.
Someone does do their homework here after all.
So, you keep the decor to a minimum.

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Of course you can’t do homework properly without a place to sit.
And when you don’t have a white kitchen, you might think that a chair is the right thing to have at the desk area until you realize that it completely closes in the space and also makes it super annoying to have to move it out of the way every time you need to get something out of the desk drawer.
So, you find a little cube in a fun fabric and tuck it underneath instead.

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You see, when you don’t have a white kitchen and have no plans to have one in the near future, you might feel a little bit out of place in blogland. 
A rebel.

Maybe you don’t have a white kitchen but you really want one.
You might even be painting your cabinets white as I type these words.
Or, maybe you have a non-white kitchen and you just love it!
You feel just as passionate about your dark cabinets as others do about their white ones.
You may land somewhere in the middle and like a little bit of light with a little bit of dark.
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Maybe, when you don’t have a white kitchen, you find yourself not feeling “in” and you start comparing yourself with others.

We all know how dangerous that whole “comparing” business can be.

It can lead to feelings of discontent.
It can make you feel ungrateful for what you do have.
It might make you miss out on the fun of having to get creative and finding ways to update without paint.

So, if you are out there and you don’t have a white kitchen, don’t worry.

Neither do I!

Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today,

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This post is sponsored by:
Suttonplacedesigns_250x125
designer of the fabulous towel featured in this post! You can get one too! 


This post is partying here:
Home Stories AtoZ: Tutorials and Tips Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
DIY By Design: Spring into Spring
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
Imparting Grace: Grace Imparted
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
Redoux: Friday’s Redone
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded

98 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:32 PM

    I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It almost reminds me of that book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I love your kitchen and I think the dark cabinets are so elegant. I love blogland, but it can be a dangerous place too. I sometimes find myself wanting to completely do over rooms when I see something I love on another blog. Very clever premise and very well written!!

    Reply
  2. Calypso In The Country says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    That is just the cutest post! You really had me laughing because I also live with white kitchen envy and am constantly dreaming of white kitchens! I am always trying to lighten things up and I even have the same white floral plate you have (on your desk area)! But I must say, I think your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the lovely tour!
    -Shelley

    Reply
  3. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    If we hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have a white kitchen either, Vanessa. I wanted to paint the oak cabinets at our old house white so badly, but hubby was having none of it. When we moved, the kitchen here already had creamy white cabinets {which was necessary I believe because there are no windows on that side of the condo}. So, I kind of had a trade off. No windows, which I love for natural light, but the white cabinets I’d been craving. I think your kitchen is beautiful as it is and I love the details you’ve added in.

    Reply
  4. Jenny@daysofchalkandchocolate says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:40 PM

    Your kitchen is beautiful! It is classic and rich looking! I love all your sweet details like the curtains and silver pieces too. Great post!

    Reply
  5. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    Vanessa, your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL and your post was SUPER CUTE! I’m loving that ruffle linen towel, too! Thanks for the great reminder – blogging definitely can lead to the comparison trap! Hope you have a great week ahead!!!

    XO, Aimee

    Reply
  6. Bunny Jean says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    Hi Vanessa!

    May I join your support group? Having just recently bought a new house with dark cabinets I know how you feel. But there is NO WAY my hubby will let me paint them.

    You have done a great job of brightening up your kitchen. I also have a cream dining room table and some black furniture pieces added to the mix just like you do! At least we are not doing the ‘matchy matchy’ thing, lol.

    xoxo Bunny Jean

    Reply
  7. Jana@Transformations From the Heart says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    Amazing that you posted this today. I was telling my hubs this weekend that it seems like everyone in blog land have big open spaced white kitchens. So glad to see that not everyone has one~now I’m feeling a little better! We have oak cabinets and I just can not seem to bring myself to ever wanting to paint them white like I’ve see so many times lately.
    Love your kitchen, it looks fabulous!

    Reply
  8. Cindy says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Vanessa, such a timely post! I was just sitting here enjoying my first cup of coffee while browsing blogland. I had just come from another’s blog where she has the most grand and palatial kitchen. In my wildest dreams I will never own THAT kitchen!!! I got up to make the second cup and looked around and fell in love with my kitchen again. I can’t imagine being ANYWHERE else! BTW, I adore your kitchen and have always loved a dark and cozy kitchen. Your special touches have made it fantastic!
    XO Cindy

    Reply
  9. Ange says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    I think your kitchen is beautiful and dark cabinets are my second favorite. Anything is better than the honey oak! And you know how much fun I’ve had painting my cabinets! Embrace the cherry girl, it’s rich and dark, beautiful and classic! You’ve done a great job with your kitchen and the toile curtains are a lovely addition. I think your kitchen is light and bright, not dark feeling at all! Great post!

    Reply
  10. Joani says

    June 4, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    I so enjoyed reading your post. I, too, do not have a white kitchen. Reflections of white cause migraines & I will not have white kitchen, white walls, anything white. So, if I may, I’m in as well without a white kitchen. And, I was thinking of making mine a little darker. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week.

    Reply
  11. Laura from Top This Top That says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:04 PM

    White kitchens are overrated anyways!! 🙂 ps- I am perfectly happy with my non-white kitchen too!

    Reply
  12. Julie @ Knot All That I Seam says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:12 PM

    Loved your post Vanessa! What a great way to give a mini tour of your beautiful kitchen. Might I add that although my kitchen is white, it is teeny tiny so you can be grateful for having a big one! 🙂 x Julie

    Reply
  13. Sarah says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    Love this. Since I’m in medical school, we’re stuck with a tiny, non-white kitchen for at least another 2 years in this apartment. Your tips are great, and your kitchen looks fantastic!

    Reply
  14. Alderberry Hill says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Awesome post…I don’t have a white kitchen either and so wish I did….I’m trying to incorporate some cheerful colors to give it a new feel.
    Changing the cabinets is completely out of the question for us, we’ve only been in our house for 4 years so that kind of expense is way way in the future.
    Love what you’ve done!

    Reply
  15. Cherished Bliss says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Oh how I wish I had a white kitchen, the worst part… I have a landlord that doesn’t care if I paint it. But we are looking at moving… again… so I just can’t bring myself to all that work for a whole lot of nothing!

    Your kitchen is gorgeous by the way! : )

    Reply
  16. Debra @ Common Ground says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    Great post, Vanessa. Your kitchen is soooo beautiful. Gorgeous cabinets. mine on the other hand were old, orange, and 30 years old. It took no convincing myself or my hubbs that paint would improve them. Your kitchen is light and bright, no need for white in there, and that molding makes a huge difference!

    Reply
  17. trumatter says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    You know what? this is what i call, keeping it real. Beautiful. I love every bit of your kitchen and dark is very hard to play with. Best part is you’ve played it fantastic.

    Reply
  18. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    I don’t have a white kitchen either, and I love my cabinets. I love yours too. I think they are stunning and your kitchen is fabulous. The moldings are all to die for. Great post. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:49 PM

    Your kitchen is beautiful! Not dark and cramped at all. White kitchens will be out before you know it anyway.

    Reply
  20. Jamie says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    I love this!!! We are moving into a new house this week and the cabinets are beautiful, but they aren’t white. I will miss my white cabinets, but this post brings me comfort 🙂 The funny thing is, so many people outside of blogland don’t even realize there is a white cabinet trend right now!

    Reply
  21. Corry Oosterhouse says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    Loved this post too! We have beautiful oak cabinets and trim in our kitchen and wouldn’t change it for anything!! I am of Dutch descent and have Delft pottery that I use to hold utensils, etc. On the bulkhead above the sink I’ve hung Delft plates depicting my favorite windmills and other Dutch scenes. On another wall I have a Delft coffee grinder. I love my kitchen!

    Reply
  22. It's All Connected says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    Your kitchen is lovely and you have given some really great tips for adding some lightness to the rich woods! Who knows what next year’s fashion will be. ~ Maureen

    Reply
  23. Lisa @ Before Meets After says

    June 4, 2012 at 2:00 PM

    This cracked me up! I have lived in a house with beautiful dark cabinets and dark countertops. The house we live in now has bright white cabinets and dark countertops. I’ve loved both looks. I say embrace it either way! Your kitchen is beautiful and not dark at all 🙂 I love the fridge disguised with cabinetry!

    Reply
  24. Tonia L says

    June 4, 2012 at 2:16 PM

    I adore you kitchen and have never wanted a white one! 🙂

    Reply
  25. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    June 4, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    So pretty! I love everything about this kitchen! It’s so classic and rich! The “Spring time” towel is lovely!

    Reply
  26. Andrea@ourbluefrontdoor says

    June 4, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    I’m with you and I don’t have a white kitchen either and it’s ok! Your kitchen is beautiful, the white moldings really do make your cabinets stand out. Your decorative accents make all the difference too and add some cool into the mix! Love it 🙂

    Andrea xo

    Reply
  27. CAS says

    June 4, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    What a great post & so timely, Vanessa! I had white cabinets in our previous kitchen & just loved it, but that kitchen would have been so dark had we not put in white cabinets. Our kitchen now is the “a bit better grade than builder basic honey oak” style cabinets. I keep vacillating between painting them white or making them darker or doing nothing, which is what The Man would prefer. We’ve been going through some model homes lately (great way to see where the trends are going), & the majority have very dark, rich cabinets. They look beautiful & so do yours. Your entire home is gorgeous! I love blogging & get so many wonderful ideas, but it some times feels like there is a trend toward “keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s kind of sad when everyone thinks they need to paint everything that doesn’t move some chalk paint color just because a few popular bloggers are doing that. I just think everyone needs to be true to themselves & decide if a “trend” is really the way to go for them. Wow, I kind of got on a “soapbox” didn’t I? Sorry, I’ll just shut up right now.
    CAS

    Reply
  28. Mdegraeve says

    June 4, 2012 at 3:46 PM

    I have white cabinets and I have to be honest, I HATE them!!! lol
    I have four young children and two very large dogs. That leads to dirty cabinets all the time. I wipe and I wipe, I feel like I’m wiping things all my cabinets multiple times a day. I’m have some serious dark cabinet envy going on!!
    But it’s ok. I’m blessed to have a kitchen that I can call my own, but I have a dark cabinet dream:)
    -Blessings

    Reply
  29. Shelia says

    June 4, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    You little silly! Well, even if you don’t have a white kitchen – your kitchen is gorgeous and you’ve really added some marvelous touches! It’s bright and very happy!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  30. Shirley says

    June 4, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    I do have white walls AFTER painting the entire kitchen (-cabinets & built in hutch) THREE different times THREE different colors! When my son said ” just paint the kitchen white” I dream of the white cabinets sometimes ONLY as soon as I do paint them everyone else will have changed to some other color. My cabinets are a honey type color people adore them when they visit so I am ok with it. I refuse to paint the cabinets after removing all the doors and painting the base to match the doors when we first moved in…until I forget how hard that was..and I haven’t forgotten.

    Reply
  31. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    June 4, 2012 at 4:41 PM

    Great post Vanessa!! You have a beautiful kitchen, and even though you have dark cabinets your kitchen is so light and bright!! I have to say it again, I LOVE those panels you have near your sink!!

    Reply
  32. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    June 4, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    Cute post, Vanessa! When we rescued our old house, I toyed with the idea of an all-white kitchen, but the house kept saying “NO.” Instead I went with cherry cabinets (more brown than red) and light quartz countertops … but I did paint the dish pantry shelves and the original built-in china cabinet a creamy white. I’m so glad I listened when the old gal spoke and steered me away from all-white! 🙂

    Reply
  33. ❀❀❀Ðαωᾔ❀❀❀ says

    June 4, 2012 at 4:53 PM

    I love you kitchen the way it is, white is not for everyone. Beautiful space:)

    Reply
  34. Our Pinteresting Family says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:05 PM

    Your kitchen is just beautiful!!! Megan

    Reply
  35. Renewed Upon a Dream says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:12 PM

    Yea! I have a non-white kitchen too. We rent, and it’s tiny, and the counters on the left don’t match the counters on the right. It’s the room I feel like I have the least amount of control over in our rented space. It can make me feel sad about our house when I see all these beautiful kitchens everywhere when ours is so obviously a renters kitchen, done as cheaply as possible. Sigh… someday… Thanks for this.

    Reply
  36. Julie says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Great post Vanessa…you’ve seen my kitchen…I lean towards dark cabinets! Mine are BLACK (w/ white buffet)! I think your kitchen is beautiful the way it is!!! But… I still hear a little voice saying “I want white! I want white!” I just got done painting my laundry room cabinets that were that exact shade. It went on easily. Your going to probably ban me from your blog after I say this (hopefully not!!) would’t the island and section where the ovens are look cool painted white?? It is so much fun doing it. I have had a blast doing mine, well, not a blast. But you know what I mean! 🙂 I say go w/ your gut! XO

    ~ Julie

    Reply
  37. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    Love this post Vanessa…I am in the group “I don’t have a white kitchen”….but by doing things as you did, I feel that it is light and bright with a very cozy feeling….Your kitchen is beautiful and I have many of the same elements that you have in your kitchen to make it feel “lighter”…sparkly crystal, shiny silver, and other light textures!….Yes, I so drool over the gorgeous white kitchens out there that are showcased in blogs and magazines, but I am happy with what I have..

    Reply
  38. I Know The Plans I Have For You says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:34 PM

    What a CUTE post Vanessa! I wouldn’t care what color my kitchen was if I had yours lol! I love your kitchen 🙂 I don’t have a white kitchen either. Actually we just moved into our home and the kitchen was BRIGHT yellow! I just painted the walls gray and our cabinets are painted white. Although I love white cabinets, I don’t love how they “look” painted white. I have even thought about stipping them and staining them. I don’t know if I would hate them though and that is SO much work to end up not liking them, ya know! I have a lot of work to do in there to make it how I want….but all in due time. Thanks for the cute post!

    Reply
  39. Darleen@Places In The Home says

    June 4, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    Excellent, excellent post! When you don’t have a white kitchen you need not make any excuses. You have a kitchen that at one time or still does “do it for you”. Styles change, trends tend to have a shelf life and the remodeling money tree is non producing more times than not. A room/space that reflects the the life lived within our home & the decorative creativity we amaze ourselves with separates us from the crowd. Decorate to the beat of your own drum, talent, tastes and pocketbook. White kitchens are lovely and very pleasing to the eye, but I need to “Color My World” at times. Your kitchen is a perfect example of what our decor should reflect~ our individual personality!

    ~Darleen

    p.s. I love the idea, sentiment and use of the silver ladle which belonged to your husband’s grandmother. Genius!

    Reply
  40. Ellie says

    June 4, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    You may not have a white kitchen, but you have a beautiful kitchen just the same. Love this post!

    Reply
  41. Katie @ Wildwood Creek says

    June 4, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    Love this post! Thanks from all of us in blogland that don’t have white kitchens. I go back and forth on painting my cabinets.

    Reply
  42. Lynn @ UpCountry Olio says

    June 4, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    I love this “hypothetical” kitchen, it is just beautiful. The sea of white kitchens out are so pretty too, but I decided to paint my butler’s pantry cabinets a different color. I feel like I’ve had to explain my choice some times. You have just erased months of self-doubt. Thanks for this fun, uplifting post!

    Reply
  43. Debbiedoo's says

    June 4, 2012 at 6:48 PM

    Can you see me standing up and applauding you? Well I am honey, because I don’t have a white kitchen. I did however have a white kitchen in our South Florida home and I hated it. So really, I am so happy and content with what I do have and really never ever envy those kitchens. I like them to look at based on the person and their personality..it works for them, NOT me!~ Your kitchen is gorgeous, very warm and welcoming.

    Reply
  44. Linda Young says

    June 4, 2012 at 7:45 PM

    I have a white kitchen, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything special. It’s just what was in my new house, and it’s up to me to make it warm and charming, we’ve got to work with what we have.
    Your kitchen is fabulous with very fine, rich-looking cabinets and countertops, and beautiful moldings! You’ve done a beautiful job with the pretty curtains, and your little cube seat and all your accessories and decorations! It seems like a wonderful, inviting place for the family to gather, and a great spacious place to prepare food. Enjoy it and be proud of it!

    Reply
  45. Leslie says

    June 4, 2012 at 8:00 PM

    Great post!! I like the idea of a light bright kitchen, but I also appreciate the warmth and coziness of depth and color. You’ve made yours the best of both worlds! I just decorate according to my personal taste! Yes, sometimes that happens to be in style or trendy, but I have to LOVE whatever space I live in. 🙂
    Blessings!
    Leslie

    Reply
  46. Thoughts for the day says

    June 4, 2012 at 8:04 PM

    Oh I love your kitchen… it is beautiful and rich looking and I love your humor too.

    Reply
  47. reFresh reStyle says

    June 4, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    It’s not white, but it’s beautiful! And it’s light and bright and warm and welcoming 🙂 Love it!

    Reply
  48. Summer @ Summer Scraps says

    June 4, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    I have white kitchen envy but there is no way it is happening right now. Your kitchen is beautiful! Perhaps I need to make peace with what I have because there is no way I can afford changing it to a white kitchen right.

    Reply
  49. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    June 4, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    And THAT is the way non-white kitchens should be done! Your decorative touches are just gorgeous. My off-white kitchen is getting kinda jealous right now… it just figured out how to peg its jeans.

    PS – I hear we’ll be meeting at dinner before Haven! 🙂 Excited!

    Reply
  50. Robin says

    June 4, 2012 at 11:11 PM

    Can I please join your support group? I left my cream cabinets and hardwood floors 1000 miles away when we moved to FL. Now I have cherry cabinets and black granite in a room that gets no direct sun all day. It may keep our AC bills reasonable but it’s like a cave. I had a huge skylight in my old kitchen too. Sniff! Yours is really beautiful but I just wanted you to know how left out I feel too. Next house has got to have a white kitchen!

    Robin
    Robin Flies South

    Reply
  51. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    June 5, 2012 at 12:33 AM

    Your kitchen is beautiful just the way it is and nice and large. I had shiny white cabinets when we built our house and then got new door and drawer fronts a few years ago and had them painted and glazed. So mine aren’t white either.

    Reply
  52. Cozy Little House says

    June 5, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    Your cabinets are very pretty! We don’t need to all be the same. I live in a house 78 years old. I have open white cabinets. Just a couple, as it’s a tiny house. I love your table and chairs! I covet those!
    Brenda

    Reply
  53. Sheila R - Blessed and Distressed says

    June 5, 2012 at 2:03 AM

    I am so glad I am not the only one who doesn’t have a white kitchen. Yours looks bright and cherry. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  54. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    June 5, 2012 at 2:11 AM

    How boring, if we all had white kitchens. Your kitchen is very pretty and you should be very proud of it…love the new curtains.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  55. Eclectically Vintage says

    June 5, 2012 at 3:34 AM

    Forget those mismatched socks – you’re a leader, not a follower! Now, unroll those jeans, and keep on decorating (so we can all follow)!
    Kelly

    Reply
  56. Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes says

    June 4, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    I’d love a white kitchen too, but for whatever reason when we built our house, the cabinet makers would not install white ones for us. Something about the way the cabinets are made and installed when they are custom. Instead, we opted for lighter stained cabinets. We liked them for a while, but are in the process of trying to decide whether to leave them alone, stain them, or paint them. Eventually, I’m sure we’ll be painting them, though not any time soon. I do like darker kitchesn in other people’s homes, but I like the airy feeling of the white ones and wish that is what we had. Maybe someday.

    Reply
  57. Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home says

    June 5, 2012 at 2:02 AM

    White kitchens are pretty for sure, but I love the look of cherry cabinets, warm, easy to clean and shine up with a bit of Murphys Oil Soap and never show dirt, chips or base board scuff marks! Yours is beautiful!

    Reply
  58. ♥ Sonny ♥ says

    June 5, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    You have a very beautiful kitchen with high quality cabinets and you have it decorated in a creative way.

    Those of us with builder grade oak almost HAD to paint them white in order not to live in uglyland:-)

    Reply
  59. Dawn says

    June 5, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    Such a fun post! And your kitchen is beautiful.

    Reply
  60. thistlewoodfarm says

    June 5, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    Vanessa,

    You made me laugh! I have a white kitchen….but I definitely need to join the “missed out on the peg jeans” group 🙂 Your kitchen is amazing! I love those moldings and skylights….seriously? All I have is people jumping and playing basketball above my kitchen 🙂

    I hope you and your kitchen have a wonderful day!

    blessings,
    karianne

    Reply
  61. limejello says

    June 5, 2012 at 3:12 PM

    Be blessed that you don’t have a horrific galley style kitchen like I do. I dream of a kitchen with an island, space for more than one person to work, and enough cabinets to hold all of our small gadgets.

    Your kitchen is beautiful. I’m particularly in love with the desk area and coffee tray. If you want to change something, I would change the tile you have behind your counters. Add a bright, cheery color and you won’t even miss that you have no white cabinets. 🙂

    Reply
  62. Laurel Stephens says

    June 5, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    I love your gorgeous kitchen. Variety is the spice of life!

    Reply
  63. Melisa says

    June 5, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    Your kitchen is beautiful. The dark cabinets are very elegant. I love the little ivy planter. I don’t have a white kitchen either, and don’t want one. I think they are very fresh and pretty in photos but I don’t think I’d like to actually live in one on a daily basis. I need warmth and color. White kitchens have been in for a while now so I imagine their time is coming to an end before much longer.

    Reply
  64. Melisa says

    June 5, 2012 at 6:00 PM

    I should add that I clicked your link to visit here because it was so refreshing to see a kitchen that wasn’t white! Not just more of the same old thing.

    Reply
  65. Richella says

    June 5, 2012 at 6:30 PM

    This is a great post, Vanessa! I know just how you feel. I have a lovely kitchen, but sometimes I feel so ridiculous not having a white kitchen. Meanwhile, I can forget to be grateful for what I DO have!! Sigh. Maybe you should have a party for those of us with non-white kitchens to share our spaces! 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      June 6, 2012 at 2:57 PM

      Jumping in here to say that is a fabulous idea Richella! We may just have to do that!

      Heather

      Reply
  66. Sharon @ mrshinesclass says

    June 5, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    I think white kitchens are absolutely dreamy, but I do love my dark cabinets and black counters. Like you, I’m enjoying the creative process in making it feel lighter…we have taken a very similar approach. Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration.
    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

    Reply
  67. Debbie says

    June 5, 2012 at 8:45 PM

    For some oddball reason, this is one of my favorite of your posts.

    Well, actually, it’s not so odd. I’m in need of the “I don’t have a white kitchen” support group. I don’t have one either, and my reason for not painting my butt ugly old oak cabinets is that I’m waiting to afford the counter tops that I really want. My current ones would look cruddy with white.

    And so. I wait…
    I love your ideas.
    Actually, I’m just about nuts over your kitchen table and chairs. I would like to replace mine with something like that. I’m currently on the lookout.

    Reply
  68. ritajoy says

    June 5, 2012 at 9:27 PM

    Beautifully said! What a great reminder to be thankful for what we have and to make it uniquely “us”.

    Reply
  69. Anonymous says

    June 5, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    Great post Vanessa – photos and text! I’ve always thought that your kitchen is beautiful!

    Mom

    Reply
  70. Kristens Creations says

    June 6, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    Great post! You really have a beautiful kitchen and I wouldn’t change a thing. I do know what you mean though…seeing all of the beautiful white kitchens in blogland. In fact, I think everything is going to white…furniture and all! I do like it but I LOVE color. When it seems like everyone is taking their color away, I am adding more! lol…I’m doing what I like and am not going to do something just to be in. If you wait long enough it will come back anyway…right? =) By the way, my kitchen is not white either. My cabinets are painted and glazed…not white.

    I really enjoy your blog!! Kristen

    Reply
  71. The House at Bluebird Lane says

    June 6, 2012 at 4:16 AM

    Your kitchen is amazing! So rich and warm feeling! I love all the little touches especially your grandmother’s silver ladle and the precious picture of your children. Just beautiful! 🙂
    Sharla

    Reply
  72. Toni says

    June 6, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    Great post. I love your kitchen! I don’t have a white kitchen and don’t want one! I love my cherry cabinets, red granite and cherry floors! I guess I am a rebel.

    Reply
  73. Scribbler says

    June 6, 2012 at 2:34 AM

    Well stated, and I suspect this could be an allegory for many other aspects of blogging. Very clever.

    Reply
  74. Pothys says

    June 6, 2012 at 12:14 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  75. Jordan@the2seasons says

    June 6, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    I had to work hard for my white kitchen and I said I would never do it again. It was a ton of work. So sit back and enjoy your kitchen and think how many more projects you can do since you are not dealing with painting your cabinets white!

    Reply
  76. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    June 6, 2012 at 1:41 PM

    I loved this post! Great job, Vanessa! I loved your take on this and how you wove it into the post. (And for the humor! Thanks for the giggle this morning!) There’s always going to be something out there that catches our eye but we can’t have at the moment. Or maybe never. But to take what we do have and enjoy it is key! Thanks for sharing this perspective on kitchens! Oh, and for the great idea of storing the coffee grounds in the mason jar! LOVE that idea!

    Reply
  77. Budget Design Girl says

    June 6, 2012 at 4:02 PM

    I love this post! It does seem as though everyone in blogland has a white kitchen. Yours is classic and lovely. EMBRACE it!
    I love the saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s hard sometimes to not want what it seems everyone else has.

    I am in the non-white kitchen group, but due to a major leak, we are renovating right now, and I am planning to lighten up my already painted cabinets. I do fear that as soon as I have a white kitchen, that look will be on the way out! Haha! 😉

    I hear that we will be meeting at Haven! I’m looking forward to it!

    Hope you and that beautiful kitchen have a fabulous day!
    xo-Lisa

    Reply
  78. Anonymous says

    June 6, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    This was soooo timely for me! We are moving to another state at the end of July, and the brand new house has BRAND NEW dark cherry cabinets and BLACK yes I said Black granite counter tops. Now I know I should not complain because everything is new and upgraded and all, (wish I had been in on the design choices) but I just wanted my white kitchen somethin awful!! So I have been searching blogland for dark kitchens and see what ideas I could borrow, I’m bookmarking you right here and now.

    I did see one other site that may help (wishful hoping) and that is to beadboard the back splash area and paint it shiny white to reflect the light. I’m a beach girl born and raised here at the Jersey Shore, so if it ain’t blue, sandy, white or green I’m lost. LOL

    Reply
  79. Vickie @ Ranger 911 says

    June 6, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    Obviously you’ve struck a chord with your readers. My problem isn’t kitchen cabinets, but mix and match trim throughout the house. I think I’m finally over the “I need to paint my trim white” feeling and happy with the rooms that still have 1921 original dark wood trim. In another 10 years everybody will be trying to figure out how to strip that white paint off of everything. :@

    Your kitchen is lovely, by the way.

    Reply
  80. scrapmebaby says

    June 6, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    Yay for non-white kitchens:) yours is truly lovely, I have a bright red kitchen, and while I do certainly love it – it definitely is more complicated to work with than something all neutral. Thanks for sharing, this is my first visit here. I will be back!

    Nicole @ scrap me baby

    Reply
  81. Becca says

    June 6, 2012 at 11:02 PM

    Ah, yes- this was a GREAT post! Thanks for sharing your space- and your thoughts!
    xoxo Becca

    Reply
  82. Bonnie says

    June 7, 2012 at 1:39 AM

    Quite a lot of comments. Great post. Your kitchen is wonderful and has all the amenities. Your cabinets are beautiful. They are way too nice to paint.You have great light which I envy. Every detail is nice. I especially like your coffee space. What a delightful idea to put the coffee filters in a pretty bowl, use a Mason jar with a vintage spoon for the coffee and fresh flowers in a mint julep cup. Great creativity.

    Reply
  83. Leslie says

    June 7, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    I’ll trade you my white kitchen for your gorgeous, cozy kitchen if it’ll make you feel better 😉

    Reply
  84. Jenny says

    June 7, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    Your kitchen is beautiful! and the part about the layered colored socks just cracked me up!! Hahaha…….oh how I remember those days! Thanx for sharing!

    xoxo
    jenny

    Reply
  85. Erica {let why lead} says

    June 8, 2012 at 3:23 PM

    It really is a gorgeous kitchen! I love this – We’ve gotta own what we have!

    Reply
  86. Heaven's Walk says

    June 9, 2012 at 1:11 AM

    Well, count me in as a member of your support group, Vanessa. lol! I’ve always wanted a white kitchen….and have never had one….yet. And yes, I still want one. But I’m gradually learning to appreciate the rich oak color of my cabinets which were built back in 1895 from the trees on this property. I have learned, as you said, to keep things clean and uncluttered and introduced open shelving with lots of white ironstone, and white painted beadboard walls. I can live with it the way it is….until we downsize and maybe then I can find my white dream kitchen. 🙂 Thanks for the peek at your beautiful kitchen!

    xoxo laurie

    Reply
  87. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    June 10, 2012 at 1:02 AM

    I think your kitchen is gorgeous. The wood does not date your kitchen at all, still looks like a new kitchen. Unlike my ugly oak.
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  88. La Vie Quotidienne says

    June 11, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    I don’t have a white kitchen, or a white any room ~ I like color to much for that. But I do love my french-inspired kitchen with it’s dark cabinets and marble counters anyway. Actually I think it is a more of a design challenge to decorate with color than with white. Your kitchen it lovely.

    Reply
  89. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    June 11, 2012 at 8:33 PM

    I know what you mean. And I decided to tackle my kitchen before I even knew of this crazy blogging world … and if I had there’s a very good chance I would have gone white and not dark …

    But either way it’s a HUGE improvement over builder grade orangy oak.

    And your kitchen is stunning just as it is! Envy inducing. And remember what I said …. I have builder grade oak still. I just painted it myself …

    🙂

    Linda

    Reply
  90. The Captain's Daughter says

    June 13, 2012 at 7:53 PM

    I have a white kitchen, (and love it) but I see MANY things to covet about your gorgeous, albeit not white, kitchen!

    Reply
  91. Amy says

    June 27, 2012 at 6:34 PM

    Ha ha ha ha ha! LOVE THIS POST! Cannot go to blogs without seeing all the white kitchens..well guess what? The day we put the offer on our house they installed the new DARK granite counters. And the dark kitchen table, stools, chairs aren’t paid for yet. But I still LOVE my kitchen and I love this post 🙂

    Reply
  92. Anonymous says

    June 28, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    We have a tiny, galley kitchen with dark cabinets in our 100-year-old Victorian. We are moving and there are dark cabinets in our new-to-us 100-year-old farm house. I am okay with that. Although I do love the look of white kitchens, have you noticed they all look the same? Same subway tile, same white cabinets, same wood or faux wood floors, same industrial-style lighting. It’s so boring. Plus, I comfort myself with the thought that in a few years, all those white kitchen folks, bless their hearts, will be stripping their cupboards down to the wood. — JulieBaby

    Reply
  93. Dorothy says

    June 29, 2012 at 1:46 AM

    Wonderful! I happen to like but not have a white kitchen (don’t really want it white-white or all white, but just lighter) but you know darn well, by the time you make it white, the new “must have” will be something else entirely. If all you do is join the crowd, you’ll have a very frustrating and expensive existence.

    Reply
  94. Susan @ homeroad.net says

    August 16, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    Vanessa I don’t have a white kitchen either… though I think they are beautiful… You did a great job in yours…why do they ALL have to be white anyway? Are we all white? I think we should love our kitchens for what they are! You (and I) have beautiful kitchens full of character which makes them unique and awesome!
    Susan
    Homeroad.net

    Reply
  95. Mary Richmond says

    August 16, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    Your kitchen is beautiful. I love the coffee station with the filters in a pretty bowl. Great idea! Thanks for all the inspiration! I’m feeling a little hopeful about my kitchen now.

    Reply
  96. Elena says

    August 21, 2012 at 4:42 PM

    Oh my goodness did this ever resonate! I *might* have an entire pinboard devoted to my desire for a white kitchen. But those white cabinets would mean new granite which would mean a new backsplash and… well, you get the picture…. Thanks for making the rest of us feel a little less alone 😉

    Reply
  97. Recreate and decorate says

    January 6, 2013 at 10:52 AM

    Great read! I too just got through spending a day with a friend who don’t have white cabinets.

    Reply

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I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favor Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favorite for sure. Everything is still festive and decorated but there’s none of the stress of the cooking and wrapping and making preparations. It’s the week where we get to take everything slowly and simply enjoy being together while the house still has twinkling lights and we can just be cozy.

What about you? How will you be spending this week? ✨
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