Good morning everyone, I trust you had a lovely weekend....at least I hope so. Won't you join me in a cuppa and a muffin while we chat.
I thought I'd share some of the things I've been doing in my kitchen, I only wish the light had been better. I could have played around with it to make it better but frankly I don't have time. I think you'll get the idea though.
It's pretty clear I like COLOR!
This is one end of the kitchen as I stand in the middle. The trim around the window is what BohoMan recently installed and then we painted it, the inside of the window and the sill all the aqua blue. It truly contrasts wonderfully with the citrus green walls. I brought in the blue shelf from my studio to put teacups on and the white dresser under it came from the studio as well.... it now holds tea towels and other sundry things. You can see my cabinets are oak stained.....boy do I NOT like them. When we remodeled back in 1990 I wanted white painted cabinets but was talked out of it (by the stainers)because to do them right and the paint last would have been 3x what it cost to just have them stained. I WILL have white cabinets some day if I have to paint them myself. Oh I could go on with what I'd change in there now............
But that's not the point right now.
I recently finished a painting for the wall (left side). It's very random but I wanted lots of color and so I just let it flow. It has no title or definitive theme or story but it works nicely with all the other color I've been adding.
oh and P.S. the 2 things hanging to the right of the window are actually wooden placemats from Target! I loved the colors and it was instant art for a narrow area!
I love hanging things in the window, a curtain valance just doesn't work in there because it blocks too much light. I have stained glass stars that were a gift a few years ago, birds, crystal with a face, glass balls, and a colored mirrored mobile that when it moves as the light hits it drives dots ALL over the kitchen.(the cats go crazy). I have two more stained glass pieces coming from an Etsy seller that I can't wait to hang in the window as well. (a fairy and a blue bird).
I also love having Gerbera daisies in cylinder vases on the sill. I need to go get some more as these are starting to wilt a bit. You can see my clothesline through the window and my giant windchimes that when the window is open on a breezy day fills the house with its sounds. I am on the hunt for more windchimes....I am very picky about the sound....it has to be melodious. The ones on our front porch have taken a beating and are falling apart so they really need to be replaced. This big one isn't the only one so....I like the sounds to literally surround the house.
We bought these moroccon looking metal lanterns over the weekend but they only had the orange, white and green..........the fourth one although hard to even tell in this photo....was white that we spray painted a lovely deep purple. When I find the color I am seeking the white one in this photo will become a lovely fuschia.
COLOR COLOR!!!
This is part of the light fixture above the kitchen table........the shades were a an ok blue but I felt they needed changing. I used colorwash spray to mottle them a sort of lime and sea blue, I like when you look up the insides look almost tie dyed or batiked. I think the brown of the fixture itself needs changing but I haven't made up my mind about that yet. COLOR COLOR COLOR!
I was using the kitchen table for a project so I didn't take a pic of the whole room yet.......I will another day, especially after I make a new tablecloth.
So that's what I've been working on lately......it's just so nice to get up in the morning and go in there to see all that color welcoming the day. I am still searcing for my collection of 50's cotton tablecloths...I want to display them on a shelf or ladder in another part of the kitchen. They are packed away in garagapalooza...........so you know what that means.
Are you a person who likes to be surrounded by color? The wonderful thing about that is paint is an easy fix as well as accessories like various glass and things hanging that reflect the sunlight. If you have all white walls you can accentuate with colorful accessories to truly bring a room alive!
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Yesterday I had the priviledge of meeting up with 3 fellow bloggers (for the first time) for coffee at Peets on 4th Street in Berkeley. Zorana, Sharon of All Norah's Art(who was here visiting Zorana from Texas to attend some art workshops) and Darla from Bayside to Mountainside whose birthday it just happened to be. It was a glorious couple of hours getting to know all three of these lovely ladies, I was thrilled to be sitting with them sipping coffee and chatting and laughing and getting to know one another! Sharon shared some of her art which was a rare treat to get to see it in person, I am a big fan of her!. We were also able to see some of Zorana's journal art as well. Such talent!!! The extraordinary thing was how easy it all was...........no pretense, no awkwardness, no fumbling for something to say.........it was relaxed and genuine and went by way too fast! That's how it should be!
No one likes their photo taken (I know I don't) so we promised not to show any pictures BUT I found a way around it..........I hope this is ok girls. :) Thank you for a lovely time, it was such a pleasure to finally meet you all!!
Sharon I hope you had a good flight home today!
After we said goodbye BohoMan (who was doing his own thing in the area) and I met up for brunch.
We sat partially under a bright yellow umbrella
Next to planters filled all around us with rosemary
We had a lovely time, great food, yummy drinks and the weather was perfection.
We walked a while afterwards holding hands, popping in and out of the shops, enjoying the perfect weather......... a beautiful day out!
It was a splendid weekend all the way around!
Now it's back to some projects that need to be completed and mailed out. Sue if you're reading this, that includes you.....you'll have it in plenty of time!!!
Life is good!
Love,
Lisa
XOXOXO
I am just swept away every time I read your blog... thank you! I too love color... just yesterday I was spray painting some old candle sticks lime green! :) Have a great week.
Posted by: Michele Patrick | July 13, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I am totally in love with your COLORFUL kitchen, Lisa ! Just perfect ! How happy and cheeryyou must be each time you walkk into that room. I am de-cluttering right now but part of my process will be to add color, color, color in the end - this cold NH winter I will be cozy and warm in my colorful and happy house !
You inspired me !
Posted by: kim mailhot | July 13, 2009 at 01:20 PM
love your kitchen! we have a super colourful kitchen, as well!
and your wall colour is the EXACT colour green I have in my studio, the living room and the dining room. I spared the kitchen from the green, and painted it yellow and orange LOL.
Posted by: tristanrobin | July 13, 2009 at 02:31 PM
You have a most inspiring and beautiful home Lisa!!!
Love the painting of the bird...xoxox
Posted by: gillian | July 13, 2009 at 03:22 PM
No shoot! You met Sharon...she's so great. I've learned as much as I can from her and want to learn so much more!
Of course the other two ladies are just as wonderful!
Your kitchen is very pretty. I am the same way about hanging things in the window. Maybe make a long skinny canvas and paint it then hang it above the window? You could put hooks in the wood at the bottom of the canvas and hang things there too.
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Posted by: Mahala | July 13, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Such a Beautiful, Beautiful kitchen - full of wonderful colors !!!
Posted by: Patricia | July 13, 2009 at 09:37 PM
I discovered your blog today :-)I love your choice of decor. I have a large collection of colored glass and always dreamed of having them displayed in the kitchen window on glass shelves but a small kitchen and small children made it quite impossible. Maybe one day :-) Juliet
Posted by: juliet | July 14, 2009 at 02:36 AM
Writing to you from the cool mountain town of Flagstaff. Wish you were here or I was there in your kitchen. It's really cute Lisa! Love the color combination Lime and Turquoise. Cool that you met some bloggeristas too!
Posted by: gemma | July 14, 2009 at 01:31 PM
I am a regular reader of your blog...but for some reason always have problems leaving you a comment.Just to say that i love your blog, and the colours in your kitchen look great,especially your window.I now want to add more colour to mine.
Sue x
Posted by: Sue Twigge | July 15, 2009 at 04:41 AM
oh you know how much I LOVE COLOR!! Your kitchen is bright and happy...I love all of it, the blue bottle with the calla lily is really beautiful!
thank you for the cuppa in your lovely space...
Posted by: Stephanie | July 15, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Lisa, your kitchen is amazing! You're inspiring me to be brave and put some color in my kitchen too. LOVED meeting you! I've waited for that hug for a long time! You are just what I though you would be - personality larger than life. You are right - it didn't feel awkward... just as old friends meeting and sipping coffee (and getting sunburned - my arms are still red). Love how you 'doctored' the photo. Hope to see you (and maybe your kitchen) soon. xoxoxo
Posted by: Zorana | July 15, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Lisa, I'm going to have to find a leaf mask so I can look like my photo wherever I go, LOL!
It was such a fine time meeting you, Zorana and Sharon. We must do it again.
Your kitchen is wonderful - lively and full of fun just like you are.
Darla
Posted by: Darla | July 15, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Love your kitchen! And I forgot you were going to meet up with the Sharon and the girls! THat must have been too cool t o meet them and for them to meet you!
Posted by: pam aries | July 15, 2009 at 04:38 PM
OH I am sooo jealous!!! What a fun day! Call me next time!!! What amazing talent is sitting there behind those ivy leaves!
Posted by: Terisa | July 15, 2009 at 06:11 PM
Love your kitchen, Lisa!
Posted by: Julie | July 16, 2009 at 07:25 AM
Greetings my kindred sister!! I'm just getting around to visiting. I had a coule of projects I just wanted to get done. I'd been messing with them long enough and the joy was beginning to fade :(
Oh I'm so with you Color Color Color!!! And I'm so lucky to live in a country that truly loves color!!!!!
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mexico
Posted by: Pattie | July 16, 2009 at 08:13 PM
Good post indeed! Thanks for sharing such nice information.
Kitchen design
Posted by: Kitchen design | August 07, 2009 at 12:28 AM