Hi Sharon! It would help a lot if you could post some photos of the room.

If I wanted blue in my kitchen, I would use blue and not a color that someone else suggests.

And so what if you get sick of them? You'll repaint them another color at that point. One of the best pieces of advice I'm trying to follow this year is 'Be Deb'. Of course, you don't need to be me...you need to 'Be Sharon'.

Be true to your vision and tastes.

By the way, I love French country and often swap which way I put the names. I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your kitchen.

I found a painting of a French Country kitchen that looks similar to what I think you're describing (link below). I love those colors. If you decide to stay with the almost white cabinets, you could add the other colors through wall paint, trim paint, a curtain (maybe with pictures of fruits, veggies or herbs), a bowl of fruit, terra cotta utensil holders, baskets, hanging copper pots, hanging ceramic trivets, and colorful jars of oil. If you have any furniture in your kitchen, you could paint it the distressed French Country blue. You could also antique the almost white cabinets by applying a stain glaze over them. Professionals do that and it looks very European. I came up with interesting links by searching "How to antique French Country paint".

Here is a link that might be useful: Tile Mural

In case you're interested, DH says Van Dyke brown glaze over Designer White paint (a blueish white) creates an antique French Country look.

Hi Sharon,

I LOVE French Country decorating and there are lots on this board who also love FC. Parma42 is also a huge FC decorating fan.

I agree with what the other posters have said about following your own vision. The blue you are describing for your cabinets, along with the SS appliances, and the dark hard wood floor would be sensational, IMO. It does beg the question though of what you would do about your countertops to make everything work together? But that is something that can be determined later.

I can't tell you the number of times I've said "I'm going to do X" to my house and my extended family stares back at me as if I'm crazy. Half the time whatever I planned looks fabulous and and a quarter of the time, it's so-so and a quarter of the time it's disastrous. I'm okay with those odds! Not everyone (not even a designer) can get everything 100% right every time. Decorating and designing a home takes practice and a willingness to try things and sometimes make a mistake. It's the best way to learn about what really works for you in your home.

I'm dying to see a picture of your room and a picture of the blue finish you are putting on your cabinets! Please post pics if you can!

Would love to see a picture of the cabinets, especially the blue one. ;o)

Hi
Thank you so much for all your ideas and suggestions. I would love to post pictures so I can get more! I just don't know how..... help please

Thanks so much again!
Sharon :)

I think whether or not you get tired of a look is more personality dependent than anything else. Some people are drawn towards new looks and the latest trends so for them, no matter what they choose, they will want something different. So, I would not let that argument influence your thinking overmuch. Personally, I don't see any difference between getting tired of green vs. getting tired of blue; only I think the odds are much higher with the green because it doesn't sound like it excites you even now. There was a cottagey blue look in the 1990's that may be dated, but what you are describing is not. It may not be your average kitchen, but do you really want your kitchen to look like everyone else's?

I also am very curious to see your French blue cabinets. They sound lovely.

You can upload your picture to a site like Photobucket. Once you do, under your uploaded photo will be a "Direct Link" (it will start with http). You just copy and paste that from Photobucket into the "Optional Link URL" box that you see just under where you type a Follow-Up Message on this thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: GardenWeb Help - How To Add Images

Me thinks your friends may be missing the very important adventurous gene.

The kitchen I've linked is one of my favorites. Doubt if I'd ever get sick of it. Love the open cabs, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: painted kitchen ala Life in Grace

Wow Parma - did you see where she used the cabinet doors she took down from her upper cabinets and mounted them to the island for embellishment! Never seen that one before! That's better than beadboard.

Tuesday

Wow, thanks for that link. What an awesome and inspiring kitchen.

Happy stands with arms folded, foot tapping, surveying her kitchen...turquoise wouldn't suit her, but wouldn't creamy yellow or cherry red be fun......

Latest news!
Well my kitchen has been put on hold :( Don't get me wrong, my mind is still going round and round about it but any actual work has stopped.
Our powder room is in a major crisis. It seems like water damage from somewhere (either the potty itself or a previous chimney leak ( long story)) rotted the floor and now the floor and the potty are falling in. If it falls thru everything will end up in the basement on top of the furnace.
So new drywall has to be put up, toilet has to ripped out, new floor and toilet put in. There for a new vanity... etc. Basically a new bathroom :(
Thank you for all your suggestions and help.. Please keep your ideas coming! I love them!

Oh dear, sorry to hear that Sharon! Good luck with your bathroom. There is never a dull moment with house ownership is there?!