I wanted to clarify something. When I said that the cabinets were dropped down, allowing 12-14 inches of space to accessorize, I meant that the "height" from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling is 12-14 inches. Actually, the length of space I have to accessorize is 4 or 5 ft.

Could you possibly post a picture? It would make it easier to get suggestions if you could give us some idea of the style you are going for.

Chris

I wish I could post pictures, Chris, but I don't have that capability. Actually, my kitchen is small but it does have space for a table and 4 chairs, and a built-in buffet with cabinets above. As I said, the walls are red and the backsplash is black and white checks. All appliances are white, as is the countertops. There is a white rectangular rolling cart in front of the sink and it has white ceramic tiles on top. The dining table is antique -- dark oak -- and the French-style chairs are pale yellow with seats covered in a small black and white checked-fabric. The floors are wood laminate. I want a French bistro feel and I know I need to accessorize with red, but when I look at the home decor stores, I become overwhelmed. Every French kitchen needs a rooster and I have one -- a big fat white rooster with black specks and red comb. He sits on top of the refrigerator alongside a copper pot filled with ivy (real). I'm not sure what I should use as a centerpiece on the table or the buffet which sits directly in front of it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I know I'd love your kitchen because I'm a "check" person myself!

I don't have black but mine is decorated in vintage with a lot of depression glass.

Here are some older pictures, everything on the shelves have changed completely! But you get the gist of it.

With your colors though, green, white and red with some yellow would be beautiful!

Kitchen sink area. On the windowsill I now have a row of depression ruby & clear glassware.

Hutch. Totally different now. Each open shelf holds a collection of depression glass, all one color per shelf.

Here's the full kitchen. On the right side of the sink I have a reddish braided narrow runner holding a black recipe box and a faux deep red Willow Tree. lol. It's not in the picture though.

Basically vintage and depression era accessories would work in your kitchen.

And you can't tell by the picture, but the diamond shaped cut-out tile's are a light yellow, not red. I love yellow and that was my chance to incorporate it into the kitchen. Yellow goes great with black!

Your kitchen is beautiful, oakleyok. Thank you for sharing it. Yes, I've always liked checks and have a plate rack with three black and white checked plates on it. Actually, I have incorporated a little yellow in my decor. On the counter, I have an antique copper bowl which holds pears. I usually don't like fake fruit but these look so real that you could take a bite out of them. What do you suggest that I use as a centerpiece for my table?

I might add that I heard a decorator say that what you place on the center of the table should always take priority over whatever is on the buffet. What do you think?

It's hard to say without seeing a picture. Not sure about the statment the decorator told you. My DR is right next to the kitchen, it's open. I have a light green picnic basket sitting on the table over a quilted, toile, light green and white table runner. I have a wicker plant stand in the DR the same color as the basket.

The colors in there goes with the various colored depression glass I have in the kitchen, and also the red tile.

One of the reasons I love vintage/retro/farm decorating and depression glass is you can use all sorts of colors in the kitchen!

I, too, love lots of color in the kitchen, especially red. I have a red teapot on the stove and little touches of red throughout the entire room. It's just difficult to decide on a centerpiece or what to put on the buffet, as they seem to compete with each other. On one red wall, I have a chicken print from a 1932 poultry catalog. It is a picture of two white chickens and is matted in red. On another of the red walls is a large oil painting of two French waiters, all in black and white, and it pops against the red wall. I don't really want a themey kitchen but I do love those waiters and the chicken print.