Hi Jessica! Unfortunately, I'm not quite finished in the kitchen and told myself I wouldn't take pics until I was completely done. I've only got one wall left to go, but somehow I am finding a million other things to do in my spare time but get this project finished once and for all! I am still loving the Guilford Green though, and am really happy that I took the plunge and repainted. I recently returned from England and (once again) came home with the desire and intent to infuse my home with more of that English charm that I saw there. I've hung new curtain valances in my kitchen and breakfast area (old-fashioned, faded red cabbage roses on a cream background), took down some of my vintage Mexican decor from the walls and replaced with antique English and German plates. I brought home a wonderful vintage-style enamel cake tin from Devon (in the most luscious shade of green!), and plan to do a little more tweaking here and there.

I truly will post photos. When I finally get off my lazy rear and get that last wall done! ;-)

so...did you have fun on vacation?

Oh, my ... yes! My mom and I had the most wonderful time, and found the beauty of Cornwall and Devon only surpassed by the warmth of the people. Already planning an Englad 2013 trip. This next time to Lavenham, Suffolk. There is just something about England that gets in a person's blood. Well, at least it's gotten into mine!
:-D

I wish I had such a fun and elegant reason for my unfinished projects! Glad you had fun. :)

Thanks, Jessica! :-) I am so happy to be able to report that as of 2:37 p.m. today I am finished with painting. All rooms are done, and I'm very pleased! Will take and post pics soon. For now, I'm just going to sit here and enjoy a nice cup of tea and relax. It's so tiring painting, but I can't tell you how pleased I was to cover up that very last little bit of Warren Acres!

OK, a couple of cups later and I was energized - so I snapped a few pics. It's hard to accurately capture the color - it changes at various times of day! My decorating is still a work in progress, as I'm finding new ways to mesh my love of English style with my collection of Native American and Mexican artwork. I have just about completely removed all of the Mexican art from the kitchen area, save for a couple of prints that still appeal to me. (Re the valance over the sink - I may end up shortening it a bit, but I also appreciate the fact that it hides the view of the hideous peeling paint on my neighbor's house!) I didn't take time to completely remove all the "artifacts" of our day-to-day life, so please forgive the fact that the rooms are not "picture perfect" ...

One more!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

I have been waiting and waiting for your pics auntjen and believe me, it was worth it! The house looks wonderful. I love the Guilford Green! Thanks for sharing with us yet again.

I love the floral furniture in your living room, but that last shot of your kitchen is my favorite! Guilford Green is truly a beautiful color in all your spaces, and very much worth the wait. Thanks so much for letting us into your home again!

Thanks so very much! I'm really enjoying the new color. One of the things I love most about it is that it's a slightly lighter version of the interior color the house was originally painted in 1940. It feels like it's "come home" to what it was meant to be. :-)

Thank you for posting the pictures! I'd been waiting to see the end result as well and love the Guilford Green in your home! It's a perfect soft color for the house. I love it next to the white fireplace and in the kitchen in particular. Enjoy!

Thank you, Indygo-girl! It's certainly a different look than before:

Your home is so charming and full of character. I love the new green, it really softens the look. It looks like a happy place. Great job with all the painting!

Ditto what Katrina Ellen said. It looks so bright and cheerful. Can I come for coffee?

Oooooo that first shot of your kitchen did it for me! It's so cheery and welcoming. The kitchen and LR remind me of many of the B&B's I stayed at in Cheltehham and the Lake District. Tea anyone?

Katrina_ellen, chickadee2, javachik - Thank you so very much for your kind words! Before, I think an invitation to stop by for margaritas was in order, but now a nice cuppa tea does seem more fitting! (Who will bring the scones and clotted cream? :-))

Congrats... you really have achieved your vision! It looks so pretty and welcoming~~
Your kitchen sideboard is wonderful, too!! :)

Great color! I have those valences myself and love them to pieces. I love the blending of your old style with this new one!

Hi Rosie (it's me, Auntjen - but I've renamed myself ;-))! I would absolutely invite you over for a cuppa if you lived nearby! I so appreciate your kind words. I have never been thrilled with the washer and dryer in the breakfast area, and when we first moved into this little old house, I thought I might make some kind of cover for each of them. But my hubby is usually the one who does the laundry in our house, and I know he'd hate having to fuss with taking covers off and putting them back on, so I nixed that idea. Over time, I guess I've just gotten used to having the W&D out in the open like that. I can say that the breakfast table is a very handy spot for folding clothes. (I do have to get onto DH occasionally, though, because he seems to think that draping his clean t-shirts over the backs of the chairs constitutes "putting them away!" ;-))

I watch my next door neighbor trudge through his backyard and into an outbuilding where his W&D are located. On a cold day, I certainly don't envy him - and I find I actually do appreciate my appliances exactly where they are, at times like that.

Great transformation. I liked it before, and I like it now. Both looks are beautiful, you have a great eye.

My first words were WOW and thinking this is PRET-TY risky annnnd I love it.I would never have the nerve to try. Thank heaven for people like you who lead the way.
So much fun and shiny too. I might call that green celery from what I see. It goes with everything including purple and all the hot colors. What a happy place you have created. And isn't that what it's all about? You are one proud lady. Nice to meet you Sunny cottage.

Jen, the w/d does add vintage to the room. Before we built this house, we rented an old farm house (5 bedrooms!), and there was a gigantic kitchen which included the w/d. I loved it!

Now I have a very large utility room and I still like to put the clean clothes on the DR table when they come out of the dryer. lol

Jen, have you thought about using vintage French enamelware for your kitchen? I have a white pitcher like the one below on order, but it's a replica, not the real deal. I'll use it as a centerpiece for the DR table.

But I thought of you when I saw this picture!

Oh, Oakley - yet another inspiration pic! I love French enamelware and have lusted after the "real deal" on Etsy and eBay, but can't bring myself to part with that kind of $$. I was standing in the checkout line at JoAnn's Fabric last week (with DH in tow) and noticed a woman carrying a couple of cream-colored replicas and am still kicking myself for not getting out of line and going to find them on the shelves.

Yesterday I went to a garage sale that an acquaintance was having and loaded up on goodies: Two wonderful antique pitcher and bowl sets ($30 for the pair!), a 7-piece set of rose-decorated Victorian china including a pitcher (without the bowl) and a large chamber pot, a couple of sweet, snuggly throws, a set of quilted placemats and table runner, several small china pieces - pitchers and plates, and a cute quilted pillow. I think I spent $100 in all, and am so pleased with my good deals!

I have an out-of-state work conference to attend this next week which is going to be grueling (16+ hour days), but perhaps the following week/end I'll focus on painting the fireplace surround in our bedroom. Still leaning toward BM Antique White. Still having fun transforming this little old house! :-)

Here are some of the treasures I picked up yesterday ...

And here are my Cath Kidston paper-covered kitchen directions:

You got a great deal on those pitchers! Is that wallpaper from Cath or wrapping paper? Did you make it yourself? I've been to her site quite a few times this past week!

I finally got my kitchen valance and dining room swag up. Don't you just love them for the kitchen? Which led me to order the french pitcher!

I'm not sure if it's wallpaper or wrapping paper. I ordered them from a woman who sells on Etsy and eBay. She lives in Scotland.

I want to see pics of what you've done! You've kinda got me salivating over those enamel pitchers again now. ;-)

Now I REALLY need to get around to posting pictures! I'm not a big fan of the cottage look, not for our current house at lest, but I do have two French enamel pitchers. They're the real deal, and I picked them up many years ago at a flea market. My recollection is that they were ~$20 each and, at the time, I made the bad decision of buying only two out of many. They don't fit anywhere in the house, but I'm not getting rid of them.

Lynxe, please post pictures! What if you use just one as a vase for either real or silk flowers?

These past few years I've discovered enamelware is the best for baking breads and cakes. I use the speckled style you buy in the camping dept. Plus they're pretty!