Please help me accessorize my finished kitchen! PICS

rookie_2010

13 years ago

Hi Everyone,

For all intents and purposes, my kitchen is finished. We haven't moved in yet and I'm already obsessing over accessories, the color of the accessories, etc. I feel like something belongs on the hood mantle but I can't picture anything. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

The whole room is a blank slate. I have no idea what accent colors to use either. I'd like to warm it up though, so I plan on putting out my butcher block cutting board and a few baskets. Other than that, I'm clueless...... please help, I need a little direction...

Thanks in advance!

{{!gwi}}

So you all can see the wall color, I closed the blinds because it gets really sunny and I'm trying to be stingy with the AC since we're not moved in yet :)

{{!gwi}}

This one is an earlier progress pic but there's an empty shelf over the pass through too...... I'm not head over heels with the stone my DH picked for the fireplace but it's the only thing he insisted on....

{{!gwi}}

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

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Comments (34)

baileyandbella
13 years ago
Beautiful kitchen!

A few ideas...

Plants
Decorative Plates
Canisters
Cookie Jar
Small lamp
Cookbooks
Baskets...wicker or iron
Candlesticks
Family pictures
dianalo
13 years ago
How about a pretty kitchen clock and something to hold utensils?
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A very nice home. I could be comfy there for sure. Was the family room a later addition? Nice job in the kitchen, and I like your fabric for the chair. I have some thoughts, going to just throw them out there. More, perhaps than you want to do, but some ideas that might get you started. I would think about moving the dining room into the hearth room. Setting the table up in front of the bow window would make for a wonderful view while eating, and give you room to have all the dining chairs in the space. You could then put a pair of comfy chairs facing one another in the dining room with a small round table between them. A great place for someone to sit and chat while someone else is working in the kitchen, or a nice place to just have a cup of coffee and still enjoy the fireplace nearby. I would completely re-orient the family room. Move the desk to the niche where the tv is now. MOve the tv to the wall where the desk is now. Put your couch facing the tv in the new location, back to the windows. Orient the seating around the TV and fireplace, espeically because you are planning to dress up that area with stone. The chair can be facing the fireplace, back to the desk in the niche. If you don't use the chair by the fireplace in the hearth room once you move in the dining table, I would bring that into the family room as well, putting it on the left side of the fireplace. I don't know how soon you are planning on doing the stone in the fireplace area, but for now I would take down the shelf and art and just paint that inset wall an accent color, or do a faux stone finish. The shelf and art are nice, but back behind the stove look a bit like someone forgot to take them down when the fireplace was put in. Once you move everything into place, then you can place art. Personally, I don't think you need a rug in the family room. But it could be nice in the new little seating area where the dining table was. By the way, great job taking pictures. You provided a full view of the spaces so that it was easier to see what might work.
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Your kitchen is beautiful! Very inspirational to me :) Are you familiar with Ballard Designs? They have a huge selection of "outdoor rugs" (although I can't imagine using one outdoors where I live!) But we have a few as door mats and one in our Dining Room, and they are perfect! Easy to wipe down to clean. But they look really, really nice! Take a look--they are all on sale right now. And maybe one or two will inspire you? Just a few examples... OR Now, under your eating area, I am going to just caution that it will get MESSY under there one your little eater is eating independently. But you can enjoy the rug until then, and then see how you feel. It's just hard to get under there and clean, with the built-in there. Also, I had wooden fabric seated chairs, and they will be getting re-upholstered in a few more years--they are trashed! Even the wood backs are "gunky" from so much wet hands/jelly/cereal/yogurt/etc. I switched to industrial style metal chairs from World Market (so not very expensive!) and I love them. Sooooo easy to wipe down--even easier than wood! And I have the coordinating wood table, so it does look good with wood tones, too. And my kitchen is white, Here they are: Finally, go into stores, like World Market or Pier One or anything that floats your boat. Find some napkins or placemats that inspire you. They are a good way to bring in some color in an inexpensive way, test it out in the room, and use it as inspiration for your room. Here is a link that might be useful: Outdoor rugs
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it looks like you have a few rust/orange accents - the DR light, the pic frame, the throw, the pic above the couch, but there really isn't a commitment to it. The other thing for me that is lacking is a variety of textures. I like the lamp that you posted - it has some of the rust/orange in it and would help to lighten up the space. One thing to look at is replacing the pillows on the couch and get some that are textured (almost 3-dimensional - I have some pillows that have petals on them that actually come away from the pillows and others that are pleated) with the rust and one of the rug colours in it. Try BB&B or Home Sense. In the DR try to bring some of the dark colour in it from the LR. How about a dark woven basket or a copper bowl for the table on top of a runner that again has the rust colour and one of the rug colours in it. Copper accents might actually be rather pretty in these rooms. A large vase for the buffet to bring some presence and to help the mirror being anchored. The candlesticks are for me, a little small. I see you have a runner on the buffet but it appears a little uninteresting. The rug in front of the door, without knowing where that hallway actually leads and what it looks like is harder to make a suggestion on. Can I make one suggestion and that is to put the area rug further under the chair and couch? It looks like it is trying to go somewhere but I don't know where. I am minimalistic when it comes to accents so when I chose I always choose something with some texture, or an interesting shape, or interesting colours in it. Raid other rooms and any entertaining stuff that you might have stored in cabinets. Are there some favourite bowls or vases that you already have tucked away that you could use. I find that through the years we tend to gravitate to favourite colours or shapes even though they might not be "trendy". It doesn't matter.
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Some leather upholstered parsons chairs would go nicely with the lines of the table and the cabinetry, and would also have the same lines as the stools. Maybe you even want to do the red leather, as you've already established that as an accent color, and it looks like there's some red in the carpet under the table. Big plus -- they're easily dressed up with a slipcover when you're ready for a change. I think I can see quite a bit of wrought iron or oil rubbed bronze in the knobs, curtain rods & table lamps. I would use this as the jumping off point for the ceiling fixture. If you like chandeliers, maybe a curvy bronze chandelier with a few crystals hanging down (I mean a fun & flirty one, not a gaudy 70's number, lol!). Or you could go with a straighter lined one -- look at Pottery Barn Lowell & Veranda, for examples. I don't necessarily think the red side chairs are wrong...but I'm curious what bothers you about them. TO me it's just that they're kind of floating there with no real purpose. Like, if that's meant to be a reading area or a place to have a cup of tea, they need a little table between them. Think about what you want that space to be, and then you'll know how to address the chairs. Hth! Leigh
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adh673
13 years ago
It's really beautiful, you must be thrilled.

Is that a delta faucet? I also really like your stained door- interesting design feature, is it to pull togheter the mantel? I like your lanterns, where are they from?

Anyway, as for "decor", I am not to that stage yet (actually I have yet to demo) so I havent gotten to thinking about it but I would say a artful bowl of fruit or lemon tree depending on climante can bring very authentic and appropriate color in. I am also partial to small rustic rosemary or cyprus bushes, which would draw in your green. A vintage sign or collection of exotic oils might look nice.

I'm not a huge fan of decorative clutter becuase I tend to accumulate enough non decorative clutter as is, but you also have an intersting space above your sink for a collection of some sort- millk glass? various organic pieces that pull in the warmth of your stone fireplace?

Try walking about Tj Maxx or Homegoods and see if any objects strike you as fun or interesting.

But again, lovely job.
adh673
13 years ago
Sorry forgot the obvious- fabric window treatments - those alone give you huge opportunities for setting a secondary color scheme and warmth.
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Baileyandbella and Dianalo, thanks so much! I had ZERO space for decoration in my old kitchen so I only have one utensil holder, one basket and a few beat up cookbooks my mom gave me. I do have some decorative plates my MIL gave me that could work.....plate hangers are going on the list now. I like the idea of plants a lot and fabric window treatments.

I went through Homegoods a few weeks ago and saw a lot of things I liked but they were all white. So, I left empty handed and figured I'd wait until it was done. I think I need to go back there again with these suggestions in mind.

Adh673, thanks for the kind words! I LOVE milk glass, great suggestion and I can look for it on eBay! The faucet in the island is a Pegasus from Home Depot. The one I originally ordered was delivered damaged so I sent it back and ran out and grabbed that one and I like it better, for under $100 too! The stained door is just to match all the other doors in the house and an attempt to warm things up in there. The cabinets are a slight off-white but with PINK undertones so I had to lose the idea of a white subway backsplash and kill the budget with marble. Also, the paint color had to change to correct it. So, I actually ended up with a way more formal room than I had intended, but I had already ordered the door. I love it but I need to make it feel cozier. The main faucet is a Price Pfister from the Ashfield collection. The lanterns are the arch top mini-lanterns from Circa Lighting.
megfitz
13 years ago
What a beautiful kitchen!
I see you have at least one window in the kitchen. Maybe find some nice window treatments that tie into the wall color and use that as a jumping off point.
I second the Home Goods suggestion, too.
I bet once you find your color palette, you'll find more things. Plus they always get new stock in every day.
I agree about avoiding too much clutter. I bet once you move in your everyday kitchen items will take up enough room on the counters. Add some useful items like canisters, napkin holder, etc
Godd luck!
baileyandbella
13 years ago
>>>> saw a lot of things I liked but they were all white

Spray paint is my best friend. :)

If I really love something (the shape, etc) and it's paintable, I buy it (if it's a good deal) and make it the way I like it.
vampiressrn
13 years ago
Your kitchen is gorgeous....wonderful blend of materials. Take your time with the decor, sometimes you have to settle in and let the room talk to you. Great suggestions so far. Maybe also decide on what linens/pot holders, etc. you like. Home Goods is great for ideas and colors, so is Pier 1. I like the idea of plants as it looks like you have some green accents in the backsplash and your beautiful walls.
sfmomoxo
13 years ago
Your kitchen is absolutely fabulous. I love it! On one of the discussions I saw the most incredible paper towel holder. It was by Michael Aram, his Botanical Leaf Paper Towel Holder. Check it out. I was planning on getting it for my kitchen, but I think it will look even better in yours!
marcydc
13 years ago
On that beautiful mantel I'd put a piece of framed art. Or maybe 2 smaller pieces.
flwrs_n_co
13 years ago
Wow! Great kitchen! I agree with previous posters that deciding on a window treatment would be a great place to start deciding on colors to be added. Maybe get moved in and live in your wonderful new space for a little while and see if any particular colors in your dishes/kitchen stuff stand out to you.
Or, GO SHOPPING!! (My favorite choice :)) Whatever you decide to do, you have a great space to decorate and I envy you the task of decorating it!! You obviously have great taste so I'm sure whatever you decide will look superb (and we look forward to seeing lots of pics)!!!
francoise47
13 years ago
Beautiful, gorgeous -- congratulations on your almost done, amazing kitchen. If you haven't posted details and the floorplan before, I'm sure everyone would enjoy seeing them. Yours will quickly become one of the GW inspiration kitchens.

You've received great suggestions above for bringing in accessories and color. I'm not a clutter/decorations person. I agree that fabric, if even for simple roman shades or a valance will be your best friend. I'm sure you've looked at the other beautiful white kitchens on GW (like Shanghaimom's, jsweenc's, katieob's, firsthouse, et. al.) -- they all have great inspirations.

My favorite useful "accessory": the espresso machine!
cat_mom
13 years ago
I just commented on your beautiful bathrooms over on the bathroom forum and had to pop in here to tell you how nice your kitchen is! Once you start adding your day to day small appliances, kitcehn tools, stuff like that, you'll get a better feel for how much space you want to fill with purely decorative items. Hoe goods does get in new stuff all the time, so you might find something(s) that works on another visit. Also, Pottery Barn and RH always come out with new things. Crate and Barrel as well.

On one of the discussions I saw the most incredible paper towel holder. It was by Michael Aram, his Botanical Leaf Paper Towel Holder. That was probably my thread re: my MA paper towel holder! :-) My mom liked it so much, I am getting one for her for her birthday present!
kimkitchy
13 years ago
Rookie, I don't usually comment on decorating because I'm certainly not the deco-diva... but I did have a thought. I noticed your rather colonial inspired light fixtures (love those!) and the warm gold tones in your fireplace stone. You said you wanted to choose accents that might warm up the kitchen a bit. How about some amber toned accessories? I could see hurricane candles with amber bubble glass, with the baskets you intend and perhaps a clock with an antiqued parchment face. Maybe an amber glass bowl with fruit. The amber might pick up the warm tones of the fireplace and complement your wall color.

Your kitchen is gorgeous! I'm sure you'll make beautiful choices on your accents!
formerlyflorantha
13 years ago
What a great blank slate for an artist...you! And you can so easily change it at will. If that's chocolate brown in the adjacent room, you've got one direction right there. Restrained good taste with old bookbindings, muted paisley fabrics, Chesterfield sofa with brass tacks,

Mustard yellow would also be good with that wood. Yellowware crockery and mustard plaid teatowels. And a pewter container with dried yarrow and white and green hydrangeas.

But I personally recommend red. Lots of red. Maroons, red-browns, cherry reds, everything but fire engine red. Rugs, red trim on white linen at windows, spill some tomato sauce, wear a red apron, buy a red cookbook, put red bibs on kids. Geraniums at the window. Bowls of red onions next to the cutting board. Spill some blood on the paring knife. Imari creamware above the pass-through or ruby glass or my hubby's aunt's old Haviland or fabric covered file boxes holding cooking mags.

I can just imagine Christmas in this space--have fun stormin' the castle!
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Wow, I knew I'd get some great ideas here! Thank you so much. I guess I better find the right window fabric first...
I remember that beautiful paper towel holder! That thread was my introduction to Micheal Aram.
I think a parchment faced clock is a great idea. I'm going to keep my eyes open for one.
And then there is finding the right shade of red...
Thanks Florantha!
I have lots to do, I hope some of you are still around to show the result to next year when I get it together :)
Thanks again for all your ideas!!
chicagoans
13 years ago
Wow it's so gorgeous! With those pretty blue green walls I'd try a yellow. Start simple with a pot or two of yellow mums and maybe a couple dish towels to see what you think of the color.
tinker_2006
13 years ago
rookie, I have already been drooling over your kitchen in the building forum... and I can't start to think how to help with with accessories yet... BUT, I need another favor! I see you have a pass-through from your kitchen to great room, can you please post on the building forum a picture from the great room into the kitchen? When do you move in..? You have done a beautiful job! I'll look for them on the building forum!
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Chicagoans,
Mums are a GREAT idea and we'll be moving in right on time for them too!

Tinker, thanks! I'll gladly post some pics, if I don't have any new-ish ones, I'll take some. I have two bookshelves for either side of the pass through on the great room side but they're not finished yet. I'll follow up over on The Building Forum........
kitchenaddict
13 years ago
Hi rookie..

Everyone gave you good ideas..I just want to say your kitchen is beautiful....Sooo Pretty!

KA:)
shelayne
13 years ago
Oh Rookie, your kitchen is absolutely spectacular--even without your accessories! I absolutely LOVE it! That backsplash, those lanterns... just YUMMMMM!

I also go with those who say- GO SHOPPING! Home Goods has to be my favorite store for ideas. Have fun!
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Kitchenaddict! And thanks to all of you who weighed in, this is so helpful! And fun too.
emily_mb
13 years ago
Beautiful. Your kitchen DOES NOT need accessorizing beyond a vase of flowers, a bowl of fresh fruits, and whatever objects you will use. I'm in the "LESS is MORE" camp.
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Shelayne, thank you! After seeing your beautiful backsplash, a peek of the hardware and your wall color, I can't wait to see more of your kitchen!
Thanks Emily, I'm thinking you're right, I'll start out with less, not that I have much choice, no time to shop lately anyway, and I'll add slowly and carefully...or I'll take a day off from work and go crazy over at Home Goods, lol.
lala girl
13 years ago
I love your kitchen - It is gorgeous! Everyone has great ideas so I do not have much to add, except to use ebay to find some neat vintage items - they will complement your spectacular details and give your kitchen some additional texture. Maybe a collection of vintage enamelware pitchers? The other piece I just bought and LOVE (it ended up on the coffee table and not in the kitchen) is an Italian woven bowl from Neo I found at GretelHome.com. Enjoy the process - your kitchen will be so amazing to settle in to.

http://www.gretelhome.com/neo/314-large-crocheted-rubber-bowl-in-black.html
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Laurainlincoln!
Great suggestions, I just checked out Gretel Home. They have some really interesting things, those woven bowls are fantastic. I actually have a couple of enamelware pitchers, they are of the few items I'm reusing from my old kitchen. Thanks for weighing in!
juliekcmo
13 years ago
I have a suggestion...do you have a "antique mall" in your area. Here we have one and it's not really antiques (read expensive). For the most part it is booths that people who have a hobby of going to estate sales and like certain things will rent boot space there. So there are all sorts of things, and it is a great way to pick up home items that don't look like you just ran out and bought everything at once. There are items at every price point.

When we finished our kitchen, I bought some decorative plates, painted trays to hang on the wall, hand painted china bowl for a soap dish, framed pictures for the bathroom, and a few other items. They are all unique, and less costly than items at mass retailers.
red_eared_slider86
13 years ago
How beautiful your new kitchen is! I've seen lots of great advice here. Here is a link to a design site that helped me to nail down exactly what my style is, and to decide how to accessorize accordingly:
http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com/Category:Interior_Design_Styleshow.

I hope that helps. And I envy your problem! You're going to have fun!
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Juliekcmo,
We have a great flea market where I live and it's exactly what you're describing, I just hadn't been thinking about it since I stopped buying for my old house a couple of years ago in anticipation of getting a new one. I have the coolest collection of vintage tins and costume jewelry from the fleamarket. It's more fun to shop that way. BTW, I love the painted china bowl for a soap dish idea!

Thank you Red_eared_slider! That's a helpful resource, thanks for sharing. It is getting to be fun again now, thought I'd never see the day!
monkeymo
13 years ago
I've got nothing but studs right now (the wooden kind, not the manly kind), so I might as well decorate your kitchen!

This is just the first thing that came to my head. I think your mantel would be a great place to pick up the iron hanging lights. Plates allow you to bring in all types of color. Oh, and the R is for rookie!

{{!gwi}}
rookie_2010
Original Author
13 years ago
Monkeymo, that's awesome!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE the R but I think I'll go for an N for Novice when this is finished :)
Thank you for taking the time to do this, it's so cool to see some things with color in there. Is this Photoshop? I'm positive that I'll be doing something to pick up the black pendants now, thanks so much!
monkeymo
13 years ago
You're welcome! Your kitchen is really nice and you are going to have so much fun decorating - oh and cooking too!

Yes, I used photoshop - love being able to try things out first. Don't forget to post your photos once you make your gorgeous kitchen even gorgeouser ! :-)
daisychain01
13 years ago
Oh, I remember a sneak peek at your kitchen a while ago and wanting more - what a dream.

I would bring some of those lovely wood tones from the door into the room. What about bamboo romans in the same colour as the door and a chunky endgrain cutting board in the same colour sitting on that luscious marble island.

If you go to ebay you can buy antique wood recipe boxes for a song. I think one of those would look great tucked in a corner.

If you do plates over the mantel, I'd do something dramatic - large and all one colour maybe.

Is that calacutta marble? It's my favourite.
sparklekitty
13 years ago
Rookie - You know I love your kitchen. I agree with Emily - let it happen naturally. I was surprised with my kitchen that little things like dish towels and bowls I already owned are giving me direction for accent colors. I have this great bright/slightly olive green pottery bowl with a bunch of red and yellow tomatoes in it that looks amazing with my gray/white/stainless/natural wood kitchen. I also have some nice darker blue/not quite navy towels that also look great and a vase of sunflowers were "wow". I didn't imagine these were colors that would look good but with such a neutral backdrop vibrant things just pop - real life things not props - in the kitchen.

If you really want to find some "colors" - just buy a bunch of dish towels and drape then on your stove for a few days to see how it does.

Please help me accessorize my finished kitchen! PICS

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