The kitchen shelves and a peek…

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I guess this is more than a peek, hmm? Some of you guessed last week that I painted the kitchen and music room “Geneva Swan Gray,” like I did in the dining and living room, and you were right. 

When I start thinking about making a change and imagining what it will look like, I usually just go ahead and go for it and hope for the best. I was not disappointed at all. In fact, I just needed a change from the blue, and this new color was more like a palette cleanser. 

I’m still using the red print from Christmas, and I really love how it looks against the gray with the dark chestnut counters and black iron. 

I brought out some silver and crystal pieces, like I did in the dining and living rooms, then found my grandmother’s vintage Blue Ridge “Stanhome Ivy” dishes and knew that was what I wanted to use for a pop of color. I love how the ivy pattern with red berries looks with the red print fabric.

I still have some milk glass out and a couple ironstone pieces. Funny, but the dark color on the ends of the silver flatware is not tarnish, but the reflection of the dark wood on the shelf above. My mother is mortified when my silver is not cleaned, so I *try* to keep it cleaned:-) 

My mother had given me some green McCoy planters and I love how this one brings out the green in the ivy and provides some contrast to the white and silver. 

I know this is probably a shocking change for some of you — after all I am kind of “known” for my unique blue kitchen, but it had been that way for three years and I just wanted a change. It’s paint after all so it’s not like I can’t paint it again. This is why I get Walmart paint:-)

I’ll show the whole kitchen as soon as I get time to shoot it so you can see how it all works in the open space.  In the meantime, we are all really loving the change…for now:-)

I’ll be joining:

Wow Us Wednesdays

13 Comments

  1. Unknown
    February 10, 2015 / 11:41 pm

    I did luv your signature blue kitchen Anita . But I must say… this is a stunner. The grey as a backdrop with the pops of colour is beautiful!!
    LUV!!!
    Hugs, Gee

  2. Deb
    February 11, 2015 / 1:05 am

    It's all so pretty and I love the addition of the little lamp. It must look lovely lit up at night.
    Grey works for me. It's beautiful. Deb

  3. At Rivercrest Cottage
    February 11, 2015 / 1:05 am

    beautiful wall coloring, but those red curtains are a knockout.

  4. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
    February 11, 2015 / 1:32 am

    Love the peek!!

  5. chateau chic
    February 11, 2015 / 1:50 am

    Your newly painted walls look so fresh and pretty, Anita! I love how paint can make a huge change in a room.
    Mary Alice

  6. Pinky at Designs by Pinky
    February 11, 2015 / 3:02 am

    The new color is VERY pretty and good to know you like Walmart paint! Love those dishes too.

  7. Sarah
    February 11, 2015 / 4:08 am

    Beautiful! I wish a little elf would come paint some rooms here. '-)

  8. Unknown
    February 11, 2015 / 2:55 pm

    Beautiful color against the shelves. The Stanhome Ivy dishes remind me of my Franciscan Apple ware. Looking forward to the reveal. Kathleen in Az

  9. Southern & Style
    February 11, 2015 / 4:30 pm

    I LOVE how this turned out & I'm so envious of your perfectly styled shelves, you always have the best decor!

    xoxo, SS

    The Southern Stylista

  10. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR
    February 11, 2015 / 9:01 pm

    Love the shelves, Anita! You styled them beautifully; and the cups look so pretty with the fabric of the curtains. Can't wait to see it all! I know it's beautiful, as always!

  11. Just Judy
    February 12, 2015 / 8:05 pm

    Very pretty display and new shelves. I would love to have them!

  12. Carmen
    February 21, 2015 / 5:58 am

    I really enjoy your blog, thanks for all the great ideas! I have a question for you. We are needing to update our kitchen, and I love the look of wood countertops. So I would love to know how yours are holding up right by the sink. Are they getting water damage, and do they scratch easily? Thanks!

    • Anita Diaz
      February 23, 2015 / 3:18 pm

      Hi Carmen! Our counters are holding up great! No stains of any kind. Yes, there are scratches, but this is soft wood and they don't go deep. don't cut directly on them or anything, but other than that I'm not too careful about how I use them. I'm planning a post, hopefully this week about how they are holding up. One thing I did, that no one else is doing, is use a floor grade varathane finish, and I am so glad I did. They really look beautiful and like an old store counter, which was what I wanted. I'll go into detail when I write the post:-)