Hi everyone!
I have been in love with English cottage style for ever, but I really embraced it around Christmas as I had found some tartan fabric for window treatments. Since our house is really small, it works very well for us.
I have wanted to give my kitchen some vintage English flavor so I have added some fabric, painted a bit and brought out some more blue and white and painted ceramic accessories…
I have wanted a curtain under the sink for a while but could not decide on fabric. Then it dawned on me to make a tiered ruffle curtain and use a mix of fabrics. I am LOVING this! Too cute, and I can always put the doors back on. It took about two hours to make.
I used ticking, toile and a floral print. I love that with the striped rug.
I also painted the cabinet above the stove. You can see the burned up microwave is gone. We exchanged it for a $39 hood, then extended it with wood trim because it was too high. I’ll show more of that later.
I also added this trim from my great grandfather’s house to the bar so I can hang my cutting boards in easy reach.
On the other side I added a rod so I can hang towels, etc. The striped towel is one my mom made from a vintage flour sack.
This is the bar that I want to change into a rectangle shape when we can get to it. We really need more space, and it won’t be that difficult a project since we pretty much have all the materials on hand. Remember, my dad collects wood leftover from building sights:-) The marble board came from my grandfather’s store.
So the microwave that caught on fire was removed, and I liked the space there so I decided to add ceramic tile. I also painted the rest of the backsplash then glazed over top of that with mocha glaze. I just wanted it to look like a mixture of stone and tile that was added to over time.
I also took the doors with the glass panels off the pantry, and exchanged them for the ones next to the stove. They were the same size so they fit perfectly. I need to get another shelf for the inside, though.
How about a croissant with homemade strawberry jam? Sorry, but I did not have any scones made, although I do have a great recipe for them:-)
The “Romantic England” cups are hanging on the cup hooks, (I noticed hanging cups in several of the English cottage kitchens I saw) and the tray is American from 1956.
One thing I really love about English cottage kitchens is the mix of accessories that look as if they were collected from different places in Europe. I am still using some of my painted plates from Turkey and Spain as well as other things collected from different places.
I hope you enjoyed the kitchen makeover! I will go into detail about some of the little projects so you can see how I did everything in different posts. I used mostly things I already had, or were really inexpensive. I would still love to paint the bottom cabinets black, but it will have to be later. Also, I would love to change out the faucet to black, but that’s not in the budget right now.
Sometimes the little changes can make a big difference and don’t cost a thing. I’m all about that these days.
Here is a wonderful book with cozy, quirky English cottages to inspire you…
You can find it at Amazon and probably ebay.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! I love your comments, and I am so inspired by all of you.
I’ll be joining:
Anita
Anita…your kitchen is beautiful! The tiered skirt under the sink is SO cute and I love the woos panels you added to hold your towels and cutting boards to your island. I think it is a fantastic island…I'd love to have one that people could sit at.
Everything is so lovely, warm and cozy…love it!!
XO,
Jane
How beautiful! I love it and I love it all!!!!! Girl, how do you come up with all this! So gifted and talented! Some things just ain't fair! LOL
Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Everything is just so beautiful…love the colors!
Hi Anita. I really like the changes you made in your kitchen. The tiered curtain below the sink is sweet. Are you managing without a microwave? Love the added rod and hooks on the peninsula too. The old wood has character. Do you like the stick on under cabinet lights? We've never gotten lights under ours yet and I wondered about these. It's all coming together and really does look like an English country kitchen! Pamela
Pamela, they are not the stick on kind but the wired ones. Most cabinets would have a recess there, but ours did not so we need to trim around the cabinets so they don't show. I did not like the stick on ones actually because they were not electric. We actually have a small microwave on another counter that we will put on a shelf underneath the new bar when we build it. We were fine for a couple days, but didn't last long!!
Hi Anita! I love your new look!!! Love how you've brought everything together to look super cute:) Also…LOVE your treble clef paper towel holder:))
Blessings~~Shine
Anita I loved all your changes and LOVE that fabric!
It is just beautiful. All my favorite colors and put together just right. Love it all!
How super cute your kitchen is!! I just love it and those ruffles are darling! We have very similar taste! New follower.
I love it all Anita!! The ruffled skirt under your sink, the wood piece with the knobs for your cutting boards and all of your other details are just fabulous! 🙂 English cottage is one of my favorite looks too and after we spent some time in the Cotswolds years ago I fell in love with it even more. Everything you did added charm and character and it is just lovely!
Vanessa
Anita, I love the tiered ruffled look below your sink…super cute!! I also love how you hang your cutting boards & your towels. Your touches added such a unique, cottage look.
Your kitchen has a beautiful and welcoming look. I love the English cottage look and the skirt under your sink is a perfect touch!!!
Thanks for this glimpse into your kitchen. I love your ruffled curtains under the sink and the bar to hold towels.
Anita:
I too am in love with the English Country style and think you did a fabulous job on your makeover. It would be great to have you join Seasonal Sundays with this post.
– The Tablescaper
Ohhhh Anita it's all sooo beautiful, I love all of it 😉 the hood turn out gorgeous…..
And the curtains are just perfect…..
Hugs~
Mari
Anita, I love all of the wonderful changes to your kitchen! You have done a fabulous job! I love the hood that you added. That was a great idea. The English touches are all so pretty! Your kitchen always feels so warm and welcoming!
Your kitchen is very inviting. I love the tiered curtain under the sink and the cutting board and towel holders. Perfection!
It's so warm and welcoming! I love it… My favorite colors! Adore the Black cabinet and the skirt is to die for! XO Cindy
Your ruffled skirt under the sink is adorable!
Mary Alice
I love your kitchen, Anita! It's very warm and welcoming. Great job on the sink skirt and I really like how it ties in with the window valance just above.
hi Anita, that is simply darling! I LOVE IT!
I have always loved your kitchen, Anita. I think this makeover is fabulous. You are one talented lady. I love your island all set up to bake.
Hello Anita.
Your kitchen is stinkin ADORABLE! Love the ruffles too.
Danielle
Super cute, Anita!
you have a beautiful kitchen, I love it. I don't remember ever seeing it before. I never realized how much personality a small curtain under the sink can give a kitchen. The fabrics you chose are perfect for the color scheme in there. I also like how you incorporated black throughout the kitchen to match to your appliances with the stools. You did a wonderful job with your kitchen, great ideas.
Anita, your kitchen is so beautiful! I love everything you have done.
Such great inspiration. Gorgeous!
I always love a peek at blogger-friends' kitchens! Yours is really charming!
Well done, Anita, very English cottage indeed :o) Your home doesn't seem small in your photographs. Beautifully done.
Have a blessed day.
I am madly, madly in love with your kitchen. I love the way you have your cups on hooks under the cupboard. I'm going to do that for sure. Well heck, I just love everything about your entire kitchen. Keep the pictures coming because they make me happy.
Hi Anita,
I LOVE the new touches you've added to your kitchen. I have loved the English country, or English cottage, style for years now. I really fell in love with it when we visited England for a week 13 years ago. We stayed in a house in the country, and I still like to get those pictures out and look at them.
Your tiered skirt under the kitchen sink is just charming. Thanks for sharing these pretty pics with us and have a great week.
Denise at Forest Manor
My mom told us about this post at dinner tonight, and I had to come see it for myself. I had missed it. I love an English country look! What you did over the oven with the empty space from the microwave is just wonderful. Who would have thought the microwave fire would pave the way for something so pretty?
And I would love that book.
Oh my!!! So pretty! I love the cabinet painted black with the backsplash. How clever of you to think to just add the hood! It really looks good and makes the kitchen look very custom. I know a big island would be nice, but I have always love the shape of your island because it is so different! I will let you change it if you want to… 🙂 The piece that just made my heart pitter patter was the ruffled skirt under the sink!!! I am in love! the choice of fabrics is perfect!
Oh Anita, How did I miss this post!!LOL. I LOVE tour English transformation, so elegant but country rustic with cutting boards. Your island is great for baking, children snacks, lunches. The glass canisters are so pretty. The material and your sewing are professional. The hanging teacups is something I always wanted to to do, I love the red pattern. I love touches of black too, the stove area came out great. You have done such a wonderful and loving makeover. Only regret we live too far apart:(.Thank you for sharing, I love looking at kitchens and learning from your ideas. Take care.
Your kitchen is fantastic! It is also in the colors we used when we remodeled. I love all of the touches you have given it. That little skirt and the newly painted cabinet look great! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Love all your changes! The towel racks look amazing and I love the idea of hanging your coffee cups like that…I might have to see if that will work in my house! Your bottles in the box looks great too!
Love it! You did a great job! Thanks for sharing joann
Oh Anita, I LOVE the fabrics you have used. The colors are great!!!
Fun to see your decorating touches you have used.
God bless and shine on!
d
It looks lovely! I had glass doors made from my ref cabinet doors, it wasn't too expensive either. I would like to do more, but then everything inside has to be super neat! I just use both of mine for glassware.
Have a great weekend, Anita!
Anita,
Your kitchen is fabulous!!! I'm just now seeing this post, but I love what you have done. The boards you have added to the bar are so unique and a wonderful idea. Love the marble slab. Everything is just lovely!
Kathy
Love your transferware, black accents and use of tartan. You have a good style sense, and it all comes together in your kitchen. Nice. Thanks for sharing your inspired design. ~CJ
You did a really good job with your kitchen. Love the bit of fabric under the sink!
I love your kitchen…your choice of colors are beautiful, warm and vibrant. I love the curtain you made for under the sink…looks so pretty!
I just adore your warm, cozy kitchen! The ruffled skirt has me swooning 🙂 Cheers, Andrea
Beauiful kitchen! I love English country too and I have your black Coca cola tray on my wall.
Anita, I love your kitchen and the curtain under the sink is SO perfect! Love it! Everything is so cozy and warm and "cottagey"!
I just found your blog and am a new follower 🙂
Lou Cinda
I have always loved how cosy your table scapes are, so warm and inviting, your kitchen is just the same. I love the English cottage style of your home. I live in England but my kitchen is no where near as English and cosy as yours. Great job, so welcoming and pretty.
What a lovely warm kitchen.
Hi Just found you're blog and love it..I am english and live in a large stone cottage..hope we can be blog buddies here..X
Hello.. I just found your blog today. I love your kitchen, especially that tiered ruffled curtain.
HI Anita, what a beautiful kitchen, love everything about it. But especially the sink skirt. Could you please share how you made it? How did you attach the different pieces of fabric together? Thanks for any help you can give. I would love to make one. Do you happen to make them and sell them?
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