Kitchen Pics

First, this is the lovely gift I found waiting in the mail for me earlier this week. It traveled halfway around the world all the way from Australia! I just love the idea of that. The package was so beautifully wrapped, I almost didn't want to open it. Almost. Lee-Anne is so thoughtful she even tied it with ribbon in my favorite colors! Way to pay attention, girl.

She sent a sweet book for Mia's library and these cute little bibs. I love them both but my favorite is the pink and green ladybug one, of course. Thanks so much Lee-Anne! You're far too generous...but thank you for thinking of me. It made me smile. I'll be reminded of you every time I read this book or use one of these bibs (on myself as I'm drooling in my wheelchair at the nursing home still waiting for Mia!) LOL!

Here are the stencil pics as promised. I used leftover paint from the kitchen cabinets. It ties the colors together perfectly. Yes, I know the fleur de lis design is upside down. I did that on purpose. I liked it better that way. My kitchen has taken on more of a Tuscan look and I didn't want it to look too "ooh la la francais". But I loved the scroll design. So easy solution.... flip it upside down. Voila'. Oops....that's french, isn't it? LOL!

Check this out! Perfect for me, no? I saw it and just had to have it. Plus the colors match almost exactly.

This used to hang there but I never liked the matte color. It turned out much too purple up against the sun dried tomato color of the cabinets. So I'm having it re-matted with a green and will hang it in the dining room. You can also see one of the transitional colors on the wall behind it. That's the phase I was going through when I couldn't figure out the room.

Notice the new mugs, Mamacita? I copied her. She bought new dishes and posted a pic on her blog. They matched my new kitchen so I ran out and got them, too. Unfortunately, that means I now have 3 different sets of tableware. Time to downsize that a bit, I think.

I even did a stencil by the sink. Hmmm... just noticed that everything on the left side of the window sill was a gift from another blogger. Small world. Who knew starting this blog would lead me to so many new kitchen accessories? LOL!

So this is the reason why I want a new granite counter top. The pink C*orian is beautiful but was much better suited to the old style of my kitchen. It just isn't working for me anymore.

I think a nice black granite with some gold in it would be perfect. Dontcha think? I only have this one long counter top (about 26 sq ft) so I don't think it'd be too bad cost wise. What do you guys think? Black granite or something else?

This is the old look. The counter top matched the pink and green shabby chic thing I had going. This pic was taken right after I had the ceramic tile floor installed. Which is what set off the whole transformation of the kitchen. I thought when I picked the floor that it was pink enough to work. But in fact, it turned out to be way too dramatic and bold for that cottage look.

More of the old kitchen and all the stencil I painted over. The walls were sponge painted in a sage green. It was hard painting over all that. It took soooooo long to do. It broke my heart a little. All that work...gone. But it was time for a change. It had been this way for almost 10 years.

I really loved my old kitchen but it was definitely time for a new look. I love the new style! It's so warm and cozy in there. It's almost complete. I have a new light fixture that should be hung soon and then I'll need to re-paint the ceiling and do some other touch up. But unless I get a new counter top, it'll be done. Finally.....