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Guest Picks: Aqua and Red Kitchen Accessories
This slightly retro color combination makes for a bright and cheerful kitchen
I'm a writer who ended up making lots and lots of cookies. I was a cookie decorator at a shop for almost ten years. I published a cookbook on cookie decorating in 2007, "Cookie Sensations." My second cookbook, "Sugarlicious," was published in early 2012 and is all about decorated cookies, cupcakes, marshmallows, and other crafty sweets, much like I offer on my blog, "the decorated cookie." http://www.thedecoratedcookie.com
I'm also the Edible Crafts editor at http://www.ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com. I have an MFA in Literature and an MA in Liberal Arts.
I live in Washington, DC with my husband, two daughters and three cats, and we're slowly fixing up our 85-year-old house.
I'm a writer who ended up making lots and lots of cookies. I was a cookie... More »
Whether sparse splashes of color against mostly neutrals or a space awash with bright patterns and colors, I'm a firm believer that kitchens need to be lively. And the clean, vibrant combination of red and aqua just screams "kitchen" to me. Even better, this color duo would fit beautifully in either of the above scenarios — against neutrals, or (like my kitchen) mixed with limes, orange, yellow and other crazy colors.
— Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie
— Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie
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A classic, retro, red clock hanging above the doorway is a must for any kitchen. One might argue that the microwave, oven and maybe even toaster oven and coffee maker tell you the time already, but I stand by my declaration.
by Sarah's Stands
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While this gorgeous cake stand is more than I can afford for everyday use, given that it's handcrafted with sustainable soft maple wood, I understand the price tag. If I did own this stand, I would make use of every penny and would use it all the time. I'd keep this on my kitchen counter to corral those pesky, random bits that end up all over the kitchen (my olive oil, the butter dish, salt and pepper shakers, whatever).
by Anthropologie
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Remember way back when people didn't worry about things like leaving butter out all day on the kitchen counter? I grew up with a pig butter dish sitting on mine, but this one will do for my aqua and red kitchen.
by Bloomingdale's
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This is the one! This is exactly the KitchenAid mixer that I want. Sure KitchenAids last forever, and the one I have still runs after 20 years, so I can't really justify a new purchase. But I did lose one of the knobs? And, um, this one is a little bigger? Plus, it has that flour guard. And it would match my kitchen perfectly.
by Brookstone
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No kitchen is complete without a phone hanging on the wall — especially the kind with the long curly cord pulled taut when you walk into the family room to hand your sister the phone.
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This is just like the one in "I Love Lucy." It's beyond my price range, but I do like looking at it. Maybe some day when I'm rich and famous, I'll have a vacation home with a retro-fitted kitchen.
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I actually have this timer. Sure my oven comes with one, as does my microwave, but how could I resist the vintage charm? Of course, with my stainless steel fridge, I have this timer delicately balanced on the two inches of space on the side of the fridge sticking out of the wall.
by Crate&Barrel
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I'm only an occasional tea drinker, but I'm a daily (um, several times daily) coffee drinker — French press only. I always have water boiling, and I always have my teapot on the stove. Hence, it has to be in a bright color. I think it's a rule.
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I need to replace pretty much every inefficient, ancient, dated light fixture in my fixer-upper house. Yay, one would think, new lighting, new ceiling fans! But there are so many fantastic possibilities, I can't choose! I've been stuck with my inefficient outdated lights due to indecision. I love this one for the kitchen — and it comes in red too!
by Williams-Sonoma
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I own this exact bread basket in white, and I use it for every holiday. It's super sturdy and pretty to boot.
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I've been a bit obsessed with trying to find a good area rug for the kitchen sink area, one that will stand up to repeated washing (I spill a lot).
by Society Social
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How crazy is this? This table folds down to seven inches wide. I can't even fathom how that's possible. Although, after living in a studio apartment for years, I appreciate anything that saves space.
by Anthropologie
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While vases don't scream "kitchen," whenever I buy fresh flowers I always, always put some of them in the kitchen too. This is a bit fancier than my standard mason jar vase.
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Given my husband's penchant for losing keys, I bought two of these for the wall. Walk in door, put bird in his house, never lose keys — at least that's the theory.
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I don't use my turquoise colander for draining. I keep it on the counter for bananas and apples and things. Then I dig out my 20-year-old, unsightly colander from the cupboard for pasta.
by Fishs Eddy
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Instead of cafe curtains in my kitchen, I got tension rods and clips and just used dish towels. As a bonus, when all the towels are in the washing machine, you can dry your hands on the curtains — not that I do that.
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These may be too intricate and gorgeous for my kitchen (sigh), but I love these knobs. And they come in red too.
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Whenever I host a party or dinner, I never, ever have enough utensils for serving. Of course, I never, ever remember this until I'm actually serving, and then promptly forget the next day. Note to self: get these oversize serving utensils.
by Home Depot
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I just love this color. I bought a couple of inexpensive, turquoise skillets at HomeGoods that I hang in my kitchen on hooks. They're decorative and practical space-savers.
by House 8810
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I love the vintage feel of these potholders. I have some similar ones dangling from my cabinet knobs next to the oven. Textiles are a great way to add warmth and keep with the aqua and red color scheme.
Next: Favorite Color Combinations: Turquoise and Red
Next: Favorite Color Combinations: Turquoise and Red
Comments
Bright Bold and Beautiful Refreshing color combination! Red crab print http://www.etsy.com/listing/50679156/red-crab-watercolor-print 
16 months ago · Like
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feathers1951 i LOVE RED MY KITCHEN IS RED AND WHITE AND I GET ALOT OF ACCOMPLIANTS ON THE KITCHEN
16 months ago · Like
katbourgeois Loved this post because I love the red and aqua combo too. In fact, I bought Laura's red crab print above and it looks fabulous!
16 months ago · Like
PaintColorHelp.com Dallas Have always loved the retro fridges; it's such a shame that the major manufacturers don't make one at a reasonable price.
16 months ago · Like
flymoma42 Yea, why is it sooooo much more expensive?
16 months ago · Like
cmu204 And I thought I was being soooo unique with my plan to do my kitchen in these colors. Ha!
16 months ago · Like
Fay Jones Day Tile These are exactly the colors that I am thinking about for the mid-century house we just bought!
6 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Jan. 25, 2012.
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