Ha Ha! You totally called it on the hyperventilating! I actually liked the middle shelf better with the cookbook arrangement over to the edge a bit more and the yellow dish with it. I liked it not so centered with the ivy and l liked it with less ivy to call attention to it being, well you know, not real.

Forgot I had this pair. Here is more greenery for you Leona. Once you reply then I shall give you a little reward!!!

I decided you wouldn't have to reply first!!! Abbyjean and Leona, here is an adult beverage I just tried last week and it is now my fav. Grapefruit Martini: 3 oz grapefruit juice, 2 oz vodka, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz triple sec. Shake over ice and pour. Enjoy and thanks for all your help!

Oh! I am going to give that recipe to my husband as he is our bartender. Sounds sooooo good! Thank you!!!

I like where you were headed before without the new pieces, although they are very nice! And I am fine with the extra ivy as long as the yellow dish gets put back.

You don't by any chance.......and I know how you can shop your home.......have an antique salt and peper shaker set in the right colors to place on the top stack of books??? Off to the left a bit on the stack, to fill in just a titch of the blank space in the scroll work?

little bowl is back. Would you believe I have a s&p collection! I will dig up something! Great suggestion.

I love it! Of course, you have a s&p collection!!!

Thanks for the drink..is that my reward? Sounds yummy but no hard stuff for me now.. have some medical issues....gold piece a bit too formal.. real ivy would be thinner at the growing tips... just snip off a few strands & add them to lengthen the part on the shelf.

Leona, I was hoping you were doing better by now! Still the flu stuff or more than that? Sooo sorry!!!

@abbyjean... no flu anymore .. spent Friday & overnight in hospital on IV to get hydrated. I had lost 5 pounds in 3 days & had pain in my legs (in back of my knees ...not the normal muscle cramps which are a sign of dehydration) so I decided it was time to go in. My stomach just can't take liquor any more (maybe a sign of old age).. but at least can have some wine.

Soooo glad you went in. 5 pounds in 3 days and pains.....not good. Wine is always my choice of drink anyway.

Take care of yourself Leona. At the risk of being obsessive.. Here is what I did over coffee this morning! Found this picture while searching for the salt&pepper shaker set! Or do you like the original color scheme, posted previously (more blue) which is more in line with the family room. Thoughts?

Well that morning surely got the brain working...#1 has my vote .. simply perfect!.... top shelf.. 2 items.. middle reads as one.. bottom 3 elements... not sure if you need the small jar on top of the books on top shelf.. excellent job!

The picture adds a piece of sunshine to your room. I just feel like it fights with the red and the red no longer belongs. And that is fine, too, if the red disappears. Yellow and blue totally work.

I like how the picture fits that shelf and covers part of the back, but again, the ivy and the vase do not seem to work with it. I like how the rack is part decor and part function, with the cook books added. That makes it work in the room as a necessary piece.

I tried to look at the other pics of the space to see if the pic would even fit propped on a counter.........the one with the tv? Or would it fight with the tv, even at the other end???? Too much the same size? Or to the right of the stove, behind the canister???

I think I am going to remove the picture. I think it starts making it busy. Here is the other wall. I will resist going too much green. Thanks for the help guys!

remove the wallpaper like others have said, maybe a small glass tile to replace. Lovely kitchen, just something to brighten it up.

I rather like the art propped on the counter to brighten that area. Just do not angle it so much. This way it is exactly like the tv, and I think it would look better if it was straighter/flatter with the wall.

Very nice

Checking in but need to get caught up:)

Liking the baker's rack! When you added the picture a few posts up, I thought, "no, too busy". Then about one post later you removed it saying the same thing. It made me smile. I like the picture on the counter. I think removing the wallpaper is the best idea. Then a white tile backsplash would work, but maybe just paint that wall instead since you've got the short backsplash and it can't be removed.

Pardon the interruption for just a sec, but I'm dying to show my new home improvement that was just done this morning. So, speaking of backsplashes, I had a decorative strip put in my backsplash 10 years ago when our house was built. I've grown very tired of it in the last year, so just this morning I had a tile guy chip it out and replace it with the plain tile (luckily, the builders left leftover tile and grout in the basement 10 years ago). Not the most exciting backsplash, but it's the same tile as our larger floor tile so it certainly doesn't fight with anything in the kitchen. I'm not crazy about the Corian, but I've redone my island in a beautiful dark quarzite (you see a "cutting board" of the quartzite in these pictures). Also, check out the outlet covers - there is a guy in Denver that paints outlet covers to exactly match tile or granite backsplashes - cool, huh! OK, back to your dilemma birdkkk - just had to share with someone because it was an exciting day of "decluttering" a dated look:)

I vote for new wallpaper, something you really love. New, vibrant, and not mostly burgundy.

@Ann: the handpainted "stone" outlet covers take the cake.

Apple pie, would love to see what you suggest for wallpaper. So doable.
Ann, just beautiful tile etc. Change is so fun!

Ann, LOVE those changes in your kitchen! Think we all want those outlet covers now!!!

@Ann.. wow what a great camouflage job... & lucky to have so many outlets.

Hi birdkkk. I'm sorry to be so late to the game. I've tried to play catch up, but there are way too many comments for me to sift through each one. It sounds like you've got a lot of good suggestions for changing out wallpaper, window treatment, etc. I think someone suggested spray painting your light fixtures. I think that's a fantastic idea. Regarding your cabinets, they are waaaay dated, as you already know. :) If it was my kitchen and I couldn't or didn't want to replace them, I would paint the wood trim the exact color of the cabinet. Not any other color whatsoever, because that will just accentuate your cabinets' outdated style. Sorry, but no. Don't do it. Talk to your local paint store and tell them what you want to do, have them guide you to a paint product for the trim that will hold up to high use. Take a drawer into the store and have them match the paint to the drawer. Then, as Abbyjean suggested, put pulls on the doors and drawers. This will be the biggest bang for your buck and will change the entire look of the kitchen. If you think you want to paint the laminate, know that it can be done, but it's not an easy task. If you have the budget for it, you could have the cabinets refaced for a total upgrade. Not a cheap fix, but not as expensive as new cabinets. Just my 2 cents. :)

Birdkkk, maybe you know how already, but Houzz posted this article on how to remove wallpaper just today:)
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/is-it-time-to-take-down-that-wallpaper-stsetivw-vs~27630320

i think you guys have become obsessed with the bakers rack lol!

We certainly are an obsessive bunch on Houzz, aren't we flair lighting?

hahaha, yes, yes we are!

Flair lighting, I agree! I promise I won't be so anal with the next room! I am off to ask for help in one more area, the office. I will post pictures tomorrow and look forward to more advice. I have a feeling I know what you all will recommend. I can't wait to post my paint and wallpaper updates for the dining room and kitchen down the road. You all are so talented. Thank you!

As always, link the office so we can easily find you.
We just like the drinks you fix for us! LOL

I sure will. clink clink! I am seeing a pattern here. No one is on for coffee time but design creativity comes out for HH! (happyHour)

Heading over to "The Office". Hope to see you there! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/the-office-dsvw-vd~1016862

I found a picture with a similar desk arrangement to yours. Maybe it will inspire an idea for your office. I am enjoying reading your posts so much. Thanks for sharing.



http://houzz.com/photos/5492528

Thank you Ms sis. Great suggestion. I love the drapes. Glad you are enjoying the journey!

Enjoying the ideas on decorating the table and bakers rack. Great ideas!

I would love to see a built in cupboard/cabinet with some glass panels and lighting. It seems like a big enough space for one. Also I would put in a backsplash and remove the valance. Most of the light comes in thru the top one third of the window. So once removed you will get alot of light. I would be pay attention to the finishes of other items. The shiny look is passe. I am in the process of getting rid of shiny brass faucets, lights etc

Mary, thanks for your suggestions. I have removed the valance above the sink and will likely put in wide wooden blinds in white. As for the brass, I keep reading that it is making a resurgence so I am going with it. The faucets etc in the stores are evidence that it is coming back. Just curious which cabinets you think would look nice with the glass panels?

Love the idea of glass panels as Mary has mentioned .. think it will give a whole new look. I would vote for a spot that you already have designated for dishware. Would that be close to the table /dishwasher? If using the glass doors for only fancier dishware the 2 doors in the corner of the cupboards or the ones on either side of the sink would give a balanced look. Let's wait & see what Mary says.

I think a wood tone would look nice since you have the white cabinets I will send you a photo of what I have

These cabinets are built in and the one on the left is also white with marble top

The one thing I might add about the glass cabinets, I use my cabinets for serious storage! I have some beautiful glassware that I wouldn't mind illuminating which is on the long cabinet same side as refrigerator. I will mull on this. Is there any way to just replace the doors? I like the little lamp on the marble. I wonder how somehting like that would look in my office (see "The Office" thread?

That lamp would be awesome on the desk.....task lighting that is beautiful!!!!

birdkk, Wow that would be a great focal point in your kitchen & would give some relief to the all cupboard look. Any good carpenter can easily change only the doors. Think that lamp would be perfect size for your desk. you cold place it to the right on the desk & it wouldn't compete with the shelving.

I have a lamp sort of similar. I think I like the streamline of it. This site is so amazing.

I think the doors on the kitchen cabinet can be changed. There may be stock doors that you can get. A carpenter might know or maybe you can ask at a Lowes.

I would be hesitant to put too much money into something I don't love. I never have liked the cabinets but there are so many of them!