Oh! I love it! It's like the kitchen wanted to be this way! Lovely.

I don't think the walls look bare at all...from reading your comments before looking at the pictures, I actually expected to see less decor. I think I'd try living with it and letting the walls breathe a bit before adding anything else. Too much and it's hard to appreciate what's there, and since you said the things there are special, why not give them a little room to shine?

I also love it. Without too much stuff, you really can look around the room and appreciate the nice vintage items you have.
Good Job.

I've been away for a couple weeks & didn't realize your redo had extended into your kitchen already! Looks good, very soothing. Love the pottery pieces, I collect vintage odds 'n ends pieces like that, find them very comforting somehow. My Gram had a similar vintage stove, which I plan to have restored, another piece that brings me great comfort. So it's easy to imagine the feeling of sitting in your kitchen. Well done! :)

Oh, man!

I am in love!

That just looks like the coziest place on earth.

That is exactly the kind of kitchen that sings to me.

Good job!

Love it! Your windows look so soft and cottage-y with the sheer cafe curtains instead of the wood blinds. The wall color is a great combination with your red cabinets. I'm definitely getting a cottage vibe. :)

Looks wonderful! Very warm and cozy!

A vote for hanging Fiesta Ware plates or platters around the print. Maybe in a green color?

LOVE the cat! :)

Jen, I love it!

You are right - washers and dryers were always proudly on display in older country cottages and farm houses that didn't have designated laundry rooms, pantries, etc. Fits right in with your vintage stove and other vintage pieces.

Tuesday

Your kitchen makes me smile! I love how the wall with the wood boards turned out too.

Think of all the fun vintage laundry storage items you can look for once the shelf over the laundry is up!

Jen it is looking great!

Since you were inspired by the uk and cottages there so consider your washer in the kitchen area fit right with that. Not that uncommon to have the washer in the kitchen over there.

I really liked it before and I really like how it looks now. A lot of vintage pieces had a Mexican theme (like the Homer Laughlin Hacienda pattern) so you'll be able to blend the two styles you love.

I like it a lot. The wall color is warm and pretty.

Fabulous! So warm, charming, and inviting! And I used to have that same parrot board in green with that same knife! (maybe still do, somewhere, I hope). The kitchen walls turned out great. Well done! I vote too for living with things for a while before adding more. Then you'll know you truly want to, if you do, and not just because it's familiar. Are the wood blinds gone or just up?
Penny

Thanks so very much! This afternoon I tried out a few items to go here and there on the walls, deciding not to add anything additional at this time. I tried a collection of Fiesta plates around the Helguera print, but since they were multi-colored it just didn't look right. Perhaps Teacats' suggestion for using plates in all the same color would work better - or I'm still very much drawn to the Hacienda dishes too! Ah well, there's plenty of time to make a decision. :-)

Peegee, the wood blinds are gone and I like the room so much better without them.

This kitchen is such a far cry from the gorgeous and sophisticated spaces that so many of you have - I'm slightly embarrassed about sharing it - but appreciate the kind words from those who appreciate what I'm trying to do with what I've got.

Oh yeah - I just finished painting the bathroom this afternoon too. I used the same green as in the kitchen and painted the top portion of the room, covering up the faux-treated yellow walls in there, just as I did in the kitchen. Left the bottom portion of bathroom walls turquoise. The color combination is very pretty and makes the room feel larger and fresher, and strangely enough the green looks completely different in the bath than it does in the kitchen. Now, to re-accessorize in that room too! And ... I am really sick of painting. ;-)

I love this new direction you're taking in your home. The addition of these cooler tones not only will be easier to live it, but makes for a more complex, interesting space.

AJ! I like that so much better! Wow what a difference. Love the green, love the boarded walls. I know this probably sounds nutty but the colors and style of your kitchen reminds me of drawings by Mary Engelbreit. I used to love her stuff. (ok, I'll admit it, I still do even though it's not as popular now as it used to be)

Here is a link that might be useful: maryengelbreit.com

Lukki, I had to go dig out my "Home Sweet Home" book by M.E. after you mentioned her! I do like her style/stuff, although in relatively small doses. Not sure if she's still living in the house featured in the book I have, but it is fabulous. Built in the 1920s, I believe, and very much a wonderful storybook style.

OK, after saying I was going to wait on making a purchase, I went and ordered this cute little shelf to go over the Helguera print. It will bring a little more cottage-ness to the room and solve my dilemma of how to display a few plates or platters on this wall, as the shelf has a plate groove. It's almost as long as the buffet that it will hang over, so a nice size. It's dark green and distressed, in case the color isn't apparent. Can't wait to get it!

You probably know this already, but if not --Homer Laughlin has another pattern called Mexicana, which is similar to Hacienda. Edwin Knowles has one also.

Jen, I love that green and I didn't think I would! And of course I love the Franciscan. ;)

I agree, the room does look fresher. Here's another idea for fresh which I realized yesterday.

I usually use table runners on my dining room/kitchen table but yesterday I got out my Williams-Sonoma table cloth (solid white background with tiny little flowers, so cottagey!), wondering if it would make the room feel too stifled & warm because of it being summer.

DH and I were floored, it looks so fresh! We both had forgotten about this table cloth. Having this particular tablecloth really does make my DR & Kitchen "farm style."

There are many vintage table cloths on ebay if you wanted to give it a try.

Thats what I love about older homes, the character and warmth they have. The green is refreshing in the space and cools down some of the hotter colors. I love the mix of colors in your home, they would put me in a good mood.

Love the changes Jenn!

tina

It looks wonderful. I continue to be amazed at how quickly you get things done!

Red and green, my favorite color combination! Your kitchen looks vintage fresh after painting over the fauxe-ed walls, great job :)

Thanks so very much! I did a bit more tweaking last night, putting the red and white checked "picnic" tablecloth on the table that belonged to my Grannie (love those old tablecloths, Oakley!), and placing a basket filled with vintage dish towels on the sideboard in front of the window. Funny how just little changes can make a big difference, now that there's not wall-to-wall stuff in this space!

Now I'm in the process of selling my Mexican-themed decor. Have already parted with quite a bit (advertised and sold it at my workplace), listed one painting on eBay and will probably put some framed photos out there as well. It's a bit like saying goodbye to old friends, but the change overall has been very positive for both DH and me.

I liked it before...I thought! Now I like it even more! So cute, fresh and clutter-free! The cuteness of the space really shines now.

You're so good at re-envisioning spaces. Most of us would have lived happily ever after with your before. You truly re-invented your kitchen...without knocking down cabinets and walls. Inspiring. Great job!

"This kitchen is such a far cry from the gorgeous and sophisticated spaces that so many of you have - I'm slightly embarrassed about sharing it - but appreciate the kind words from those who appreciate what I'm trying to do with what I've got."

Jen, you had immersed youself in Mexican and loving SW, I can understand. Time for a change tho, but so glad you kept some of the Mexican influence. I had lived in Arizona and England.......go figure on how to latch onto one or the other!! Now, just trying for comfortable.

What you have done is wonderful!! I know you will love the new look.

Lovely room. I'm so glad you decided to keep the wood walls. They fit so well with the style of your home and all those great vintage pieces you have.

I can't believe all you've done in such a short time! I've managed two rooms in two months and you've done two rooms in two days!!

Charming!!!
I, too admire your "roll up your sleeves and dig in" attitude. ENJOY!

Really cute kitchen Jen - Your stove is to die for!

We're also going for a cottagey feel in our new home and you've been an inspiration.

the green really brings the feel of of fresh air...nice job!

I love the new look and shelf. Now you'll want to vacation in the Cotswold's instead of Cabo!

Love the changes! You have a great eye for decorating.

We also have W&D in our kitchen.

It looks so nice, you did an amazing job !

....And don't forget Cath Kidson stuff!

That's fantastic!

Do we get to peek in your bathroom, too? Nosy, I know, but I'm curious about how the green looks with the turquoise...

Thanks so much for your kind words! Last night as I was walking through the kitchen turning off lights before going to bed, it really hit me how much calmer I feel in the space now. It's like I just kinda go "ahhhhh" when I'm in the kitchen now, instead of feeling all jazzed up all the time.

Oakley, I've been looking at some Cath Kidston mugs! I just love her stuff. I've also found so many vintage things online, particularly on Etsy.com, that I've thought would be perfect for this space. I am making it a point, however, to print out photos and "audition" the items before just plunging in and buying, and more often than not I'm finding that the things I thought I would just have to have are actually things that are cute - but just not necessary, or somehow not quite right once I really envision them in my rooms. I am really enjoying being a lot more selective. And it's a good thing I am, since yesterday ushered in an unexpected $185 plumbing charge (I am sick of having to pay for plumbing repairs!) and DH just texted me to say that his car (which just came out of the shop a couple of weeks ago after having a new CPU installed) was stalling. Again. :-/