Two adjacent empty kitchen walls - need decorating!

3 years ago

We’ve been in our newly gutted/renovated house for about 6 weeks and I’m hoping to get down to a little more actual decorating of the kitchen. I purposefully kept it very neutral, knowing I’d bring in color with art and decorations. Right about now I’m actually feeling desperate for a little color.

Because I have the 2 adjacent walls, both empty and relatively large, I want to make sure that whatever I do on one goes well with whatever I do on the other. But I don’t want them to be too matchy-matchy. Does that make sense?

As you can see from my clear countertops, I like things uncluttered. I feel that I cluttered my walls in my last house and I want to avoid that here. I’d like it to look simple and neat. My kitchen is self-contained and a true eat-in, so I’m not worried about complementing any other room in the house. (Note: even if you think I should be concerned with coordinating with my living room, through the French doors which are almost always open, I’m just not…)

What I don’t want: word art (I’m over it), a command center (we’re empty nesters, so not too much to command), or a beach theme (we are at the beach, but as I said above, I overdid it in my previous house and I’m not interested in going that route again in this kitchen)

What I like: botanical art and vintage kitchen posters

What I’m open to, but not sure how to or if I should use: a wall clock, a mirror, baskets, boards

I’m guessing this is going to be a work-in-progress for a while and I’m not wanting to rush and get it all done immediately. But I feel that I need a bit of a plan and a place to start.

Also, IRL my lighting is nowhere near this harsh and the reflections and shadows are not an issue. Something about taking a photograph - it doesn’t show as well.

Any suggestions on what to get and how to pull it together would be appreciated. Thanks.

Featured Answer

Susan W
Original Author

3 years ago

Another update, mostly for myself.

I've finally got both walls filled, and I'm thrilled as my patience allowed me to bring a bit of my kitchen from our house of 27 years that we closed on a couple of weeks ago down to this kitchen in our retirement home, still a work in progress.

I posted this piece of furniture before, but now it's filled with some of my most prized kitchen possessions. My mom's Franciscan Desert Rose dishes, some large enamel pots, my grandma's big macaroni bowl, etc. Plus I really needed the extra storage behind those closed doors.

I really struggled with the other empty wall, but got what I considered a great idea back in May when we were working on emptying our big house to get it ready to sell. About 10 years ago my son and DIL (at that time his new girlfriend) had given me a beautiful wall calendar when they were living in France the year after college graduation. It hung in my kitchen ever since, first used as an actual calendar, then with the bottom of each page removed (the calendar part) as a sort of changeable decoration - I could flip the page whenever I wanted a new picture. I always loved each individual page which had beautiful food/drink illustrations with the French description above. (Le Café, La Soupe, Le Pain, etc.)

I finally got myself motivated and I separated the pages and framed them. Viola - gallery wall.

Extra inspiration came to me to use the Le Vin and La Biére pages over our little bar area - an antique dry sink that's been in my husband's family forever.

I'm going to miss the house we just sold with all of my heart, but being able to have these little reminders makes me so happy!

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Comments (13)

littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
It’s all really gray and dark. I will have to take your word that it’s not cold and dreary in real life.

What color(s) do you want to bring in? Green? You mentioned botanical prints - have you looked at Etsy.com?

Are you thinking of adding a rug under the table? It would add warmth, which is lacking.

Is that a moveable island?
elcieg
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Right off the bat...change out the chandelier. Yours is too small, hung too high off the table and the wrong shape. With the correct piece, if you look at your photo #3, the wall will be a back drop and you won't need anything for that wall. Width is 1/2 size of the table. Hang 30" to 35" over table top. I find 36" is a bit high...you judge when you are seated at the table. I like the posted chandeliers, but you will have your own idea.

Question: why only 5 chairs and why three on one side?

As for the adjacent wall, a good size piece of art will work. It maybe your photo, but the island doesn't look centered under the two recessed lights. If you keep the doors open, use middle of the island as your guide for hanging a nail.

I am coastal, Cape Cod, and I agree about all the beachy junk that winds up in rental houses. But, a beautiful scene of a beach or boats, would fit right into your kitchen. Going to find some suggestions, but I would advise you frame with a dark wood frame...no white, or navy blues..

These are all GreatBigCanvas, framed in walnut wood, but again you will have your own opinion of art you love. All come in different sizes up to 50' wide, so you can go larger on the wall.

Had to chose the next one because daughter and friends are going ot Ogunquit ME next weekend.
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mcarroll16
3 years ago
My suggestion is to set off the dining area with more "formal" art. A large piece that fills much of the wall, or a set of 2 or 3 smaller pieces. Then on the wall behind the island, put up more casual or functional pieces. The vintage posters, or a selection of cutting boards, or a rack for storing serving trays, etc.
hhireno
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
elcieg, it looks like the table has a bench on the wall side.
Susan W
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks @mcarroll16 - that's the exact type of advice I'm looking for. It makes perfect sense and I appreciate it.

@elcieg - Everything in that kitchen is brand new so I'm not interested in changing out the chandelier. I know that the table is a bit too large for the space, but I don't care. I love that table and the light fixture.

As @hhireno pointed out, there are 3 chairs on one side of the table because there is a large, matching bench on the other side.

I'm going to check out GreatBigCanvas so thanks for the tip, but I'm definitely leaning more toward botanical prints rather than anything beach themed.

@littlebug Zone 5 Missouri - I guess you'll have to take my word that my brand new kitchen, that I adore, is not cold and dreary in real life. The look is actually warm and quite bright in person - at least to me and my husband. Instead of "dreary" I might say a little dull, which is why I'm trying to bring in some color. But I'm not a fan of rugs under kitchen tables so I don't think I'll be doing it that way.
sheloveslayouts
3 years ago
A collection of botanicals framed with large mats in a grid would be nice:
sheloveslayouts
3 years ago
If it's not used as a worktop, the island could be placed on the kitchen wall and treated like a buffet with two lamps flanking a large piece of art. It would help get more cozy light on that side of the room.
Susan W
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks @sheloveslayouts - I really like the botanical grid idea.

The island is definitely used every day as a worktop. If I'm doing something big, I move the plant out of the way, but usually there's enough room on either side of it. I'm happy that it's on wheels though, so I can move it over next to the wall if I ever feel the need. Not sure what exact situation would have me doing that, but I like having the option. I'll keep that in mind when I ultimately decide what to hang on that wall.
elcieg
3 years ago
If you put art (botanicals) on the dining room wall, what will you do for the other wall?
Susan W
Original Author
3 years ago
@elcieg - Your last post definitely addresses my main concern. I need both walls to work well together and I still think that's possible.

I feel that @mcarroll16 and @sheloveslayouts have given me some ideas.
Susan W
Original Author
3 years ago
I'm updating this thread only because, well....you never know what someone might be looking for here on Houzz.

I decided to go for a nice big piece of furniture to take up the largest wall in my kitchen. This bookcase/pantry matches my table and it will provide some much-needed storage as we continue to downsize from our large pre-retirement house 1,200 miles away. Eventually we won't own it, but for now it's still home to plenty of stuff I'll be bringing down here.

Still plenty to do, especially in the decorating department....
Susan W
Original Author
3 years ago
Why or why did I fight with myself so hard to NOT turn my too-big table 90 degrees?!?!

I feel that my entire kitchen looks and feels larger. Still a bit of a work-in-progress.