Hey hey hey! It’s time for a Pinterest Challenge and today it’s all about Spring Kitchens. How fun is that? I wasn’t planning to do any spring decorating at the farmhouse because I’m not there to enjoy it all that often but when I did, wow, was I amazed at how much I loved it! So let’s get started with an easy way to add affordable spring decor to an everyday farmhouse kitchen. And if you’re here from Everyday Edits, welcome! I’m glad you are visiting.
Besides loving the spring look in the farmhouse kitchen, I realized this is actually the first time anyone has even seen the entire kitchen. I’ve shared the coffee station before and a few small ideas that I incorporate but never the entire thing. So put your glasses on. Here it is in all it’s needing-to-be-repaired glory. I’m a little scared to even show it to you. Just remember, it’s almost 100 years old!
Our inspiration photo comes from Marly Dice and even though I should have used our city house kitchen with cream painted cabinets and the same granite as Marly, I wasn’t feeling it. Besides, the Pinterest Challenge is about showing you how to make the inspo photo work with your home and your personal style anyway. So, the farmhouse kitchen is my palette this month and spring season.
What I notice about Marly’s kitchen and what I’d like to incorporate for this challenge is:
Clean and spacious counters
Flowers and green plants in strategical places
A jar for wooden utensils near her stovetop
Wood accents (cutting boards and rolling pins)
White dishes
It makes her happy
You’ll notice one big difference between our kitchen at the farmhouse and Marly’s kitchen. We don’t have white cabinets. We have open shelving at the top and the original cabinets on the bottom. We’ve obviously painted them and I actually love the new look. The open shelves are nice because we can see the antique dishes we use but it’s not so nice when you have to dust all the time.
First things first. I began by removing everything from the shelves and counters then gave it all a good cleaning. Even the top of the refrigerator. It felt so good and I was able to start with a clean slate. The kitchen is fairly small and with only two tiny areas for prep work (I’ve been looking for the perfect vintage looking island for years with no luck) I don’t have many places to add spring color or decor so I use what I already have as the decor. Honestly, with small kitchens, that is the way to go friends – use what you already have!
To keep this easy decorating project affordable, I shopped at Hobby Lobby and Michael’s which are my go-to places for greenery and flowering stems because you can always find them on sale. Then I shopped my home. I love cheap!
If you have a place to display a cookbook, change it out to something springy. Easy peasy. Next I added inexpensive greenery to a silver container I already had. It’s actually a heavy silver wine chiller that someone else purchased at Pottery Barn.
Then they sold it to me at a garage sale for 5 whole bucks. Woo hoo! For a long time it held the wooden spoons and spatula’s. Now it holds greenery for spring. I’ll admit it, I love the look so it’s probably there for life. Plus, now I have the utensils in a white clay barn. So many times I think about when they (the Misters mom, grandmother and great grandmother) cooked Thanksgiving meals here for dozens of family members. I seriously cannot even with that.
They didn’t even have a dishwasher. He’s told me they ate in shifts at the one or two tables around. And no, they didn’t use paper plates!
The wooden phone box hanging on the wall was the Mister’s grandmothers. Because I wanted to hang it there, it hangs upside down because the door opens in the wrong direction if hung correctly. You do what you gotta do for cuteness. 😉
Yes, that is the ugliest and smallest toaster oven you’ve ever seen. I should have removed it and decorated the top of the old chest but you know I like keeping it real. But to distract you from the unseemliness is the cutest little vintage phone wall box hanging above it. So cute and perfect for adding affordable spring decor to an everyday farmhouse kitchen!
The cabinet was a DIY project. I removed 2 drawers and made the adorable café style curtains. You’ll never guess what’s behind them. A microwave? Nope. A punch bowl? Nope. A pile o’ crap? Nope, not that either. Keep guessing.
Over on the coffee station side of the kitchen, I added vintage rolling pins to a crock for wood accents like Marly did as well as hang the wooden masher’s I found while on vacation last year. To carry a spring look over here, I cut a flowering bushel in half so I could add some to an old carpenter’s apron and some to an antique enamel pitcher.
The last spring touch to the kitchen is a wrought iron tray with little birds. It isn’t meant for kitchen utensils but it looks happy and holds the sponges. Were windows expensive back in the early 30’s? This is one of only two windows in the kitchen. Why didn’t people put more windows in a house? I would think they’d have way more because there was no air-conditioning back then. Seems crazy to me. But they also didn’t have enough plugs in the walls either. I think each room in this little house has 2 plugs per room. Ayi yi yi.
Yes, this is an old house but we love it and are slowly but surely making it better. For a long time I kept thinking the past generations might not like all of my changes. I’ll never know but who wouldn’t like a dishwasher and a garbage disposal? We still need trim, new counter tops (maybe), a new sink and faucet, a garbage disposal (!), more lighting and a kitchen island. Don’t get me started on the tiny pantry with only two even tinier shelves.
Good news is that I’ve shared an easy way to add affordable spring decor to an everyday farmhouse kitchen. The better news is, it’s time to hop on over to see my friend Michelle at The Painted Hinge. You will love her kitchen! Don’t forget to visit the others because my-oh-my there are some beautiful spring kitchens to see with some magnificent spring decorating ideas!
I so much enjoyed touring your country house kitchen that you decorated beautifully for spring. The vintage phone holders on the wall are unique and they look great on display as does your framed feed sack. Your kitchen reminds me very much of my grandmother’s. 🙂
Author
Thank you Paula. It means a lot coming from you and your sweet sentimental heart.
Cindy,
Your farmhouse kitchen is great. I love every detail! Thanks for doing this challenge and allowing me to participate!
Rachel
Author
Awe, thank you so much Rachel. I love hearing that. 🙂
I love it Cindy. I love the antiques and the framed coffee bag is my favorite! Remind me of the story behind it. I also love the utensils on the tray. Practical and pretty! Thank you for all you do!
laura
Author
No great story behind the framed coffee bag. Just found it for a steal at an antique store near us. Thank you Laura.
I LOVE that 100-year-old kitchen! I adore your open shelving and you have inspired me to incorporate more greenery and out-of-the-box decor. Thank you so much for the fabulous inspiration!
Author
Woo hoo! I am so excited that I could inspire YOU! Have a great week.
Oh my WOW, I adore your REAL farmhouse kitchen. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I love that it’s authentic AND that it has the history of your husband’s family attached. It doesn’t get better than that. Oh, except it does, because you have it decorated to perfection for spring.
Thanks for hosting and for sharing your lovely kitchen with us! Pinned to my Kitchens Pinterest Board!
Niky @ The House on Silverado
Author
When we removed the upper cabinets, I kept thinking how much brighter and larger the kitchen felt. I also kept thinking that the Mister’s mom, grandmother and great grandmother would think I was crazy and wouldn’t like it. Well I quickly got over it. LOL! Thank you for Niky for reminding me of the days (hot, long, sweaty days) when we started loveing on and making that old house better. Still have a long way to go though. 🙂
I’m do happy to see your farmhouse kitchen, Cindy. You’ve made it perfect for spring. I love all the vintage touches. When are we going to have a girls, day at the farm? Hint, hint. Thanks so much for hosting. Always a pleasure and it gets me in gear.
Author
Thank you Carol and we can have a girls weekend whenever you’d like. It’s only nice in the spring and fall. Summertime is when I call it Navanasty and Navasteamy. Obviously not so pleasant. 😉
I love your kitchen it’s the kitchen I grew up in at my Grandmothers it’s what a kitchen should be not todays farmhouse has a lot of character things with meaning not just go buy something…..very very pretty!!!!!!!
Author
Thank you so much Eva! I was terrified to show everyone that little old kitchen but you’ve seriously made my day. I think it could use a few conveniences (mostly a garbage disposal) but I hope to keep that character. So glad you visited and commented today! Hope you have a wonderful week.
I love your kitchen and all your fabulous antiques. Always such a treat to take a tour.
Author
Thanks so much Marty. I was hoping people would see the charm like I do and not all of the much needed updates.
I’m so glad to have finally gotten a gander of your farmhouse kitchen! I think it looks perfectly farmhouse-y! Love the open shelves and the vintage decor on the shelves. Your ideas for future improvements sound great, too! Pinned!
Author
Thank you Julie. I figured I’d scare away a few followers with the lack of pretties and updates when they saw that kitchen. I really don’t know how they cooked a Thanksgiving dinner there but they did. I know they ate in shifts but goodness, they didn’t even have a dishwasher back then!
This is my favorite post that you’ve ever done! (I think I say that every time, but I mean it this time, hahaha!). Your kitchen floods my soul with sweet memories of my great-granny! ❤️
Author
Oh that comment flooded MY soul with joy. Thank you. And even if you tell me that for each post, I’m okay with it! LOL. No one gets too much encouragement. Thank you sweet friend!
Your farmhouse kitchen is pretty, Cindy!! I love the little birdies in the window… I always wonder about pipe shelves… Do you have to worry about the ends popping up or are they screwed in from above (into the pipe)? The coffee bar area is really cute. I love the pretty flowers brought in from outside (my favorite thing to do).
Enjoy making your farmhouse kitchen even cozier,
Barb 🙂
Author
We do not worry about the ends popping up on the shelves. It depends on how heavy the wood shelf is when you put it up there and how far you space out your metal pipes. We chose a heavy wood so I’ve never bothered with being careful. Even with plates stacked on one end and only a lightweight cake plate on the other. I love them! The little wrought iron bird tray came from Canton, TX a few years ago but I know you could find one similar today if you wanted too. Thanks Barbara!
I love your sweet cozy kitchen, you did a wonderful job decorating it. I do not use paper plates, I know I am crazy but, I have a dishwasher and lots of cute plates to use.
Author
Thank you Marlene. You are not crazy. I’m lazy and even though paper plates might be tacky, if we had a large crowd like the hubs said they did and a lot of them ate outside, I’d be all over the paper plates and plastic forks. I look at like I’m saving the well pump because it would take 3 dishwasher cycles to get all of those dishes clean. 😉
Love your spring touches.
Author
Thank you Barb. I know they are plain but that’s me. I’m kinda plain, simple and easy these days. But if I lived alone (glad I don’t) I’d have tons of pink all over the place! Just sayin’.
Getting to see your farmhouse kitchen is such a huge treat Cindy! I love your fun way of styling your open shelves and the cute coffee bar. The vintage goodies are really taking me back, like the vintage aluminum cake carrier. I’m pretty sure we had one of those! Next time I want to see the pantry too!
Author
LOL, thank you Michelle. I didn’t realize people would like seeing it that much. I’ve had FB messages asking to see more and the pantry and the before photos. Who knew?! I’ll try and do a couple of pantry photos on IG. I don’t think it’s worth a post. Unless we do a poor-little-no-space-ugly-duckling post?!
Cindy your farmhouse kitchen is adorable! I have a soft spot for older farmhouse kitchens and yours is so pretty and cozy. Thanks so much for hosting another amazing blog hop!
Author
Thank you Michelle. I’m glad you think it’s adorable. I do some days. Others I’m cussing the lack of counter space. Still on the hunt for the perfect something to turn into a kitchen island though. That day will be so exciting!
I pinned some to the board I made for my daughter who is moving in to her new house, a tiny Cape Cod cottage. Ideas are great for her tiny home.
Author
Awe, so excited for her! Thank you Linda. All we can do is keep loving that kitchen (into submission). 😉
I love your farmhouse kitchen, Cindy! The whites, silvers and greenery look so fresh. I can just picture those pretty white curtains blowing with a gentle breeze. I can see why you love it there; what an escape!
Author
Thank you Lora. I wish those windows opened for a gentle breeze but one of the grannies had them caulked and painted shut! And they had screens on them. Can you believe that? Anyway, we do love it there most months.
I loved seeing your kitchen! My kitchen is 101 years old so I can relate. You styled your open shelves so beautiful. So fun to join all you ladies this month.
Author
Thank you Kim. When I look at this kitchen then look at your kitchen, it makes me wish we had more windows and I should add bright color but I never do. Not sure why?! One day I hope to move this house to one of the other pastures and build a new (old looking) house in its place. It will have more windows than wall space. At least that is the plan anyway. Fingers (and toes) crossed! 😉
Cindy, I’m in love with your vintage, authentic farmhouse kitchen! I dream of having a small, cozy kitchen like yours someday with the open shelves. We live in a large newer home that suits our family now, but it lacks the charm of older homes. I’m crushing over your coffee bar and ironstone. I’m so glad you shared the entire kitchen!
Author
Awe, thank you so much Rebecca. You’ve made my day. I do love the character of this old house. Like the huge baseboards, the original glass and fat trim around the windows but I’m still hoping to get a few amenities soon. We didn’t have a dishwasher for a long time and that got old quick. Crossing my fingers for a garbage disposal but we have to come up with a new process in which the kitchen sink drains. Somethings are character and some are just a nuisance. Just sayin’ LOL
Cindy,
Your kitchen is so beautiful. You have so many wonderful details.
Hugs and blessings to you.
Author
Thank you Renae. I have to admit, it’s nice to visit this old place but when I get back home to our house with more comforts, it feels good. Raising my hand for being in the spoiled group. 😉
Your kitchen is lovely. I found it through Zucchini Sisters’ linky party & I am so glad I did. There are so many great details, I could stare at your pictures for days. It’s full of vintage goodness and charm which you can’t buy but only create. And yes, amenities and conveniences go a long way so I understand where you’re coming from but how fun to have this cottage kitchen to play in every once in awhile? You are a lucky girl!
XO- MaryJo
http://www.masterpiecesofmylife.com
Author
MaryJo, you just made my week! Thank you so much. I know I am one lucky duck having a farmhouse to play with and truly love getting to love on that house more and more. Glad you could visit today. 🙂
I cherish that kitchen and the memories I have of it. I love the time I have spent at that farm house. I have nothing but great memories of the meals I have had there. You are a great hostess whether it’s at the farm or in the city, thanks for sharing.❤️
Author
Thanks bunches! As far as the meals go, I’m glad your memory is failing and only remember the good things. LOL
I feel so happy seeing the photos of your farmhouse kitchen. That cake save is gorgeous I have to have one like it.
Have a wonderful day,
Kippi
Author
Awe, thank you so much Kippi! We’ve just added an island. It’s a large antique sideboard but I’m hoping we get used to it. It seems to take up a lot of space. We’ll see. I might have to move it to another room. Post about that soon. Oh, that cake carrier was my grandma Dora’s and I love it. Have a great week!