Our Summer Kitchen In Aqua

Hi, Friends. I hope you are well.

I love switching out my accent color scheme for the seasons.

My latest color crush came after I found a gorgeous pair of opera glass at our local architectural salvage place. 

They were $2.00. I'll wait while you soak in their loveliness and my astounding thrifting skills. 

This isn't the first time that this color has been a favorite.

Ten years ago or so this was my "must have" color infatuation. During that crush, many fun things in a blue-green hue were added to our stash of collectables. Favorite pieces were saved as other color crushes came and went. Those favored pieces were safely stored away and rotated in out for seasonal decoration until they were needed again for main floor display. 

When I saw some aqua buffalo check valances at Walmart, I knew that they needed to come home with me. I adore how they look in the kitchen window. Corner windows are so much fun to decorate but they are difficult to reach for cleaning. The white voile cafe´ curtains have adorned the windows since last spring. They provided a nostalgic feel during Covid. I made them out of an old tablecloth. These Better Homes and Gardens valances are very well made. They come in tan, Navy, red and gray.  The aqua set doesn't show up on the Walmart website so those may only be available in the store. 

Aqua/turquoise has morphed into the kitchen accessories as well. Trading out color schemes is one of my favorite things to do. Shopping the house and remembering a tucked away treasure is so much fun. 

Old Ball jars were put to used as vases. 

The creamer is Vineyard by Metlox-Poppytrail-Vernon. My aunt had a cool turquoise kitchen back in the day. This was her everyday dinnerware pattern. I have fond memories of summers at my aunt and uncle's house in Shreveport, La. My aunt and uncle went above and beyond to offer solace and stability to my siblings and I as our mother valiantly fought cancer. 

I think of Aunt Susan every time I look at this little creamer. This pattern was made between 1960 and 1980. 

Copper accents look so good with this color. The backsplash has a lot of aqua that's more noticeable. 

The gingham "tea towel" is actually a vintage pillowcase. 

Who will know? You will, of course. 

Red transferware plays well with this scheme. 

Every month or so the niches need dusting. It's a good opportunity to tweak the decor. 

I'm going to throw in a picture of the niches so you have a reference. I dorked out and didn't take a picture of them with the aqua/turquoise. 

They stayed the same except a bit of the red was removed.

The pie safe was problematic since I didn't have any fabric in the right color. 

I popped into my thrift store and they had a perfect bolt of fabric. 

It's reading more blue and less aqua on camera because it's behind rabbit wire. 

It matches the valances perfectly, though. 

The wall color is a custom mix but it's very close to Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams. 

That is about it for this post. 

My second favorite Crayola after magenta was blue green so this summer color scheme is just about perfect. 

I hope you enjoyed having a look at the summer decor in our kitchen. 

I hope you are doing well. 

Katie 

Vintage Ball Jars

Hello everybody!
Can I share with you one of my favorite decorating items?
Do you have any vintage Ball jars?

Ours came from Canton, Texas @ First Monday Trade Days. 
My sister-in-law and I bought some to use as vases for our niece's shower.

I have used them over and over again. 

I picked up another one just recently.   

 

They are the perfect shade of aqua.

Gorgeous for spring

or fall.

I've seen them in many antique stores and on e-Bay if you would like to pick one up for yourself. Etsy has oodles of them. 

They're about 10 - 20 dollars a piece.

They are also adorable with nothing in them. This little one with the glass top has been around here for ages. I don't even remember where we got it. 

Our grocery store had these reproduction Ball jars a few weeks ago. A box of six was under $10.00.

We're all using them for drinking glasses but they would also be cute as votive holders. 
They've been seen in abundance the last few years but I think they are as popular as ever. 
Love them!
   Have a great day.  
Katie   
Linking with,
French Country Cottage 

Bright Pastels in the Kitchen

I love the bright pastels I have used as accents in the newly painted kitchen.

Before:

I thought I could put the same accessories back in the kitchen once the paint dried.
My intent was decorate it very farmhouse and even add a pop of red.

Instead I choose turquiose

and 

pink.

I have to say the inspiration for the accessories in the kitchen came from this painting done by my great grandmother.
I just love it and was thrilled to find it among my grandmother's things. To be honest I didn't truly appreciate it until I read Rachel Ashwell's books. 

I was in love with two crayons in my box of 64 crayolas as a child.
I loved the "sky blue" and "blue green" crayons.  
It isn't a shock then that I have come back to these tones often throughout the years.

 I read the other day that pink was a big color in the fifties because of Mamie Eisenhower. It was her favorite color and the nation went wild for it. 
Pink and turquoise were the "it" colors for kitchens for a while.
While I have no desire to have a pink fridge or a turquoise  stove, 
I love adding a pop of these two colors.   

 Finding something vintage from that era is a hoot. 
It brings cute and kitsch to a space.

 Turquoise transferware is very hard to find. These are the only pieces I have ever found at a price I was willing to pay. 

I found these tea cups at an antique store.

This canister is a recent find. 

I found this majolica platter at a garage sale for $4.00. I was thrilled to find it.

The ball jar is a find from Canton, Texas. I found it last summer at First Monday Trade Days. 
If you ever get to North Texas you have to go.
Read about it here.

I shopped the house to decorate the space.
Here is what it looked like before:

 After:

I love, love the white cabinets. 
It is a great backdrop for wonderful color.
Sprinkled with brights
Katie 
Linking with,
Funky Junk Interiors
French Country Cottage  
Between Naps on the Porch  
Savvy Southern Style  
Cozy Little House