~ Refloofing: Kitchen - Part 1 ~

Bonjour, ma jolies!

If you read my last post, you know that I've been busily

tossing

throwing

moving

fluffing

floofing

and slacking no more.

Well, maybe just not as much....

I very much needed to make some changes in my house.

Small, affordable changes that would make a big, beautiful impact.

I very much wanted to feel like I'm living in a francais du ferme (French farmhouse) close to the sea.

Oui, etre intime!

The very first thing I did was change out out the striped, summery, beachy looking rugs for indoor/outdoor sisal rugs in a warm caramel color. They instantly provided a calm atmosphere to the room. Two new farmhouse lights, one over the kitchen table and one over the sink (that hubby so kindly hung last week after days of nagging by his loving wife) were the next additions.  I purchased them with my CSN gift certificate I won from Jo's (at Secret Garden Cottage) giveaway quite a while ago.  I was in such merchandise overload upon my first visit there, it took me this long to decide how to spend it!
(Thanks again, Jo!  xoxo)

So, following Jo's suggestions from her sweet email as closely as I could  
(see my post from November 12),
I tackled the kitchen first ~

1. Removed the large mirror over the buffet table and placed the vintage gray shutters from the living room on top of the table. (I know - sounds weird and I thought that Jo was off her rocker, but wait til you see...)
2.  Removed most of the bottles of flavored olive oils from the counter keeping only the ones used on a consistent basis.
3. Added white ironstone pitcher filled with our wood cooking utensils next to a cute little vase with herb sprigs in it.
4. Removed wood block knife set from counter (which hubby won't dare whine about - especially after I inform him what bacteria carriers they are!) and placed constantly used ones in a nearby drawer.
5. Removed framed beach-chaise picture which will be replaced with a vintage wire hook rack (that I am actually making!) where some sweet things will hang from twine.
6. Added AWESOME faux lavender discovered at "my second home" (Hobby Lobby) to French body pitcher. (You won't believe how realistic this stuff looks!)
7. Added white ironstone bowl filled with green apples on buffet table next to the vintage scale.
8. Removed valances from windows - which instantly brightened the room and emphasized our tall ceilings.                          

Oh.....you wanted to see photos?
All righty then!

Here are a few BEFORES ~

Okay.....but no wow factor.

And here are the AFTERS ~

(Looking forward to hanging some vintage pages, seasonal decor or something from those shutters...Oh, and the brown pillows will eventually be grain sack pillows with a soft caramel stripe in them - which will just scream French farmhouse!)

(Should I move the shutters together.....?)

(Does this look real or what....?)

(Purchased the cute hanging soap dish at Farmhouse Wares,)

(I still may distress that little buffet table - or replace it with a vintage one.)

Small changes? 
Yes. 
Big impact? 
Yes.

What did I learn from Jo?

1.  Don't be afraid to declutter and put things out of sight that aren't used frequently.
Less is more.
2.  Don't be afraid to just move things around from room to room.  I never would have thought to put those shutters on TOP of that buffet table, but it works.
3.  Use color-unified textures to create a serene feeling in a room.
4.  Look around your house to repurpose things you already have - and use them in a room that you wouldn't normally use or see them in.
(No, that does NOT mean that you put your clawfoot bathtub in the middle of the kitchen....unless you have some very friendly friends who aren't shy...)
5.  Be sure to incorporate nature into your home in some way.  It keeps things real!

As I continue to refluff, be sure to stay tuned for "Refloofing: Bathroom - Part 2".

Have you refloofed a room recently?

I'm joining Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!

{ Etreinte } { Hugs }

~ laurie