This week’s Fresh Picks…
[10/12/12]
I’m dreaming of… [The perfect farmhouse kitchen]
A twist on the original [peanut butter & chocolate chip shortbread cookies]
Don’t buy it, make it! [DIY coffee table ottoman]
Picture frame missing a hanger? [DIY soda tab hanger]
Cozy up with a cocktail [Fall cocktail recipes]
Spiff up the laundry room [DIY laundry soap dispenser]
Fall Style [elbow pad sweater]
“Forward” can be more than one direction…[elephant march fabric]
Screen door kitchen pantry’s are a wonderful growing trend. We are seeing a lot of old screen doors being re-purposed and added to kitchens in place of the standard old pantry and closet doors. The screen pantry doors add a fabulous element of design, and better visibility too! This look is perfect for rustic, country, cottage and coastal style homes. Here’s a little screen door pantry inspiration for ya 
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In today’s “your pick”, sent in from Paula (of Plum Harvest) we get to see exactly how she gave her kitchen a new look by swapping out a simple pantry door with a great custom screen door.
Here’s how she did it…
Paula took an old screen door, sanded it down, then painted it, giving it a rustic white wash finish.
She purchased decorative trim, and a new screen from the hardward store, then applied it to the pantry door.
Next, Paula added new wood panels to the bottom of the door and painted them with black chalk paint.
You could stop here and hang the new pantry door as is, but Paula decided to take it a step further and add a built-in-shelf to the back of her door. She built a simple shelf (same size as the screen area of the door) and added a bead board panel to the back for design appeal, then she gave it a fresh coat of paint.
Paula used standard hinge mounts (can be found at any hardware store) to attach the shelf to the back of the screen portion on the pantry door. This is great for storing spices, small jars, etc!
Finally, she hung the screen door in place of the standard door in her kitchen. Looks great, and really opens up the space!
Share your thoughts and rate Paula’s transformation below!
I’ve shared a few posts lately about brightly painted furniture, like the trash-to-treasure nightstands and little lime table. Bright, vibrant colors have it going on right now, from jewelry, to clothes, to furniture… Adding one simple piece of brightly painted furniture to a room can bring it from simple & understated to frisky & fun instantly. And the best part about this trend? It’s the PERFECT opportunity to transform and revive any old piece of furniture, so you’ll save $$ too! Normally, when I paint furniture I like to look for pieces with great detail and character, but the process is a bit different for me when I’m painting something a vibrant color. Since bright colors have a voice all on their own, it’s okay to use more old & boring simple pieces of furniture. So dust off that old, forgotten about table in the attic and give it a fresh coat of FUN!
Turqouise floral print side chair (Style Key West)
Little Yellow Side Table (Style Key West)
Yellow painted Victorian table (TatorTotsJello)
Lime green side table with seagrass inlay (BelleMaison)
Coral Painted Island (NineMSN)
Orange Cane Arm Chair (Houzz)
Blue Dining Table (tumblr)
Traditional Periwinkle Table (centsational girl)
Coral Painted Mirror (lilhoot)
Aqua Dresser (Natty by Design)
Lime Kitchen Island (we heart it)
Coral Entry Table (the sweet beast)
Baby’s Yellow Dresser (houzz)
Red Retro Desk (pink wall paper)
Go paint something!
xo
She had an itsy bitsy, teeney weeny, tiny polka dot FRIDGE! Today’s Your Pick, sent in from Angela, shares the tale of an ugly old fridge and it’s extreme transformation. Take one old fridge, add a little spray paint and some (chalkboard paint) polka dots and you have yourself a new funky fridge! Doesn’t this fridge just make you feel like your in a 1950′s ice cream parlor? So much fun! Introducing, Angela’s Funky 50′s Polka Dot Painted Fridge…
This polka dot fridge sure is SWELL! Angela did not have a “before” photo, but she said it was SCARY, so we took our best gander at what the “before” looked like.
Angela shares the story and “how to” of her painted fridge:
“I regretfully did not take a before of my sunroom fridge. It was too scary to photograph. It had numerous rust spots and some very questionable stains. I painted it with Krylon spraypaint (it makes the world go around) in Ballet Slipper. I didn’t prime it first (gasp). I really hate priming things. If I feel something is seriously in need of it, I’ll just slap a coat of white on it and call it “primed”. The black and white dots I bought at Michael’s. The black dots can be written on with chalk and the white dots can be written on with white board marker..genius! As an afterthought I spritzed the handles with Rustoleum (I cheated on Krylon) Blue Sky. It turned out so pretty and is one of my favorite projects so far.”- Angela
Share your thoughts and rate the transformation of this funky fridge below!
First things first,
Now, don’t ask me why, but I’ve always had a strange love affair with white kitchens. There’s just something so classic & glamorous about a clean, white kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I have an appreciation for dark wood kitchens too, but bright white kitchens truly inspire me. Whether your looking for a industrial chic white kitchen to a french country kitchen, or a beachy white kitchen to a rustic cottage white kitchen, the next stunning 15 kitchens will surely inspire you.
Loving the copper and gold tones blended with pures white in this country chic white kitchen
This white kitchen was designed for style & comfort, custom sewn seat covers turn these cork screw stools into inviting places to plop and chat with the chef
This white kitchen illustrates a beautiful concept, absolute contrast. A polished concrete counter top in a dark slate earth tone glows against the simple white cabinetry
I love the feeling of bringing the outdoors inside using a bank of corner windows in this upbeat, coastal white kitchen. The polka dot slip-covered stools add a splash of fun, preppy sophistication
Dark espresso wood floors paired with whites and silver industrial bar stools create a look that’s clean and streamline. The addition of chrome factory pendants ground the look.
A prime illustration of a rustic cottage kitchen; so sweet and charming with white planked walls and reclaimed baby blue pantry door
Lots of natural light pours through this simple, elegant white marble on white cabinetry kitchen
I’m seeing a trend here! Embrace utility with rustic factory stools and chrome factory lights; they add character & charm to this simple white kitchen
Oh so clever; a hidden fruit and vegetable drawer in the island of these splendid white kitchen
So many colors and textures are illustrated in this white kitchen, a prime example of how you can blend pure whites with slate and dark wood surfaces. Loving the plentiful storage in this kitchen too!
This white kitchen bursts with comfort and style, a built in window seat doubles as a conversation piece and a place to lounge and chat with the chef
Rustic, wide plank wood floors and a farm sink. Perfection in this elegant farm chic kitchen
I have no words. This glamorous, coastal white kitchen speaks for itself. The sky blue tray ceiling paired with the HUGE bank of floor to ceiling windows evokes the feeling of a bright, sunny day.
An industrial chic white kitchen with exposed brick walls and duct work, so fabulous
I am drooling over the character and rustic furnishings in this French country revival white kitchen
A bright and sunny white kitchen with a floating window shelf. Fabulous.
This bright white galley style kitchen feels large and open due to the crisp white & gray tones and sunlight flooding the room.
Loving this romantic kitchen with white marble and dreamy mood lighting.
Here’s a lovely white kitchen with dark wide plank flooring, subway tiles and a farmhouse sink. Absolute perfection.
Here’s a fabulous country cottage style kitchen with white wood beam ceilings and a breathtaking candle chandelier.
We can’t forget about those amazing modern white kitchens. This open concept modern white kitchen seamlessly blends natural wood flooring with slate countertops and hints of lime green for a pop of color.
A camel colored leather dinette bench with a pull-up table serve as an ideal spot for the kids to park and as an eat-in breakfast area with a built-in feel
