Vintage Farmhouse Kitchen ~ Before & After

When I found my 1910 farm style house, it had been bungled beyond simple repair.  Yet, as I walked through its lumpy-painted, wall-to-wall carpeted, crooked foundation of goodness, I grinned from ear-to-ear.

Espresso Cups & Saucers ~ Starbucks

The Original Butter Bell,  Ironstone Plate ~ Thrifty Finds

Red Plate ~ Fred Meyer 

Gutted at some point, layered in linoleum and pieced-together 1950's cupboards, the kitchen was the worst of all.

Seriously, it needed some major help.

Lavender Sachet ~ Seabold Vintage Market

A gift from a dear friend

Swedish Dancer Hook ~ Family "Heirloom"

3 Milk Bottles ~ The Bungalow

3 Black Milk Bottle "Caps" ~ Kitchenaid 


I waited a few years before tackling the job.  In the meantime, I collected more pretty (mostly thrifty) treasures for the space...always able to picture what the "After" would be.

Stacked ironstone ~ Johnson Bros. & Ridgway

Red Pail w/ Plaid lid ~ 25 cent Thrifty Find

Swedish Dancers Tin ~ Tre Kronor

Red & White Enamel Basin ~ Estate Sale Find

Red & White Vintage Recipe Box ~ Clayson Farm Antique Show


I began collecting red & white enamelware before acquiring the Bungalow, which came with a few pieces (not shown).  

Red Chantal Teapot (r) ~ Christmas Gift

I keep breakfast goodies like tea, wassail, & protein bars in the tins.  The recipe box if filled with packets of hot cocoa.

Whoa...I'm sorry.

Did you want to see the ugly before bits?

Okay, stand back...here's how my little breakfast hutch corner looked in 2010, when it turned 100.
(To see some before photos of the hutch base, etc...click here.)

AND

BEFORE

(This is where the Harvest Gold fridge was when I found the house)

Mmm...mmm, what was I thinking?  Why did I want to change a thing?

All I did (in 2006) was...

Scrub it down, remove the linoleum, clean up & paint the wood floors, add brackets, and hand-cut trim work from left-over solid wood pieces (no mdf!)...

Re-plaster over the lumpy original lathe & plaster walls and ceiling

Sand it, Prime it, Paint it, Caulk it...and um...

Chalkboard it!

What?  

I like to recycle.

I thought a chalkboard was the perfect solution for the odd space that was boarded up when someone cut an old cupboard to "fit" this corner. 

And 

Here's an old grainy "After" photo from back in the day...

I um...haven't changed the chalkboard decor...ever.

I actually see this as an "in-between"kitchen (it literally is...in the center of the house). Eventually, I hope to open things up a bit more to expand the space and bring in more light and work space.

You can see visuals for some of my ideas for the next phase of the kitchen here.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit, I hope to share more before & after photos from my little kitchen soon!

In the meantime, you can see more photos & stories about "Ma Cuisine" here!

Shop for pretty things for your kitchen in our online shop...here!

Bon Appetit!  

: )

Julie M.

For more photos…and to receive regular updates on my fabulous junking & scene-snapping adventures and restoration projects, please follow The Little Red Shop's facebook page.  You can also visit us via Twitter and Pinterest.

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Please visit Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!