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Chet - she just bought the house and wants some simple ways to make the kitchen look more country - I think consulting a professional is not in the realm of what she is looking for. She only wants to add some decorative accessories and a free-standing cart or island - she isn't looking to remodel or do expensive re-dos.
I completely agree with you about the kitchen not reflecting the style and architecture of the house - really a shame when people do things like that - they probably spent a pretty penny on the remodel too.
I have posted this kitchen before - it is one of my favorite decorating blogs - the owners have great style and their little farm house has been beautifully updated and their changes fit beautifully with the style and feel of their little home.
In my experience the "initial consultation" with even top tier design professionals is a freebie -- they look around, measure some dimensions, flip through their book of past projects and end with a pleasant suggestion to meet again when the "meter will be running". From these freebie meetings a home owner can glean LOTS of useful tips, trends and ideas -- for instance I completely agree that the link to that precious little farmhouse kitchen is part of several trends I see -- old fashionedy looking stuff that avoids commercially applied finishes and engineered wood cabinet frames, natural butcher block counter tops, metal cup style drawer pulls and even the compact scale are part of "a look" that the renovators of the OP's were not keen to / aware of... Had a design pro been involved before hand I suspect the money spent and selling price would have been more favorably balanced.
I would not hesitate to ask design professionals on their "freebie visit" if a particular cabinet pull would be part of a wise "transition" from the current style of the kitchen to something more similar to what the OP eventually wants to achieve. You won't insult them by asking, and the good ones know that, down the road, when you decide to spend big money on new flooring and cabinets and counters and fixtures and reproduction fridges and stoves they can help you get a better project for a lower cost and you will all win...
They might even have sources locally that will be able to build an appropriate cart / portable island that would be in the OPs budget NOW that could be part of the transition from what is there now to what the OP wants to achieve. Some of the best spent money is for "custom" stuff that will work both NOW and become a focal point of the "end state" kitchen.
Like I said, if they are happy with a mish mash then go ahead and spend money without any guidance -- I suspect that is what the sellers did. I wonder if the OP paid top dollar for the place or got a discount? What sort of situation do they want to be in down the road?
I would not hesitate to ask design professionals on their "freebie visit" if a particular cabinet pull would be part of a wise "transition" from the current style of the kitchen to something more similar to what the OP eventually wants to achieve. You won't insult them by asking, and the good ones know that, down the road, when you decide to spend big money on new flooring and cabinets and counters and fixtures and reproduction fridges and stoves they can help you get a better project for a lower cost and you will all win...
They might even have sources locally that will be able to build an appropriate cart / portable island that would be in the OPs budget NOW that could be part of the transition from what is there now to what the OP wants to achieve. Some of the best spent money is for "custom" stuff that will work both NOW and become a focal point of the "end state" kitchen.
Like I said, if they are happy with a mish mash then go ahead and spend money without any guidance -- I suspect that is what the sellers did. I wonder if the OP paid top dollar for the place or got a discount? What sort of situation do they want to be in down the road?
Great advice! With a long range plan in mind, they will avoid spending money on quick fixes that down the road will just be wasted. While sometimes accessories can work with a look, often times they look so out of place it draws more attention to the extreme style differences and the room ends up looking kitschy and cheap.
Personally, I'd try to gut that kitchen and start anew but that is a big project for someone who has just bought a new house....it is a shame that the money was spent so unwisely by the previous owners.
Cattknap: Your link to that country farmhouse was wonderful. I agree, they did a superb job with their whole house...but kitchen especially. Definitely along the lines of what I envision for my own kitchen down the road. But as you have all figured from my original post, new house...lots of things to spend money on, unfortunately for me the kitchen is not on the list as it is clearly in usable condition currently.
I do have major concerns about becoming "kitschy and cheap" as Beachcomber4 so delicately put it! LOL For now I am just hoping to blend the styles in a way that doesn't look clashy...just accentuates certain features and downplays others.
Chet, you bring up excellent points. I really like the idea of finding or having created pieces now that could bridge the transition between the current kitchen and the one living in my mind. That seems like a much better use of what little money we have to spend on the project now. Oh and for the record...got a KILLER deal on the house. :-)
Any suggestions on where to find the perfect professional for this freebie consultation?
[quote=triciawohlford;17739231]
I do have major concerns about becoming "kitschy and cheap" as Beachcomber4 so delicately put it! LOL For now I am just hoping to blend the styles in a way that doesn't look clashy...just accentuates certain features and downplays others.
/QUOTE]
Sorry Tricia, I'm a New Englander we aren't delicate. LOL
But I am not too proud to admit I did kitschy and cheap and learned from that mistake. Only buy what you LOVE.
maybe do a farm house sink in copper. so you have room to add a pot rack and show off some copper pots it would match your granite nicely. if you like the kitchen in the blog perhaps you can take off the doors to the cupboards and display some things that reflect the style better. if it were possible without breaking your granite, replace it with butcher block counter like in the blog and save the granite so another home owner might want to use it if they don't like your choice. the cupboard handles someone suggested would help too
Ugh, I hate to say but I really, strongly dislike the white appliances with all that dark countertop, dark backsplash and dark cabinetry. Since the OP has chosen to keep the white and will be adding a white cooktop too I think that one way to smooth the transition may be a different wall color in the kitchen and also painting the white door to add an unexpected splash of color. What about a light mint or celery green or a light butter yellow for the wall color instead of the typical "real estate" beige that it is currently painted?
Which part of the country is the farmhouse in? Use that to help guide your kitchen decor style. Or, is there a style that appeals to you the most? Is farmhouse traditional/shaker or shabby-chick more your idea of a country kitchen?
The addition of the farm sink, if you chose an apron style one in white like the Rolfs one linked in the kitchen blog, will help with the balance. I tyhink the pulls you add to the cabinets should tie into your faucet fixture and lighting replacement choice.
Add some country curtains or roman shades on the bay window over the sink are needed to be certain as will some complementary "runner" style rugs to break up the dark floors.
What kind of things do you farm? Does your farm have a theme? If so pick that up in your kitchen and kitchen entryway accessories and accents. Maybe you want to collect things from the region where your farm is located?
Think about the traditional and timeless mixing bowls, pitchers and kitchen tools from the 1920' & 30's in the lighter colors. Does the OP want to accent with colored depression glass or jadite?
Overall I think you have a wonderful/ lovely kitchen to work off of! At least they stopped didn't add any personal touches , such as wallpaper, etc...Things that are time consuming to remove, you where left a clean slate as they say....So enjoy, no matter what, do what you like, it's your kitchen.....
Perhaps an old large farm table could be used as an island~
One thing I have learned, making a house feel like a home means things don't have to all match!
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I understand they recently moved in...
