kitchen reveal! ~ Home Decorating Ideas

I feel a bit like Paige Davis, all bouncy in my blue jeans and grinning and eager to show you MY NEW KITCHEN! It's not new-new, really, more a matter of paint and accessories; no walls, cabinets or appliances were altered in this redecoration project.

But first, the back story. When we moved it, I had the kitchen walls painted a very neutral taupe-y shade. My library is painted burgundy, the downstairs bathroom peach, the laundry room a bright green, the upstairs rooms are blue and yellow. But the kitchen was just drab and bleh.

It wasn't until I spotted some photos on Pinterest (oh, Pinterest, you time-sucking devil!) that I began to explore a specific color scheme. I found these sites that cemented my decision to move ahead:

Aqua and Red

House of Turquoise

Let the AQUA and RED kitchen begin

This:

became this:

(same cluttered fridge, but look at the WALLS!)

I went from this (note the black rug beneath the stove--BOR-ING):

to:
Look how that punch of bright blue makes the room cheerful. Inspired by the aqua and touches of red/coral, I painted my recipe box and the basket o' potholders. (New red and turquoise potholders.)

The five new knobs and rugs look grand, too.

I like how the shot of color catches my eye when I come around the corner in our living room.

All new dishtowels in bright red!

Everyone seems happier in my new kitchen. Team Testosterone like that it's cheerful and bright. I like that it's fresh and decluttered (because there's no way you can clear off all your counter tops for the painter and not feel compelled to rid yourself of some of it). I even scrubbed the grout between the floor tiles. My happy new kitchen has inspired me to bake 2 batches of brownies, a blueberry muffin cake, 4 loaves of banana bread and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I want to be in my kitchen, and that's sayin' something.

It's true that color can change your mood. If a space makes you crabby, a bucket of paint might make all the difference.

Spill it, reader. What space have you improved upon with a gallon of paint?