Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Low Mileage Kitchen

Shelia at Note Songs is having a party, and I just couldn't miss it! Besides, this is a good excuse to show off my new kitchen.

My kitchen is Low Mileage because I seldom cook. While my children were growing up, I prepared three meals a day. I even bagged their lunches on school days.

However, after my children had flown from the nest, I began college. I was old, I was working full time, and I needed to find some time in my schedule for all of those homework assignments. The solution: Take-out! I ask you, if God wanted me to cook, why are there Burger Kings?

After completing college, I never looked back. (Hey, I'm no dummy! I like being spoiled.)

Here's a shot of my cherry cabinets. The ceiling is twelve feet high. This presented a dilemma as I'd never before put things on cabinet tops.



However, it was fun! I loved decorating the tops of the cabinets. That huge pitcher on top of the refrigerator is the only blue in this room. (I'm sure that surprises many who know me only for Blue Monday.)



We had crown molding added to the cabinets and installed lighting underneath. It's especially pretty at night.





My kitchen provokes memories of bloggers. For instance, Gloria at Happy to Be sent me a bunch of Autumn decorations last year when all of my decorations were boxed up and in storage. I've used all of them again this year; don't these two delightful candy corn candles look perfect on my kitchen counter?





My favorite aunt gave me this sweet, pink pedestal dish many years ago. I'm a well-trained blogger, and I think of Beverly at How Sweet the Sound whenever I see pink. I use this dish to hold my faux fruit. You might notice that I put REAL labels on several of the pieces of fruit to help them look more authentic. Once, one of my grandchildren, was all set to bite into the plum before I stopped her!



Here's the other side of the kitchen.
You can see the entrance to the laundry room, with the door to the garage.





I think of BJ at Sweet Nothings whenever I see this little black and red oven dress.
I bought it at a craft fair some time ago.





Check out my sidebar for some book giveaways.

See you for Blue Monday!


63 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Maybe low mileage but BIG impact! Beautiful kitchen. You, know... I love to bake and cook but I also love Burger King :)

Debbiedoos said...

Looks wonderful Sally, such a nice open floor plan too.!!~

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Sally,
I just had to come by and see your new kitchen. It's beautiful! Great floor plan!

Blessings,
Sandi

Salmagundi said...

I like the idea of a low mileage kitchen! I only cook when necessary - about 4-5 times a week. With just the two of us, there are always leftovers in the freezer. Your kitchen is beautiful. Sally

shannon i olson said...

thanks for your kitchen tour....those candy corn candles are great!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Your kitchen is so nice! Love the cabinets with room on top. I wish I had that in mine!

Allison Shops said...

Pretty kitchen. Mine is low mileage too (love that phrase!). We are empty nesting too. DH loves to cook big pots of soup in the winter and I do holiday or celebration meals. I hope you'll drop by Atticmag to see our kitchens - it's a three for one!

Allison
Atticmag

Unknown said...

G'eve Sally ~ What a lovely kitchen, love that PINK bowl! I do!!

Have a beautiful eve ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Such a nice big and open kitchen. Love the cherry cabinets.

Donnie said...

Hi Sally, It did surprise me that you only had one blue piece. It's a lovely one though. It is so spacious.

La said...

Fabulous kitchen. It may have low mileage, but it looks like it is ready to go if the need arises. La

bj said...

You may not do much cooking in there but bet you love going in and taking a look at the beautiful room. Just beautiful, Sally girl.

Unknown said...

Beautiful kitchen, love the dark wood of the cabinets. The space is so open, and looks like its flows really well. Thanks for visiting and sharing.
Sandy

KimMalk said...

Hi, neighbor :). Your kitchen reminds me a lot of my own. I really like that super-sized blue pitcher on top of the 'fridge. Isn't it funny how you'll get reminded of bloggers at funny times? Blessings, Kim

Anonymous said...

I am just having the best time visiting everyone's kitchen!! They are all so unique and fun to see!

Your little candy corn candles are adorable too!

collettakay said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

I love your kitchen. Adore the cabinets. Beautiful!

Cathy said...

Your kitchen is so pretty, Sally. I eat or takeout out way too much. Blessings ~

Unknown said...

What a great kitchen! It is huge! :)

~Liz

The Inspired Nest said...

Who cares if you cook in it, as long as it looks good. And girl, it looks good! I love that you have the granite as a backsplash! Very nice touch.
Lacy

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally!! Oh, I love your pretty kitchen! Do you still not cook in there? :) You silly! The pitcher atop of the fridge is gorgeous! You're the sweetest one and that is why folks send you things!! Thank you so much, Sally, for coming to my party!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Becky K. said...

The best part about a low mileage kitchen is few dishes!!!!

Your kitchen is beautiful!
I love the cherry cabinets.

Becky K.

Anonymous said...

Such a delight to meet you Sally. Your kitchen is stunning. Love your counter tops especially. Your wall color is so warm and pretty too. Thanks so much for visiting me.

My Cozy Corner said...

Hi Sally
We do what we gotta do.LOL
I love your kitchen.
xoxo
Betty

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Gorgeous cabinets!! A really beautiful kitchen!!

artis1111 said...

I wish I had the space to put things on top of my cabinets. Looks great. Kathy

Sevenbeads said...

Love the granite! It's dramatic but doesn't darken your room because you seem to have a lot of great light. Neat as a pin ... I like that.

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Beautiful new kitchen Sally! I like your decor on the tops of the cabinets too! I really am not a big fan of cooking either and would love to live off of takeout someday! LOL!

On Crooked Creek said...

Sally,
Your kitchen turned me green (not avocado, though) with envy! What a lucky lady to have such a spacious kitchen for cooking, storing dishes, silver. .. I'm quite smitten! Thanks for stopping by On Crooked Creek. . .come again soon, dear!
Fondly,
Pat

Charo said...

Hi Sally, so pretty cabinets, love the cute pitcher!

Hugs
Charo

A Hint of Home said...

I love your pretty kitchen. Having high ceilings presents a problem for deorating, doesn't it?
You did a great job with your vignettes.

bj said...

I am back to say thanks for the mention. I am thrilled that ANYthing makes you think of me.:))

I stayed up late late, looking at all the beautiful kitchens.
Then, I got up and there's tons more. I hope to see every single one..:)
Have a great day,
xo bj

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Hi Sally, Thanks for stopping in and leaving me a sweet comment. I am going to check out your book giveaways. Your kitchen is lovely. Linda

Margitta said...

Thanks for a sweet comment. LOL. I know what you mean about cooking, just that I'm in this phase where I HAVE TO prepare a meal three times a day... And there are no burger king's in Norway... God must think we don't deserve them ;)
Greetings

Jeanne said...

Hi Sally, thank you for your sweet comment about my kitchen and me.

I linked twice because I messed up the first one. That is so me! HA! I forgot to edit my link and Shelia's was still in my Edit. LOL. I wonder if I will ever master this.

Your kitchen is beautiful. I love the Cherry cabinets. and your decorations on top of your cabinets. I over decorate everything. No one will ever accuse me of being a minimalist. Smile. The corn candles are really cute. The sticker on the fruit is briliant, like you.
Love ya, Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Wow! Sally what a beautiful kitchen you have. It's lovely and I just adore those little candles!

Mary said...

What a beautiful kitchen! You are so lucky to have such high ceilings, and your cabinets are so classic!

Beverly said...

Sally, your kitchen is wonderful. The cabinets and countertops are so nice.

Thank you for thinking of me. I miss you on Pink Saturdays. It is nice to look around and have things that remind you of friends.

Jeanne's comment about no one being able to call her a minimalist really made me laugh. We have shared laughs about that for many, many years.

Lisa said...

You have a beautiful kitchen Sally! And I agree with you...cooking can get to be such a chore.:(

Nanette said...

Hi Sally,
Your kitchen is beautiful. I love your little candy corn candles. Less than a year ago I referred to my kitchen as the aroma therapy lab. That was when I was still working and had not gone full time into homemaking again. Now I am back at cooking although for just 2 or 3 rather than the 7 there used to be. Looking forward eventually to a compromise somewhere in the middle! See you on Monday.
Valerie

Donna said...

You have a beautiful kitchen! I love your cabinets and isn't the undercounter lighting great. Your decor is gorgeous as well. I love Burger King too :) Thanks for visiting me!
Donna

Anonymous said...

What a nice kitchen! I like the decorations you have above the cabinets. I've seen some that have it really cluttered up there, but yours is just right.

I have never seen an oven dress. That is so totally cute.

Sue said...

Your kitchen is beautiful. I love all that space and your countertops! Isn't it funny how we think of other bloggers when we see things?

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I really like the open concept of your kitchen and wish I still had a main floor laundry room
Very nice.
Judith

Anonymous said...

Your cabinets are lovely! I'm sure the under cabinet lighting is beautiful, too . It really makes things so cozy.
We're new empty nesters, so I can relate. But I keep wanting to make much more food than necessary..

Unknown said...

sally,
your kitchen is so spacious. thanks for visiting my blog today.
michele

sheila from life @ #17 said...

The thing about Take Out is it doesn't mess up a pretty and clean kitchen! so that's a A+ in my book :)

thanks for stoppin' by #17

All That Glitters said...

Beautiful warm kitchen!

Take care!
~Jennifer

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Beautiful kitchen! Our FL homes do have high ceilings!! Love them!

Thanks for visiting my kitchen!

Katherine

Oliva Ohlson said...

What a grand kitchen! Love the warm colors!!!

Gail said...

Sally your kitchen is beautiful! Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Also thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment about my kitchen and my son.

Enjoy your day.
Gail

Kim said...

What a spectacular kitchen! I'm having those same floors installed soon. I'm ripping out the new hardwood - can you believe it??? I know I'm nuts, but I just can't keep them clean. I can't wait to have those new floors!
xoxo,
Kim

LV said...

What a thrill it was to see you had dropped by my place today. I dearly love your kitchen. You did great job on the design and colors.

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Sally, Your kitchen is pristine! Good for you for going back to college after raising a family! You deserve some free time, and take out is a great option! Linda

Lindy said...

Beautiful cabinets. What a lovely kitchen!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Hi Sally! :)
Was it you that asked if I had painted my cabinet myself...and yes I did. I call them "wild flowers" but actually it's Kindergarten art...big time! :) All I know I learned in Kindergarten is very true with me!
Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. Wanna trade kitchens?? Hmmmmmmm?? :)

Anita Diaz said...

That is a gorgeous kitchen! I love the dark wood and those countertops are just beautiful!! Thanks so much for your visit!

Jeanne said...

Good morning Sally, I was so pleased to see your comment when I woke up this morning. We are busy getting ready to drive to Asheville to Penny's, Lavender Hill Studio, blog party. There will be 16 people there but I think that includes 3 husbands. Bill is one of them. We have met Penny and her hubs and Mary, Across the Pond. Now, A Breath of Fresh Air. It is about 75 miles from here. Not a bad day trip.

We are sitting here drinking our coffee. Penny is serving brunch at 10 AM, then some antique shopping. I am wearing pink so I can blog about it next Sat. 'Always thinking' HA!

Have a wonderful day Sally. One day on our way to Kissimmee I hope we can meet.

Warm hugs, Jeanne

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh Miss Sally, your kitchen is just amazing!!! Funny, but the first thing I spotted in the first pic was the adorable candy corn. Is my sweet tooth showin'??? Heeehehe!!!

I have a very small kitchen and am sittin' here droolin' over yours. What a wonderful heart of the home you have.

I've been MIA for a few weeks. I've been in Brownsville with my Daddy who lost his three decade battle with leukemia last Wed. I just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten you sweetie!

God bless and have a terrific weekend :o)

Judi said...

Happy PINK Saturday Sally
YOur kitchen is so sweet...so pretty...and I'm loving it. YOu have so much room and its warm...I hope although you are not wanting to do all kinds of cooking now that you have a lovely time in there...*hugs*.
thank you for sharing. I hope you have a good weekend..
Judi

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Sally, "low mileage" kitchens are great -- and take-out food is biblical! When Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character, it says in verse 14 that "She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar." Yep -- take-out! :-) Beautiful kitchen!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Sally, your kitchen is stunning! That cabinetry is gorgeous, and the counter tops and backsplash too. All of your extra touches make it so inviting. What a great place to open those take-out sacks and put the food on the eating bar, so you can have a view of this gorgeous kitchen while you're eating your Burger King meals. laurie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I came back, because I forgot to tell you that I think the labels on the faux fruit are so clever! I'm going to be saving labels from my fruit now. Thanks for the inspiration. laurie

The Tablescaper said...

Such a beautiful kitchen. It's a shame you don't use it!!!!

- The Tablescaper