Kitchen Decor Ideas - On Sutton Place

Wednesday, June 12, 2013 by Ann Drake |

There have been some big changes On Sutton Place. Im not even sure when I last showed you my kitchen but Im fairly certain its been at least a year. A few months ago something I have been waiting on, seems like forEVER, actually happened. I got new appliances!

I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled I am. My old appliances were troopers and may have hung in there a few more years. Thankfully we didn wait until they were completely done-for and I was able to look around to find what I wanted but also what would fit in my spaces. My kitchen is small by todays standards, especially the slot for the refrigerator. I had exactly three styles to choose from that were available in stainless steel and that would fit. I went with Maytag for everything and could not be happier.

So after the appliances were delivered and I stopped doing my happy dance, I decided the rest of the kitchen needed a refresh. I made a new window treatment from a piece of vintage mangle cloth Id been saving for a while. I actually had 2 matching cloths which is almost impossible to find.

I used the previous valance as a guide and hung this new one on the same hooks. I didn cut this mangle cloth. I simply folded it in half lengthwise and spaced the tabs for the hooks so it would drape just a bit.

I used part of the second cloth to make little slipcovers for my island stools. The vintage fabric Gods were watching over me because the width of this cloth was the exact measurement I needed for the backs of the stools. These are made just like a pillowcase.

I folded the cloth lengthwise, just like I did for the valance, and cut 2 pieces the width of the stool backs (one piece for each stool.) A straight stitch down the sides and they were finished.

I had little cushions on the stools for a few years and I like the change with the rush seats showing. I made one more update and that was to the rug in front of the sink. I had a runner there previously and thought a smaller rug might work better. This one from Dash and Albert matches the mangle cloth almost perfectly.

As the cook in this small kitchen, I try to make every single inch functional. It just makes sense to use necessary items for decor. If something doesn serve a purpose, its not on my counter. Functional can be pretty too.

This little corner shelf houses my Baltic dishes  that I got when we closed my father-in-laws home. I use these all the time and love having them out where I can see them.

Last summer I restored the grout on my counter top and its still looking really good. This is the section where I prepare food and do all my baking so its well used. (I do admit that hosta in vintage blue ball jars serves no real purpose but I needed something to jazz up these photos!)

When my kids were still here, the three of us spent a lot of time in this kitchen. Back then, I had a round table and chairs where the island sits. They would do homework while I did dishes! When my daughter left for her first year of college, something happened that brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. We stopped eating at the table. My husband, son and I began eating dinner in our family room. I know there are most likely several Freudian reasons that this happened. Basically, it was the first step in a long journey of my family growing up. So after a few years, I replaced the table with this custom island.

I no longer had to look at the empty chair and the island served many purposes. It provided additional counter space, more storage and it hid my trash can! I designed it and a local carpenter made it for me.  I highly recommend having pieces of storage furniture made if you can make them yourself. For a very reasonable price I got exactly what I wanted.

As corny as it sounds, I believe that the kitchen really is the heart of any home. Thats certainly true here On Sutton Place. Thank you for spending time with me, your kind comments and your encouragement. Ill be back in a day or so with another strawberry recipe!