Mini Kitchen Refresh

After having the dining area in my kitchen the same way for the past 7 years or so, I was definitely ready for a Kitchen Refresh on a SMALL BUDGET.

See BEFORE picture directly below.

I actually still like the way this area used to look, but I wanted to lighten up the space without painting for now and give it a different feel when you walked into the room. I somehow went into the direction of a little vintage appeal. For now, I am keeping the farmhouse table and chairs. In the photo below, I added a new shelf to display my wine glasses, side dishes and coffee mugs. I love my new vintage mug tree and pig dinner bell! I kept this old book shelf for extra storage along with the 4 baskets that was on the other side of the kitchen. Basically, I switched places with my blue painted farmhouse cabinet. I used to have a little curtain on the bottom shelf to hide kitchen trash bags and extra paper products. Now those supplies are hidden in the wire basket covered with a dish towel. I also added this corral rug to give this corner a finished look until I get new flooring. 

I purchased new valences on the windows and added a cafe curtain on the back door leading to our sun porch. I also replaced my rooster plates and plate rack with free standing white plates.

Before photo below. . .

After photo below . . .

I now feel content with these few new changes! :)


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21 Comments

  1. 1

    Such a sweet refreshing change Maria. I love this. Of course I was immediately drawn to the pig bell! 🙂 It adds personality and showcases your sense of humour! Hope summer is going well and you are having lots of fun.

  2. 2

    Thank you Nancy! My kids gave me gift cards to Pottery Barn for Mother’s Day & my Birthday so I could buy some things on my wish list. I then purchased the Mug Tree Stand and that Pig Dinner Bell. My Husband got a Kick out of the Pig Bell! He hung it right away for me. lol! Our Summer was off to a rough start. My Mother -in- Law had past away on June 4th after her 4 -1/2 year battle with Cancer the day before my Birthday. And my Husbands Uncle had past away 2 -1/2 weeks before my Mother-in-Law, battling 2 years of Cancer. It has been a sad time. This is one reason why I haven’t been around the neighborhood much. I want to catch up on many of the posts that I liked. We had nothing special planned this Summer. Just trying to enjoy the weekends as much as possible. Thank you for stopping by! 🙂

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    • 4

      Hi, Maria! I have actually thought of you this week and just wanted to send some warm holiday cheer your way. My father-in-law lost his 4-year battle with cancer last week…on my husband’s birthday. It is a somber holiday season, as I imagine it is also for your family with the absence of loved ones. May peace be with you!

      • 5

        Thank you Jennifer! It is so sweet of you to think of me! I am so sorry for your loss . . . My Thoughts and Prayers are with you, your husband and family. I hope that this Holiday Season will bring you and your family Warm and Happy Memories! And with Warm and Loving thoughts of the loved ones who have past. I Wish you a New Year filled with Contentment and Peace! XO 🙂

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    What you did really did lighten everything up and made it look really fresh. But I gotta say, that dark piece you had there before… I’m gaga over it!

    • 8

      Thank you Robin! I still have the blue cabinet in my kitchen and I love it just as much too! 🙂
      I will be posting soon how I made the cabinet work in an odd space.

    • 9

      Thank you Robin! I still have the blue farmhouse cabinet in my kitchen and I love it just as much too! 🙂
      I will be posting soon where I placed it and how I made it work in an odd spot.

  5. 10

    Hi Maria! This just goes to show you can do a lot with a little – your simple changes made a big impact in your space, I love it!

    And I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, my heart goes out to you and your entire family. Hugs to you all. 🙂

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  7. 13

    Thank you Nila! I already want to make some more changes, just when I thought I was content. Budget willing!!. . . There is just too much inspiration in this neighborhood! lol.

    And Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness . . . Hugs! 🙂

  8. 14

    Hi, Maria! I really like the coral and turquoise accent color combo you chose. Your corner storage area looks bright and airy now. Enjoy it! Have I mentioned yet how much I don’t like cancer?! It certainly changes ones perspective on life and helps focus on what’s most important and dear. My thoughts are with you and your family as you mourn the loss of your loved ones. Take care.

  9. 15

    Thank you Jennifer! 🙂 And thank you so much for your condolences. I know a lot about cancer!! Between my husband and I we have lost so many older generation family members on both sides to cancer within the past 4 years. I lost my father to stomach cancer. It will be 3 years this October 1st. It was my first most devastating loss ever. The best thing that we can all do for the love ones we have lost, is to hold on to all our memories with them and always keep them close to our hearts.

    • 16

      Yes, keep the memories alive! I lost my mother to stomach cancer, too. My ovarian cancer diagnosis hit my sister hard, but I can’t be anything other than hopeful that the surgery got rid of it all. My second tri-monthly post-op check-up is on the horizon in October. I’m feeling good and enjoying life!

      • 17

        Jennifer, I’m sorry about the loss of your Mother. It’s so hard to lose a parent. I Just wanted you to know, I will keep your sister in my prayers for a full recovery and for you to stay fully recovered as well. Hugs!

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  12. 20

    Hi Maria, horw was our summer? I like your space both ways acutally. Just a matter of preference; I can understand how you want change after 7 years. Funny how when you removed your shelf I added 4 new shelves to my foyer room just last Thursday and just uploaded the story on here about my desire for bookshelves. Changes are good and they give you perspectives, too. Either way you still have shelving, just different looks, but I like both.

  13. 21

    Thank you Hanh! I was happy with the old way the Dining area looked for a long time. too. I’m still not content with this new look. I want to take away the old book shelf with the baskets that is below my new cafe shelf and replace it with a new cabinet or something more appropriate for the kitchen. I am still very happy with my cafe shelf. That is staying! I have already made changes to the right side of the window. I took away the cabinet with the numbered drawers and thought that would be more useful in my home office. I will have to post someday what I have done with either side of the kitchen window once I figure it out. 🙂

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