This past weekend I spent a few days at my Aunt Paula's house. It's always nice to get to spend time with her and my Uncle Bud, and their house is SO CUTE. Though it may not be very big, my Aunt Paula does an amazing job of bringing so much personality and style to it, and today I'm highlighting her wonderfully vintage-style kitchen!
I asked her some questions about it, too, and this is what she had to say:
What was the inspiration for your kitchen?
Usually, it's something I see, maybe on blogs or in real life that inspires me, like a color combo or a simple item, one simple little item I see that makes me think, "Oh my goodness! I'd love to do my whole kitchen like this!" For this kitchen, I was going through Etsy and I was looking for vintage aprons, and I found this craft apron in red and aqua, and it just absolutely killed me! I thought,"I LOVE THAT!" And that apron started all this madness!
(check out her "before" kitchen photos here and read her post on the kitchen transformation progress here!)
Your kitchen is definitely vintage inspired, but it doesn't look like it exactly fits one era. It seems to have a bit of 40s, bit of 50s, different eras here and there. Why is that?
As much as I love the 50s era, I don't like all the hard edges. I tried to incorporate the softer elements of the 40s with floral prints and such.
Where do you find the items you decorate with?
You know the sort of "gathering" part? For me, that's kind of the fun part of decorating. I found pieces from World Market, on the side of the road, altered art kits from Etsy, Vintage Hart Fabrics, flea markets, etc.
(Then she picked up a few items and told their specific stories.)
I was also involved in a tag swap, and we did a retro kitchen tag swap where everyone picked a retro kitchen appliance and put a favorite family recipe on it. All of my dearest blog friends got involved in that, and that just really inspired me to continue the madness! And this darling garland (pictured below) was made by one of my blog friends... and this darling little camper that she made for me... it's just crazy how involved everyone gets! They just kind of lose their mind with you... It's great!
You mentioned your blog friends; what kind of role have they had in your life and even in decorating this kitchen in addition to the tag swap?
A lot of my "gathering" was both fun and challenging, and putting it on my blog put me in touch with people that knew resources for where I could find these things or helped me find things I was looking for. Sometimes out of their generosity they would send me things, or sent me a link, or whatever... When they realized I was doing this, they started sending me all these wonderful old things! Everyone was in on helping me make this kitchen fabulous! I just kept going and going and going!!!
Also, I was in a very depressed place for a bit, and I was having a really hard time. We were financially strapped, and I was just really down. And someone, I don't know who, sent me this fantastic little camper game, knowing Bud and I had done a Route 66 trip, and it just made my day, made me cry! I still to this day have no idea who sent it to me. Just someone from blogland I suppose; I've gotten such support from those ladies! It really is a community of support that has gotten me through a lot of hard times.
Here's the garland that was mentioned above. Gnomes! |
There are those 1940s florals! Love 'em! Accented by prints of old cookie jars |
(road trip game mentioned above) |
She painted this chair! Amazing, right?! |
Her dog, Webster. Isn't he cute?! |
So what do you guys think of her style? What parts do you like? Is it something you would have in your own home?
This is, bar none, one of the most delightfully charming kitchens I've ever seen. It's so sweet, subtly whimsical and vintage inspired. I wish I could pay your dear Aunt a visit myself, too, and spend some time in such a cheerful room.
ReplyDeleteYour interview is so charming and lovely, too. It makes me think that more of us vintage gals should interview our relatives if they have an interest in the past.
Wishing you a gorgeous Monday & week ahead, honey,
♥ Jessica
I have -almost- those same kitchen chairs! Mine have a little chrome handle thingy on the top part of the seat but other than that, identical!! I love her kicthen. I wish I could re-do my floors to be cute like hers!! :)
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