Black and White Cottage Kitchen Tour

Is anyone else soooo ready for fall?! I know I am really ready for a break from the 100+ degree temps. But I'm also not quite ready for pumpkins and mums, not just yet, anyway. I decided to freshen our black and white kitchen with a palette of mixed greens! It's the perfect cool, soothing mix of colors for early fall here in Texas :)

Our little galley kitchen in our 1926 Tudor-style home is just 8 by 10 feet. Believe me, this kitchen gets a workout, because I serve up three meals a day here! Maurie and I both love to cook, and we make almost every cuisine. Every inch has to count! 

I use plenty of green in our home decor, and the Bordallo cabbage plates have long been a fixture on our shelves. Mixing these with the brighter, zippier green of Fiesta dishware gave me the *punch* of green that I was craving! I shopped the house, then headed out to my favorite thrift store to see what else I could find. When finished, I had given our kitchen a fresh, early fall look, for under $20!!

These black scrolly shelves decorate the wall between our kitchen and breakfast nook, and can be seen througout the house. It's a perfect spot for displaying items for each season! The table underneath is a former potting bench, and we love its chippy charm. This area gives us some great storage space, too. In a few weeks the shelf underneath will be bursting with freshly canned tomatoes, pickles, and anything else I can find locally to preserve. Yum!

Our circa 1970s Sears and Roebuck cabinets have been through a few transformations since we bought this house in 1986. I love their vintage vibe, and just spruced them up last winter with fresh white paint. One thing I will never change is the authentically-weathered cabinet doors, with their insets of chicken wire.

A few years ago I painted our lower cabinets black. It felt like we had a new kitchen! They are actually due for a touchup, and I'm thinking about a new treatment with some distressing and a touch of Miss Mustard Seed's white wax. I'm hoping it will bring out the charming detail on the doors. 

An ever-changing display of seasonal goodies is contained in trays on either side of the sink. It leaves me less room for chopping and plating, but hey -- priorities!! The basket in this corner is small and just perfect for this tight space. I love that it's the color of the burlap curtains, which you can read all about here.

For years, this area contained a space-wasting pantry that didn't make any sense. A while back we ripped it all out, and added a lower cabinet and three upper shelves. The cabinet underneath gives us almost as much storage as we had with the old pantry, and now I have these wonderful shelves for seasonal display. Glass canisters help make up for lost pantry space. 

Adding a bead board backsplash brightened the whole kitchen. Someday the countertops will be Carrera marble, but for now the wood tone suits us just fine :)

Glass knobs and a 50'sVent-A-Hood bring that vintage feel that I adore! On the stove, an old photo frame got a coat of black spray paint, and scrapbook paper to give this area a shot of color. A tiny cabbage plate holds our stainless salt and pepper shakers, and suddenly this area seems a lot more cheerful.

This simple palette is invigorating, but soothing also, if that makes any sense! I love the aura of simplicity and freshness that paring the colors down brings. 

There's more to share, too! Soon I'll show the attached breakfast nook, my kitchen desk/office area, and our tiny laundry room that's off the back of the kitchen. Thanks so much for coming by to see my kitchen :)

Joining:

Kim's Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Sherry's Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Yvonne's Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable

Comments

[Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions]

Your kitchen is so pretty, Andrea! I love the way you've decorated both areas with the shelves. I'm with you ~ I can't wait to decorate for Fall, but it is still a bit too warm for me to really embrace it yet.

[Nana Diana]

How very very cute. I love the graphic quality of black and white. It is just gorgeous- xo Diana

[olive]

Hi Andrea, I love a galley shaped kitchen and feels it aids efficiency in cooking. Your green, black, and white colors are fresh and pretty with out being modern. I do like the chicken wire in the cabinets. xo, olive

[Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads]

Andrea, I would feel right at home in your kitchen! I love your chicken wire cabinet doors and you have just given me an idea for two of my cabinets! I love all your open shelving and I'm figuring out how I can add some more in my kitchen, too! I may be prejudiced, but I think it's just beautiful!

[Mary Alice]

Your kitchen is so full of charm!! I love how you've accented it with greens. So pretty for this time of year.
Mary Alice

[Yvonne @ StoneGable]

Oh I love your kitchen! It is charming and warm and delightful! I would be so happy cooking in your kitchen. That little table is adorable!!! You have created such a lovely place to cook and create. Thanks for letting me spend time in the kitchen with you!

[Stacey]

Your kitchen is just wonderful! That range is amazing. The colors and cottagey accessories you have are perfect.

[Katie M.]

I love black and green. I am with you. It's hard to look at pumpkins when it is 100 degrees. I am glad you are back from your blogging break.

[Brenda Kula]

It looks fantastic, Andrea! The green with the black and white is really refreshing. Have you seen my kitchen since I decoupaged the heck out of it? What I'd give for those precious white shelves you have.
Brenda

[Martina]

Andrea your kitchen always looks amazing...I love it all!

[Lisa@Sweet Tea N' Salty Air]

Your kitchen is full of charming little touches of décor. Very warm and inviting! Lisa@ Sweet Tea N' Salty Air

[Vicki Daugherty]

Love the colors in your kitchen! What great combinations.....the black/white toile is one of my favorites and I do want to eventually get the Bordallo Cabbage plates, just cannot afford them right now. I love your MCC black checked plate, I have that, and also the bird plate in red that you have in your header, so you see why I love your color choices. As a new follower I can't wait to see more. Vicki in KY.

[Shelia]

I just love your kitchen! My kitchen is small too and I know how important it is to have everything in it's place and yours certainly is perfect! Love all of your sweet vignettes too.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

[Penny@ The Comforts of Home]

Your kitchen is so cozy and welcoming. I love the touches of green you added.

[Shenita]

Andrea, your kitchen looks wonderful! I love black and white, with touches of green. It's such a crisp look. I'm wishing for cooler temps, as well. These past couple of weeks have been brutal!

[Kelly]

Lovely touches to your kitchen, love it!

[Christine]

everything is so beautifully arranged!

[Shabbysweetcottage.blogspot.com]

Black and White is one of my favorite color combos. Your kitchen looks great. All of your touches of green are perfect for this in between time of year.

[Jenna]

I love black and white anything and your green looks fabulous! The cabinet with the chicken wire is my favorite! Wonderful space, it shows that many happy meals are made here!
Jenna

[Nita {ModVintageLife}]

Oh...I love the addition of Green to your kitchen. It just wakes it up! Love your little kitchen....A kitchen doesn't have to be big to be fabulous. I really like little kitchens which is good...cause I've got one.

[vanessa]

You kitchen is beautiful. Love the colors.

Vanessa

[Carol]

It all looks great, but I think my favorite bit is the white cabinet with chicken wire doors.

[debbiedoos]

Oh my that looks so pretty Andrea...I am loving the combination of green with the black. Still love those tiers too!

[Leena Lanteigne]

Beautiful! I have a mostly black and white kitchen too with some green and red accents. Your post have given me some nice inspiration for jazzing things up a bit! Hugs, Leena

[Dewena Callis]

I meant to comment on today's post and the beautiful fall things you put together but kept scrolling down and reading and saw this of your kitchen I had missed. Just had to say it is charming. I love your "priorities"! And that oven is a good looking thing! There is such a freshness in your colors, although I'm so late reading this you probably have changed it again!

[Patty]

Love the black just as much as the new red!! Beautiful kitchen!!

[Elaine]

Hi from Canada - this post is really late because I'm new to your blog but just wanted to say I think your kitchen is great - it has lots of interesting items to look at without being too cutesy, if you know what I mean. Perhaps, you have made this change already since my comment is two years after other posts (I'm referring to your wanting marble counters someday) but in my opinion, I think your wood countertops are just perfect and really suit your kitchen! I wouldn't dream of changing them if they were mine.

[Cheryl Wheeler]

I'm a bit late to the party here but planning to paint my cabinets red. What's the name of the specific Behr paint you used and is it oil or water based? Thanks.