Why Must I Be So Difficult?
And yes, I know for a fact that I'm not the first person to ask that question about me, hehe.
Let me first start by saying something positive. The dining wall is looking great! The dips are gone thanks to many thin layers of drywall mud in just the right places, and after another final sanding, I can prime (again!). YOu may remember that I've done all of this before, down to even the priming, only to discover the rather unsightly dips and waves. Hubs, who notices everything, didn't notice but it was driving me bonkers. Now I can enjoy looking at a nice, straight wall (like I have time to sit around and watch the walls!).
Speaking of being driven bonkers, let me confide to you one of renovation secrets...brace yourself: I don't like my new countertops...***sniff***. I was really hoping they would grow on me, and I know they've only been installed for a little over a week, but I think they look just awful with the red cabinets. The countertops are beigy brown and are suppose to look like a natural type of material, but when I see the kitchen I see the brown, the red, and the (primer) green walls. Red. Brown. Green. The pattern on the countertop also seems much busier than the feel I want and almost gives more of fancier look than the clean, simple country cottage style I'm going for. What a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I thought maybe - maybe if I just used white (actually, a creamy white) beadboard *all* the way around the kitchen and dining area, including the backsplash area (instead of the painted brick pavers for the backsplash), then the eye will be drawn around the room instead of focusing on the countertop. But still...Red.Brown.Green Oh, and remember, our living room is yellow.
Am I agonizing over this way too much? Are the countertops neutral enough or are they out of place in this cottage kitchen? *sigh* I need icecream.
P.S. If you subscribers got a strange entry from One Woman's Cottage Life, hehe, I apologize. That was the very first entry *ever* about our house, written back in 2003 before we bought it. I had it in a draft folder and only just published it to this site last night!
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13 comments:
Sorry to hear about the countertops. That's no fun. (I think they look fine :)).
But if they are really driving you nuts here's an idea. In one apartment I lived in, it still had the 70's/80's bright orange countertops. In order to update the look of the apartment, the landlords hired a company that spray-painted them with a special coating (a creamy white). It looked great and the coating didn't flake and crack off, they did a great job on it. I lived there for two years. It's just an idea.
They look good in the pics...you are probably overanalyzing. I'd hate for you to really hate them, cause I'm sure you can't return them now, right?? Hang in there & I'm sure it will all come together. They look pretty to me!
Rhoda
Southern Hospitality
I think the counters look great! I think once everything is done you will be pleased with your choice. :)
Kim, Don't change a thing! You have to remember that you are in your kitchen more than anyone and your eye will naturally settle in certain places. It's kind of like walking in a church with a cathedral ceiling. If you walk in enough times, your eye sort of stops at an "invisible" ceiling height. After awhile, you won't notice the cathedral ceiling as much as the first time you saw it. The moral of the story is, yes YOU see red, green, and brown but WE see fabulous, creative colors in a warm and welcoming space! It's truly a wonderful kitchen!
Dawn
A Charmed Life
Hey, I've been to the Nashville FM
It was so much fun and I spent alot of money...would love to go again....do you have info on advertising on you sidebar?
I'd LOVE new countertops.
I have a similar confession about our new kitchen floor. I thought I would like it but it didn't turn out exactly how I wanted. I haven't even posted pics on my blog yet 'cause I don't know what to say about it. I'm hoping when we paint and actually finish the cabinents I'll like them.
I think the pics of the counters look great but of course I don't have to live with them. ;)
I know when something doesn't turn out how you envisioned it's so disappointing...they will look different when all your things are around and they a part of the whole look of your beautiful home you are creating.
Thanks you all. I think one of the main problems is that right now, the earthy colored backsplash is right up against a green wall, so that is throwing me off even though I know it's just temporary. Also, my old countertops were much lighter and really didn't have a pattern whereas the new counter has a lot of graining. I'm going to just have to make my peace and keep going. It's only one part of the design element and hopefully, *hopefully* with all the white that will be going in there, it won't stand out as much.
Amy, I'm sorry about your floor!Oh, I know the feeling, that kind of "stuck" feeling. Hopefully after everthing is painted and finished, they will be just what you imagined they would be. Let us know how it goes!
CityFarmer, you can email me at onewomanscottagelife@hotmail.com or send me your email and I can give you advertising details...thanks!
I appreciate all the comments, ladies...thanks for letting my whine, lol!
You are thinking too much about them! Besides- red + green = brown! All those colors go because red and green are complimentary to each other (think Christmas!) and green is made up with blue and yellow, 2 of the three primary colors (red is the other). When you mix all three, blue, red and yellow you get brown! And you cannot go wrong with the natural 'grain' of the countertops- all of nature is beautiful! Look at the bird on your windowsill- it is stone like piece too. Just keep moving and it will all fall into place! A big part of being a good decorator is being able to work with what is there, and consider the coutertops 'there'! Any one can rip them out and start all over! The challenge is to make it work and work like you planned it that way! You liked them when you first saw them, right? I think a truly warm and inviting home is created by surrounding yourself with things you love, even if they don't 'go' in the eye of a fancy decorating magazine. Don't think so much! Just feel!
Oh, Joanne! Your comment just made my day! There *is* a color science behind my countertop choice, and I just didn't know it! Thank you for the explanation:) I'm going to love these countertops if it's the last thing I do!
Kim,I've been where you're at right now and it will pass... they will be AND ARE just fine and once you get the layering going on in your kitchen, your eye won't be so critical or notice what you are seeing now... hang in there ~ everything is looking SOOOOO good!Remember a cottage doesn't have to be PERFECT, it is a style that is at its' best if it appears to be evolved or "added" on to over time, if you know what I mean!
xo,
Kim
Kim, a true cottage is never perfect because it shows it's age -this is what makes it charming and comfy. It's full of nooks and crannies, uneven creaky floors, narrow twisty stairs, and if one is lucky - a couple of old worn and scratched wooden counters in the homey kitchen! Your counters look lovely and will grow even more attractive once you have your back splash finished - and then set out your small appliances or decorative items. They are neutral so how can they be wrong - I just know you will be happy once all is done in the kitchen you have worked so hard on.
Chin up girlfriend - we're all pulling for you.
~ Mary ~
Kim, we did our kitchen last fall. When it is all done, you will see it as one unit and not the parts so much. Your counter top doesn't look brown to me. Looking at the wonderful white thrift finds you have (milk bottles, etc.), I'm thinking how pretty they will stand out on those counters. I've enjoyed watching this transformation so much. You're doing a G~R~E~A~T job.
Warmly,
Lallee
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