Cottage Tongue and Groove Ceiling Nearing Completion - and Opinions Needed

I've done the happy dance many times this week because we are finally getting to projects I've been wanting to get to for ages! We've finally completed all the trim work for the ceiling. The crown moulding and the finishing trim is installed which means we can now putty and caulk and paint. The pine knots are showing through the boards, so we're going to go over those with a shellac based primer to keep them from bleeding through again.

See that hole in the ceiling? That was the first hole cut for our lighting! Yes, I said lighting! We've lived with just one lonely sink light for over a year now and I can't tell you how great it feels to have dining room lights again! After this photo was taken, hubs also installed some recessed lighting for the dining area. They are fabulous! We won't install the oil-rubbed lighting bronze fixtures until after the painting is done - but even without them the recessed lighting provides plenty of light. This week, hubs will finish the lighting in the rest of the kitchen which includes four more recessed lights, then later we'll install the island light and new sink light.

Another grand milestone was reached when hubs replaced the old outlets and switches in the backsplash. I finally have outlet and switch covers!!! (See photo above) Literally, I did a happy dance when these were installed. The old covers were removed long ago - maybe even before the brick paver backsplash was installed. It's a tiny little thing - but it's one thing that's finished!

The primer you see on the walls in the photos (tinted green primer) is no more. I went through yesterday and primed it all out in white primer.Yes, I've changed my cottage color palette after being inspired by many European bloggers. More and more, I'm loving white on white on white look and feel - different shades and textures. A year ago, I was ready to paint my kitchen a pretty shade of green to contrast with the red cabinets. Instead of a colorful cottage, the "new" whole house color scheme calls for white painted beadboard 54 inches high (this was always part of my plan), and then above the beadboard, a shade of warm off-white (Malted-Milk from Lowes) that I may later tea stain or glaze for a slightly aged look. I will be accessorizing with various shades of white ironstone pieces and a few other white accessories. In contrast, I'm collecting a few antique or old kitchen items like a worn wooden rolling pin, a couple of wooden bowls, natural looking woven baskets, antique white linens, and so on. My kitchen table is farmstyle with a wooden maple top and primitive looking legs that can be painted any color - will probably be an off white. To keep things fresh looking, I'll want some live greenery - perhaps a wispy sweet topiary on the island or something in the window sill, along with maybe a dried bunch of lavendar resting in one my baskets. Basically, I would want anyone who stepped in from an early 1800's European countryside to feel quite at home. Not fussy, very practical and simple and time worn, romantically rustic, humble, and beautiful. Whites, off-whites, some live greenery or simple flowers here and there, natural wood tones, dark metal accents...and of course, the red cabinets will always be red!

Here is a good representation of where my design is headed. These photo links are from Jenny's Home and Harmony (I don't know if I got that translated right). Her blog is gorgeous! Check out this foyer / hall area, these yummy photos, oh! and her bathroom. From another blog, I really love how these kitchen photos make me feel, too.

Here are a few more inspiration photos...








So this is where your opinion is wanted...I'm wondering what color I should paint the french doors in the kitchen? My ceiling, trim, and beadboard will be a nice pure white and the wall above the beadboard will be off white. How would the french doors look painted the shade of the hutch pictured below? It's not black but a deep brown which reminds me of all the oil rubbed bronze hardware we're using. Our french door handles themselves are (or will be when installed) oil-rubbed bronze.

Would you paint the french doors:
(a) dark brown and distress them as pictured below
(b) off white (the same color as walls) and distress them
(c) pure white to match the trim and beadboard



I know my updates are not as frequent as they once were, but life has made it hard for me be online as much. But I do check my mail and site everyday and there will *always* be another update:) Thanks so much for continuing to stop by!