EDITED TO ADD: Kitchen wall is finished! go here to see what I did!
it’s TIME For another installment of HELP KIMBO DECORATE HER HOUSE!!!!!!
(so far we have talked about a big wall and fireplace. and my blah bedroom)
today i need some help in the kitchen (this is where my husband would snort and say “more than just decorating”)
but i’m having such a hard time with this wall. (the arch kills me in the living room) it’ s big…it’s connected…you can see it from the living room.
here is the mls listing….
 and here is the current state….
i kinda hate the light fixture. i would love to put up something way more modern. husband would be THRILLED. so basically i have to figure out how to rewire stuff myself.
(we are currently shopping for a table and chairs…the table will be about the same size (we can’t agree on counter height or chair height) but we will probably have a bench on one side cause we both like the look
i’m planning on throwing a big plant in the corner too… and i’m thinking a big black and white striped rug under the table…
and we are also looking for barstools…and since i’m cheap and all these things cost more than $10…i have the hardest time making a choice. so i don’t make choices. ha!…right now the barstools are narrowed down to..
this one is my favorite i keep coming back too…
but I don’t know if backs would be better…(these would be spray painted)
and i love these woven ones..
(and keep in mind that i don’t like the table so far out cause we go through the patio doors a lot...so a big buffet or hutch wouldn’t really work.)
so here is what i’m thinking…
PLan A.
a GIANT framed chalkboard. Huge rectangle…
like this one i spotted here
or even this one..
source
it will never look this fancy..but i love the bigness…
source
PLAN B.
OR should i do a set of three skinny ledges loaded with frames
Option c
doing an organized wall…(source)
the only reason i sway away from this one is i put 9 frames downstairs in my husbands room…
onto: option d:
giant art
I could frame some fun fabric…or paint a canvas…or anything just on a large scale…
option i don’t know where i’m at anymore:
i still come back to a really skinny hutch. i could make it work…but mind you..i have no fancy dishes. like none.
 and this picture also brings up another things….should i throw up some beadboard or board and batten. i would want it white…but my kitchen has no white
…so i think it would look totally weird…
from mls listing…
So come on ladies! tell me what you like??!!!!
Stephanie says
I personally love. love the skinny ledged shelves for frames. BUT I also love the giant chalkboard. I guess you just have to ask yourself if it’ll get much use. I know my three littles would LOVE it. I know that whatever you pick it’ll look GREAT! I love your ideas, thanks for keeping me on my toes 🙂
Sarah S says
I love the dark cupboards over by the fridge. If you can get some of those doors use them to front some shallow bookshelves – used to store art supplies for kiddos – then chalkboard paint the middle of the doors!
Tracey says
Hello,
How about a credenza AND a giant chalk board? Or a credenza and the photo shelves?
Kimbo says
love that idea…!
Athena says
I like the way the frame wall looks, but to dust that would be AWFUL. I can just imagine having to pick up every. single. frame to dust around each and every month *cough* 3 months. The chalkboard collage is pretty dark cool, or making your own piece of art would look nice. If you paint a large piece of canvas yourself, and then put a giant (something) over it (like an initial or a special family thing (our house would be a bicycle, or a tandom bicycle), that would look cool. Do that with the Cameo and have the kids paint it, a family affair
Ashley says
I love the first stool! I also love the idea of a chalkboard wall!
Amoryn says
Horizontal stripes. 2 colors. But at kid height switch out one color for chalkboard paint. So do..
Navy
Yellow
Navy
Yellow
Chalkboard
Yellow
Navy
Then use one stripe as the picture stripe, either with a ledge or not, you chose.
Change the fixture to something with horizontal lines. You could even carry the stripes into the curtains over the patio door. And then accent your living space with those colors in your stripes.
Connie says
I love the chalkboard wall…..very updated and cool for a kitchen/dining. Option 2 would be the hutch. I like the ledges with frames but family pics don’t scream kitchen to me. I say go with board and batten if you love it. The molding in your kitchen is white (pantry door frame) abd board and batten is basically molding anyway.
Alisha says
Oh my! Plan B, or the Chalkboard with the family photos! SO LOVE! Adds a spark of IT’S MY HOME to the dining room. Adds a touch of I LOVE MY FAMILY. Adds a touch of IT’S ABOUT US, FOR US. LOVE IT!
As far as the stools, I’d totally love the woven ones. They provide support for the back which is wonderful to have when you are older. It also adds some softness. However, if you are young enough back problems aren’t an issue I’d go with the wooden stool, it’s sleek and sharp looking.
And I love reading all your comments…..don’t know how you’ll ever make a decision based on all the ideas! LOL Happy fun times.
Sharlyn says
Ooooo, love the photo ledges
Jesika says
I think the chalkboard would be awesome!
Elle says
One simple item on the wall would look great. Not too busy. Not too fussy. How about a gorgeous framed mirror? You already have a photo wall in your entry wall so doing one on an even larger scale could be overkill.
In regards to bar stools, I’m going to have to tell you something you probably won’t want to hear. Unless you have angelic children in your life who listen to you the first time you tell them to cut it out, than you are almost certainly going to have to deal with what my mother had to with my brother and I (and all our friends and the kids she babysat). Leaning back onto the back legs of the stool while gripping into the counter to see how far back you can lean and how good your balance is. We drove my mum crazy with how often we did it. We constantly fell off them, hurting ourselves (my brother had a very bad fall off one once). We were constantly being banned from using them for a period of time and as soon as she thought we had proved ourselves to be responsible, intelligent children and were allowed to use them again, we’d do it as soon as she left the room. We couldn’t help ourselves. Every kid who visited tried it at some point too.
If you think the kids in your life won’t do it, go for it. But do consider that stools with a back mean that you can lean further back.
Susan the farm quilter says
“should i throw up some bead board or board and batten. i would want it white…but my kitchen has no white”…I’m seeing white in the trim around the door to the pantry…aren’t I??? I’m a quilter so I see a quilt that pulls in the colors from the living room (since you can see through) as well as any other colors you want to bring into the space. So not helpful, I know!!! Love all your ideas and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!
Carrie says
I think the chalkboard idea is cool but what about using that idea and having two vertical paintings on each side to add a little color to that room? Perhaps some vintage pop art or something with a lot of color to brighten up the room.
Virginia in Missisisppi says
I would paint the base of the counter on the dining side only, or put up painted bead board there – in the same soft grey of the pantry door. This will lighten up the feel of the room and tie the dining and kitchen together. I love your choice of the simple barstool. I would keep the table, but paint the legs dark and lighten the tabletop with a brown stain or glaze over a lighter paint. Then pick up some inexpensive non-matching simple wood chairs (yardsales?) and paint them in the soft grey. Can you lower the light fixture a bit more over the table? And a large chalkboard or even a large round mirror would be nice on the wall opposite – something large and lower and not like a painting or photo with a center focus since the light fixture will be in the middle of it when viewed from the living room. You’ve got this!
Happily says
Your dining area would be a wonderful place to showcase your kids’ artwork if you’re into that .. I personally like showcasing items that mean something to you.
My barstools are wooden, as is my dining table (Thrift store find that I refinished). I mixed the look with leather Parsons-style chairs to give a contemporary look. I personally love a farmhouse look mixed with modern elements. I’ve been told by visitors that they feel very comfortable at my home, which is my desire.
Anne Champ says
I especially like the idea of a gallery wall, the one with the shelves the most. It is such an easy way to change things up, if you are one that likes to do so. Swapping out pictures and frames couldn’t be easier.
Nancy says
I have similar issue. I think low back chairs will make the room more spacious. I love the sea grass barstools. The black board is very big right and budget friendly. For a more modern look how about thin stainless shelves? Have you considered a modern dropleaf table. Or a glass top to make York space appear larger. Have fun and I hope to see what you choose.