I love color! Everything from deep earth tones to bold primaries, bright white to darkest black, and everything in between. The use of beautiful colors is important in my wardrobe and decor. I love combining colors you wouldn’t usually put together to come up with unique looks. I find it funny how often I create an interesting color combination and discover a few weeks later that it’s all the new rage in home decorating and on the fashion runways. It’s been called a premonition. I call it ‘being bold’ or ‘not being afraid to try something new’.
The kitchen was Momma’s happy place (what do you expect from someone who’s maiden name is Cook?). From a very young age, she taught me that everything that goes on around you…your mood, your music, your atmosphere…reflects in your cooking. For instance, she made the most amazing biscuits. She mixed them with her hands. No spoon or whisk ever touched the dough. They were like heaven, every bite melting in your mouth. Occasionally, however, she would have a stressful day. On these days, she knew what to expect before she even put them in the oven. “These are going to be bad biscuits. I can feel it in the dough,” and she wasn’t wrong. She used these days as an opportunity to teach me the importance of feelings, emotions, and our surroundings.
Were the dishes washed and put away or was there a pile of dirty dishes waiting in the sink? Was the kitchen peaceful and inviting or was there a crowd of people in the room with continuous chatter? Was she relaxed and happy or was she burdened from a stressful day? All of these things were brought to my attention during our time together in the kitchen.
Another thing she insisted on was inviting colors and decor. Now, we moved quite a bit during my childhood but, even in our short-term homes, Momma always made sure our kitchen was the friendliest room in the house. I remember one house had white walls and red carpet (yes, carpet in the kitchen). The day we moved in, she went straight out to buy red, gingham fabric, and made curtains for the kitchen. Although red was one of her least favorite colors, she worked with what she had and made the best of it.
When I was 16 years old, my parents designed and built a house. Momma spent weeks planning out the kitchen. She finally decided on wallpaper covered in fruit with blue accents (because it was my dad’s favorite color). Even though she had spent all those weeks planning, it still wasn’t her kitchen, not really. Many years later, after Dad passed away, she decided to finally make the kitchen her own. She started by tearing down the wallpaper, painting the walls Florida Pink, and decorating with hummingbirds…
LOTS of hummingbirds. Everywhere you looked were hummingbirds… dishes, towels, curtains, throw rugs, you name it. It was here were I learned that it was okay to go overboard with a theme if you really loved it (I’m joking, of course).
Moving ahead some years, I still don’t have my kitchen but I work with what I have and make it as close to my own as possible. While I’m waiting for the day I can design my dream kitchen, I’ll continue to bring happiness and relaxation to what I have by using colors and themes that make me happy.
Presently, the kitchen is teal and white with a hint of lime, salmon, brown, and other earthy colors here and there. My theme is coffee (which I’ve used for many years, regardless of the colors)! I dress it up by adding colorful tools and gadgets and making the DIY coffee bar my main focus.
One day, I’ll have my dream kitchen where I can display my boxes of coffee mugs and Momma’s antique mixing bowls. Until then, I find happiness in the little things, like colorful 9-in-1 kitchen tools, wooden bowls, and spatulas!
What colorful, fun, kitchen gadgets make you happy?
~ Be sure to check out The Dreamy Giraffe on Etsy and pick up some fun artwork for your creative space!
~ Hummingbird dishes by Corelle have been discontinued. Some pieces can be found on Replacements, Ltd.
~ Feel free to contact me for information on any of the products you see on my blog!
Freestyle Foodie - Southern Style 