I (along with several other blogs) received an amazing email last night…from a blogger named Grace..she said:

You have been quite an inspiration during the renovation of our home that my husband renovated in just 30 days. I felt the need to share the before and after pics, as your blog has given me such design direction. I want to thank you for your blog, and how much you inspired me. I would LOVE for you to visit me over at www.nameisgrace.blogspot.com , to see Part I of our reveal. My husband and I worked very hard so that our family could move in. We had a deadline of 1 month to finish an entire house. We are in our late 20’s, and are in now way shape or form professionals when it comes to interior design, nor do we have a lot of experience. Not having a budget to hire a professional interior designer, I gained most of my knowledge from blogs, including yours, so THANK YOU!!!!! I Hope you like what you see because there is more to come…kitchen and bathrooms:)

What is that Rachel Zoe says?? I die. well, yall. I DIE. this kitchen is so good..i thought she was joking at first…look at the lights?! and they did it in a MONTH! MORE TO COME??? Bring it on Grace, we can’t wait to see.

AMAZING GRACE, indeed! THANKS FOR SHARING. blogs really are an amazing thing they way they connect ideas and people with similar interests..,in the tradition of magazines and catalogs..now blogs… Lauren at Pure Style Home (who is amazing herself and about to have a baby!) calls this, the sharing and honing of style and ideas among “non pros,” the “democratization of interior design” and i agree and i love it!

yall go check out Grace’s lovely home, her cute stockings and adorable baby!

We’ve been talking about baby spaces here at HMI for weeks (ok months) so i want to change directions and look at kitchens…

I’ll start off with my own little kitchen, small but efficient and published in the June 2005 issue of Better Homes & Gardens (“Chic on a Shoestring”). Built in 1941 our home has a classic, “non-open,” pre-war floorplan…when we purchased the house..the kitchen was DARK..with dark stained knotty pine, 1970s green cabinets, and pink with gold flecks formica (yes I am serious)…but i saw major potential..especially in the 1950s stainless Tappan range..so cool…still used daily (though it does need work)..we painted the cabinets “pure white” from SW and i even painted the countertops (and sealed) until we could afford granite (we did 10″ square granite tiles to save $$), hardware from Restoration, added screen moldings to the door for a faux paneled look and added glass to two doors…

in the case of our little home, simply painting truly transformed and opened up the tiny space,…i believe that bright pure whites really help freshen older homes so keep that in mind..i think the older or more “dated” the home the brighter you should go on woodwork with white paint (if you choose to go that direction)..save creamy whites for new construction is my thought..ok so back to the kitchen, i wanted to knock out the little “penisula” but i needed the storage it provided so left it, we also added the simple molding up top to add a little interest..

the walls are a nice butter color, similar to Martha’s “buttermilk biscuit”..the light is from IKEA (I want a vintage school house light..hint hint) the wall of plates are a mix of decent quality ironstone, my mom’s 1970s wedding dishes, and IKEA plates…and dont worry the chicken prints are gone (what was i thinking??;;) i now have damask fabric in those 4 white frames. oh and floor tiles are 18″ square linoleum from Home Depot..no fancy tile here! I will share more pictures of the cool Tappan range soon..i promise..and you know what is really tragic..

the little rods are IKEA and the tea towel window treatment is Anthropologie

{images from BHG}

Now to switch gears…this image below pops up all over the shelter mags..I THINK it is Whoopi Goldberg’s California kitchen (she has multiple homes) done by Sue Balmfoth of Bountiful?? correct me if i am wrong…love it.

{image from Country Home}

and the kitchen below from Nie Nie won a home award from Cookie magazine..this mom is so talented and admired for so much more than just her style..i just love the photographs casual on the wall and the light..

[image from Cookie mag]

and of course there is always our beloved Heather Chadduck..this is her new home in Alabama i believe..i loved her kitchen in her Dallas Cottage too..if you have those pictures, please link in the comments…

[images from Cottage Living]

and Lettered Cottage has a fab kitchen, go over there and check out the before and afters..amazing!…the black cabinet idea is just such a great solution i think..i find black paint easier to cover with and just looks so sharp…really give this thought if you are trying to update a ranch..love the doors off and shelf brackets..layla is amazing!

[above images from The Lettered Cottage]

and now let’s bring it back to Texas and a home I have been working on recently just a few miles from my own little kitchen..this is a lovely new home but the homeowners wanted to do things in the new construction to really add character and history..like using a vintage door from an old church for the panty, “mismatched” furniture style cabinets etc, two colors, “feet” on the cabinets etc…..