As my coffee was brewing this morning, I got to tinkering in my kitchen.
You know how you’re just standing there, doing nothing for a few minutes. And a fire magically lights under you.
It seems my lone counter top from Lowes is not going to make an appearance until around Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving? So you are seeing the ugly gray tiles.
I probably wouldn’t find these tiles so ugly. But I can just imagine 77 years of bacteria in the grout that we cannot get the stains out of… Which makes it more a mental than a physical thing.
What began this whole corner vignette thing was this jar setting on my counter filled with vintage cookie cutters. Then my eye spied across the room this little set of measuring spoons.
And the fun began…
You see, one of my very favorite readers sent me these yo-yo’s sometime ago. And they’ve been safely stored in a zip lock bag.
My eye spied them in a random basket setting in the dining room filled with ribbon and trims and such where my coffee was brewing.
I thought they looked rather cute perched atop the jar of vintage cookie cutters I’ve collected. Perhaps I’ll just add a little hot glue and permanently affix them there.
I am very much a morning person. So while my coffee drip-dripped, all kinds of ideas starting popping into my head.
What about the jar of vintage cookie cutters as a Christmas gift for a friend that loves to bake?
Then out of the corner of my eye, I spied these cobalt glass canisters that magically did not get broken or chipped in the infamous move.
I had picked up these little glass/crystal baubles at an antique mall at some point in Texas. Same place I picked up the cobalt jars for $14. They happened to be in the basket of trims.
So I thought: why not dress the jars up a bit? Make them sparkle.
So I thought: why not dress the jars up a bit? Make them sparkle.
And so the glass jars got a little dress me up as well.
There is so very much you can do with just one small corner.
See my shabby chic type napkins there? Bought those from Sherry’s Etsy shop last week. My first Etsy purchase in ages.
I got them practically overnight. As well as a runner I can’t wait to show you. Once I find the proper place to display it.
Sherry, of The Charm Of Home blog, is really impressing me with her skills sewing runners and napkins and such. Go over and visit.
And so, the coffee is brewed. I’m sitting here looking at what transpired during my coffee making session. And feeling pretty good about my tiny little corner.
I think we gals with small houses need to form some sort of initiative or organization.
My good friend Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage has a post up right now about living and decorating and loving her small space. Click on the link to read it.
My good friend Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage has a post up right now about living and decorating and loving her small space. Click on the link to read it.
I’m going to make up a slogan, just because now I’m fully caffeinated and perked up myself:
“It’s not how much space you have. It’s what you do with the small space you’ve been allotted.”
I’d love to hear your “small space ideas.”
“It’s not how much space you have. It’s what you do with the small space you’ve been allotted.”
I’d love to hear your “small space ideas.”
You are absolutely right, Brenda, and I am right there with you with “what made the move and what didn’t”. I love your little display and I get those flashes of inspiration sometimes, too, when I least expect it. I suppose it is because we are not making ourselves think as we wait for coffee to perk or an oven to preheat.
My little cottage is only about 1400 square feet and I think we actually live in 1000 square feet of it (the downstairs area). It is just the perfect amount of space and really forces you to think creatively outside the box. Even if money were no object, I wouldn’t want a great big house. I love my cozy space. Your corner looks adorable Brenda.
Good Morning, Brenda!
I am a morning person too. It is my most creative time. I love hat you used that energy to create your new little cornervignette. It looks perfect. I am off to look for something to dress my rooster & hen canisters!
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Your space looks so cute and charming Brenda. I love all your vintage kitchen items! I love having those random moments of inspiration. I look forward to seeing more transformations in your Cozy Cottage!
All the best,
Rachel
I’m loving your corner. It is indeed cozy!
Brenda, dear, I think you should make coffee more often
Heck, I don’t even drink it and now I think *I* should go make some coffee!!! Love what you did with that corner, love the embellishments, baubles, all of it … you are the master of small spaces!
Things are looking like like Brenda’s house. You have such cute ideas. When I saw the yo yo’s I thought of your gift of them. What fun.
Only good thing I saw at Ikea was their shelves. My daughter bought one and it was really nice.
So glad you are settling in. Are you feeling better?
The space looks very cute.
Regarding the grout: I’ll bet it is less than ten years old. You can spray it with a bleach/water solution to clean it. Then, you can get a sealer from a big box store, and apply a couple coats on the grout and the tile. Then, you can clean it on a regular basis using a solution of 1/2 cup of amonia, 1/2 cup of alcohol and water, in a spray bottle.
Everything is looking adorable. I know you are having a good time.
I love when I can brainstorm over coffee…I get my best ideas in the morning before I feel drained by the day. I love what you did. It’s the little things that make all the difference.
If you saw my home you would be amazed at how small it is and how much I can fit in it. There was a time when I wanted a new, large home, but since then I have come to embrace the coziness of what I have. I know you are, too.
XO,
Jane
Your kitchen vignette is so cute. I love the idea of the jars filled with cookie cutters for a hostess gift. I am a new follower of your lovely blog…Hope you stop over to my blog also…I am in the midst of moving to a new home and looking forward to redecorating it….Have a wonderful day!
Oh Brenda, I want to join! I am in a little over 1100 square feet, I don’t do vignettes as I have no room to really set anything up, as it would just be in the way! I have to take photos and do a post. I am not feeling particularly energetic lately so hopefully I will get up one day feeling good and get to work. xo
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I am loving this post. I have the same napkin holder and is that a red hobnail lamp in the background. I love it. Red lamps are a weakness of mine.
Love it! Now you’ve lit a fire under me to go get my jar of cookie cutters out and tie some red measuring spoons to the lid. Great idea!
Very pretty display Brenda! I love the look of that whole corner! Martina
Well done! Another good saying about small spaces: “You can have just as much fun in a small house as a large one”. I recently went to a shower held in a very large impressive structure but there was no warmth or cozziness to be found in that house.
I am really enjoying following you progress on your little blue house — It already looks like you have lived there quite a while.
I tiled my counters in my old house right over the existing laminate, and to keep the grout clean, I poured straight clorox all over them about once a week. They stayed white, and presumably germ-free.
I am so sorry stuff got broken — that happened to me in our last move. I have a box in the attic, a large one, that has all the broken stuff. I like doing mosaics sometimes, and I thought it would be great for flower pots, bird bath, tables, stuff like that. Penny at Comforts of Home is pretty inspiring, but I am not an artist like she is.
The desk is so clever — I may steal your yardstick idea for my sewing table.
ETS
Brenda, you can come to my home any morning and be inspired while I brew coffee for us. Love what you’ve done.
(BTW, I have a blog on my blog roll that caters to small space living. Can’t recall the name of it exactly, but it is there if you want to take a look. She posts great stuff.)
i have been awol for a while, but i looks like your move suits you to a T!
Your little corner looks very cute now! Love your ideas. I’ll have to check out those blogs and etsy shops.
Hi Brenda, your kitchen looks cozy and inviting. I probably live in the smallest place ever; one bedroom, a shared small bath and small kitchen. It has truly been a challenge living this small, but I now love it and wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s so freeing being rid of all my junk. I’ve started a new blog, living real, and will soon close Betty Jo’s View. I’ll be sharing more about small living on my blog from time to time. Come by when you can. ♥
Love what you did there, Brenda! I am like you- while my coffee is brewing I am apt to start putzing..or picking up after the MR left his evening mess!
Your jar of cookie cutters is wonderful! xo Diana
I love this SO much that I RAN to my kitchen, grabbed the glass canister filled with cookie cutters, the vintage kitchen scale and brought them together in the corner. Great idea. Yours is beautifully displayed!
Jocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com
I have been reading your blog for a couple of months now and I enjoy it very much. I love your positive attitude and your style. Your new little house already looks adorable and I know it will become even more so.
I grew up in a really small home and lived in a small home for the first 22 yrs. of marriage. Our house in the country is much bigger with a somewhat clumsy floor plan. We’ve slowly been updating the mid 60′s home, but the kids grew up and we did have empty rooms–But wouldn’t you know it one adult kid moves out and another moves in with her 2 yr. old. I’m really ready to downsize to a smaller house with less upkeep and costs!!!
I’ve heard you can have old grout removed and have the tile re-grouted–Sounds like a DIY job to me!
You are so creative Brenda. You have a great eye for things. Love your blue canisters. My kitchen color is red. I’m still working on that but adding red things as often as I can.
I watched a show a couple months ago on HGTV ‘Design Star’ and the contestants designed a small home. Looked kinda like a ‘shotgun’ house. I finally saw one locally and posted a pic on my last post. Check HGTV for the info. Check it out on my blog. The little houses are so cute and TINY but a person could make do and cheap too.
It just amazes me that you’ve done so much in your new house in such a short period of time…and being sick on top of it! Love the ideas you came up with this morning. I live in a small house, have always lived in small houses & don’t wish for a bigger one!
Loving that corner. Especially love that red lamp! I have been trying to find a small lamp for under my cabinets, but haven’t found anything that calls my name. I am a morning tea drinker, maybe I should switch to coffee! Diane
you are “feathering your nest” in the most delightful way my friend! it is beginning to look like home to me! LOVE!
Oh Brenda! Your work is beautiful! That last photo of your kitchen looks like it was taken right from a magazine! One would swear a stylist came to your house and “did” your kitchen for a photography shoot. But we know it was you! Remember, you showed us photos of little kitchens a while back? What you’ve done is far nicer than any of those photos! You really have the knack!
We can’t wait to see every nook and cranny!
Can’t wait to see every nook and cranny.
Love it!! How great to just have it all come together. Enjoy it!
Hugs, Lisa
You are organized and it looks so awesome too. Love the new house.
You always have the cutest vignettes!! Love the accents to the jars, too! Perfection ala Brenda!
Off to get my 2nd cup of Jo…..
Oh, as for my small space ideas, I love to use cabinets for display by sitting them on top of a buffet. Brings the display UP and helps fit more stuff into a small space. My house is small….little rooms all glommed under one roof. But that is ok..it is cozy!
xxoo
Becky
Brenda,
I scrolled down the last several posts and was checking out your nesting and it looks fantastic! you have a gift for this look! Great job!
Sherry
Very nice little corner…I am a morning person too. I do my best thinking and most work in the morning.
I Love the look of free standing lamps on a counter in the kitchen…
Hi Brenda. A few days ago I did a post on collections show casing one of my very favorite ones and that was simply cookie cutters. Come by and check it out when you find a moment. I love a house that has all sorts of interesting little treasures tucked here and there. I never tire of looking at all the things you have come up with in the new house. I hope you are feeling better and so glad you seem to be having fun. Have a great weekend.
Susanne
Perfect phrase Brenda! Yay that you are a morning person. Not me…it takes several cups of coffee and about an hour or two later before my brain starts thinking and my body starts moving.
Love your phrase…I think we all can use it with just a tad bit of modifying.
So So cute and cozy! Would love to have you come and decorate my apartment lol.