Decorators, I need your help!

~*~

-Calling ALL Decorators-

I am in *desperate* need of your help, suggestions, and advice. I have a kitchen DILEMMA! Let me give you a little history on our kitchen. When we purchased this home it was what they referred to as…a spec home. Someone had purchased this home, picked all the finishing details, and in the end, it fell through for whatever reason. So, when we found this home, we were unable to pick anything. In the pictures below, you can see that the walls are stark *builder* white. The granite is very busy and is not something we would have chosen...AT ALL! The cabinets seem to clash with the busy granite. So, within the 3rd day of moving in, we hired painters. I explained my dilemma about what color to select for the kitchen with the granite being so busy. The painter recommended red. At first, I was against it, but then decided it was really the only color choice I could think of that might go well with the black, brown, and gray that is in the granite.

Here is my dilemma: I feel like my kitchen is too dark. I would really like to lighten things up. Last summer, it seemed the "in-thing" to do was to make your kitchen island a different color that the rest of the cabinetry. So, I did a black distressed finish to my kitchen island...which I love! I have found a lot of pictures on the internet showing white/distressed/glazed cabinets with a black island, and I *LOVE* that look.

Please let me know what you ladies think? If this was your kitchen, what would you do to give it a face lift? Please be honest, it won't hurt my feelings at all. Would you simply change the wall color, if so, what color would you choose? Or, would you go ahead and change the cabinetry to white cabinets, as seen in the pictures below?
Thanks for your help! ~Liz =)

~*~

This is how the kitchen looked before me moved in.

Can you see how busy the granite is?
There are a lot of cabinets in this kitchen. I can't even fill all the cabinets...that's how many there are. This job would be a huge undertaking, but I'm thinking it may worth all the hard work. =)
This kitchen island is now black....you'll see in the pictures below.
Below is the bar area of the kitchen.
Below is the kitchen with the red walls and here you can see the black island. Try and invision the upper and lower cabinets in a distressed white, what do you think?
Below is a shot of the bar area.

Below is showing how red the walls are. Also, you can see the granite near the white pantry door, and once again, I keep thinking how white cabinets would go so much better than the ones I currently have. Large wall on one side of the kitchen.

In the picture below, you can see similar granite and how nice it looks with white cabinetry and hardware.

In this picture, I like the distressed look around the edges of the cabinetry.

In the picture below, you can see the black island with the white cabinetry. I love it!

Below: More kitchens with white cabinets and black islands. What do you think of this look?

Thanks for stopping by!

((Hugs)) ~Liz

~*~

Spring Vignettes

~*~

~Happy Spring~

I love Southern Style decor and came across this site ...http://www.southernstylehomedecor.com/

I was inspired by some of their photos and decided I would share them with all of you! I hope you enjoy!

((Hugs))

Liz

~*~

Spring Arrangements

~*~

Spring Arrangements

Today, it was a drizzly day here in Virginia. I felt creative, so I ran to Michael's and picked up some spring flowers on sale. I bought the container, some bows, and a block of Styrofoam. I came home and made the arrangement you see above.

Spring Birds (purchased at Michael's - 40% off)
Here is another view of the arrangement.

Above: I bought the these decorative items from HomeGoods.

I couldn't decide what to place next to the arrangement, so I played with differnt spring items. =)

I love Roosters, so I have this set in my dining room.

This Rooster is in my morning room.

Bunnies ~ I bought these guys at HomeGoods.

A close-up!

Below are bird pictures I purchased at Kirkland's a year ago. I have these in our downstairs bathroom.

Thanks for stopping by! ~Liz~

~*~
Happy Saturday!

Here in Northern Virginia, spring is in the air. Today is gorgeous! I spent some time outdoors and was noticing little buds on the trees beginning to surface, as well as green blades of grass starting to sprout. Green is my favorite color, so I was inspired to share some pictures with all of you. I love Pottery Barn and Neiman Marcus, so below are pictures from their websites. I hope you become inspired, just as I am, to create something unique and fun in your home for spring! Enjoy!

~Liz~

I love this vase, so elegant and pretty!

Isn't this a pretty arrangement?
This picture has spring written all over it! ;)
Candles and greenery ~ the two placed together look gorgeous!


I collect plates and thought these have a fun element to them. I like the pattern, shape and colors.
Aren't these placemats adorable?
I love the shape of these utensils!
I love rustic looking clocks.
I like to use glass jars and cloches to display items. I like what they have done in the above picture.

Isn't this photo appealing? I don't know about you, but I am ready for grapes and a good bottle of wine! ;)

I love lanterns, as there are so many ways to decorate with them.

Baskets are always a great way to display seasonal items in your home.

Spring floral arrangements are fun to arrange when you create them yourself.

Lastly, doesn't this picture look extremely inviting? I just want to kick off my flip flops, take a seat and enjoy the outdoors. Ahhhh....