Brightening Up the Kitchen

I LOVE the colorful view looking into the living room from the entry hallway.

  

The view into the kitchen from the living room has definitely improved since we painted the kitchen cabinets and installed the hardware, but it lacks....color.

The only color in the kitchen is the faint blue in the stained glass cabinet doors and the ABC magnets that Payton plays with on our fridge.  So for my next few projects I wanted to focus on brightening up the kitchen with some color. 

First project: curtains for the kitchen window

I wanted to keep with generally the same colors of the living room because the kitchen opens up to it.  But I also thought it might be fun to throw in some new colors.  So I went to the fabric store and brought home 4 different samples and Ty and I decided on this one.

I do NOT sew, plus I don't even own a sewing machine.  So I bought some of this Heat and Bond iron-on hem and it is SO easy.  I'm not ever buying curtains anymore.  They are a rip-off.  I bought all these materials for less then 2 84" curtain panels at target.

Curtain Rod: Walmart for $4

Heat & Bond: Walmart for $2

Curtain Clips: Walmart for $12 for two packs

Fabric: $20

Total: $38

Step 1: Measure the window & cut the fabric 2" longer in width and height to allow for 1" hems all the way around.

Step 2:  Place the Heat & Bond strip 1" underneath the top of the fabric panel.  

Step 3: Iron slowly to allow application

Luckily I had nice straight lines on my fabric to make it really easy to get the hem straight.

Step 4: Repeat on all edges of both panels

Here is the finished product.  It brightens up the kitchen perfectly.

Second Project: plate wall above dining table

I found these beauties at DI for $1 each and thought this little wall strip was a perfect place for them.

I am on a tight budget and to be honest rather cheap.  So I had a lapse of judgment and thought that hot glueing large safety pins on the back of the plates would work to hang the plates instead of having to buy plate hangers.  To help my case I did read several blogs that said this worked for them.  Well it definitely didn't work for me.

Disclaimer: It only holds the plates for 10 minutes.  I lost a plate in the process.

So I bought these on Amazon and now I never have to worry about a plate falling on my head while I'm eating.

Third Project: clothespin frame with extra curtain fabric

I got this idea from pinterest, but decided to back it with my extra curtain fabric instead of having an empty frame.

I bought this frame (already white) from DI for $4

and bought both the twine and the miniature clothespins for about $7 

(the twine was $5)

So this project was a grand total of $11.

I first removed the old burlap fabric

Then I hot glued the twine near the top of the frame on both sides

In order to measure without using a tape measure (aka - the lazy way) I used pictures to hang to somewhat evenly space the three layers of strings.

Then I placed the new fabric on the thick piece of cardboard and tightly secured it in place from the back.

Because of the bright colors in the fabric I wanted to order a bunch of black and white photos.  

Fourth Project: DIY art

I found these 3 blank canvases at DI (of course) a few months ago and have been wanted to do something with them ever since.  Of course I looked at pinterest for ideas and really liked this and this.

There are so many bright colors in the room so I really wanted to use some darker colors.  I printed off a silhouette of a bird and a feather and spray painted them gold.

Then I spray painted the canvases navy blue

Then I sprayed one last coat of blue paint and placed the feather and bird on before the paint dried so it worked like glue.  

I also spray painted a leaf that I got from my tree a few weeks ago, but I haven't found a place in my house yet for this one.

So here is our new and colorfully updated view into our kitchen from the living room.

That brown table is such an eye sore for me with the colors we chose.  It is a beautiful table but the color just doesn't go.  We are still trying to sell it so we can buy a smaller black table.