Hi Everyone! If you were at my house for post holiday dinner Jan.3rd, you saw my beautiful new refrigerator, and also that my husband tore apart half the kitchen so it would fit. Down to the horsehair plaster and lathes. With the promise of a kitchen redo of course. Our old (and I mean old and not in a nice retro/vintage way) refrigerator died during the 10 days of ice storm madness we dealt with (see what it takes to get a new major appliance around here?! LOL!) It's great- french door front, freezer on the bottom. Love it. Stainless but with a fingerprint repelling finish (thank goodness). And the new dishwasher (also stainless) is still in it's crate out in the garage. I look at it longingly whenever I'm out there. Sometimes I even give it a pat. It's been out there a while.  I've been dishwasher-less for nine years now, what's a few more months right? *sigh* Now it's left to me to design and pick out cabinets and flooring (finally! A new kitchen floor!) The above picture is a dream kitchen to me- soooo 40's- and I love the linoleum! Of course my financier/husband gives final approval, so I may not get to go with my Armstrong Real Linoleum flooring I want (yep, they still make it, and it's retrolicious! And expensive. Might not get budget approval.But it's so perfect!).

I did find some very affordable retro looking cabinets from (of all places!) IKEA. Inexpensive, and could be stunning. Especially with some retro sleek chrome drawer pulls/handles (already have!).  I like the glossy red finished ones, but hubby does not like color, especially bright colors. I'm working on him.  It takes much time, effort and careful tending to guide him to "my side" of things. (Sometimes that backfires. Then it's back to square one.Sometimes I have to go ahead and do something, face "the wrath" of doing something major w/out prior mutual consultation and then he'll say "actually that looks good, honey! Nice job" That's a total "See, I told you" moment for me that usually goes unspoken. That's ok, I like feeling smug!)

Those glossy cabinets remind me of my great grandmother's cool metal cabinets she had in her kitchen. Hers were white.  I think the bright red cabinets, with glass front upper cabinets (to show off my vintage cookie jars and vintage fruity plates and things) would go great with my fruit chalkware and beige walls. And the yellow ginham curtains with bright red cherries I already have up. And my drying rack with vintage dishtowels and aprons. I so love those. I spend entirely too much of my time in my kitchen, so I want to make it as "me" friendly as possible. My happy place. Full of color. Bold and fruity!

My kitchen table (and chairs) are bright yellow formica "cracked ice" pattern from the 40's (yep, naugahyde chairs to match) and lots-o-chrome. I know I have a picture somewhere, if I find it, I'll post it. I actually have a vintage fruity tablecloth on it with my jadeite salt and pepper shakers. Not piles of kid's school projects and stuff as usual. Anyways, it's  delightfully tacky retro 40's. I was shocked when hubby approved of that purchase (still. clinging. to. hope!) I feel I am channeling Lucille Ball herself sometimes. I love it!