Friday, April 2, 2010

Im Finished!...Ok, I Lied....

So four years ago, when I decided "Instead of being average and reflecting the ways of a modern 17yr old, Im gonna restore this house the correct way."  That was the Summer of 2006 and that June I went to New York for the 2nd time. (Oh how I love New York, the History, the Sights, the Shows!)  I decided I wanted my kitchen to have a NY influence. The week before I left I bought a 2 gallons of "Dreamy Chiffon" (aka Chartreuse green) at the local True-Value and painted the kitchen in a frenzy.  I was terrifed when I started out my kitchen was going to have to be Emerald green and some dark color yellow! 
The next week I went to New York and had to be  forcibly home by my theater teacher!  However I did find the pieces of New York I wanted...In pictures! (My first time in NY the year previous I nearly bought a chandelier out of the Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue... Had the money but my teacher said 'not a snowballs chance'!)
I spent more on pictures that trip than anything else! (more than I care to say) and then the next time I went i bought myself a digital camera so I could take the artsy pictures rather than buy them... Seriously the street vendors must have been thinking "This kid is the SUCKER of the year"  haha! The Picture in the gold frame in the center is a drawing my best friend  did for me of the Life Magazine picture "Kiss Seen Round the World" I threw the pictures up on the wall "tastefully" I thought then.. now im thinking it might need some new direction... because that's the only "big wall" in the house. Which makes me question my 16 year old selfs choice on the cabinets too...
They were white when I moved in, and In all my stupidity I painted them "battery blue" (which looked awful) so as soon as the blue dried I painted them white again and then added a little "coke bottle green" on the trim and doors.  Iv always liked the green, on green, on green, it makes the kitchen feel cool in the summer...

BY NO MEANS does this room need to be re-done, the Celing does need to be repainted its this minty green that is original to the house and is peeling in places.
(you can also see the old red room in this picture)
the counter tops are original too, but they HAVE NOT been treated well in the last 67 years... they always look dirty and im thinking maybe putting emerald green Formica or lament  on them to match the checked floor.
I can tell you the floor and wall color will stay the same in this room. its mainly the counters, cabinets, and decorations im thinking about.....

What do you think?  Leave it alone and call it "Casablanca Classic" or maybe try something new?

(I have so much work to do before June 19th haha!)

-Mick-

10 comments:

Vonlipi said...

Oh a green counter top would be nice! I love the white and green in the kitchen it's so fresh!

Your picture wall is very nice too!

Vintage Christine said...

I'd say from the looks of the wiring that you're lucky the house hasn't burned down yet . . . Or are those old pix and you've fixed it? I like the white cabinets with the green trim. I also love NYC and I make a pilgrimage to Macy's every single day when I'm there! My first trip to New York was one year before 9/11 and I had such a great time--then they told me I had to go again AFTER 9/11 and I was petrified and convinced that a crazed highjacker would fly my plane into the Statue of Liberty or something.

1950s Atomic Ranch House said...

The beauty of paint, is it can always be repainted. The kitchen in green and white looks fantastic.

I adore my original pink formica kitchen counters, but it's not in great condition either.

Then again, I love the "lived in" (read: comfortable) quality to your place. So perhaps I will simply live with my well loved formica.

I think we want a vintage look, but when it gets too "perfect" it starts to look... NOT vintage lol if that makes sense.

Love looking at your photos. They give me inspiration!

Mick said...

haha Chris, The Kitchen + bedroom havw been rewired, the wires you see that are provably makign you nervous are "dead" but Im so nostalgic, I couldnt bring myself to take them down.

Naomi Vida said...

i love the color combo of the cabinets. so light and cheery.

Richard said...

I love the minty green and white look: it's so clean and fresh! Excellent work!

And I'm glad to hear you're not using those terrifying wires any more! :D

Chickens in the Basement said...

I love the New York themed wall. Just keep adding more to it. I like walls that can't be seen through all the art work!
Anna

Zootsuitmama said...

Mick - that green is perfect! I think it's what vintage stuff is meant to be mixed with...
I think you've made a cozy, welcoming home. If you do ever want to redo the countertops, my friend did hers fairly cheap by painting them, then putting clear laquer over them. I though of doing that and throwing some glitter in before putting on the clear coat! Perfect for a New York State of Mind! (To quote Billie Joel and Barbara Striesand!) ZSM

Anonymous said...

I love the Casablanca! If you keep the original, you always have the option of changing it. If you change it, you will always wished you hadn't. You would cry if you knew all the things I let slide through my hands when I was younger because I thought it was "old fashioned".
I love your outdoor theatre! I have always wanted one since I saw the one they have at "Niles Haunted House" (in Niles Michigan open in October). They had a Vincent Price movie playing on it this last year. Yours is much nicer. And thanks for letting me know about "Life with Elizabeth" I have never heard of it either! I have it on the top of my Netflix queue so I can watch it. I love Betty White.

Amber Von Felts said...

I'd like to hear about the chandelier that got away! Glad you arent' using the wiring as-is, it is spooky! The green hue if the kitchen is fab. Green is such a calming color!