Saturday, February 28, 2009

Kitchen Counter... Sentimentality over practicality...

This is the most visible corner in my very small kitchen, and I'm afraid it's always been a bit neglected.... Several weeks ago I purchased this small candle lamp at The Christmas Tree Shop for my countertop, and that got me to thinking about doing a little arrangement of 'favorite things.' Other than the lamp, nothing is practical or 'kitcheny,' but it makes me feel good when I see it!
(click any photos to enlarge)

Do you see the vintage cat planter that I blogged about 2 days ago? And Pete that I wrote about yesterday? There's also another little "Pete the parakeet" hanging from a cabinet.


I should probably turn the light on so you can see them... There, that's better!! The lamp needed a little bit of height in the back corner, so I sat it on the bottom of a green ceramic planter.


Okay, now I turned the lamp off so you can see the pretty blue flowered shade. Hopefully in the near future I'll be priming & painting my beige backsplash tiles, as well as re-caulking above the countertop. (I picked beige when we bought our house back in 1981. It seemed like a good idea at the time.)


Pete is really enjoying this little birdcage from Home Goods (they came in a variety of sizes... I don't have a lot of room so I got the small size... I loved the little legs and the bird finial on the top). Pete told me he feels very safe inside the cage...


... which is a good thing since Sally is constantly gazing at him (and doesn't she look shiny and clean since her bath?)... She assures me the gazing is because she loves how his blue feathers match her blue bow...


Since there's ivy in Pete's cage, and a little potted plant next to Sally, I decided to use Sally as a votive holder rather than a planter. Of course that could change if she ever gets moved to another location (which isn't out of the question since I often move things around!)


This little lamp really gives off a lot of light in an otherwise dark corner, which I now refer to as my little 50's corner since I have the vintage cat planter (that looks like it could have come from my Nana's house in the 50's) and the parakeets (which also remind me of my childhood in the 50's, as I mentioned yesterday)...

I'll be sure to post photos if (when) I get around to painting that backsplash!!

Donna

25 comments:

Joanne Kennedy said...

I love it! Very sweet looking. I would love to have that bird cage. Did you just get it from Home Goods? Or have you had it for awhile?

I'm looking for cute things like that for the bird/nest theme babyshower.

Love the kitty as a candle holder too. Very clever you are!

Hugs,
Joanne

Amber Filkins said...

So cute!! I've also been decorating with things that I love. I figure I'm going to surround myself with the things that I love everyday. That way it's always a day brightener, even when I'm doing chores. :)

Thanks for sharing!!

P.S. Don't you just *love* HomeGoods!? My fave!

Shabby Chick said...

Pete looks very happy in his new home! How nice to have little decorative corner :)

Mel xxx

Kathi said...

Oh how sweet! I love how you made your little kitchen corner so pretty! I might have to move my bags of chips and do something like this myself!

Lisa said...

I LOVE THIS!!! AND THE DETAILS WITH THE LIGHT...

LOVELY, JUST LOVELY.

HUGS FROM MAINE

http://sophie4me.blogspot.com/

Libby Buttons said...

Ya done good Donna. Who needs practicality when you have something so sweet that makes you feel so good inside every time you see it? Viewing your little vignette will be like giving your soul a back rub. I adore it's cozy appeal and the hanging parakeet is irreplaceable !
hugs
LiBBy

Tracy said...

Glad to see Pete is safely tucked away in his cage where he won't become lunch! I love the idea of the bird hanging down under the cabinet, that is so cute. The whole vignette is adorable.

Anonymous said...

Such a sweet corner... I bet you smile every time you pass by it. Great looking candle holder btw!

DI
The Blue Ridge Gal

Jill said...

Donna,
This corner is absolutely precious. I love everything about it! So sweet and charming.

I visit you often, but never seem to take the time to write you a little note! I enjoy seeing all your cute little animals!

~Jill

Anonymous said...

This is adorable. You're very talented Donna. It's a perfect spot for these treasures. It's welcoming area now. And you just have to smile when you look at it.

Kathleen said...

Oh Donna, your little corner in the kitchen looks so warm and inviting. I also have a little lamp on my kitchen counter, I really love the look of it. The birdcage is quite a find..hope you have a wonderful week-end....heard you folks might get some snow today...hugs, Kathleen

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

What a perfectly perfect spot in your kitchen! I love the look of a little lamp, on kitchen counters.

Have one, but my shade is in desperate need of ... 'something.' {Like covering it with some pretty cotton fabric, if I'd ever get up my courage to try doing this!}

Just love the ambiance lighting, which a kitchen lamp gives!

Aunt Amelia
"It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence."
~Jacques Barzun

Connie said...

You did beautifully with the photos, chickee, AND that is a very sweet corner! I can see why you'd share with us.......
xoxo,
Connie

Stephanie said...

I love the little corner....so sweet. Must be nice to glance at each time you walk by!

Nola said...

That lamp is perfect; who cares if it's not practical! I like the way you repurposed the new cat planter and worked it into the decor!

Caroline said...

I like a lamp in the kitchen as well. It just gives such a nice soft glow at night. I used to have mine in a corner on my counter as well, now I moved it onto a cupboard I have in my kitchen. Come over to my blog and check it out!

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

It looks so sweet! I'm glad you put out some things that will make you smile :0-)

Unknown said...

Oh, I love what you did with that parakeet in the birdcage! How sweet! I had a parakeet that looked just like that when I was a little girl. :)

Shirley said...

I love your little corner. It's not fun to always be practical. We all need a little frivolity and fun in our lives.

Jean Tuthill said...

Hi Donna, Sally looks so happy amid her new found friends! What a cute vignette they make. I love it and the extra light probably comes in handy.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Your cute little corner is so cozy and sweet! It must make you smile every time you enter your kitchen.
Brenda

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Donna, this is such a nice vignette in your kitchen. I bet it does make you smile to see it. It made me smile when I saw it. laurie

Unknown said...

Beauty before practicality is usually how it goes in my house! Love the birdcage, I just bought two from Home Goods myself. They are different than yours, didn't see any with the bird on top. I grew up in NH and every summer we take the trip back and we always make it to the Christmas Tree store in Salem, NH. Where are you in NE?

Kindredly, Lynne Laura

Anonymous said...

Who wants to be practical? I bet this looks really good sitting at your dining room table in the evening and looking in the kitchen! Cozy feeling!
Jill

Anonymous said...

I vote for sentimentality!! Very sweet corner.