Friday, January 8, 2016

~~ Changes in the French Country Kitchen ~~

My tiny French Country kitchen is still tiny. 
But I've made a few changes -- some big, some small -- 
that make it more cozy and, well, a little more French. 

I've always loved the look of a small lamp in the kitchen. 
The warm glow, the intimate feeling. 
Probably what it was like back in the day before electricity
when a few candles provided flickering light. 


I had to move a few things on my kitchen island to make room
for this vintage lamp but I like the space better this way anyway. 
It's really pretty at night too. 


I found this chair at Goodwill and knew it would be perfect in the kitchen
even though I also knew I didn't have room for it. 
(I'll be sharing a separate post about chairs so stay tuned.)
This is probably the closest I'll ever get to having a kitchen table.


Check out this adorable tea-towel with roosters that Ron got me for Christmas.
 I may have mentioned it to him a few hundred times when we were out shopping. 


I don't want to go overboard on the rooster theme but seriously. . .
how cute is this plate!


I love red in the kitchen . . . gives it a warm country feel. 
I added this little painting of a Holstein calf that I bought in Ohio at least forty years ago. 
It was painted by a young Amish girl whose job it was to care for the newborn calves. Aww.


Okay, so on to the biggie. A new faucet. 
Here's the old one that decided to leak over the holidays.
Standard design. Plastic sprayer. Nice handles that leak. Uninspiring.
I'd been wanting a new faucet anyway.
So long Old Leaky. 


I went online and started looking around. 
It didn't take long to find exactly what I wanted at Wayfair.com. 
A few days later it arrived on my front porch.
And here it is!


I love the shape. So French. 
That curvy faucet. Ooh la la.
The sprayer is brass and hefty. 
The white handles give it a vintage look.
And . . .  it doesn't leak.


Ron saved me a bundle by installing it for me and said,
"If you say enough bad words while you're installing it, it won't leak!"
I'm pretty confident it will be dry for quite a while. 

A few accessories also got a tweak here and there.


Can't go wrong with old ironstone on the shelf above the sink!

44 comments:

  1. Hello Pat: I love your kitchen. I think it has so much character! I am really enjoying your blog. I live in the Phoenix area and love all things French as well. No Southwest decor for me! I am also dreaming of a farmhouse sink but not sure it will ever happen. I'm just grateful for what I do have. Not a perfect kitchen (mine is also kind of small), but it's cozy nonetheless. Stay warm and I will look forward to your future posts. Joanie

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting Joanie and for your sweet comments. See you again soon! (Is it hard to find French things in Phoenix?)

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  2. I LOVE your new kitchen faucet. When we moved 3 years ago, into a new home, everything of course was new.(duh) Anyway, I wanted the same faucet that you have, the new one was ok looking, didn't even leak. But I wanted that faucet so badly, had a plumber install it, and all the while he was working, he was telling me that the faucet was beautiful, and really was a good choice, even tho I didn't order it from the business he works for. So, I am in love with a faucet, thought I was nuts, but glad to hear someone else loves their faucet too. Have a great weekend, Bonnie in WI

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    1. Thanks Bonnie! Maybe we should form a faucet support group! See you again soon!

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  3. I love the kitchen. I can't believe what a few little changes made.

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  4. Love your kitchen, the touches u have added and the conveniences of the new faucet and the island make it function so nicely for you.

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    1. Thanks for visiting Kim. I appreciate your positive comments.

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  5. Hi Pat nice to meet you , just signed up to receive your posts. Love your kitchen and the faucet is a great addition. I too am dreaming of a farm house sink...... Lisa over at Sweet Tea N' Salty Air

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    1. Hi Lisa. Nice to meet you too. Thanks for subscribing and I'll see you again soon.

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  6. Love your little French kitchen and the calf painting is wonderful!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thanks Cindy. You can't go wrong with baby animals, huh? Love my little calf too.

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  7. Pat,
    Your kitchen is absolutely charming, dear one!!!
    Now that I know the solution to having a leak~free faucet,
    I'll share that with my "Mr. Ed"!!! (wink!)
    Love your kitchen stool!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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    1. Thanks for visiting Pat and for your sweet comments. Good luck with Mr. Ed!

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  8. Love the touches you did! And I think my hubby and yours were separated at birth. I can always tell what he's doing by the curse word he uses. LOL If the dog steps on his foot its the "D" word. If the keurig breaks, it's the "S" word. LOL

    I think you just inspired me, now I have something to put into a blog post. Thanks Sweetie!!

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    1. Thanks for visiting Christine. I laughed (and so did Ron) at your story and will watch for that blog post.

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  9. Love your kitchen! I'm a rooster lover too, but have edited my collection a tiny bit!! I do like a few in the kitchen. Your room is full of charm, and your faucet is lovely!

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    1. Thanks Kathy. Glad you like the kitchen. I used to collect cows and had to thin the herd down to a couple little guys. Now, I'm into roosters!

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  10. Charming kitchen, I think a small kitchen it is so much warm and cozy. You did a great job accessorizing, I also have a lamp on my counter and use it most nights, I just like the warm glow it gives the kitchen.

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    1. Thanks Sandy. Your kitchen sounds charming and cozy. I like a small kitchen too but wouldn't mind having a teensy bit more space so I didn't have to walk around the stove to get to the back door! I have three doors and a window to make work. So far, so good.

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  11. Little changes are perfect to get us thru Winter :) Such a sweet kitchen.

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  12. Tiny = cozy and your kitchen is both! I love your touches especially that painting of the calf...adorable. My red clock would look great in there!!

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    1. Thanks AnnMarie. This is so funny, I just wrote you a note saying I wanted your red clock!! See you again soon.

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  13. I stopped by via SYC over at Art and Sand. Your French Country Kitchen is just wonderful.. You have it so beautifully decorated. I love red! Your pops of red are just perfect. Enjoyed my visit. Blessings!

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting Patty and for your nice comments. We need T-shirts that say "I love red!"

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  14. Love the new changes. The faucet is awesome! The cow painting is so sweet and I love the rooster plate. I use to have a lot of roosters, but I've down sized a lot. Just put a few on my basement mantle. I have a farmhouse sink down there and love it! Wish I had one upstairs! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Thanks Jann. I'm loving the faucet although the handles seem to be reversed. Will get used to it. Cows, roosters and sheep. Oh my! You cannot go wrong with sweet-faced critters. See you again soon.

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  15. Hi! I love your frenchy touches all throughout the kitchen. I am trying to add a little more of that look in my kitchen as well. I love your cow picture especially because it has such a sweet story of the artist!

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  16. What a sweet kitchen. I love your style and all your little french touches. The cow picture is my favorite.

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    1. Thanks CatieAn. I can't believe how popular that little calf has been. Hope you visit again.

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  17. Very pretty! I love the way you display your silverware in the pitchers.

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    1. Thanks for visiting Debbie. Having your silverware out instead of in a drawer is actually a lot easier...and it looks pretty. Glad you liked it.

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  18. Everything is lovely ... the calf painting ... the rooster towel ... the new faucet ... the glow of the lamp.

    Enjoy and thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

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  19. Your kitchen is so homey and charming! I too love a small lamp in the kitchen. In the evening I prefer the softer light. I absolutely love the little holstein painting. It would look so nice in my red kitchen!!!! Also love your collection of ironstone pitchers!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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  20. Your kitchen is adorable! I used to have lots of roosters and finally got tired of them. That plate of yours definitely deserves a special spot though. The colors in it are so pretty. Love the little cow too. I can see a farm sink in your future. :)

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  21. Congratulations on your feature. I like the faucet, it is very similar to ours, and we have been happy with it. I also love the rooster. I moved an outdoor statue of rooster yesterday, and our puppy toy poodle thinks it is an arch rival. :) Saw the questioned posed above... It is easy to find French "style" items in Phoenix, because there are lots of vintage stores and even some design shops that cater more to the French style of things.

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  22. I like your cozy little kitchen. Mine's about 8 x 12 so I know how it feels to be in one and LOL my faucet's leaky too. It's off and on...sometimes it does and sometimes not and thus far I've been talking to it and saying STOP THAT! Sometimes it listens...:)

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  23. I like your cozy little kitchen. Mine's about 8 x 12 so I know how it feels to be in one and LOL my faucet's leaky too. It's off and on...sometimes it does and sometimes not and thus far I've been talking to it and saying STOP THAT! Sometimes it listens...:)

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  24. Your faucet is adorable....(yes, faucets can be adorable...) and your kitchen is too. Love the calf...
    You have a sweet kitchen...and no its never "done"...we always tweak...that's the fun...
    Enjoy!
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  25. Love your new faucet to pieces Pat, and your cow painting--just wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing it all with us at Vintage Charm!

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  26. Love, love the kitchen redo. I also love a lamp in the kitchen and yours is so sweet. The coo plate was a sweet addition too. PS- new faucet is great too. Nice job !!

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  27. Thanks so much for linking in for the #fleamarketfriday party! I liked your share so much it will be featured! I hope you can share something again this week! xxx...Brooke from www.creativecountrymom.com

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