Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. ~~ words & music by Natalie Sleeth, 1986 United Methodist Hymnal

Friday, March 6, 2009

Please Help Me Finish this Project!

Some of you may remember my kitchen on RMS. I love my kitchen! This house was built in 1978 and had all the original everything except the mulit-brown shag wall-to-wall carpet! The kitchen had light blue and beige small plaid vinyl wall covering and original dirty, beige, fake stone linoleum, not to mention macrame roman blinds, fake butcher block countertops and a 1970's "early american" chandelier. All the appliances were original but atleast they were beige and not "harvest" or "avocado". The whole house was so dark! I have to admit it depressed me! So little by little I started painting and redoing. After a couple of years I finally convinced my husband to let me redecorate the kitchen. I say redecorate because we didn't do any structural changes or new cabinets. This was on a budget! We were initially going to go for a wood floor but decided at the last minute to go with tile which I don't regret a bit! We kept the woodwork and cabinets as is because it would've been too labor intensive to remove or prime and paint, besides, as much as I love to paint wood, the wood in the kitchen was the nicest in the house! I found my fabrics at a local discount fabric store on sale!!! and went from there! When I decorate a room I always start with a fabric. I love fabrics! So after painting over the existing vinyl wallpaper with about 10 different colors! (I wanted it to look old and tuscany) all new appliances, a new chandelier and a medallion I handpainted, lots of stenciling ,etc., I had my kitchen! Of course since then I've added things...(well of course!) We couldn't afford new countertops at the time of the original redo so a couple of years later we replaced the countertop. Now don't get me wrong...I would've loved to have shiny granite but they would have been more expensive than the whole original kitchen redo! So we did laminate. I later painted my backdoor and added the resin fruit basket to it..the stenciling over the sink and painted the top of our antique oak pedastal table which my husband has still not forgiven me for!

The fruit matches my Tracy Porter print perfectly!


I bought the chairs from a friend that had closed down her restaurant. I painted them different colors and reupholstered the seats.




This is my backdoor that leads to a breezeway and then the door to the garage! I got the idea from a french country kitchen I saw years ago in a Renovation magazine!



Before you ask...No, I don't have the pattern to these valances! I showed the seamstress a picture of what I wanted from a Southern Living magazine and she just made it up as she went.

The iron rods and finials I got at Hobby Lobby. They were Waverly Garden and I crackle painted the rods with the red coral and then handpainted the leaves and grapes. The leaves holding the valance up are cafe curtain clips.

I made a stencil for this myself by using Word and then enlarging the letters on my husband's copy machine at his office. Notice I used the shadow on the font! Then I just used carbon paper to trace the image on my wall and then just colored it in with paint markers! The flowers are cut from scrapbook paper!


And now I need to complete another project and would like your help in deciding how to finish! When we had the countertops replaced there was one little measurement we forgot about! the backsplash! So I had about an inch and a half of blank wall where the old countertop had been! No problem, I'll just do some really neat tile above the countertop and cover that up! Well, I just couldn't be satisfied with any ole tile! I had to find something special! By the time I found the tile I wanted I realized tiles can be very expensive!! At the time I was starting a collection of transferware plates..so, while cruising Ebay for plates I came upon transferware tiles! Light Bulb! I started buying the tiles and did a mosaic with these tiles all around the kitchen. Ladies, it only cost about $50 to do my whole kitchen. But now I need to finish off with this molding which I've started but can't decide if I want to paint it or stain it! Would you please take a look at my pics below and give me your suggestions?

Before with no molding!


<-- Stain OR Paint -->

For the painted trim I used the craft acrylics I already had. Colonial blue and yellow and little of the coral red and there may even be a little green in there! Don't be shy! Let me know what you think...even if you have another suggestion! Thank you!

20 comments:

  1. Oh Laura Lu, your kitchen is just beautiful and I do remember it from RMS. I think I even added you to my faves list. I have to say, I think I like the paint better than the stain. But don't take my word for it - there are far more talented bloggers out there than I! Including yourself lady!!!! I just heard through the grapevine that you also make tassles. I will have to check them out! Btw, guess what happened this afternoon again?? Yup, I tried to comment on your post and couldn't.
    Kim

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  2. Btw, when I was trying to comment earlier, I was saying that I felt silly after I saw my name on your award list. I wasn't fishing for one, honestly!!! But thank you very much. That comment was just to let you know that I had been trying to reach out to you and that I wasn't just ignoring you LOL!! You are a true gem Laura Lu and I am so glad to have the privilege of getting to know you. Have a GREAT weekend!!
    Ki

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  3. You have a beautiful Kitchen and all the work you have done on it shows...very warm and loving looking..glad I found your blog from Chari "Happy to design"" she speaks very highly of you.thanks for sharing..I added you to list list to follow...Have a safe and Blessed day Hugs and Smiles Gloria

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  4. Oh I remember this kitchen from the RMS days.. fell in love with your back door and your window treatments.. I was know as decorator101 in those days..I'm so glad to "realize" this was you..lol.. My suggestion is... what is your first instinct to do? Either one you choose is going to look "great".. I can't wait to see what your final choice is going to be.
    hugs ~lynne~

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  5. Laura Lu! I so love your kitchen! I remember it too from RMA! Did you know I was Picklepoo? Loved it then and love it now! You're the smartest one to have done all these wonderful things in here. I love your little tiles on the backsplash! Truly, I like them both! You decide! ;) I'm not much help am I?
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  6. Oh Miss Laura Lu...I didn't realize that was your kitchen!! I loved it on rms!! I think it's gorgeous. Now I'll not skirt around the question...I like the paint! However...it looks like a LOT more work! But it does pull in the blue from the door and take it around the kitchen. So I vote...paint! Have a great weekend...hugs...Debbie

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  7. Laura Lu- well you know I am the one not to ask for advice!! What the heck do I know except that they both look great and I don't think you can go wrong with either one!!! I absolutely love the tile mosiac backsplash- what a great idea!!

    Your bedroom was one of the very first RMS spaces I saw and it's in my inspiration rooms folder (right next to Vannas awesome bedroom!!)

    I hope to get started on the room tomorrow. We have had terrible wind for 3 days straight and it if stops we will have to be outside repairing the damage to some of the siding that blew off!!! I need dh for that ceiling!!

    Oh your door- I love your door!!

    blessings
    mary

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  8. Laura you know your kitchen has always been one of my favorites actually your whole house is.. But your back door is THE back door beyond all back doors in my opinon.. I LOVE It!!! You have the most wonderful eye for detail always leaves me swooning... The painted trim is catching my eye, but I know you will have it fabulous! Love, Cindy

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  9. Lulu, Wow your kitchen and backsplash looks great!!! Aren't you an ambitious one (must be all that excersize.) Opinions huh? Well, Im a paint girl myself. For the record I think it will look awesome either way. ~athella

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  10. Oh Laura Lu, I don't think you need our advice. Just look what you have done to it. It's so gorgeous already! I am sure that whatever you choose to do will be beautiful for sure. So pretty and all the personal details are amazing!...Christine

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  11. You are SO talented!!! I think maybe I like the paint. I am in Germantown too---isn't life funny?!

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  12. Laura, I love your kitchen! I also love both pieces of trim! That's a tough one! Leave both pieces up for a few days and maybe that will help you with deciding! What ever you decide, I'm sure it will be beautiful! Nancy

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  13. I am no help at all but I just wanted to say your kitchen is just beautiful!! I LOVE it!

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  14. Lauralu, there is no way I could give YOU any advice. I just wanted to leave a comment to tell you how glad I am to see your wonderful kitchen on your blog! Since I first saw it, I have absolutely adored every room in your beautiful home, and I can't get enough of seeing it. Your tile backsplash is so unique (as is everything you do), and I love the trim painted, but I know that you are much better at decorating ideas than I am, so whatever you do will be wonderful. Thanks for sharing some of your wonderful kitchen. laurie

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  15. Dear Lauralu~ It's so nice to have "a new friend"!!! Just "found" you over at Laurie's, and absolutely LOVE your home here, and all you've so lovingly put INTO it! I will definitely be a returning visitor, and I thank you for this treat!!! Warmest wishes, Linda

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  16. (P.S. Am TOTALLY ENAMORED with your blue lamp (near the beginning) with the birds ~~~ it's just heavenly!!!!)~~~

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  17. Thanks Laura-- Will try your advice. Hope it works. Headed to see "Legally Blonde" at Orpheum!

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  18. Oh girl I LOVE your kitchen soooo much!! I still think that back door is the neatest thing since sliced bread!! Your draperies are the best I've seen!! I love the look painted! But I agree with Laurie. You know better than any of us *winks* You are an artiste! Vanna

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  19. Laura Lu - I LOVE your kitchen, you have done a great job. I love the back door! The mosaic is gorgeous! I don't think I could ever do that! I think I would paint it. I think it would stand out more, but whatever you do, I know it will look GREAT and we will all want it!
    Thank you for visiting my blog!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  20. Good legally blonde wallpaper ..Keep Posting


    Jack
    legally blonde wallpaper

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Hello and God Bless! Thank you for visiting "Hidden Promise"! It's wonderful to get comments from you all! I think they are a great way to show our love, care and support of each other! Have a wonderful day! Lauralu :)