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April 15, 2016

Cleaning Up the Kitchen-Adding Some Blue

This is really the end picture but I thought it looked better than the next picture so I started with it.

 I got all wound up yesterday and emptied all my counters, and cleaned the backsplash, window and counters.

 Armed with simple green and glass cleaner

As I attempted to pull out my behemoth Kitchen Aid mixer and thought why am I struggling with this.  So I got out some 1/2" felt pads and applied them to the bottom.  Now it slides in with ease.  This mixer is a lot heavier than my previous Kitchen Aid and it's just too hard to move when I need to use it.

 I put the coffee maker and grinder back over here.  I had the coffee center here a while back.  I grind coffee every day and make a fresh pot.

 At this time of day I couldn't get a better picture of the window.  I cleaned it too and wiped everything down before it went back.  This is my little farm window complete with pigs and cows!

 I wanted to add some blue in the kitchen so I have been taking away the Tuscan accents.  That basket loaded with wine glasses came from Juliska on a sale a little while ago. It's really more of a bread basket but on a whim I put these wine glasses in there and decided to keep it.  The plate with the blue shells is one of a set of 4 and I just never thought about using it like this but it brought in the coloring I wanted to that's good.  The towel is new from a set I picked up at Williams Sonoma (I believe it's a new line they're offering).  The canisters were gifted to me from Betty several years back.  She was blogging but due to health issues with her husband she's all but disappeared.

The utensils are in a piece I got from Pottery Barn on one of their clearances.  It's made for wine but I adopted it to be for my spoons and spatulas.  The bread drawer is close by so the toaster stays here.  My kitchen is too small to hide all of my small appliances.

 This is from a couple of years ago.  I kept the coffee maker in the center for a couple of years but today I decided to move it back over by the window.  

This goes back a ways.  That plate on the stand with the Tuscan scene was hanging where the blue plate is now. 

I cleaned the glass on the doors too.  I had a water glass put in them so it softens what what you can see inside and I don't just display things for prettiness in them since it's a functioning area of the kitchen.  Our cupboards are solid hickory made in Tennessee.  I was very proud of this when we remodeled in 1996.  I still like it.

This counter on the right is that spot where everything gets piled…mail, groceries, etc.  I have a few things that didn't go back in the kitchen and one is a basket I keep on this counter that is where misc. stuff is supposed to go in.  Somehow it builds up for a while and has a strange collection in it. I am going through it again to thin it out.  

She's a narrow galley kitchen which actually works quite well especially for one person in the kitchen. 
So that's my clean kitchen with some blue added! 



Ahh… a surprise ending to today!
I was in the office loading pictures for this post when the door bell rang…. Dan was standing there holding these flowers for me!  I was so surprised and didn't even think to take a picture of him holding them!

They're gorgeous big flowers.  We had yellow roses for our wedding so I love that he remembered!

I had this pitcher in the kitchen before I started cleaning so I decided to use it for the flowers instead of the traditional crystal vase.  

Today is our anniversary!  We'll be going out for a dinner in the evening and beyond that I don't know what we're doing!  

23 comments:

  1. For years I have kept a file with small kitchens in anticipation of one day remodeling mine. This morning when I pulled up your blog my heart did a flutter. Exactly the shape I have and what I have been looking for!!! I love the refrigerator next to the dishwasher and never thought of putting mine on that side. What a fabulous kitchen you have. Your ideas and touches have inspired me so this morning Liz. I'll never have a huge kitchen like the magazines show but yours is just everything I could hope for. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you that is so nice to know I inspired someone! I'll write you a note about more details about the kitchen.

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  2. Love your kitchen, so pretty and I like your accessories too. Happy Anniversary!!!! Your roses are gorgeous.

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  3. Hi Liz! Your kitchen looks so pretty. Love all of your pretties on your countertops! It does feel good to clean and get all organized! :) Now don't cook in it and mess it up! ;)
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  4. Happy anniversary Liz and Dan. What a sweet surprise, Dan delivering yellow and red roses. Looks like the spring cleaning bug got you. It always feel good to do this and adding the blue changes things up.

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  5. Happy Anniversary my friend and many blessings too!
    I love your kitchen and spotless it looks even prettier with all your blue and the pretty canisters. Have a great day.
    FABBY

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  6. Liz, first off, Happy Anniversary! How lovely that you have beautiful roses from your hubby! I love the clean look of your kitchen. The cabinets are great and I especially love how they go all the way to the ceiling. Your idea of putting felt pads on your Kitchen Aid Mixer is one I'm going to copy. Have a lovely weekend! ♥

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  7. Your kitchen and flowers look lovely. I know you enjoyed your anniversary. There is something so relaxing about a clean kitchen.

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  8. Your kitchen and flowers look lovely. I know you enjoyed your anniversary. There is something so relaxing about a clean kitchen.

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  9. Happy Anniversary! Hope you have a wonderful dinner out and a nice break from your kitchen cleaning - you deserve it! You were so smart to go with those hickory cabinets back in 1996 - we did our kitchen a year later in oak which became dated very fast. Hoping for a remodel next year when hubby retires. That Dan sounds like a special guy showing up at your door with roses and remembering the yellow ones are special. Enjoy!

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  10. Your kitchen looks wonderful! Your cabinets are lovely! I never thought to put something under the Kitchen Aid to make it move easier...great idea!

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  11. Liz may I return your "Happy Anniversary" greetings! You and your husband are truly a wonderful example. I also must say that you are brilliant! I'll be adding felt pads to my mixer.

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  12. Hi Liz! I'm back to thank you for sharing the joy with me about my little Carter! I forgot to mention how beautiful your roses are. Hope you've had a nice weekend.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  13. Happy Anniversary! I love your beautiful roses. Your kitchen looks so pretty. Love all your accessories. xxx Maria

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  14. Liz,
    I love the addition of blue in your lovely Galley Style Kitchen, dear friend!
    Spring Cleaning is knocking at our door here on the Prairie, also!
    I love all the light that floods through your window!
    Happy Anniversary!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  15. Happy Anniversary to you and your sweetheart. I loved how you kitchen looked with the under cabinet lights on. Your canisters are wonderful, love them. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  16. Sounds like your hubby got the anniversary off to a lovely and loving start! Your kitchen looks wonderful. Personally I like a smaller kitchen (with a big pantry), because I like having everything within arm's reach. Your cabinets look like a beautiful quality.

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  17. Loving the touches of blue you added, and I am going to try that tip you gave with your mixer! Mine does the same thing and thats the only party I hate about it. Thanks so much for joining the Dishing It & Digging It Link Party.

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  18. Oh, Liz, your anniversary roses are so beautiful! What a sweet and romantic gesture!

    You have been a busy bee in that gorgeous kitchen of yours. WOW - doesn't it feel GREAT to have a truly organized and deep-cleaned kitchen? Yay!

    Hope you had a wonderful anniversary, sweet lady. many morehappy years to come, too! Big hugs. ♥

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    1. PS

      I LOVE the seeded wavy glass on your upper cabs - I'd love to do that to a couple of ours one of these days - looks AWESOME.

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  19. Good Afternoon Liz,
    Such a beautiful bouquet of flowers for your anniversary, how thoughtful, loving and romantic!
    Your kitchen is wonderful and the touches of blue really inspire me, so light, airy and inviting!
    I just know you had a lovely celebration-here is wishing you many more loving and happy years!
    xo
    Jemma

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  20. Liz, I've never seen your kitchen before and the first thing I noticed was your pretty water glass in your cabinets! You're so clean and tidy with everything pretty and accessible. Our kitchen is small and I have to use the counters for our small appliances too. I don't keep my mixer out though but it would be used a lot more if I did, it weighs a ton. Happy Anniversary!

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  21. Isn't it fun to move things around occasionally? The progression is always interesting, and I somehow am happier with it a new way each time! Are you? You kitchen looks very easy to maneuver in, so that is always a bonus. Thanks for sharing your changes. Love the new look, but then I like the before, too. :-) BTW, I love the vase you put the flowers in. How wonderful to get such a surprise! :-)

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Thank you for your comments! I don’t always get a chance to reply but I do read them!




ABOUT ME



Welcome to Home and Gardening With Liz. I have combined my previous blogs “Infuse With Liz” and “Sit With Me In My Garden” into this new blog. I love interior decorating and gardening. I enjoy redefining interior spaces by moving things around and reusing decorative items already found in the home. I also enjoy creating tablescapes and an occasional crafting project. I'm so pleased you've stopped by. I invite you to follow me and I do hope you will keep coming back! Liz
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