Cottage Review: Woodsy Kitchen China Cabinet

I'm getting ready to tweak my "Early Fall" Holiday Cupboard, to an October version that has more current seasonal color and vibe to it. When we were living at our last home I didn't have a spot for the Holiday Cupboard, so I focused with seasonal dishes on my Kitchen China Cupboard. I used more dishes than odds and ends, but it was still fun to "decorate" with natural and seasonal bits of bittersweet and leaves. 

Fall Beginnings in the China Cupboard

Some people like to create tablescapes, and some people like to style vignettes and bookshelves. Me? I like the best of both... to play with dishes in a china cupboard, cabinet and shelves. Although I don't decorate inside this cabinet as much as the Holiday Cupboard, I like to play around with some seasonal bits and bobs in here amongst the transferware.

Using Vintage Dishes in Seasonal Decorating Hop

Hello friends, I'm so happy you've come by today and I hope you'll be checking out the fun that we're having at this bi-monthly Hop, Lifestyle of Love. Cindy from County Road 407 is our hostess with these wonderful vintage themed Hops. If you hopped over from Amber's blog, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, I know you loved her wonderful collection of vintage ironstone, pottery and dishes.

This month our Hop theme is "dishes" if you haven't guessed already, and I can guarantee that you'll find tons of inspiration on using dishes in seasonal decor. Whether you're a die-hard tablescaper and dish collector, or someone like me who just loves using them in vignettes and vintage decor, I know you'll love all the ideas from our group. 

Woodsy China Cupboard for Fall

Hi Friends...

I'm getting ready to tweak my "Early Fall" Holiday Cupboard, to an October version that has more current seasonal color and vibe to it. When we were living at our last home I didn't have a spot for the Holiday Cupboard, so I focused with seasonal dishes on my Kitchen China Cupboard. I used more dishes than odds and ends, but it was still fun to "decorate" with natural and seasonal bits of bittersweet and leaves. 

Garden Room China Cupboard with Transferware

This cabinet used to be known as the Kitchen China Cupboard, but now it's going to have to be known as the Garden Room China Cupboard since it's not technically in the Kitchen any longer. It's really wonderful having all this extra space and the windows out here. I hadn't wanted to have anything blocking the light, but I didn't have the right spot other than this. 

Spring Tea and the China Cupboard Preview

Hi Friends, the last time you heard from me I was knee neck deep in boxes of vintage dishes. Well, I've managed to work my way out and have a lot of my things put away. I'd been anxious to get the Dining Room China Cabinet and the Kitchen China Cupboard put together. They were looking pretty bare and lonesome without their contents. Here's a little preview...

AND...

I'm excited to be part of a Blog Hop on Monday sharing our ideas and inspiration for a Spring Tea Party. My sweet friend, Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home, is always a wonderful hostess and coordinator of these Hops.

There will be some pretty feminine goodies to be shared for Mother's Day, too.

So please plan a fun time visiting the gals Monday morning...

Have a wonderful weekend,

I'm hoping to make it to the nursery for some flowers...

if it will ever quit raining!

Spring Vignette on the Cupboard Top

I really enjoy having a flat surface to decorate for the seasons. At the previous house I had the kitchen china cupboard in my Kitchen Sitting Area that I used for seasonal change ups. We moved the cupboard over here, but because it's in a different area with a window behind it, it doesn't work well to decorate with seasonal decor.

Seed Box Vignette on the China Cupboard

Since Easter, I've been puttering around here bringing in some vintage pieces that are seasonally "Spring". I just removed the "bunnies" on top of the china cupboard, and replaced them with a  vignette using an old wooden box decoupaged with seed graphics. It was a "make-do" attempt, but with that wonderful original green paint, it makes a perfect display piece for Spring.

Hop Into Spring Blog Hop

Hi Everyone, I'm so glad you're here today to celebrate Spring and join us with our "Hop Into Spring" Home Tour. My good friend Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home has brought together a group of Bloggers who love to decorate their homes with the colors and warmth of the Spring Season. If you've come from Stacey at Poofing the Pillows, Hello and Welcome to Common Ground. I'm so glad you are here and following the Hop.

Kitchen Sitting Area with a Cottage Feel

I've always loved the quaint tradition of tucking in photos and postcards around the edges of a mirror; like a little memo board of sorts. It reminds me of my childhood and the vanity and hall mirrors of my aunts and grandmothers.

Christmas Kitchen: and Yes, it's Plaid!

Hi Friends, well, we're down to the last week of the Christmas countdown and I'm finally getting around to posting the Kitchen Sitting Area. It's always the most fun to decorate because this is where the whimsy usually is. Santas, Reindeer, Elves, (and sheep)

A Nature Themed Kitchen Cupboard

Smaller house equals less spaces to decorate, and that goes for Christmas decorating too. So I have to think "inside the box". This box would be inside the Kitchen China Cupboard, which at the old house never was decorated for anything. But here, it does double duty as the home of my Brown and Red Transferware and a stand in for my "Holiday Cupboard" which used to be in the basement family room at our previous home.

ReStyled Fall Wreath and Black Botanicals

As much as I love Fall you'd think I would have a huge stash of wreaths to choose from here at the Midwest Headquarters of Hoarder's Anonymous, but no, I only had one decent wreath up till last year. I'm not sure why, other than I'm really picky when it comes to wreaths, or that I've tried NOT to overdo it with the "Faux Fall Foliage", which can at times be a little overwhelming around here.

Late Summer Sitting Area and an August ReView

Hi Friends, as usual, when it comes to the end of the month (or season), I find there are pics and places I had wanted to share with you all, but I never got around to posting. The Kitchen Sitting Area is a spot that changes almost weekly, since it's the spot that I hang out in the most. 

Kitchen China Cupboard for Christmas

I think most of us are pretty well into the decorating.

As I've mentioned, the bigger things are finished,

now it's time to "play".

One of the areas that's fun for me is in the Kitchen.

I can go a little crazy with the vintage Putz Houses and Churches.

Since I didn't put up a big tree,

I'm using a few vintage Shiny Brites here and there.

The Transferware misfits were begging for some "sprucing up".

(I guess that qualifies for a Christmas pun, tehe)

A Little Tweaking Makes it Thanksgiving...

Hi Friends, hope you're having a wonderful weekend. My sis and I hit a couple of Christmas Open Houses on Friday evening, and to be honest, I'm totally heading into Christmas Mode. After seeing all the great Christmas goodies and vintage decor, I came home ready to start dragging out the Christmas tubs and boxes. BUT...as I said my last post, I still have some "Thanksgiving" I haven't shared here on the blog. So if you're tired of Talkin' Turkey, I give you permission to skip this one.

NO WAIT!!!

You might find something fun to tuck away until next year. Do you have a Pin Board for Thanksgiving? OK, so Pin a few of these cute guys and I have the Christmas fun waiting till next week!

Kitchen China Cupboard for Fall

Earlier this Fall I found bags of these adorable glittered acorns

 at (I think) Hobby Lobby.

I knew I'd use them somewhere for a bowl filler or accent. 

They ended up here in the Kitchen China Cabinet. 

It would have been fun to make them myself, but since they were half price,

I did the lazy crafter's thing, and saved myself a lot of mess.

My kitties girls love them a roll in glitter, 

which in turn gets everywhere.

Glitter Kitties and more to clean up.

Decor Philosophy for Cupboards, and Life

It's been said, more than once, that I can't leave a flat surface alone. Meaning that I have to "decorate" every square inch, and it wasn't often said with an affirmative attitude. I think I may be a little better than I used to be. When you have goodies you love, they just cry out to be used and appreciated!