I am happy to announce.. . I am FINISHED painting all the trim work in the kitchen. Holy canolies people, I thought I was going to die of a panic attack there for a while and call it quits and hire a painter to do it instead.
But I didn’t. I think the reason I took so long to get the job done was because I was afraid of any sign of a visible brush stokes on the wood trim. But then I came to the conclusion that it was OKAY. After all, the house is 20+ years old and saving $3,500 by not having a painter come in and paint the walls and trim with his sprayer was worth a few brush stokes here and there on my part.
But still, it was kind of stressful. Especially when you have a little helper… 😉
Moving on….
What do you think about these fabric roman shades for the two kitchen windows? I think they’re cool, the HH says they’ll get dirty. {One would be placed behind the cook-top and the other behind the kitchen sink}. I tried to explain they would be “rolled up” during the day time and not down when I was cooking be he still thinks they are a bad idea.
Maybe white wood blinds wood be a safer {read:boring} bet. What do you think? It’s not like I’m a messy cook or anything so I am not concerned about them getting dirty. But still popular opinion is king, right?
Unless of course we are talking about my Bounty Paper Towel patterned tile that will be installed tomorrow. 😉 I know 85% of you liked the dark brown tile… but I like the off white patterned tile better. {Let’s hope there won’t be a THIRD tile, Ha!}
*For those of you wondering… Cameron the carpenter took all the brown tile we peeled off the wall {and the extra pieces still in the box}. He and his wife just bought their first home together so it will come in handy since they will be remodeling their entire house.
And last but not least…
Not that I thought it was possible because they are so much fun, but I like my sweet 85 year old neighbors just a little bit more than I did yesterday. When I went out this morning to snap a picture of my potted cabbage, I spied a CLOTHESLINE just behind our trees. What a bunch of rebels!!!!
I love it.
Take that HOA!
Have an awesome day,
~Mavis
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Diana M says
I prefer the white or beige tile. Exactly like the brown would of been nice . But, if you like the Bounty then go for it. It will still look pretty. I would prefer the white blinds. I am with your husband on this one. No matter how clean of a cook you think you are. Also I think if you install them and stand back they will stand out like the brown tile did. Have fun.
Andrea says
Love my roman shades. I say go for it. Glad Cameron can repurpose the tile. Love your rebel neighbors.
Dale says
Mavis, I’ve had this type of Fabric Blinds in my house for 8 years and truly love them. (see link below) the best part is that they roll up to within 1 inch of the top of the window so as to not block the window. While in the up position they are almost completely covered so they wont get dirty. They come in many colors and textures.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=fabric+blinds+for+windows&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=74B7CF11B907C1B5C6EC5E17643285EE4EB86ED6&selectedIndex=51
Rosaleen says
Oh, heck, EVERY window treatment can get dirty, especially in the kitchen. Scotch Guard (or whatever) the blind and put up the ones you want. Just make sure that whatever you get can be hand and spot-washed as needed. You can always temporarily tack up some sort of plastic cover if you do something particularly messy.
Good for your rebel neighbors. Let’s hope you haven’t “outed” them to the HOA. I hope never to have to live in a restricted neighborhood. While the “rules” help to keep up property values, I want the freedom to plant or not, hang laundry or not, etc.
Felicia says
Are the roman shades washable? I have roman shades over my sink, and other windows in kitchen and they are fine. The window behind the stove, I’d worry about the grease too, even if they are up… But if they are washable go for it!
Dianna says
Everything in my kitchen eventually gets covered in greasy dust, even though I don’t even fry that often. That’s what I would worry about for your shades, especially if they’re near the stove.
Janet says
I Think taking down that brown tile was a great call, it was much too dark. Plus if you hated it, then where’s the argument? However, I’m with your husband on this one. Cloth curtains behind the cooktop, bad idea. Wooden blinds are much better. They don’t have to be white, though…
Diana says
Love those rebel neighbors!
Jenn says
Mavis have you thought about woven wood blinds? I have some in my eat-in that don’t have a back to it so you can see through them a little. I prefer that so I can keep an eye on my dogs outside even if the blinds are up and in the evening when they are down they do give enough privacy for me. They are similar to the roman shades in the way they go up and down. Just a suggestion.
Sherry in Sumner says
Unless those fabric blinds are easily washable, Mavis, it might be better to stay away from fabric. Wouldn’t they absorb cooking smells? Of course, if you were only baking cupcakes, that might be a pleasant smell.
Jen F says
I have the sunscreen roller shade from Country Curtains behind my kitchen sink and am really happy with it. It is easily wiped down. I love the lighter look of your new tile!
Diane says
When I had new windows put in my house, I didn’t bother to put up anything in the kitchen! The window is too pretty to block and it looks out on my car port. If the neighbors had a window on that side of their house, I would have put up something, but no one sees in now.
I wouldn’t use fabric near the cook top, it won’t just be dirty, it will be stained with grease.
Kari says
I LOVE roman shades, and have woven-wood ones in my breakfast area. My concern would be over the cook-top, as that greasy dust would be difficult with any type of blind. They are beautiful, though!!!
Kari says
Forgot to mention that it is helpful to prop a metal cookie sheet up behind the cook top when cooking foods that may splatter. Then you just pop it into the dishwasher instead of having to wash the window so much.
Erin Wilson says
The tile is going to look great 🙂
holly says
i like your white tile better too. I can’t wait to see what it looks like on. I agree that it will brighten up your kitchen and set off your pretty dark floors.
Bea says
Something to think about since you state the blinds will be up in the daytime when you cook. Winter daylight hours appear to be from 8A.M. to about 4ish PM on gloomy days. With the blinds up after dark, I would feel like being in a fish bowl as everyone would be able to see me, possibly in my PJ’s while cooking, and I would lose my privacy. Maybe your windows don’t face any neighbors. I think I’d make sure the trees between your properties don’t loose their leaves or there is no chance a delivery person would meander past that window. (in case the kitchen is on the front side of the house)
Adding a little color to you kitchen via blinds sounds wonderful, however, with OCD, would you like looking at the wrinkly or creased fabric (on your example) everyday?
Thelma says
I love the lighter tile! Go with shutters, they are classic and easier to clean.
Diana says
I think the roman shades are fine. Just make sure they’re made in a washable fabric. If they get dirty, throw them in the washing machine!
Diana says
I think the roman shades will be just fine. Make sure they’re made in a washable fabric. When they get dirty – throw them in the washing machine!
Diana says
Sometimes I hate computers, lol…
Chris M says
My concern with anything that close to the cooktop would be fire danger. Fabric could catch fire very easily. All it would take is one grease fire!
Wynne says
Congrats on the painting! Washability should be key on the window treatments. I have wooden shutters from the previous owner, and I have to take them off the wall and scrub them in the sink to get rid of the film of grease and dust. I have never deep fried in my life; maybe I’m too generous with the Pam?
Debbie says
I like the new tile – crisp and classic.
I like the roman shades too.
Maybe add some live herbs in your kitchen for a pop of color.
Hope Lucy has recovered
Molly says
Have you looked into plantation shutters? I have white ones in my kitchen and I LOVE them.
Renay says
I like the tile – its kinda retro which I LOVE! I don’t have any blinds in my kitchen and I like it. Easier to clean a window than romans/levolor/etc. And for the record, everyone in my neighborhood has seen me in my pajamas. And not just in the morning! HA!
JD says
I have had white shutters at several homes and they are my preferred choice.
judy says
Thanks for the update on the brown tile. I hope everything else was recycled, too.
Janet says
all window treatments are going to get dirty. Scotchguard em, hope for the best and buy new ones when they get too dirty to clean which will be years anyway. the wood ones are a PIA to clean anyway
Teckla says
I like the color; it’s still light enough not to drag down the overall white effect. Good points from all. Do consider what you like first of all; how they will clean (they always, always get dirty and greasy!) and the effort you will have to put into that; flammability; and overall cost replacement if they are not easily cleaned. And the one commenter does have a good point–in winter, it gets dark early and the window covering will be down earlier unless you don’t mind being in a fish bowl, lol! It’s your home and you have to live in it every day so you should love it!
Laura says
What about just frosting the glass by the cooktop? You could just do the bottom 2/3 and keep the top open (maybe hang a little topper). That would avoid the grease (my very first thought when I saw that gross miniblind up there), but give you some privacy. YOu could easily remove it if you decide it isn’t your favorite. Otherwise, I would keep it naked. Such an odd spot for a window in my opinion, but you have to work with what is there.
Good luck!
Cathe says
I have to agree with your husband on the shades I would be afraid they get greasy . . . you asked for my opinion so now you have it . . . lol I have the wide white mini blinds from Lowe’s they also have the wooden ones I just didnt think it was necessary to pay what they wanted which was a bit more than I wanted to spend. I think they look really good they even had the ones with the look-like wood grain which I liked. Fast forward a 20 years later my son bought a house with these same blinds in them that I had. They needed desperate attention to the blinds so he decided he would replace them. I said wait a sec let me see if I can clean them I will save you money and I can also use one of your as a test subject to see if they can be easily be cleaned, that way I will know when it is time to clean mine. Well I put hot water, a squeeze of Dawn (dishwashing soap) and a splash of ammonia and let them soak a few minutes used an old rag and wipe them down one way and flipped them over wiped them down the other. Put clean rinse water, rinsed them then stood them up in the corner of the bathtub to dry and the next day he hung them back up because they had dried. I proceeded to do this the next few days till they were all done. Came out like BRAND NEW ! Told my hubbie about it when I came back from a month stay with my son and his family and he said that sounds good we can do ours and I can help I said sure . . . I figured this would take a while but worth it . . . my husband says you wash and I will dry. Well I washed 18 of them and then he set them on the driveway on visqueen to dry and used a towel to finish dry them. Me and my BIG mouth I figured I would do a few at a time. The worse part was hanging over the bathtub washing them . . . but luckily I have 3 bathtubs so I could soak 3 at a time . OH my aching back but sooo worth it not having to buy new ones. Remember I am not telling you what to do 😉
Tracy L. says
Blinds: do love the fabric roman shade, but, hate anything I can’t make look clean. So if your OCD is the same as mine, will that spot you can’t get out wave to you as you cook?! It would me!
Tile: love that your going lighter! Lighter, brighter, cleaner! I can’t get the bounty picture out of my head since those comments though. I (personally) like a more classic pattern.
Painting: CONGRATULATIONS!! And at some point in all of our OCD lives, you just gotta let it go and dwell on the fact that you saved a ton of money. That is until the brush strokes make you insane and you save up and hire it to be sprayed!! : )
Tracie H says
I love the white tile! Go neighbors! I hope the HOA doesn’t read your blog. LOL! I say pick the one that you love the most for your window covering. It’s all going to have to be cleaned eventually!
Elza Verona says
I must say that I am glad you changed the dark backsplash tile. I am not so sure about the new tile, it still looks like a paper towel! lol… Maybe the look will be different once it is up. As for the window covering, no matter what you choose they will have to be washed or cleaned. Blinds that are washable that you raise up and down are probably a good idea. At least they can be wiped down while they are still up. About the range top placement, I don’t believe I have ever seen a range top in front of a window. Maybe this is something new. My concern is for you and all the cleaning you will be doing. Perhaps someone could design a custom fitted stainless steel grease protector (perhaps mounted inside the window frame or just free standing) that could be taken down to clean after cooking. Also, does the range have a down exhaust installed? If so, that will help some, but you will still have grease spatters. My husband and I built over two hundred houses throughout the years. We built a lot of Spec houses and also custom built. All of the range tops were away from the windows.
I like your new home and think you are doing a great job! Just remember, you and your family are living there and do what makes you happy and what you can live with.
Peggy says
Awesome! I’m so happy that you were able to give the darker tile to be used again…that is great!! And it is equally as great that you have neighbors that think like you. 🙂 And I love older people. 🙂 I have great neighbors that have adopted me as their daughter, and my kids their grandkids. They are about 86 and 80’ish, but are more active than most people I know, and would do anything for us. The give us hand me down clothes from their kids all the time, plus they send over cookies and candy for my daughters. Older people are great! 🙂
Deborah J says
There are rules in the US about washing lines? Really?
Waving from Australia where we let our washing …hang out.
Do you all have to use dryers? Odd.
Ya learn something everyday 🙂
Helen in Meridian, ID says
I am 67. My mom got her electric dryer the day I was born. Of course I have a dryer, but I also have a clothes dryer off my patio that I sometimes use in the summer. Some clothes dry almost before the rest of them get totally hung out. Some subdivisions have ruels that you can’t have clothes line, nor can you leave your car out of the driveway for any length of time. My dh is a ham radio enthusiast and they don’t allow your antennae in some subdivisions, though going up a tree with it makes it virtually invisible. These rules are under HOA’s home owner asociation rules.
Cristina says
We have those blinds on our windows and I have to say I agree with your husband. Ours got a big spot in them the first week we put them up, not to mention they are dust magnets. I say go with the wooden blinds, they are easier to keep clean.
Sara T says
Can you wash the shades? I would think they would get dusty. But if it was easy to take them down and throw them in the wash, I would be in! I am always for whatever is easiest to clean! 😀