I started our kitchen face lift with the intention of making it a bit more modern. I had taken an idea I found on Pinterest and sought out to make it my own. We took down our wooden shelves to replace it with one convenient, more accessible shelf and added beadboard and wall sconces. (See a before picture of our kitchen here)
Using happiness for inspiration
When it was time to fill the space, I turned to secondhand stores for inspiration. At first, I thought I was on the lookout for some pretty pottery and fun kitchen utensils. Little did I know that my grandma would turn into my main inspiration. I had found some Rose Mauled plates in the corner of a booth at a secondhand store. Rose Mauling was one of the many Norwegian traditions my grandma taught us to cherish. She had rose mauled plates scattered throughout the walls of her house, and they were some of her most prized possessions. I couldn’t leave without them and decided to go in a completely different direction. All day I collected little things that reminded me of my childhood, including an embroidered tulip hoop that reminded me of my first embroidery lesson from my babysitter, Gene. By the end of the day, I knew I wanted the kitchen to have an eclectic feel with all of these favorite memories.
Grandma Chic – Cozy and Nostalgic
When I started filling the kitchen with all of my nostalgic finds I noticed it was giving off a bit of Grandmacore vibes. The kitchen was both cozy and a bit nostalgic, which fits the trend to a tee. I couldn’t have been happier with the way it was turning out. It was becoming the perfect blend of modern and Grandma Chic.
Rattan Lamp / Wall Sconces / Runner Rug / Spice Jars / Cutting Board / Hanging Basket / Anthro light fixture / Cafe Curtains / Milk Glass Oil diffuser
The finishing touches
To balance out some of the old it was time to add in some of the new. We found two vintage inspired runner rugs that were 40 percent off. It was a no brainer to go with two of the reasonably priced rugs rather than trying to find a 16-foot rug for a decent price. The colors of the rug pulled in all the colors perfectly and was a perfect addition to the space. To add in a bit more new items to the space we added a Target rattan lamp that is actually very 90’s inspired, and a few wall sconces and cafe curtains. Before we knew it, the kitchen was complete.
I hope we’ve inspired you to use happiness as your inspiration. You don’t always have to fill your home with the most popular box store items. Sometimes our most prized possessions are our memories, and I love to find items that jog them. I tend to take away a lot from each project. This kitchen project has taught me that my goal is not to be perfect but to be authentic to who I am and what I like. In the end, it’s about filling your home with the things that you love and make you happy. That is perfection.