*sorry for the dark photos... but it's night-time!*
This evening I made a short valance curtain for over the window in front of the kitchen sink. The kitchen window is not a very large window so I didn't want to block out any light. I picked out this chicken fabric some time ago, but just hadn't gotten around to making the curtain. I'm pleased with how it turned out!
The short valance curtain will be just right, I think! And it looks nice with the newly painted walls. It's hard to tell in the dark photos but the walls are a light Tuscan yellow, which sure beats the *hideous* 1980 wallpaper we've been living with!
I'm not sure what year the counter tops were installed (or "updated") in the kitchen, but mmmmy-oh-my were we tired of them! As you can see, our counter tops were ORANGE -- and not just in the kitchen, but in the master bathroom, too!
I know, I know, you're jealous. You want orange counters for your very own...
Last year Alan replaced the bathroom counter with pretty white tile, and it's sooooo nice! This year, we're tackling the kitchen!
We chose a 12"x12" Italian porcelain tile for the counters and back splash. I wanted minimal grout lines, and the 12"x12" counter tiles made for quick (relatively) work. Alan has done a wonderful job putting in new tile counter tops! I love them! They're beautiful, clean up like a dream, and are a million-dollar improvement to the ORANGE we used to live with!
In the 70s, my parents remodeled our kitchen and installed those orange counter tops. We loved them at the time and thought our kitchen looked like something out of a magazine. :) Seeing yours was a blast from the past. Your new tile looks great!
Posted by: Francie | January 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Looks lovely! When I bought my house my laminate kitchen counters were orange with a retro boomerang design all over it. It almost matched the carpeting (also in the kitchen) which we thought was brown until we lifted out the bottom cabinets...then realized it was ivory with a lovely orange, green, and brown pattern! Goodbye 70's!
Posted by: Danielle | January 07, 2011 at 06:28 AM
Your new counter top and valance looks wonderful!! Great fabric. We did our counters this past summer and I just love them.
I thought you would like to know that I followed your directions and made up a jar of your cranberry cookie mix for my brother and he just LOVED them. Delicious!! Thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas!!
Karen x
Posted by: Karen | January 07, 2011 at 06:06 AM
Hi Anna,
How beautiful! Yes, the countertops are VERY pretty! I love the curtain, too - not too surprised that it's a chicken theme.
I used to have orange counters. Like you, I would have changed them if I could have. LOL
Your kitchen must look fabulous now!
Hugs!!
Posted by: Sharli | January 06, 2011 at 07:41 PM
Great job to both of you on your projects. The curtains are "oh so very cute" and the tile is nice..very clean lines..You two make a great pair!!!
Happy New Year to you! and I SO enjoy your blog..don't ever quit it...
Posted by: Kellie | January 06, 2011 at 06:22 PM
My kitchen is decked out in chickens and roosters too (as well as my mom's and sister's) Oh, and my sister and I even have the same spoon rest you have on your oven!! hehe! I love the curtains and hope one day when we buy our own home, I'll be able to make some just as cute!!
Posted by: Chelsea | January 06, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Hahahaaa...my parents built their house in the 70's & CHOSE orange for their countertops! When they remodeled their kitchen (which now has GORGEOUS granite coutnertops) the orange counters were moved to the exercise room. I just walk in there any time I want a blast from the past!
Posted by: Michelle | January 06, 2011 at 05:13 PM
LOVE that chicken fabric. It's always a good feeling to finish a home improvement project. We just redid our kitchen this past year. It's a chic red white and black motif now. LOVE it....and the red dishes my DH bought me for Christmas. :O)
Posted by: Mary Rogers | January 06, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Aren't home improvements the BEST (when they're done, at least)? I don't know why we don't do them more often. Love that new countertop, the sunny paint color, and the fun chicken curtains. Wonderful!
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | January 06, 2011 at 08:56 AM
I'll see your orange countertops and raise you Wedgewood blue formica!
Posted by: Gabriela | January 06, 2011 at 08:28 AM
WOW, the new counter top is GORGEOUS!!! What a difference!
Our first apartment in married student housing had an orange and yellow kitchen...eeeewwww!!!
It was not so pretty! LOL
Your valance is adorable, I love that fabric! (you find the most wonderful fabrics!!) I'm sure it really adds charm to your "new" kitchen! I can't imagine now great it looks with the new counters...what a change!
Hugs to Alan for such a great job; and of course, YOU are a creative genius! :D
Have a great day!
Posted by: diane mcvey | January 06, 2011 at 07:17 AM
OMG ... you can sew too! I'm surprised that YOU were not the one that replaced the counter top with the tile! Between the two of you, there doesn't sound like there is much you can't do! The valance looks so happy and I guess you are too, with your new counter tops!
Posted by: bonnie weiss | January 06, 2011 at 04:26 AM
I had to totally laugh at this post! Our house growing up had bright orange counter tops...ugly is not even a suitable word! I am sure your kitchen is looking really fresh now...farm fresh ;)
Posted by: Tracy Harp | January 06, 2011 at 03:53 AM
How funny that you had orange counters. The first two houses we owned had orange counters. What are the odds of that happening. The valance is so cute and the counters are gorgeous.
Posted by: karen q | January 05, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Love the new tile.
We moved into a house with tiny mosaic on the kitchen counter. YUCKY grout. :( 12" squares are much better.
We also had burnt orange , apple green and harvest gold nylon loop carpet. It only took 27 years to get that changed!!!!
The valences look GREAT, too. Hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | January 05, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Love
Posted by: ~liz | January 05, 2011 at 07:09 PM