Visual Story-telling Through Art & Interiors

(If you've already read this post, scroll down to the bottom for the updated images!)

One of the things that make my design process unique is the way I use art.  Many people think of art as an afterthought, or just an accessory.   When I can, I try to use it as inspiration to build a room from.   That is exactly what I did when designing my kitchen.  About 12 years ago, I purchased my first pieces of art, which included these two great vintage magazine covers.  I love their personality, history, and humor.  My goal was to evoke that *feeling* in our kitchen.  I also used a literal translation, by mimicking the colors in the art.  You’ll see the same colors in my barstool fabric, my cabinets, and even the cream background of the art is what I used in selecting my countertops.

Here are the vintage magazine covers I used.

 

Being a picky eater growing up, I could totally relate to wanting to feed the dog under the table…and anyone who knows me knows that while I’m a great cook, I can’t bake.  Every time I try, it burns & my hubby laughs at me…so you can see the immediate connection these pieces have with us!

 

My husband & I built this home.  So, the “before” was actually on blueprints.  Fortunately it was much easier to change a blueprint on paper than to actually knock down walls… The original design was very closed off to the rest of the home and had an extremely basic look.   So, the first element of design I tackled was the island shape.  If you are a baseball fan, like my hubby is, the *baseball diamond* shape may look familiar to you.  This was one way I was able to pull him into the space.  Because of the island shape, we had to build the rest of the space on the same angle.  I actually have a great working triangle & love the placement of the dishwasher in relation to the sink.

My latest project, which will be finished by the end of the week, is my penny backsplash.  Yep, you read that right…I’m adhering pennies to our wall.  (It is wonderful to have a husband who trusts my designs!) Why pennies?  Well, I really wanted copper.  Copper is pricey.  So, this was an affordable option.  Also, I have a connection to *pennies* that added to *our story*.  My grandmother who passed away several years back used to collect pennies.  When she passed, she left me a container of pennies from the year I was born.  Till this day, when we find a penny on the ground, we have to pick it up and say “Grandma Janeczko’s with us today!”   It is a fun way to keep her memory alive & in a room where our family gathers the most, I know she is smiling on us. 

 

 

 

More about the pennies…my husband isn’t as, ummm…how do I say…*artistic* as I…he is more *structured*.  So, in order for me to be allowed to glue pennies on the wall, he said they had to all be facing up.  We also didn’t want people to think we had an unhealthy obsession with Abraham Lincoln…(Ha!) so I alternated randomly between heads & tails.  We just love it.  It was the perfect final touch to bring texture, history, and uniqueness into our kitchen.  I googled & turns out I didn’t invent the idea, there are a couple other documented kitchens out there with penny backsplashes, so I was able to learn from other peoples mistakes when selecting products to use.  So, that is our Kitchen-story.  Come back soon as I will be updating the completed backsplash!  J     

Ok, so here is the finished backsplash!

It is Christmas time, so you can see my nativity set above the cabinets.  Below I have framed Christmas cards, from my aunt, featuring favorite images from "It's a Wonderful Life".

What do you think?