{please look away from the band of swine paint that still circles our ceiling ..}
Magazine Inspiration Pic for one of my kitchens in the 1990′s.
Once upon a time (back in the 1900′s, before some of you were born), I fell in love with a kitchen in a magazine photo (the photo I tore out from a magazine is above, I wish I knew what magazine it was from!)). That photo became my inspiration for a paint, tile and curtain makeover of my kitchen at the time — that was about 17 years ago.
My kitchen makeover in the 1990′s
You can see what my version of those curtains looked like in that old kitchen of mine, right before we moved out about 13 years ago. Everyone thought I was crazy for having curtains like that above my sink. But I didn’t care, how they looked trumped the practicality of light curtains above a sink. {Coming from the lady with a 10 year old boy and a sofa with white slipcovers, I’d say I haven’t changed much.}
Even back in the 90′s, I wanted to paint that desk, I still remember not liking it!
As a side note, you can see in that old photo above that I had the same antique stained glass WAY BACK THEN (on the other side of that same kitchen with the blue and white curtains!) After that they were in my living room.
Much of what I have in my home has been in my homes for years and years — I really do use and reuse what I have.
So how can one can furnish their home on a budget and be able to use, reinvent and reuse the same things for 20 years? That is a question for another post — I’ve got lots of tips for you on that subject.
I’ve had three other houses since that kitchen with my favorite curtains, and each time I moved, of course I brought the remainder of my beloved fabric with me, fully intending to use it again. I never fell out of love. I don’t keep everything (that would require a few storage rooms or a couple of extra houses!), but my classic favorites seem to follow me forever! But, for one reason or another, I just didn’t get around to using that fabric again in another house. Until now.
Several months ago (as you might have seen on Facebook!), I sent that fabric home with my mom and asked her pretty please to make me some new curtains for my dining room (she had also made those kitchen curtains so many years ago)!
I had hung some black and tan curtains in my dining room over the winter, and while they were nice (also recycled from a previous home!), they really didn’t add to the fun quirky style I had imagined for this space, especially in the summer months. I was ready to punch things up a bit.
So with June arriving, I was excited to brighten this room up with this fun and lively blast from my past (which incidentally, I seem to see similar patterns like this EVERYWHERE now!} What was old is new and the amazing thing is…it is still chic and lovely, even after 17 years!
This room is still in progress. The carpet will be coming out, ceiling painted and I’ll be forever tweaking, redoing and repurposing….but I think many of you know exactly what I mean. The decorating is never done!
They look gorgeous, Melissa! What a difference they make to the room.
My 6 year old daughter is standing next to me looking at your new curtains saying how lovely it looks! She wants to know if we can live in that house ;0) So Melissa … just when are you coming to South Africa to come and remake my house?! Pretty please!!! hee hee …
Thank you for your always-inspiring posts.
Big hugs to you this week.
Janine
Janine recently posted..Speaking up Loud & Clear
Aw, that is so sweet, thank you! I’d LOVE to come to South Africa!!! That would be amazing!!
The blue looks wonderful! I love to make a change that results in going into that room several times a day just to “look”!!!
-Trish
Amazing! That really freshens up the room, and it just goes to show that you have timeless taste…a great thing to have in our constantly changing redecorating world!
The blue looks wonderful! I love to make a change that results in going into that room several times a day just to “look”!!!
-Trish
Trish recently posted..Green to Gray – Before and After
Your new curtains fit in perfect. I love your windows! Too bad you can´t get that kind of glass here in europe. Costs a fortune here!
Oh Melissa…I love the blue…so beautiful!!!
Nice to see what you did in the 1900′s too…lol
Screaming Meme recently posted..Slipcovers- Swirling- and Hoarding – Oh My!
Twitter: FairfieldHouse
says:
Melissa,
When I first saw your photograph I instantly thought of Miss Mustard Seed’s living room and other images I am seeing on the internet and in magazines. After reading your post, I realize it is YOU that inspires others to always remain true to who you are, to decorate with what appeals to you. Your curtains look stunning.
Your Friend,
Deborah
Fairfield House recently posted..The 2011 Fairfield House Postcard Exchange Finale
Thanks, you are so sweet…:-)
I.love.those.curtains. Love them!
E at Act Fast Chef recently posted..Tuesday Edition- Kitchen Tip
Hi Melissa. With Ikat fabric so en vouge now, your style is years ahead of its time. Love the curtains and especially the fact that they are reused!
Twitter: ShannonKWheeler
says:
Love your posts! I’m continually redecorating our 1890′s Victorian,and it’s so much fun to see what everyone else is doing. I’m only now starting to post some pictures (wish I’d started sharing the journey earlier, but I’m a late bloomer with technology).
Love your curtains! It’s fun to see how things that inspire us years ago still have a special place in our hearts.
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Twitter: TraciMLittle
says:
FAB Melissa! <3 Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations
Love them Melissa! Love it all actually, the light, basket, table & chairs…perfection.
Jessica recently posted..Drama Mama & Tween Talk
love the curtains….it makes the room pop….i need some of those
am off to milk the goats!
xoxo lylah
lylah ledner recently posted..Making This At The Simple Farm
Twitter: melissalewis
says:
Wow Melissa, what a world of a difference that print and color make in that room overall! I LOVE it! Wow, the fact that you picked such a beautiful and timeless print from your first home, and are able to re-use it today is so awesome. I love all the color in that room.
Midwest Magnolia – Melissa Lewis recently posted..Sew Lined Panel Drapes
love it!!! They look amazing! and that lantern above the table *sigh*
Amanda Eck-TheEckLife recently posted..MY PAINT COLORS
Love,love, love the curtains. I, too, am a dedicated “re-purposer”. My current porch curtains started out as kitchen curtains and a sway in the dining room and my landing lace valance was formerly in an upper bathroom that had shutters below. Keep inspiring us to go for what we love!
gail p smith recently posted..Five Blessings Friday
Great taste never dies, you were born to decorate! Do you still have the desk?? I’ve learned to reuse too, we’ve moved so many times, it’s too expensive not too! Looking forward to many more repurposing ideas from you!
Debbie
Debbie recently posted..Blue Monday with Murphy
The curtains are lovely, Melissa! I also like the pleated cover on the chair, too!
Who’s to say what’s in style and what isn’t? I reuse / repurpose a lot of things year after year, decade after decade. In my opinion, it’s your home and if it’s something you love, then it’s in style. We shouldn’t worry about keeping up with the trendy neighbors. We should do what makes our family feel happy, comfortable, cozy and loved.
Wow, what a difference! I love that print, and you’re right, variations of that are everywhere. I’m in the process of deciding what to do with the windows in my dining room. Thanks for the inspiration.
i love looking at all your transformations. however, i do wish i knew how you had time to do it. baby boy at 15 months doesn’t give me but about 2 hours at nap time, and that is of course, when i look at my blogs.
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Well, being that my mom made the curtains I can’t take credit for the time those took. And this room has been just evolving over time, I just am trying to be patient with the process!
That slow process of evolution is the only way to go if you are busy or on a budget like so many of us are!
Melissa – is it wrong for me to hope you NEVER paint over the last of the swine? It makes me laugh every time you reference it!
have a blessed day!
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Ha, well I’m glad you can find the humor in it. It OINKS at me every time I see it … someday I’ll have to throw a big party when the last swine is eradicated…could be a party that is years in the making
I like it A LOT A LOT A LOT! The room is so refreshing and inspiring! Fresh breath of air! WTG!
Love the curtains! I have seen that style everywhere lately! I guess you just know how to pick a classic style when you see one, good job!!!
Laurie recently posted..Dan the Goodwill Man
Very fresh! I guess 17 years is the trend cycle? I was at a fabric store yesterday and I saw something very similar.
And I *love* how your kitchen turned out. It’s better than the inspiration picture!
Love you blog, BTW.
Denise recently posted..Wok’s For Dinner
Gotta be thankful your mom sews for you. Very nice curtains! I like the wide band of solid fabric at the bottom to add the length. I agree about the fabric, when you love it, you love it!
That goes for many things we decorate our homes with.
One of the many “gifts” I was given by my mom and other teachers, was learning how to sew. That’s saved me hundreds of dollars over the years.
These are fabulous!! I love that your sweet momma made new curtains for you, AND that they’re still lovely.
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I can’t believe what a difference they make, they really pull the room all together. It looks magazine worthy!
I so understand…been doing the re-use redo since 1980…yup I’m old.
Love seeing the progress….thanks so much
teresa recently posted..Two places at the same time-
Have you noticed how the stained glass is reflected in the chairs around the table? I love that and the curtains, such color and sparkle. Looking forward to more ideas about re-using what we have. My home was built in the 80′s so even if I ditched all the furniture so many of my beloved decorating items are in the gray-blue color scheme I’ve had all this time.
Yes, I noticed that reflection too…that is one of those happy unexpected things that I love, a subtle detail that enhances the beauty of a space!! Thanks for noticing!
Those curtains really bring out the room. I liked it being brite then the curtains seemed to make the room pop.
Thanks for being so creative and sharing.
Carla recently posted..Upstairs House Tour
Wow, vintage fabric at its best, LOVE that pattern!!!
xo
Kate
Centsational Girl recently posted..Recycled Wine Barrel Planter
Twitter: richellap
says:
Way to go, Melissa! The curtains look absolutely gorgeous in your dining room. Three cheers for your mom–how kind of her to sew for you, both 17 years ago and now.
By the way, I’m probably the 100th person to tell you this, but I LOVE those stained glass windows. What treasures.
It’s such fun to see how you’re making this house reflective of you and your fun style!
Richella at Imparting Grace recently posted..How to make fresh flowers last
Your mother is so talented! They really do perk up the room and look great beside the vibrant stained glass windows. I’m so glad that you mentioned not looking at the “swine” strip up there. This is the first time I believe that I can see what you’ve been talking about all along. The current color is ever so much nicer and the swine is a lot too pink.
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Twitter: snoozeq1
says:
I love that you do the 3R’s in decor too! (reduce,re-use,recycle) I have some heavy expensive antique satin slubbed drapes&valances I remake/reuse about every 8yrs
they are getting tired but they’re still hanging in their cleaners’ bag waiting for the next incarnation. 
I will think of something. Maybe it’s time to “reduce” and make pillows! 
Those curtains look perfect! I love how they look in your room! Now I want some funky blue and white curtains! But it’s been less than a year since I made my current curtains, so I’ll have to live with them for a while longer.
Jo recently posted..Bike Bag
I love your new curtains! They really brighten up the room, and you are SO ahead of the curve with that pattern
I love to hear you’ve been saving the fabric for years. Thank you for sharing!
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Twitter: fieldstonehill
says:
great post! the curtains are FANTASTIC. But those windows. wow. take my breath away!!!!
great job!!!!
- {darlene}
fieldstonehilldesign.com
{darlene} recently posted..ditto – a blue dream living room
They look great in your room Melissa! So bright and fun!
I repurpose things all the time! I love using my favorite things and it makes my husband happy because I am not constantly bring more “stuff” home!
Deanna recently posted..The Garden In June
Very nice! I LOVE the blue! Wish my mother could sew
Stacy
Conspicuous Style Interior Design Blog recently posted..Pretty in Pink and Yellow
Gorgeous, Melissa. Love the color, so pretty.
The Yellow Cape Cod recently posted..A and Bs Twin Nursery
When we did all our moving (over 30x for army and 2nd career) who knew we were repurposing. It is just waht we all did! I had 98×84 basic beige drapes, other curtains of various sizes an Hong Kong Oriental rug plus carpet remnants I had bound. We put the furniture where it fit which often took a lot of repurposing! It was a great life!
Such a simple change . . . and so lovely.
Fondly,
Glenda
Glenda Childers recently posted..A Surprise Library and Cherry Ames- Student Nurse
you are so right, I am forever tweaking and revamping seasonal stuff like velvets and cottons. I am redoing a bathroom right now simply with new curtains, a skirt and some paint, no gutting here. Stay tuned.
I am so glad you help onto that fabric! The window looks amazing.
kalanicut recently posted..10 Things That Make Life Great
I can’t believe that’s old fabric–it looks so fresh and new! Love how it brightens up the room. Why doesn’t any of my decorating from the 1990s look this current? There’s no way I could reuse any of my fabrics from that decade. Ha.
Julia recently posted..Before & After- An Old Kitchen in Alabama Gets a New Look
Your curtains are amazing – I’ve looked at your “before” and “after” at least 5 times now. The new curtains bring so much life to the room. Great job!
Decorating like renovations seems to be a neverending job. Even if you don’t follow the trends, your tastes change. It’s always evolving.
Love the blue. They look gorgeous!
Amy recently posted..Father’s Day Gift – Homemade Ho Hos Recipe
Wow! Love the pattern and the color! It really brightens up your kitchen!