As you know, my kitchen is a very neutral blend of creams and golden limestone. So I have been slowly working to inject more contrast with dark metals and chalky white.
I was seriously thinking of ripping out my beige mosiac backsplash to add these Emery and Cie tiles here…but grabbed my paintbrush and diluted some latex house paint to alter the tones from beige and sage to white and gray.
The plate rack was made out of salvaged wood…one quick last thing I had my guys do after they finished my daughter’s room. Used Farrow and Ball’s Downspout on that and a dutch door…a perfect deep, deep dark gray.
Thank you Sharon from My French Country Home Brocante here for the vintage metal plaque find…and I picked up several of these vintage pudding molds in Petaluma before Christmas. The Astier de Villatte saupoudroirs à sucre (sugar shaker) and dinner plates are from Heather and Bobby Lee’s wonderful Astier de Villatte collection at Trove Gallery here
A longer view. Having white marble in the master bath is enough excitement for me…I have a tall stack of white washcloths at the ready for every errant spill. So although I love white and gray kitchens, I’m still happy with the relatively easy Jerusalem Gold limestone. I love the look of plate racks, and they are perfect for those few special plates that you don’t trust in your dishwasher. And an excuse to stick your neck out with a bold color.
Heather Lee’s photographs of Trove Gallery here are just beautiful…and her Astier photos are the best out there.  Besides the Trove Gallery website her pinterest account shows some other beautiful Astier pieces here. And yes, they ship. I’m saving up for the teapot above. Let them eat cake!
More later…but…literally…I’ve got to run…!
Trish,
Wow, what a pretty look you’ve achieved with your paint on the mosaic. I love the plate rack and, of course I love the Astier de Villatte. So stunning.
Karen
The back splash looks amazing!! I cannot believe that you changed the coloration–it is perfect.
Happy New Year.
Mary
This part of your kitchen looks simply perfect!
Love white plates and……Having through my whole life always white for services with a few “decor”-pieces to highlight a table setting here and there.
These Astier pieces – very decorative!
And the golden limestone work-surface completes the perfection!
xxxkarin
Ha – I’ve spotted the mortar which looks nearly the same like ours….here we are again 🙂
grazie per l’ e mail….sono tutte bellissime le foto del vostro sito,ahimè! conosco solo la mia lingua e quindi non posso scrivere in inglese,complimenti per le vostre pubblicazioni! ed anche a voi gli auguri di un buon anno!!! grazie ancora!!
Grazie Gianna!
Your kitchen and the colors are done so beautiful. Where did you get your Lantern. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your kitchen and giving us ideas. Teresa
Hi Teresa, thank you! Designer Myra Hoefer had some items on a One Kings Lane tag sale some time ago…there were actually 2 lanterns. Very over-scale. One of those good, quick impulses that work out!
Hi! Do you know where the M A vintage metal plaque came from? Those are my initials and I would love to find another maybe? Thanks, Marcy
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Hi Marcy. I asked Sharon from My French Country home, and she thought they might have been a store plaque…which seems like as good a guess as any. I am assuming they are from Normandy, since that is where Sharon lives and hits the local flea markets. It’s hard finding matching initials, sometimes, but you can always make something up. Etsy and Ebay have alot of metal signs these days, and the guys at Atelier de Campagne always seem to pack their French containers with them. Good luck!
I love the pudding molds…didn’t know about them.
YOU’RE A GEM! Thank you, Trish!! xx Heather
brilliant rescue of your back splash…such gorgeous tile to begin with…the paint was the perfect update and I can say it looks great in person, too…
Trish I love, love, love your backsplash it’s fabulous! Please don’t rip it out. I also love the Astier de Villatte collection but it doesn’t really go with my house…big sigh. You have great taste my friend and could use you in my house.
Email coming I’ve been a bit busy stitching away!
XXX
Debra~
It is amazing what you can do with paint on tile! I have not yet tried it but have been so impressed with the results…did you delute and wash?
Hi Cindy. Yes…basically sort of dry painted/washed on a very diluted amount. As little as I could to achieve a change in color. Since the mosaic tile was real stone…and porous…it absorbed/bonded well. Used tiny paintbrush on scroll..several shades of gray so I wouldn’t defeat the charm of uneven mosaic colors. Really hate to re-spend money on remodeling…so it was great solution.
Sobre, élégant, personnalisé, tout ce que j’aime!
Hi Trish
Thank you for the shout out! It is lovely to see the metal plaques in their new setting and I’m honored that something from my store should find its way to your beautiful home.
I love the way you repainted your tiles, your colours are so subtle, did it take you ages to do?
Sharon
xx
Your backsplash looks fantastic and it’s hard to believe you accomplished that with a paint brush…beautiful. And Astier de Villatte is always stunning. What an elegant kitchen you have created!
What a great transformation. I think I started reading your blog when you began the do over on your fireplace! Love the courage and the results.
It is fascinating how our styles evolve over time. Unfortunately, when projects go on as long as mine has, you can (or can’t!) change your mind in the middle of the mess. Agree about the marble being too much drama. I add to that list a solid wood garage door. JEEZ who knew you have to about adopt the suckers. I walked away from that fantasy. Maintenance is just a long word for too much work!