A story of two kitchens. An old country-style kitchen on the coast and a white open farmhouse kitchen in the mountains. Which would you choose?
Kitchen Inspiration Blog Hop
When Pasha of Pasha is Home reached out to me asking if I’d be interested in sharing our kitchens in today’s “Kitchen Inspiration Blog Hop” along with 8 other very talented home decor bloggers, I was thrilled. You are going to find so much kitchen inspiration in this group today.
If you are joining me from Libbie over at A Life Unfolding, welcome! Libbie and I have joined in on so many of these fun blog hops together and I’m such an admirer of hers. You won’t want to miss Libbie’s ideas for designing a tiny cottage kitchen.
My Two Kitchens
Having two homes, one in Vermont and the other in Coastal Maine, we naturally have two kitchens. And both kitchens are completely different!
Open White Farmhouse Kitchen
Let’s start first with our open white farmhouse kitchen which is at the heart of our home here in Vermont. A kitchen that was designed by the previous owners with so many fun details.
For example, this kitchen is wide open in the middle of an open floor plan.
It is an area where all are invited to gather in conversation, cook, eat, work, and even watch TV.
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Thrifted Shaker-style stools add a natural and warming feel to this all-white farmhouse kitchen.
You may learn more about Shaker-style chairs in the post, 4 Things You Need to Know About This Old Chair.
SHOP SHAKER-STYLE BAR STOOLS
The large kitchen islands have white faux marble countertops, resembling the marble found in Vermont quarries native to this area. Today one of the most popular quarries, The Dorset Quarry is just a few miles away serving up as favorite swimming hole.
Why faux marble countertops and not the real thing? Well, authentic marble stains very easily and is not an ideal surface for an active countertop area such as these.
Do you notice that there are no high wall cabinets?
Just open shelving?
All the storage cabinets are down below attached to the kitchen islands.
The second kitchen island is up against the wall looking out over the mountain views. And at just 5’1″ tall this is my favorite feature of this open farmhouse kitchen.
A small vacant space in the kitchen left room to add this vintage cabinet that I found on Facebook Marketplace.
And on top rests an old-fashioned dish rack that holds our everyday blue and white thrifted dishware.
You may enjoy the post, Vintage Market Days Vermont Fall Haul where I found all these dishes. And I’ll be attending the Vermont Vintage Market again this year to be held over Columbus Day | Indigenous Day weekend.
Join me here every third Thursday of the month too for all the fun with “Thrifting with the Gals“.
SHOP VINTAGE DISH RACKS AND BLUE AND WHITE DISHES
You may enjoy seeing more of this kitchen in the post, Winter White Farmhouse Kitchen.
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Country Style Kitchen
And next up is our country-style kitchen from our home in Coastal Maine. Completely different than the open white farmhouse kitchen, this kitchen has three walls and a half wall that looks out into the dining room.
This kitchen was designed by my parents when they built this Raeside-Dame home, a replica of an old home, over 30 years ago. We recently renovated the interior of the home, as well as replaced all the kitchen appliances.
You may see more of the before and after renovations in the post, Old Family Home Restoration.
This country-style kitchen has wooden countertops, Nantucket Gray painted cupboards, and family inherited antique kitchen accessories.
This beautiful vintage rug from Revival centers this kitchen beautifully. I looked high and low for a rug that would fit this kitchen and it was not until I shopped Revival that I found this one-of-a-kind antique rug that would fit the odd dimensions of this room.
You may see more in the post, Vintage Rug Runner – One of a Kind Rugs.
SHOP SIMILAR VINTAGE RUGS FROM REVIVAL
A little thrifted table is placed in the center of the kitchen and adds all the country charms with its bouquets of flowers, candles, baked goods, utensils, etc… Such a fun piece to decorate with.
I’ve recently started leaving stacked vintage dishes here too, which I love.
Join me in “My Mother’s” country-style kitchen where I chat about countertop ideas and bake a Nordic Shortbread in the post, 6 Best Country Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas.
SHOP COUNTRY KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
Open White Farmhouse Kitchen vs. Country Style Kitchen?
So what do you think? Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below.
As for me? I adore them both, but for very different reasons.
- The Country Style Kitchen at our home in Maine is so special, as it was my mother’s kitchen and it is filled with all her kitchenware, cookbooks, recipes, and collected antiques. The character and nostalgia of it all are simply priceless.
- The Open White Farmhouse Kitchen at our home in Vermont well, it’s just so much more fun to cook and gather in. It’s more practical and convenient in its floor plan, so as the person or persons cooking are never alienated in the kitchen alone while others gather in another room. Has this ever happened to you in your kitchen?
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Next up on today’s Kitchen Inspiration Tour are my friends Anne and AnnMarie from Simply 2 Moms. They are talking all about how to update a kitchen with cherry cabinets. Hint, they look amazing!
And don’t forget to check out the others joining me on today’s “Kitchen Inspiration Tour” here:
Inspiration for Kitchen Updates
How to Update a Kitchen with Cherry Cabinets // Simply 2 Moms
7 Custom Kitchen Island Ideas to Consider // Robyn’s French Nest
Updated Coffee Bar For Cozy Mornings in the Kitchen // White Arrows Home
Kitchen Updates that Make a Huge Difference // Pasha is Home
Small Kitchen Updates to our New Construction Home // Truemans Treasures
A Beautiful Cottage Style Kitchen Makeover // Peacock Ridge Farm
How To Wallpaper A Backsplash // White Lilac Farmhouse
Designing a Tiny Cottage Kitchen // A Life Unfolding
A Tale of Two Kitchens // Dabbling and Decorating
Don’t make me choose! They are both so lovely, Ann!
How fun to have two beautiful kitchens. Everyone woman’s dream to be able to decorate multiple homes. Love!
Thank you so much, Tammy I appreciate you stopping by!
I absolutely love both! I love all the vintage and thrifted goodies as well.
Both of your kitchens are so beautiful, Ann! I’m loving the wide open space in your Vermont home, but the sentimentality of the Maine kitchen makes it so special. I didn’t realize you’re a shorty like me! The world looks different at 5’1″ doesn’t it?! Pinned!
I can’t pick just one they are both great places to cook and enjoy. I do like the idea of cooking in the kitchen my mother cooked in.
Thank you Marlene, yes same here it’s so enjoyable. Have a nice weekend.
Ann,
Both of your kitchens are so charming and I love this post. I’d like to use one of your photos as an example on my Sept. Thrifting with the gals post. I’ll link to your article here.
I’m in love with both kitchens. How wonderful to be have both and enjoy the comfort and joy each provides.
Thanks so much Leslie!
Oh my goodness! Your kitchens are so lovely. I love how quaint your cottage kitchen is. Blessings to you.
I only wish I had two kitchens to decorate. How fun! They are both decorated so beautifully, Ann.