Author: Autumn (Janette)
With all due respects to Anthony Bourdain who wrote a book by the same name, it is only fitting that this blog entry be named “Kitchen Confidential”.
When we remodeled the kitchen in our new place, we removed the wall between the kitchen and the great room/dining room. I knew I would need to find a screen of some sort to provide some privacy to both the cook (me) and our guests when we are entertaining.
During a routine stop at a neighborhood antique store, I found this great screen. It has a lot of detail, is very heavy and very old, and needed a face lift.
When I am cooking, I can see right into the great room. The architect designed it this way because since it is just my husband and I 99.9% of the time, we wanted to be able to have a conversation when I am cooking and he is watching television.
The down side is that when we our entertaining formally, our dinner guests can see into the kitchen from the dining room table. That is where the screen comes into play.
I want our screen to blend in visually with the kitchen’s cabinets, so I painted it the same shade of white. I might put a grey glaze on it in the future which is the same shade as the grey glazed peninsula.
Now our guest can’t see my kitchen magic going on when they are seated at the table. It makes whatever I am doing in there confidential. Get it?
I put felt sliders on the bottom so that when it is not in use, I can easily slide it to rest in a dead space between two doorways.
We have a lot of new readers since I first posted photos of our kitchen. Here’s a mini-tour for you.
This is from the opposite wall.
The area under the peninsula has a book shelf, wine rack, glassed in shelf area, and a few hidden storage areas. The color is grey with a white glaze.
Instead of a tile back splash, we used bead board behind all of the cabinets except the stove. Because of code, tile must be used in that area. We selected a honed subway tile in carrara marble to match the honed marble counter tops.
This is our eating area. Everything that goes on in the kitchen is supervised by “Lulubelle”, our security cow. The eating area is beside french doors that go into the sun room. If I want to change things up, this area can easily morph into a sitting area.
Also in the eating area is a built-in hutch. It comes in handy as an extra counter space for buffets. I am pleased that the carrara still looks good other than some etching which is expected. The frosted door there goes into my pantry/office (here).
The hutch is a great place to hang some of our copper pots.
Here’s another angle showing the eating area with the sun room beyond. If you would like to see more of the kitchen, you can go here.
Take care.
Oh goodness! You found a true treasure in that great screen. I probably would have passed this up but you saw the great beauty it was! What a lovely screen… so detailed!
Thank you for showing us your kitchen! I posted my Farmhouse Kitchen reveal too. We have many things that are similar. You have given me the best idea! I keep my copper pots and pans in a large drawer and would love to show them off. LOVE the rack to hang the post and pans on! I just may borrow your idea! Brilliant!
Yvonne
Your screen is perfect! It looks as though it was designed for your kitchen. It’s also so much prettier painted white than the wood stain. Good find, good work!
Best,
Susan
That screen door is awesome. It looks fantastic with the new paint job, and fits perfectly with your gorgeous kitchen.
Great find I love the white.
Screens are wonderful things — and I wish I could find another one. Yours works perfectly, and when the form follows function as well as this, it just doesn’t get any better!
Love it!
I love the screen and I wish you would send the screen and the cow painting to me for Christmas! It looks great!
Debbie
ps let me know if you want my address 😉
Your home is beautiful -Your kitchen is just lovely. I bet you really like to cook in bake in your kitchen. The screen is such a good idea-the detail on it is beautiful.
Love that screen! Even more stunning painted white.
Gorgeous kitchen.
Jeannette