Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Coastal Christmas in the Kitchen


First of all, I want to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day 70 years ago.  May we hold them in our hearts forever. 

I finally have something I can share for a few link parties, which I haven't done in a REALLY long time. 

I gave you a sneak peek of my kitchen windowsill a few days ago, but I finally finished it up by adding some greens and a few other things here and there, so I thought I would share the whole thing with you today.  I know it's not the 9th yet, but I'm not good at being patient, so here goes!

Plus, I still have a few more things to put out in here, so I will share more once I have the whole room finished, but I didn't want to miss out on the party.  I love a good party after all, and I've loved seeing the wonderful  posts others have shared over the past few weeks.  There is so much talent in blogland, it boggles my mind sometimes!




Ok, enough chit chat, on to the decorating!  The inspiration for this year's windowsill was mother nature, burlap, and turquoise/aqua.




I started with my blue ball jars, knowing that I wanted them to be a focal point and provide some color.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to put lights in them like I had done in years past, but finally settled on a more simple approach and added little baby cedar trees to them instead.

I lived with those on the windowsill for a few days before deciding which direction to head in.  Then I remembered that I had some burlap ribbon, so I strung that all along the windowsill which gave it some nice texture.




I tend to let my decorating evolve over time, but I usually have some sort of vision of how I want it to end up, or at least which elements I want to use.  I loved the blue of the mason jars, but I felt like something was missing until it dawned on me that I could use my turquoise/aqua insulators as votive holders.  They add just the sparkle I was looking for, and they look so pretty when I light the little tea lights each evening.   And I also love that they are chipped, don't all match, and are well worn, all part of the rustic charm I was hoping to achieve this Christmas.




As I wandered around my house gathering things to add, my collection of seashells seemed like a logical choice to incorporate into my coastal themed vision.  I have all sorts of shells, so I just grabbed a few and spaced them out over the sill.




I debated on putting 3 blue ball jars, one in front of each window, but I felt like it needed a little height in the center, so I grabbed these wooden shore birds which normally sit on top of the TV armoire in the living room during the warmer months.  And I fashioned a wreath out of cypress to hang on the biggest birdie.




Just below the windowsill, next to the sink, I added some vintage ornaments that had belonged to my parents and grandparents and a few other ornaments I have collected over the years.  I purchased the peppermints on copper wire a few years ago, and since I didn't have anything yummy to fill my candy jar with, they did the trick!  A pretty white Cyclamen I picked up the other day when I bought my wreaths is nestled into a big red bowl.  I love to have flowers around all throughout the year, but especially when everything outside is on its way out.




Santa seems to be eyeing something to his right...not sure what, let's hope he's not trying to make a break for it!




And because it's Christmastime, it never hurts to remind ourselves to believe, in whatever makes your heart sing.




Candy canes fill a pudding basin and get weighed in along with some fresh greens on top of my vintage scale.  My little sea urchin votive holder adds a little more sparkle to the kitchen.




So there it is, my coastal cottage inspired Christmas kitchen.  I think baking will be a lot more fun in here this year!  I can't wait to see what the rest of you did in your kitchens!

Click HERE to see more Christmas in the Kitchen inspiration!  And to visit some of the other Christmas link parties you can check out the list below.


 AND

Click HERE to visit the Christmas Home Tours at The Inspired Room!


AND

I am also linking up to the 24 Days of Coastal Christmas at Sally Lee by the Sea!  Click HERE to see more Coastal Christmas decorating ideas!

40 comments:

  1. I wish you some wonderful weeks in your lovely Christmas-kitchen...enjoy your time!!

    Many hugs, Ingrid

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  2. Oh Kat, I just love your kitchen! We did it the first year we bought our house but have since gone with the brighter colors for the kids' benefit. This year I have gone back to my favorites of turquoise, apple green and white with coastal accents. Am I weird that I have (at least) two of everything? To accomodate my ever c

    hanging design personality? LOL! I have always planned to use my collection of insulators as candle holders and never got around to the "big idea" I had for them. You inspire me- I think I might need to go to the beach and look for a piece of driftwood so I can get working on it for the holidays! :)

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  3. I love it! Just goes to show how beautifully the traditional and coastal colours go together.

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  4. Kat, your decorations are just beautiful! I love the turquoise and white with the greens. Those shore birds are lovely!! You had a wonderful touch with decorating!!

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  5. WOW!!! You've been a busy girl, with all this thinkin' and foofin'. This is gorgeous!

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  6. I had a super nice window sill above my kitchen sink in Columbia, Maryland, and have not owned a home with one since we left there in 2004. In my next life I want a house that has a window sill at EVERY window in the house and I plan to decorate every stinking one of them! LOL I LOVE YOURS!

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  7. Wonderful kitchen window display, especially the subtle blue of your candle holders.

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  8. So lovely! The birds are the coolest! Happy Holidays!!

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  9. Such a beautiful display, I especially love the blue glass, white starfish and burlap ribbon scene. Happy Holidays!

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  10. I love it Kat, it is perfectly beachy festive and the birds look so adorable all decked out. The ornaments are gorgeous, I really wish I would have saved the ones that my grandma had, funny thing is I still remember what they looked like. :)
    Have a great rest of the week!
    xoxo

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  11. Love your kitchen window. I also live at the beach, but I don't have anything near that cute in my window. I do however have a vintage tutorial and giveaway you might like. Stop by

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  12. Kat: Your window decor and the blue makes it pop!! Also like the burlap on edges of the window ledge, nice touch!!

    Kelly
    Coastal Cottage Dreams

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  13. Beautiful! You make it seem so perfectly simple. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  14. Really lovely. I love blue glass

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  15. Just exquisite, Kat!
    Love the blue, it's just perfect.

    Hugs,
    Anne

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  16. Splendid Kat. The wide shot is just wonderful.

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  17. Beautiful! Love the birds all decked out for the holidays.

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  18. When I look at what you've done, I feel like packing things up and starting all over again! I love that you mix a real plant with vintage ornies and a pretty towel...and the greenery you use looks perfect! I'll go look again and see if I can pick up some tips for my decorating! Hugs! ♥

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  19. So pretty and so different from most of the colors we use. Love it and glad you shared it with us! hugs, Linda

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  20. Beautiful look...and a wonderful change from the traditional reds and greens.
    Thanks so much for stopping by, also. :)
    Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful decorating style.
    Have a great weekend~
    Lisa

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  21. Just love the look on that Santa! too funny

    x
    C

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  22. Oh so lovely. Nothing says coastal more than those pretty little blue jars. A-M xx

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  23. Love your windowsill decor, so beautiful and perfect for the coastal look. Your vintage ornaments are wonderful also. Hugs, marty

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  24. I love the look, especially those blue jars.

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  25. So beautiful!! I just love all the natural elements! I must keep an eye out for wooden candy canes. They are so perfect!

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  26. This is a darling approach to a coastal Christmas! andrea@townandprairie

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  27. So glad I found you - love the kitchen and that scale (I have one of those)! Love the coastal theme - I went with a coastal/vintage table of coral, shells, vintage tarnished silver and glass cloches. Following along.
    Kelly

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  28. Absolutely beautiful! I love all of it! I am your newest follower :-)

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  29. Kat! Your kitchen looks superb - I'm in love with your shore birds with the burlap & Mason jar.

    I hope you'll share this on our Coastal Christmas linky party too.

    Happy holiday hugs,
    Marie

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  30. I love your Christmas kitchen! So pretty with the blue mason jars! xo K

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  31. Just beautiful. I love blue mason jars, they are so special and beautiful. My christmas theme was based around that blue and silver and white and a little bit of sparkle. Great job, and Merry Christmas!

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  32. I love your style - so simple and pretty. I could sit and stare at the aqua glass and burlap all day long. Beautiful!

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  33. Love coastal Christmas...the colors are beautiful.
    Merry Christmas

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  34. Love your coastal christmas.

    We have a holiday cottage near the sea, but we are never there til after Christmas, but some year I would love to decorate it for Christmas. I haven't used any coastal theme at home yet ... maybe next year.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours from Ireland.

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  35. Wow. Just wow. This is beautiful!!! I love the colors, and sweet simplicity. :)

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  36. Love your coastal Christmas! Aqua and the vintage pieces - both my favorites!

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  37. Love it! I really love the bird figurines, and the colors so evocative of the beach ...

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  38. Your Coastal Christmas in the kitchen article is one of our favorites of our linky party!

    Article: http://www.sallyleebythesea.com/2011/12/coastal-christmas-day-22-mantels-tables.html

    Merry Christmas, Kat!!
    xoxo

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