Happy 20th Birthday to Our White Farmhouse Kitchen!
It is hard to believe our kitchen is twenty years old! We have enjoyed our White Farmhouse kitchen over the years and it is the nucleus of our home.
Today is the day! It’s the 20th birthday of our white farmhouse kitchen!
We are celebrating today because I think our kitchen has aged so well. She does not look even close to twenty!
I get asked all of the time why I designed a white farmhouse kitchen. If anything, I think a white kitchen is a safe choice. Twenty years ago when I picked this style, the “popular kitchens” had dark cupboards with dark green granite. They were so popular! But I held firm because I wanted a classic white kitchen that could have been built in our house over 100 years ago.
The kitchen is the nucleus of our home and I am most creative when I am cooking and entertaining.
The windows are original and the cabinets and island were all custom made. All of the cabinets and trim are painted Dunn Edwards Swiss Coffee. The walls are painted with Farrow and Ball Cooking Apple Green paint.
We have two sinks and the large farmhouse sink is located on the back wall which overlooks our backyard. The. countertops are honed marble and the drawer pulls and knobs were from Restoration Hardware. The floors. are oak and were stained to match the rest of our floors.
So what has changed in our kitchen over the last twenty years? Practically nothing.
We replaced a dishwasher and the instant hot dispenser a few years ago. We have touched up the paint a few times and changed the canisters and some of the decor. But that is it!
Decorating the White Farmhouse Kitchen
Over the years I have decorated our kitchen through the seasons.
Organizing the White Farmhouse Kitchen
I have also done a bit of organizing these past few years.
Cooking in the White Farmhouse Kitchen
I love to cook and a lot of good recipes have been made in our kitchen.
Macarons are so much fun to make. I love how perfectly these look and am thrilled they taste amazing! Cranberry Orange Scones are a delicious addition to breakfast or brunch. The combination of sweet and tart is absolutely wonderful. These crab cakes with lemon dill sauce are to die for. They aren't "fishy" and are by far the most popular appetizer anytime I make them. I use this recipe for all of my pasta dough. It works great for spaghetti, fettuccini, lasagna, and flavored pasta. I absolutely love it. This 1-2-3-4 cake recipe is so easy to make and yet it tastes and looks fantastic. This flaky pie crust is the best. The larger portions of butter are what make this crust so flaky and delicious, This sugar cookie recipe is my go-to recipe every time. It's almost flawless!My Favorite Recipes From our Kitchen
Classic and beautiful. It will never go out of style. Both of my grandma’s had white kitchens back in the 60’s.
Can I just add….EVERYONE …try the salmon with avocado. It is soooo good!
I love that Rachel! Thank you 🙂
I agree a classic white kitchen will always stand the test of time. Yours looks as if you recently had it done. I wished you posted pictures of your original kitchen just for comparison.
Thank you, Margarita! I will have to see if I can dig some up 🙂
I’ve always loved your kitchen, especially that it looks like it grew with the house! Amazing that it’s only 20 years old – what a youngster! 😉 Happy Birthday Kitchen!
AW, Thank you Barbara!
I redid my parents ‘ kitchen when I inherited the house. The company I hired said they were so well built that he hated to tear them out so I had them refaced and new drawers & doors with bead board inserts all in white. I’m very happy. Always looks clean! Love your island.
That sounds amazing, Ann. Thank you so much!
I love your kitchen. I too have a white kitchen and feel it will always be timeless.
I wish to inquire about the aprons hanging on the cabinets, in the picture about fall styling. Did you make them? If so, where did you get the pattern?
I have been watching videos from Patina Farm and notice “Mrs. Patina” wears a cross-back apron. I love that style!
Thanks!
I love your kitchen. I actually am getting ready for a kitchen renovation and am stressing over all of it!!! I want white cabinets and then I want med to dark. And how on earth do you pick flooring that you will like for 20 years!!!! I am so overwhelmed. The house is in a seaside town in New Jersey. Kitchen walls are white and will stay white..window treatments are plantation shutters. HELP!!!!!!!
Thanks
Tammy
It can be so overwhelming, but so worth it in the end. Go with what you love, trends will come and go but what you love will last! Good luck, friend.
I love the classic look of your kitchen! one question, the marble countertops, we are deciding whether to go with marble also. We love the authentic, timeless look of marble but we are concerned about the scratches, stains that are said to be inevitable. What advice do you have-would you choose them again?
I love the classic look of your kitchen! one question, the marble countertops, we are deciding whether to go with marble also. We love the authentic, timeless look of marble but we are concerned about the scratches, stains that are said to be inevitable. What advice do you have-would you choose them again?
I’ve been in my current home that we built 12 years ago. I went through one of those decisions that Sandy (above) faced, and originally I wanted white kitchens like I grew up in. Then I saw another home in the neighborhood and the builder had put in a medium toned wood (maple?) and very dark (greenish black) countertops that were all quite elegant looking, and in the spur of the moment I went with that….but in the last 5 years, I’ve been wishing I had chosen that white kitchen ….for one thing- it’s easier to see when you’re cooking and all your surfaces are white. Here’s my question Leslie – Can these cupboards be painted? Did you paint yours, or did you hire out? I’ve hired a painter to do some of the rooms in my house, and asked her thoughts about the kitchen cupboards. She said she’d prefer not to as they’re in beautiful shape (oof! I think I need to look further or get brave and DIY). Is this something mere mortals can take on? or should I hire out this job? And of course I’ve got the dark granite counters still….That I’ll have to live with until???
Hi Leslie, love your kitchen, of course. I went to the Smith & Noble website to look at blinds for an office space I’m redesigning and whose kitchen is the banner ad? Yours is! It was a great familiar sight to see I must say. Hope all is well. Aloha, Summer.
Ahh!!! I just love that. Thank you so much for sharing, Summer.
Summer, I had to go look, too!!! How cool is that?!?! Leslie- you are genius!! 😀
Cheers,
Roxanne
I don’t know about that, Roxanne but you sure are sweet to say it!!
Truly a stunning & timeless kitchen, you can clearly tell the craftsmanship was top notch as well!
Would LOVE a post on your marble countertops & the patina that they develop over 20 years of use. I find a lot of clients & people worry about using them and its impossible to describe how beautiful all the countertops across europe are after decades of use. Most people who do posts have only had theirs for a year or so…
Great pics
Thank you, Petra!
Thank you. I love your kitchen
I could have SWORN your cabinets were original!! Loooove them.
We acquired a tiny 100 year old family cottage (and I mean cottage) on the east coast. To say it’s in a ‘BEFORE’ mode would be an understatement. (Kitchen countertops are gold speckled white laminate)
Do you have tips for finding best cabinet makers and how long did they take?
We purchased a 1908 farmhouse a couple of years ago and have been renovating it ever since. The kitchen is going to be a complete gut job as it currently looks like 1985. 😝 Your kitchen is exactly what I have envisioned in my head as I transform this back into a timeless space. Regarding your countertops, they are actually marble… not granite or quartz that looks like marble? Have they held up well? They are beautiful!! The countertops is the only part I’m uncertain about… would love your input/advice!
They are 21 year old honed marble countertops! They have held up so well, I am so happy with it and would never choose anything different!
That’s great to know how well they’ve held up! I do love them (and wish they had been on my radar when we built this house 12 years ago!! )
We purchased a 1908 farmhouse a couple of years ago and have been renovating it ever since. The kitchen is going to be a complete gut job as it currently looks like 1985. 😝 Your kitchen is exactly what I have envisioned in my head as I transform this back into a timeless space. Regarding your countertops, they are actually marble… not granite or quartz that looks like marble? Have they held up well? They are beautiful!! The countertops are the only part I’m uncertain about… would love your input/advice!