Wednesday 6 July 2011

Something's Cooking In My Kitchen



As requested by you lovely people here's a tour of our kitchen. I'm standing in the doorway, the former tradesman's entrance.



What a pair of slackers, we had the brickwork repointed earlier this year and choose to go to India rather than get the exterior painted. Oh well, the house has been standing since 1760, I doubt if it's going to fall down just yet.


So here's the kitchen in all it's freshly scrubbed glory. Needless to say most of the stuff is second-hand, inherited, found or bought at a knockdown price.
 I don't "do" fitted kitchens. I loathe things to match and like to move things around and try out different looks from time to time. Years spent in the catering industry left me with a hatred of anything clinical or functional so our kitchen is more like a room than a production area.


The table was an eBay find about five years ago, cost £22 and a short drive up the road to collect it. The oak chairs were inherited, I've sanded them down, painted and recovered them using some of my vintage tea towel stash.



The cupboard was one of three bespoke oak kitchen pieces we picked up at a car boot sale for £30. I found the Art Deco chrome-cased thermal tea pot in a skip on the way back from the pub when I was 18. The silhouettes on the right were of my Grandparents and done on their honeymoon in 1940. Everything else you see is from a car boot, jumble sale or charity shop.


The Portmerion Greek Key pottery were presents for my parent's wedding in 1966, the Deco teapot was from a jumble sale earlier this year, it's Goblin so would have been part of an early teasmaid. We use loose leaf tea as it's way cheaper than teabags.
 

Another of the bargain car booted units. The cupboard underneath is part of a Welsh dresser from Jon's Grandparents' home. There's some of my 1950's Terence Conran ceramics and part of an Art Deco tea service I bought from a jumble sale over twenty years ago.


We bought the Indesit range cooker from a catalogue when they offered 25% off our first purchase (but paid for it immediately as I don't believe in credit). We're restoring a 1930's Rayburn (bought off eBay for £180) to go in this space but progress is very slow and it's currently languishing under a tarpaulin in the garden.


We bought this retro styled A* rated Baumatic fridge from another catalogue offering a 25% introductory discount.


The Belfast sink unit was £125 from eBay. The brass mixer taps and draining rack were £1 each from a car boot sale and the ceramic knobs were an eBay find.


This 19th century glazed cupboard is Hungarian and was from our friendly curio shop. The leather suitcase is handy storage for some of my collection of vintage party ware.


There's an eclectic mix of vintage French enamelware, post-modern ceramics, Victoriana, bottles we've dug up in the garden and tat from jumble sales on here. The railway lights are from eBay and the bricks and railway sleeper are from a local salvage yard.

Some of our wall art (£1 car boot sale). Jon likes to contemplate this when he's having a roll-up and a coffee.


More vintage tat.


The Victorian glazed cupboard was a boot sale find. The unit was from a local junk shop and Jon tarted it up with some skip-found tiles, a ceramic knob and car boot sale beading. We inherited the microwave but we never use it.


Hope you enjoyed your trip. I'll show you some more next week, providing I can keep the house tidy until then.

111 comments:

  1. Dreamy kitchen - I absolutely love all the mismatched pieces. xx

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  2. Oh my, your kitchen is DELICIOUS! It is a total dream kitchen...want!
    Well done on compiling such a lovely collection of things and pulling it together.
    I love that you have your grandparents silhouettes- so cute!
    And your fridge...is...beautiful!

    xxx

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  3. Your kitchen is my idea of heaven! I loathe fitted units too, but have no choice at the moment. I feel a bit better about wanting a new kettle and toaster (in a sale, of course) knowing that you guys do have some new items as well as the bargains x

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  4. Hi my dear! Just been catching up on your fantastic posts, you have such a fabulous and stylish home, so it's a real treat to feast on the images! xxxxx

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  5. You guys have a fabulous place Vix. It's amazing to see all that you've done with it and I do enjoy the charming organised ramshackle-ness of all the nick nacks. Such character - much like yourself!

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  6. I love your house and I want it! There, I've said it! Must go to a carboot sale this weekend and try to find things. Thanks for sharing x

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  7. love the fridge and chairs x

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  8. I want your fridge!! Loving you home tour and you kitchen. Scarlett x

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  9. I know I've been here before via Mizz Helga but for some reason I wasn't following... I'm SO glad I came back for kitchen show and tell - it looks SO welcoming like I could just walk in, pour a cup of joe and plop down in a chair right now! I'm following now - come stop by when you can!

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  10. I'm loving your fridge, table, sink and oak unit!

    Julia @retro jules

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  11. I love these posts of your beautiful home......love your stove!

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  13. Your cocina is spectacular as you love the table the chairs with tea towels, fride, the bread container and sink.that Mexican wall clock. everything amor.
    your an inspiration.

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  14. What a lovely homey kitchen! I have the twin of the orange flowery jar thing you have on your white shelf unit, I keep my teabags in it :)

    (Love that you had a holiday rather than do improvements on the house!) xx

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  15. Kitchen is wow! Love it. Ha ha know what you mean about keep ing clean and tidy!!! Its pants - hate that side of domestic stuff- cooking ok but cleaning is dull as!!! Rayburn would be fab in that space!!!

    XXX

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  16. what a wonderful place. clever use of space.

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  17. Beautiful! I love the mix and match and your gorgeous ceramics and containers

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  18. I love your kitchen I particularly like the sink and the cupboards and I love those chairs.

    xx

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  19. Ohhh you have my dream kitchen! x

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  20. I love it .. I especially like your old glazed cupboard xx

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  21. Dearest Vix,
    I'd love to have a kitchen like that! You guys have done extremely well decking it out with your amazing eBay buys and car boot sale bargains, if I was an editor for an interior decorating mag, I'd have someone sent around to do a feature in a heartbeat.
    Much like yours, my kitchen holds a plethora of fabby retro pots & knick-knacks ;)
    Take care luv,
    Jem
    xXx

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  22. woow! your house looks so lovely!

    xxx

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  23. Fab kitchen Vix I love all the bits.
    Dx

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  24. Fabulous, thank you for the nosey! Looking forward to seeing your bathroom again, saw it a while back but want to see it all over again!!

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  25. Oh wow what an awesome kitchen, this is great!

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  26. Hee, I knew it'd be good!! It's got a lovely homely feel that I think you can only get with non-fitted kitchens. The table, massive cabinet and the wooden units are brilliant finds...and do you use the drawer purely for asparagus?! ;) x

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  27. Another gorgeous room, love your mis-match vintage style!

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  28. Hi my dear-your guided tours are fabulous indeed, I adore your bedroom and your kitchen is such a wonderful mix of gorgeous different finds that all style so perfectly together-thanks for sharing, your house is just truly lovely!! xxx

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  29. I love how everything is mis-matched, it’s by far fabulous Vix and completely unique in every way. The fridge and sink are both wonderful, whilst I absolutely adore all of your treasures. Such a great snippet into your home xxx

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  30. Your kitchen is simply divine. I would love to have an unfitted kitchen but as we originally bought our house to do up and sell on, we went for a fitted one. We are only still here as we cannot find another, bigger house that we prefer to our current one so we are sticking it out at the moment. Love your creativity as always and that your home is so personal to you :) xx

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  31. Ohhh I've been waiting for your post all day Vix ! I adore your kitchen, it's amazing. Did I spot some Illy coffee - my favourite :0) Thank you for sharing ...... I'm going for another look ! xxxxx

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  32. Thanks for the inspiring images, we are hoping to buy a place soon... and it will need doing up of course!

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  33. YOUR LIFE IS SO COOL!

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  34. Now this is the epitome of vintage style..and on a shoestring. It just goes to show that you don't have to throw money at a room for it to look unique and stylish.

    I love the kitchen table and the chairs with their teatowel seats, your retro fridge (love the chunky handle)and all your vintage knick-knackery!!

    xxx

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  35. I love it! That is my dream kitchen. I hate my current kitchen, I dream of something open with a great monster of a vintage Welsh dresser. I love your home. Xx

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  36. Awesome kitchen! So much character x

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  37. Smashing kitchen Vix, full of character and homely touches. Love it.xxx

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  38. OMG that is EXACTLY the kind of kitchen I would loooove to spend time in,cooking,chatting,imbibing.....so homey and warm and friendly....I LOVE IT! So many wonderful details,with wonderful stories attached.
    LOVE YOU!!!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  39. Such a gorgeous proper kicthen, I love how you've made chair seat covers from old teatowels, very pretty!

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  40. I love your kitchen, i don't like fitted kitchens either. Have a lovely night xxx

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  41. I loooove those dining chair seats that you covered in vintage tea towels - such an amazingly inventive idea - and they look fabulous too.

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  42. I loooove those dining chair seats that you covered in vintage tea towels - such an amazingly inventive idea - and they look fabulous too.

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  43. Your kitchen is so wonderful, Vix! If I had a bit more energy for 'interior design' I would do it exactly like you. Until then we'll happily live in our outdated 10 times painted over kitchen from the 70s. xxx

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  44. It looks cosy and like the heart of the house. I love an ecletic mix of things rather than a fitted look too!

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  45. I love, love your kitchen. it is like going back in time.
    I can see that chair waiting for me.
    Mil besos, my dear Vix.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  46. I absolutely love your fridge! I've always dreamed of owning a retro style fridge! At the moment we have a fridge on top a freezer as there is only room for a joint fridge/freezer in our new kitchen where as we had room for 2 separate pieces in our old place! Pyf has been told many a time that I desire a retro fridge when we get around to decorating our kitchen!

    You have a dream home Vix! I love all the boot sale tat dotted around, it really is spectacular and makes me swoon! xxx

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  47. I love your kitchen. It's so cozy. Very welcoming.

    Love you, Vix!

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  48. Love your kitchen ... You really have a lovely place ... it would be so much fun cooking in there!! :)

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  49. Oooh, a wee TV in the kitchen - what a luxury and a great idea. I would spend loads more time in my dining kitchen if I had one of those. As always, loving everything. Can't wait to see more of the house. xx

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  50. I too am not a fan at all of fitted kitchens and made the mistake 8 years ago and had one. Well it time to rip it out sort it out . I just love you.....you are such an inspiration! xx

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  51. hello vix, such a great idea to show us your house! your kitchen is so lovely :) absolutely love all the different pieces of funiture, and they work so well together :) The sink is really cute and I love the potatoe storage :)

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  52. Ohh Vix i am loving having a tour of your home its so very personal to yourself its beautiful. I love the fact that you have treasures from your grandparents and other family members. It's great to see you have a bit of Taunton Vale i love it and it was made not far from me. I love those designs and colours and have a few pieces myself. And your fridge love it ;-) You have a real cosy home and its been a real pleasure to have a look. dee xx

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  53. Ohhhhh. Your place looks sooooo beautiful! I love it!

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  54. Wow. You have a gorgeous kitchen! Maybe I would spend more time in the kitchen if mine was half as beautiful as yours ...
    Nah.
    It still doesn't change the fact that I have no idea how to cook.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  55. Teatowels!!! I collect them, which is hard to do here in Canada. The linen lasts forever even when you use them. Just wore out one that I got in 1981!. I'm waiting for an ebay delivery of assorted TTs that my son wanted to start his collection.

    Love the blue and white cannisters.

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  56. Your kitchen is divine! <3 I love your vintage fridge!

    x
    Lost in the Haze

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  57. SOooooooooo interesting! Wow- so many things to look at!

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  58. super mismatched goodness~

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  59. Walking into your house would be like walking into a vintage store. SO many gorgeous things in your kitchen.

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  60. VIX I want to come and play at your house!! Love all the stories behind all your stuff. That's what makes a home to me. Marvellous.
    Big loves.

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  61. I've said it many times before but you're house is so amazing. I never tire of seeing it and have thoroughly enjoyed these posts. You should be selling your interior design on a budget services as they're amazing! You rock!

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  62. You just transported me into your home wow! Thank you I feel so special to get the see the inside of this lovely old home so filled with character.

    There is so much to love about this space! I don't think it is any one item it's just the feel of it. Homey, cozy, eclectic, weathered...if these things could talk I wonder the tales they'd tell.

    Thanks again for sharing!
    ~
    Krista

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  63. it's all too fabulous-of course! But have you got enough tea and coffee pots? That's what I'm worried about!

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  64. Hi Vix I've been reading your blog for ages and have never sent you a message.But today your kitchen has inspired me ,Love it Love it.
    I could sit at your kitchen table all day and watch the world go by.
    Keep up the good work,show us more of your fantastic home.
    Thank you for showing us around.

    Liz 2b

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  65. gorgeous kitchen... i love the belfast sink unit thats lush!
    love how its all freestanding.. thats my idea of a dream kitchen to be honest!
    a real kitchen for parties i should imagine!!!

    charl
    x

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  66. Ohhh my do you ever have a gorgeous kitchen! It is SpEcTaCuLaR! I am sure its a absolute dream to cook in too!

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  67. I do love your house Vix and love seeing pics of it!

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  68. hello again :) I've tagged you for an award on my blog
    http://hippiebohoreloaded.blogspot.com/2011/07/even-hippies-need-some-beauty-care-top.html

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  69. What a gorgeous kitchen! I love all the vintage bits & pieces, and the mismatchy feel.

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  70. LOVE your kitchen, the sink unit is perfect! Hate to say it but the microwave looks a bit out of place among all the vintage! :)

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  71. You are SO inspiring. This truly is low-impact interior design and and I love the fact that everything has been gradually collected and found and has therefore evolved over time into the beautiful space you have created.

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  72. Im really enjoying your tour its great xx

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  73. i love this kitchen, it's so you!
    i think one of my favourite things is the vegetable drawers, so cute ! and i particularly love the chairs that you covered, they look great.. xx

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  74. I would actually enjoy cooking if I had a kitchen like that, methinks.

    Love the Girl on the Motorcycle poster :) xx

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  75. Always very inspirational, Vix, and your kitchen is fabulous - I love mis-matched things too, but I do envy your ripe eye for a real bargain - I must live in the wrong part of Britain - I love your retro stylee fridge, too! I typed 'friend' there - by which I must mean Helga! x

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  76. Of course, every detail is so personal and considered and perfectly imperfect - just as I knew it would be! I love it all and would have every single thing here... some of my fave bits n pieces are the chairs, the gorgeous orange coffee set on top of the wall shelf, the beautiful silhouettes of your grandparents and all of the ceramics.

    And the best thing for me? Your house was built BEFORE MY COUNTRY WAS COLONISED! Your house is older than my country. That is fucking cool.

    Loveandvintagelinen, Sarah xxx

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  77. Ooh I remember adoring your teatowel chairs from a previous post, and I love the rest of it just as much, especially all your cabinets and that gorgeous fridge. Have you ever thought about a spread in 'Homes and Antiques'?

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  78. Oh heavens, I'm probably going to be the last person to see your post and comment - how DARE the other members of my family use the computer!!!
    Everyone else has said it all really, Vix - OF COURSE you have a gorgeous, eclectic, stylish, quirky, individual, beautiful kitchen, because that's YOU!

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  79. I LOVE it! What a great post. I want to live in your house. We've gor a rangemaster cooker and I absolutely love it. Thanks for your kind comment on my blog today. xxx

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  80. Utterly brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed having a nose around your wonderous home. And you say there's more to come? Can't wait.

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  81. That kitchen is stunning.

    Love all the secondhand finds you have.

    Thanks for sharing your personal space.

    X x

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  82. Wow. That is so wickedly amazing. Please do share more with us.

    I adore how thrifty a lot of bloggers are. xx

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  83. Vix, you have great individual style and I love that it also spills over into your home. It is truly one of a kind and fun. Lots of little nooks and crannys and many, many things to discover. thanks for sharing your home with us.

    PS - brilliant turning the hair dryer into a table lamp!

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  84. i just found your blog and am utterly charmed. i love your kitchen and i adore your style and moxy. i think your house looks wonderful with the peeling paint. i plan to sit down, get comfy and read more.

    xo
    janet from southern california

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  85. Oh! That Belfast sink! I would absolutely love to have one of those, but alas, my tiny galley kitchen doesn't lend itself to fabulousness. One day though....

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  86. whou, I like so much your kitchen, so original and authentically decorated!, love to see kitchens where people really cook and live and love house decoration in constant evolution!!
    besos

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  87. This is such a gorgeous kitchen! I am definitely inspired. I also Love how old the house is. So much history, just wonderful. I LOVE history and historical houses.

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  88. So much to love here Vix. The Greek key pottery is especially fab, and I adore the 50s style fridge. Our kitchen is so little we can't have much out on display, but we do have a print of a Smiths album and 60s Sean Connery advertisement for bourbon xx

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  89. wow, your kitchen is literally amazing! I adore the uniqueness you have created. That big oven is fab, wish I had that one.

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  90. I love your kitchen. The table and chairs are probably my favourite thing, but that sink is one of the nicest I've ever seen. And the Hungarian cupboard is brilliant. You've got exceptional taste. I don't like fitted kitchens either. xxx

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  91. In reply to your comment -- The only reason I don't starve to death is because my fiance can cook. Otherwise, I would be living on salad and cereal.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  92. Thanks for the kitchen tour. Beautiful, unique, interesting, individualistic.

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  93. This is probably my dream kitchen (and house- pink at that!) Beautiful antiques and great finds- thanks for sharing!

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  94. Oh Vix!
    I LOVE everything about it!
    It is so welcoming and almost like an art exhibit all in one!
    Love, love, love it!
    Feeling inspired..............
    xXx
    Reva

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  95. Vix, your kitchen is so eclectic and cool and makes me want to look at things and don't think about actually cooking there!
    Your entire home has such vibrant personality just like you.

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  96. Admiring many of the details, but especially the stove. Impressed that your home was built in 1760

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  97. Absolutely fantastic post. You're the most eclectically organised person in the world. Every item in every picture screams style.

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  98. An orgiastic collection of pics of yet another incredible room in your house. I can see myself pulling up a chair, pouring out a cuppa and spending hours just sitting there looking around me at all your beautiful treasures. So much love and hard work has gone into your kitchen:)) xoxo

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  99. Wow, Your house is amaizing! I knew it would be. Big love beautiful xx

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  100. I've been following for awhile, but since I'm working off my iPad while my MacBook is being repaired, I rarely comment as it can be a bit trying. But I just had to say: my goddess, you are not only a whiz with your wardrobe, but your home is fantastic! I wish I could get my kitchen as fab as yours, mine is a 60s cheapola mess! The only thing good is the hardwood floor!
    XXX
    Suzanne

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  101. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your kitchen - looks like the kind of place to sit with coffee (i am an American :)) and a wonderful pastry and sit and GIRL TALK. How I wish we had wonderful "little cottages" like this in Lexington Kentucky - I would never leave. Can't wait to see more pictures - I really enjoy your posts.
    (PS wish we had great "Boot Sales" too)

    Hugs - Sharon B
    http://sewn-seabees-crafty-and-vintage-musin.blogspot.com/

    PS My blog is new, and my last few weeks have been busy - bear with me:)

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  102. stunning kitchen. I love the mish mash style and I mean that as the highest compliment. I LOVE your tea towel chairs, ace! x

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  103. sigh. your house is making me happy! LOVE how your blog always makes me happy. Thank you for sharing your life!

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  104. Thank you for letting us take a peek into your kitchen. It is simply fabulous. My dream kitchen- I'd say.

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  105. I think I just died of amazing overload. sigh....
    EVERY single damn thing in your kitchen I want.

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  106. i guessed your kitchen must be beautiful but it's much more than that. i really would love to live in a house like yours...

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  107. Dearest Vix, unsurprisingly I absolutely LOVE all of it. It's a gorgeous kitchen with so much character and your finds are wonderful.

    The bespoke cuboards are fabulous. Love the wall art and clever moves on the catalogue.

    I wish I could have a kitchen like yours. Mine's just a small galley kitchen. I've never got round to collecting things for it but I will. I need some more art. You'll see it soon anyway.

    Loved the tour, your place is brilliant. Love you xx

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  108. Yet another fantastic tour of your home. Im loving the range of bottles ontop of the railway sleeper!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix