16 No-Fail Ideas For Decorating Kitchen Countertops
Elevate your culinary space with creative ideas for decorating kitchen countertops. Create a kitchen that is functional, beautiful, and infused with your personal style.
One of the most coveted pieces of real estate in your home is your kitchen counter! They serve many purposes, from meal preparation to a workspace and even a place for decor. We use appliances and even store those appliances in plain sight. Our kitchen counters act as a place to serve meals and clean them up, and they act as an organization hub. And if you are like me, they are also a great place to make DIYs. Our kitchen counters should not only be functional but should add beauty and style to our kitchen. Today, let’s talk about ideas for decorating your kitchen countertops.
Our kitchen countertops are called to be very multifunctional! Here are 16 ways to keep your kitchen countertops in prime working order and looking their best too.
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Here are 7 ideas for decorating your kitchen countertops.
Keep Countertops Tidy
Kitchen countertops are clutter magnets. They not only clutter but also collect lots and lots of small appliances, such as crocks. jars and coffee, canisters, mugs, plates, dog treats, pencils, catsup bottles, pepper mills, décor, and other kitchen staples!
Kitchen countertops should ideally serve three main purposes…
- any food-related task
- add beauty and style to our kitchens
- help us carry out all other kitchen tasks
It seems like no matter how much counter space we have, we could always use more! So, to make the most of our kitchen counters, we should strive for them to be clutter-free!
Clean Off Your Kitchen Countertops
One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to spend a little time and clear everything off of your countertops. And give them a good cleaning. Even in the most fastidious kitchen, stains, spills, and kitchen dust and grease can hide behind and underneath what we have on our counters. And give your backsplash a good cleaning, too, especially if you have grout.
A Word About Small Appliances
One of the biggest clutter culprits that make kitchen countertops overcrowded is small kitchen appliances! When possible, find a home for small kitchen appliances other than your countertops. Unless you use one every day, like a coffee maker, stow it away elsewhere! I have most of my appliances in the cabinetry closet next to the refrigerator. It’s a little crowded, but I really appreciate uncluttered countertops.
I keep my Air Fryer on top of my dryer and my mixer under the counter on the left side of the stove. We use our toaster often. But it’s not so hard to shake the crumbs out of it every time we use it and tuck it in a cabinet. My countertop stays cleaner, and so does our toaster!
I keep nothing on my kitchen counters that is not absolutely necessary, and there is A LOT of kitchen stuff that is not absolutely necessary!
Start cleaning off all your countertops by putting unnecessary items away! And always clean them and put them away after every use. This is huge!
Clean Your Sink
I know this is a post about countertops, but I think countertops and our sinks go hand in hand. A kitchen looks messy when the counters are messy, and it also looks messy when dishes are piled up in the sink!
Keep your sink clear of any dishes and your countertops free of drying dishes waiting to be put away! If you have soap dispensers or lotion next to your kitchen counter, put them in attractive containers. Add a drying rack under your sink to hang damp towels and dishcloths to keep them off of your counters.
I know you know all this! It’s just a gentle reminder for us.
Add Some Greenery And Organics To Your Kitchen
Plants and flowers make a kitchen come to life! Even the smallest vase of flowers can brighten up the whole kitchen. Potted plants, especially herbs, are beautiful additions to a kitchen countertop!
Using Fresh Herbs
I like to keep something decorative behind our sink, like fresh herbs in little pots, like above, or cut herbs in a little measuring cup, like below. This is a great place to add a bit of greenery and life to a kitchen. Not only are herbs decorative, but useful too!
A Bowl Of Fruit
A bowl of fruit is a work of art and looks so pretty on a counter!
When my children were growing up, I had a saying, “Fruit is an anytime snack,” and left a bowl of fruit out on the counter. Fruit is a pretty and healthy way to decorate your kitchen!
Create Impact With A Statement Piece
If you have the room, think about adding a statement piece to your kitchen. It could be a large bouquet of real or faux flowers, a piece of art, or something that works as an attention-grabbing focal point!
Here are other things to use as a statement piece in a kitchen…
- a bold backsplash can be a statement piece in a kitchen
- vintage or antique furniture
- sculptures
- a beautiful stack of plates with a distinct pitcher on it
- open shelve display
- colorful and/or designer appliances
- oversized lighting fixtures
- suspended pot racks
- unique bar stools
Create Work Stations
Creating workstations on your kitchen counters and breaking them up into zones is a brilliant way to keep them organized, keep everyday items needed to do a task together in one place, and keep countertops relatively clear.
Think about creating stations on your counters.
Coffee/ Tea/ Drink Station
If you drink coffee (or tea), it is a good idea to create a small area to store your coffee maker and other essentials.
We are huge coffee drinkers, so creating a pretty and useful coffee station in our kitchen was a must.
If you drink coffee or tea or some other beverage, having an area in your kitchen designated for that specific use is a great idea!
Three things to keep in mind when creating a drink station is to
- keep it contained
- the simpler, the better
- and it should look attractive
Our simple coffee station has a streamlined coffeemaker, a small grouping of canisters with wooden lids for coffee pods, sugar and sugar substitute, and a vase of hydrangeas. I propped a wooden vintage cutting board behind them to add a bit of texture to our white kitchen.
It is also a good idea to use the cabinet space directly above or below a coffee/drink station for mugs, cups, saucers, and any creamers you might use. We also use the drawer underneath the coffee station to keep small square plates, which we use as utensil holders to put used spoons and traveler mugs.
Cooking Stations
Most kitchens have an area next to their stove where they keep things they use to cook food. It is so important to keep the most basic things you use every day at your fingertips.
I used to have a large crock on my counter filled with every spoon and spatula you can imagine, a variety of cooking oils, and different salts and peppers. To be honest, it was a mess!
So now my cooking station is in a small wooden tray that holds…
- a crock of my most used wooden spoons
- salt and pepper mill
- a blue olive oil dispenser (see it HERE) for a splash of color
- and a thyme plant in a pot
The longer I decorate and organize, the more I believe less is best and simple is perfect, especially when it comes to the kitchen.
There are other things I use most often for cooking at the stove, so I stored them in the drawer below the kitchen station. That drawer holds a salt pig, Amish butter in a white butter dish, as well as potholders, and a couple trivets. Out of sight but on hand to use!
For me, having something pretty at each station is important! Right now, I have a healthy thyme plant that I use when I cook in the station, too!
I love herbs in the kitchen, and growing herbs indoors is easy with just a little know-how. See HOW TO GROW HERBS INDOOR HERE.
Other Work Station Ideas
We should all tailor our kitchens to our needs. Create simple stations to help you better utilize your countertops and keep them tidy and pretty!
Cookbook Station
If you like cookbooks, like I do, then cookbooks are a big part of your kitchen. I read cookbooks like romance novels! However, my collection is rather extensive, and I don’t have space on our countertops or even in our cabinets for all the favorite cookbooks with my favorite recipes. Instead, I rotate cookbooks in and out of my kitchen, a few at a time, and display them on the far end of the long countertop that also doubles as Bobby’s pop-up bar.
I like to put one cookbook on a cookbook stand and lean a few more behind it on the counter.
Bobby’s Pop-Up Bar
Bobby’s pop-up bar is set up on the countertop of the long cabinets opposite the coffeemaker when we have family and company over for dinner. I put my cookbooks away, and a fun self-serve bar is set up.
The cabinets above and below hold bar glasses, liquor, and mixers, and the long drawer has all the gadgets he needs to set up a first-class bar!
Pop-up is the operative word here! His bar could get very out of hand and often spreads across the countertop when we leave it up when we have company. I call it a hot spot, so I take a couple of minutes to organize it, especially when we leave it up for a weekend when we have overnight guests.
This part of the countertop also works as a dessert bar. If we are not setting up a bar, I like to create an easy self-serve area for desserts when we have a crowd over to eat.
Stations Most Kitchens Should Have
Here are some basic stations most kitchens should have…
- prep station
- cooking station
- clean-up station
- garbage disposal station
- pet feeding station
Add Warm Elements To A Kitchen
If you have countertop materials like granite, stone, quartz, or other stone-like countertops, you might want to add a bit of wood to your countertop decor! Just a little wood or wicker will add a much-needed softer, warmer element to a kitchen, especially if you have painted cabinets.
Think about adding…
- wooden trays
- wicker baskets
- breadboards
- wooden trivets
- rolling pins
Show Off Your Food
If you have the room, think about leaving cookies or biscotti standing tall in glass jars on the counter. Or, if you have baked goods, display them on a pedestal cake pedestal under a cloche.
Use Interesting Containers
Containing things on countertops is a great way to save space, decorate your kitchen countertops, and still have things at your fingertips.
Use pretty jars, pots, and containers that work with your kitchen decor!
Choose containers whose size works with the available room in your kitchen.
I hope you are inspired to clean and clear off your countertops and use them in a way that helps you be more efficient in your kitchen and enjoy a lovely aesthetic!
What kitchen counter decor ideas will you use?
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my kitchen countertops look nice without replacing them?
The easiest way to make your kitchen countertops look nice without replacing them is to paint them, use PVC countertop film, or get a kitchen countertop refinishing kit. These are the most successful ways to make countertops look new.
What is the best way to keep countertops neat?
The best way to keep kitchen countertops neat is to clean them every time you use them and put everything away.
Should I decorate my kitchen countertops?
Yes, you can and should lightly decorate your kitchen countertops to make your kitchen look and feel attractive. Just keep decor out of work areas.
Related Posts
More Kitchen Posts
Get ideas for creating a functional and attractive kitchen.
Happy Decorating, Friends!
I have actually gone so far as taking photos of my kitchen counters to see how they look and then tweeking them to my satisfaction. My husband says I’m anal, but I call it particular! Just a hint about keeping your kitchen sink clean. A relative of mine eats dinner later, sometimes around 7:00 PM, then either gets the dishwasher started later, or doesn’t start the dishwasher at all. Then the next day the kitchen sink gets dumped with dirty dishes all day. This results with a big mess when trying to cook the next night’s dinner or walking into a messy kitchen after working all day as well as not having clean dishes to use!! Why not take 10 minutes to empty that dishwasher at night so you have a clean slate the next day?
So easy! Thanks, Lyn!
I like to get into this habit too! And, I prefer to put away my dishes when they are warm (much like I like to fold my clothes out of the dryer warm – this drives me nuts at my daughter’s house with 10 baskets of clothing waiting to be folded)! However, my dishwasher has the absolute longest normal cycle EVER! It must run 4 hours! I’m nodding off to sleep when it’s in the last quarter! If I don’t put them away after that interminable cycle runs, I put them away first thing in the morning while the coffee is brewing! I’ve been trying to eat earlier…we can do that now that we’re semi-retired!
As I get older reach gets smaller so arranging the things I use most is more more essential. Like you only the essentials are truly essential.
I noticed no bread box? I have one but our bread never makes it into it. Wondering if you keep yours in your pantry or have another idea on where to keep it? I have chips and crackers in a drawer and thought about putting it in there so I can away with the bread box?
Hi Sheila, I don’t have a bread box. I keep breads and bagels in the freezer. Crackers and chips in the pantry. Hope this helps.
Your kitchen is WONDERFUL. But what about those of us who live in an older kitchen and no renovation in sight. I can see that when you redid your new kitchen you were able to think about the placement of every single thing and how to create storage. Many of us do not have such an option. I have a small 1930 kitchen which was the original part of a cottage that is my Maine home. Storage is completely inadequate. I must have my stand mixer, blender, toaster, coffee machine, compost… on the counter. I don’t know how to make that look nice. Where do you store produce that should not be refrigerated like tomatoes, citrus, bananas, avocados, potatoes, onions… these are also on my counter top in baskets… sigh. It’s nice to look at your photos and dream.
I had a small kitchen at one time too. So small I needed all the countertop space for food prep. I stored my appliances in the basement. And I did not have a toaster. I used my oven to bake toast. My daughter still does this. As you can see citrus is on the counter. Onions are on the floor of my pantry closet as well as potatoes. I don’t like avocados and bananas usually sit next to the coffee station.
There are very few things we disagree on, Yvonne, but this is one of them. I don’t understand the current obsession everyone has with keeping kitchen counters devoid of kitchen tools and then decorating the same counters with all sorts of objects. I could never imagine putting the toaster oven in a cabinet. In a kitchen with limited storage I can see no reason to try and hide the things we use everyday.
In a recent post on Facebook about light fixtures someone had the gall to tell me to clear off my countertops. While we all love beautiful kitchens I enjoy using mine but my kitchen is small and my space very limited. That means that from time to time the counters are covered from one end to the other with food, pans and items drying from being hand washed. The reality is that we all don’t have pantries and laundry rooms to absorb the messiness of daily living.
Margo, please don’t be offended. Of course, kitchens get messy with cooking. They are supposed to! And I remember the comment on THE DECORATING PANNEL, but I don’t think that person meant anything bad. You had asked a question and although a bit off-topic the commenter gave you a suggestion. Sorry, you were offended! This post is meant to help you inspire! My advice may not be your thing but it also may help others.
How do we get to The Decorator Pannel?
Hi LouAnn, search for it on Facebook. We no longer are administrators, but there is a very active community.
Hi Yvonne
Could you please give me the particulars of your countertops? And the finish?
Thank you
Lou
Hi Lou, the countertops are Quartz Calacutta Trevi, with a 3 cm beveled edge. They have a polished finished. Hope this helps.
I am new to your site and I have to say how much I love your style of decorating. Your kitchen would be my dream kitchen! I have found myself returning to neutral colors in my own home with little pops of color here and there and I really found your living room something to aspire to. Thank you for all of the tips and pictures!!
Welcome to the StoneGable family, Shauna! We are so glad you found us! Thanks for the lovely comment!
I’m with you on the less is more! I do have a large kitchen , but only keep coffee station area, crock with knives and white mixer out. The island always has flowers (right now a white artificial orchid) candle sticks for night time ambience! I can understand those with small kitchens not having places to store small appliances. I just know that even when I lived in a little apartment, smaller homes, I’m still a minimalist at heart! Thank you for your lovely post!!
One of my dear friends has a very small kitchen. You can’t believe how much she cooks and has everything streamlined! She has a table set set up in her garage with her small appliances. It’s amazingly organized!
Hi! I absolutely love everything you do!! Your kitchen is gorgeous. I do have a couple of questions. Where is you get you kitchen chairs and also, is the top of your table white washed?
Thank you
😊
Hi Kelly, Thank you so much. The chairs are from Wayfair but I don’t see them on their site anymore. The tabletop is not whitewashed. It’s a light wood.
I’ve lived in 4 homes. Our first home had very limited counter space and I felt it was so important to keep them free of appliances. They took up my prep space. I housed them in the basement. That was when I was young and did not mind running up and down the stairs!
I have nothing on my counters but my Keurig. All other appliances are in the appliance garage. All cooking utensils are in a drawer beside the cook top at easy reach. I like my counters clear and shiny. The view out the wall of windows is my decoration. I do keep a vase or pitcher of fresh flowers on the island. I live in a great room house and the kitchen can be seen from the dining & living room. When looking towards the kitchen, one only sees the lovely garden beyond with no clutter to distract. I really don’t see the sense in “decorating” or “staging” a kitchen. Having trays is a good idea for corralling the pieces that must stay out because of lack of space but if you have a big enough kitchen store it.
Another excellent post Yvonne!
There are a lot of people who don’t have the beautiful view you do Joanna. So a little bit of beauty in the kitchen is necessary for the senses!
Your kitchen is so beautiful! I have a large family and currently use two (non-matching) stainless steel bread boxes. On holds a couple loaves of bread and the other has buns wraps, etc. I’ve searched all of Pinterestdom and no one has bread boxes on their counter. What’s a girl with no pantry to do?
Do you have a drawer or cupboard shelf? You could put the breads in a basket on the self. However, if you like your bread boxes, use them!
Your kitchen is so beautiful!! Each piece compliments the other. I would be interested if you have any good air fryer recipes – I seem to be at a loss right now. Thank you.
Oh, I LOVE my Air Fryer, Barbara! I’ve had two. The first one I gave away. But my Instant Pot Vortex Plus is AMAZING!!!! I use it all the time. You can see it here:https://amzn.to/3pzavtM
Lovely ideas, Yvonne, a fresh departure from your style at Stonegable, but equally creative.
Yes, Tanglewood is a very different home.
It all looks very nice. Good ideas. I would very much like to see a picture of the drawer with the salt pig and butter dish as well as the pop-up bar and cabinets or whatever with all the glasses and gadgets needed.!
I’m finishing some organizing in my kitchen and I’ll make sure to include these elle.
I am.with you. No cluttering counter unless I am cooking. only appliance is.coffee pot! Always something seasonal and have a long stainless shelf in front of sink with large windows…perfect for herbs. orchids..etc..my mom was the same about clutter and now my daughter is too…I have a lot of counter top and think I will copy your wooden bread boards..I have some old ones of.my moms..keep posting
You are so blessed to have breadboards from your Mom!
Ah, the battle of the toaster on the countertop! I am the only one in the family that feels it needs to be put away. Seriously, I’ve considered converting my formal dining room into a huge walk-in pantry!
LOL! I know what you mean! My daughter does not have a toaster but uses her oven! The toast is delicious and crispy!
My smallish kitchen has an appliance garage to house the toaster, can opener, bread and crackers. I love it and it takes up very little space. The other thing I do is keep a large soup terrine close to the back door so hubby can drop off keys, change and all the other various items (golf tees) than accumulate in his pockets. It’s going somewhere, I might as well make it pretty. As I have view all the beautiful kitchen this week, I’m surprised at the amount of unnecessary clutter. It’s made me reevaluate what I leave out even before I read your post today. I’m going to edit a few other areas on this bitter cold day in Tulsa. It will help me stay warm.
Good for you Patty! Clutter blind is a real thing! The best way to see what our home really looks like is to take pictures and then look at them closely!
Would love to have more storage for my toaster etc.. By the way , what is a salt pig?
A salt pig is a container to keep salt for cooking in.
Hi! I just did my spice cabinet too. Like you I used all glass jars and new labels. In stead of the “stepped” organizer, I bought turntable from The Container Store (I’m short, so getting thing up front is important for me). I feel like this is a work in progress. I still need a few more jars and there are spices I just don’t use. You are so right — time and money!
Don’t you feel accomplished! Good for you!
Just beautiful. You always give me such great ideas! How tall are your ceilings and how wide is the counter where the kitchen sink is located? We may be building a retirement patio home and the builder grade kitchen will be the best I can do…..
Just wondering the difference in dimensions. Thanks!
The ceilings are 9.5 feet tall in the kitchen. I think the countertops are pretty standard. Hope this helps.
While I like the idea of moving small appliances off the counter into cabinets to reduce clutter, two of my roller drawers (in solid maple from a high end kitchen specialist) have fallen down after three years–one from canned goods (for only two of us!) and one from my crockpot. Never again. For those contemplating renovations, stationery shelving measured for height for your appliances is the way to go.
I think there are different drawer systems for heavier things you want to put on a shelf. You might want to check them out.
I place a small rimmed cookie sheet under my 4 slice toaster, and slide it in an under counter cabinet. The tray collects the crumbs and it makes it so easy to slide in and out.
Great tip, Joelle!
Yvonne — LOVE this post! Your kitchen looks immaculate! There are several items I would love to buy: the small white milk container (holding the snapdragons in front of the bread boards, the bread boards themselves 🙂 and the pitcher and small cake pedestal. Can you please share your sources? I absolutely LOVE, LOVE that small white milk container and have not been able to find one yet!!
Stay warm!
Julie
Hi Julie, I found the little milk jug vases locally. The breadboards can be seen here:https://rstyle.me/+M3-an9-xLLGsHNZfJhcZnQ, and the pitcher and cake pedestal I found at HomeGoods. Hope this helps.
In the picture of the coffee station, where did you find the two round containers?
Hi Emily, I found them locally. Sorry, I don’t have a source for you!
Love the containers so much! I just order the tray, so perfect! Would you be able to share where you got the cutting boards from?! Love your kitchen so much! Thanks for your time and sharing it with me!
I’m so glad you are enjoying StoneGable and my kitchen! Here’s the breadboards:https://rstyle.me/+u4Q-lCaf4eOWB_55G1WQ6g
Yvonne,
Even with a large kitchen I find there are times I question myself about having to many things on my counters I like to use large glass jars for my baking staples and on another counter keep dried fruit and cereals in other glass jars. We have a coffee station and coffee.and train canisters next to pot. On a large buffet I keep the cookie jar,dog biscuit canister and a jar of snack crackers. Everything is well balanced and neat and my appliances are in cabinets when not in use. Anyone who comes into my kitchen knows it is the kitchen of a cook and my grandchildren would be very disappointed if no cookie and snack jars. A seasonal vignette is created in another area on tray as you taught me and the magic of three utilized throughout the kitchen. Kitchens should be unique to their users and variety is what keeps the world interesting.
You are so right Kathy! Your kitchen sounds warm and welcoming!
This has inspired me to take another look at my countertops, and remove a few things! We use are toaster often as well. It’s functional, but not pretty. Do you have a source for the canisters, and tray that corrals them? Thanks so much Yvonne!
Hi Penny, see the white platter here:https://rstyle.me/+SA8kfotAIpdW0A1maAjgaQ. I found the containers locally.
In an open floor plan I feel it imperative to keep a clean and neat kitchen. Albeit, life does happen and the kitchen counter is the first place an armload of stuff ends up! I appreciate your suggestions and love your new kitchen. After Christmas I like to strip my counters and change what I have on them. My sweet brother installed a lift that allows me to hide my KitchenAid mixer and still have it at an easy reach. I wipe my countertops down every night so that helps me from collecting a lot of stuff.
I would love to a mixer lift! Maybe I’ll ask Bobby to install one. Thanks for the great idea!
I love the backsplash in your kitchen. What is it called iris squares of tile?
I luv your backsplash, I finally saved enough money to do mine. I’m struggling with what color would work in my kitchen. Where did you get yours?
Hi Sally, we worked with a kitchen company and we found this Calacutta Marble tile locally.
Wish i had all your cabinets to store stuff but i dont. Beautiful pull outs. I have about 1/4 of your counter top space. Maybe i just hang on to too much stuff in cupboards. Junk it!!
I agree with decluttering your countertops.My kitchen is not overly big so I’m always trying to keep it free of unnecessary items.I have a cabinet with pullout drawers and the toaster goes there !I also like a little pretty on the counter, makes me happy !
We are like-minded when it comes to our kitchens, Doreen!
Just wondering since you said the color paint for your walls is BM’s “Simply White,” and that it blends perfectly with your cabinets, what color were your cabinets painted? Beautiful kitchen. So tastefully done.
All our walls, trim and cabinetry are all Simply White. The walls are flat and don’t refect much light and the rest is semi-gloss which is light reflecting! So the colors look a bit different and always look nice together.
No wonder I identify with your posts! When we built new a couple of years ago, I went SW Pure White flat on all the walls, same color on the trim in eggshell, & had the cabinet company paint all the cabinets the same color with a light caramel glaze in the crevices. I love it. Simplify, simplify!
YES! We live in a very open home with high ceilings so it made sense to paint it white.
These are wonderful ideas, thank you so much. I always love everything you post. Totally fabulous
Please send me your post. I keep not getting them. Thanks!
Love love your backsplash in kitchen
Thank you Sandy
Where did you purchase the basket weave backsplash ? Or what brand is it ? I ve been to Lowes and Home Depot . They have one Calcutta gold but it is not the same ? Help I need asap . Thank you .
Hi, we got it from a local stone shop. It is calacutta gold. The stone on our order is called Soci SSH 270 Calacutta marble basketweave. Hope this helps. Our grout is ultra-white.
Keeping kitchen counters decluttered is a 24/7 job for me! It just never ends! In fact, The only time I feel truly gratified is after spending an entire day cleaning and organizing and then insisting on take-out for dinner! I just cannot keep up! My next DIY in there is creating a cabinet space for the trashcan and recycle bin.
I see you found the blue print cups for the canisters. Ha! Ha!
The white is beautiful!
You always give me such great ideas. We’re in the beginning stages of planning to remodel our kitchen and I wondered about your sink and faucet. What is the sink made of? It looks like the faucet is one that has a sensor to turn on the water. If that’s the case, how do you like it? Thanks!
Hi Sandy, the sink is a composite sink from Blanco. A composite sink is a joy! It’s made of ground granite and other materials. It does not stain and is antibacterial. The faucet does have a sensor. I love it! When I am cooking and have messy hands I just wave a hand in front of it or on the top and get water. Hope this helps.
I have been following your blog for a longtime now, and just yesterday, I really noticed your kitchen sink. You said that it doesn’t stain, even to coffee? Also, do you have a problem with the sink scratching at all? What do you use clean it?
Mostly I clean it with a dishcloth and dish detergent.
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for your lovely posts. I always find them helpful and inspirational! Your kitchen countertops are beautiful! Can you send me a link for them or tell me where you purchased? How do you like them? My husband & I are starting a kitchen remodel soon out here in California.
Thank you so much!
Treva Del Bene
Hi Treva, our contractor got them from a local company. They are quartz and called “Ultra White”. Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing this, Yvonne.
These are some amazing ideas you shared here. It will be very helpful.
You are so welcome!
Your clutter-free counters have inspired me. I’m was intrigued by your storing butter in a drawer. Could you provide some more information about what you use fir storage and the lack of refrigeration?
Thank you
I have never put my butter in the frig. We go through it pretty fast and I don’t like spreading hard butter from the frig. I have a drawer next to my stove and the butter dish with its lid fit perfectly in there. Hope this helps.
Where did you get the lovely wooden tray?
The white wooden tray can be found here:https://rstyle.me/+qHB_kinypIchzmQUo-l_1w
Do have recommendations for organizing a kids station? Snacks homework etc. ?
Keep all kiddo’s things together in a basket or bin and bring them out when needed. And refrigerated items kids can eat on a low shelf.
Where do you put your bread? It seams like it’s out everyday, sandwiches, cheeses, toast, etc
Great question, Diana. I have a drawer just under the area I prepare food. Breads, cookies, and other perishables like that are convenient when we need them.
Love your kitchen! You always have many great ideas! Where did you get the pots for your plants that you have in your kitchen?
Hi Linda. Thank you for your lovely comment. Sorry, I don’t have a source for the pots. I found them locally!
Thanks so much this was great. I am a clutterer but I’m getting a new kitchen, this post was just in time!
Enjoy your new kitchen, Susan! How exciting!
I’m new to your site and loving it! Thank you
Wondering where your trays on counters are from Thank you
Welcome to StoneGable Christine!
Here is the lacquered tray:https://rstyle.me/+lEJVWVxNdCanpF7_uAmGyw and the tray holding the coffee is a platter from West Elm but I don’t see it on their site right now. The wooden tray came from a local shop.
Good morning Yvonne!
I would love to see your husbands pop up bar at work!
What a great idea! Next time we have family or guests over I’ll do a little post about his pop-up bar!
Could you please tell me where you purchased the kitchen canister set? Its beautiful.
Hi Caroline, you can see the canister set here:https://rstyle.me/+OIj2A0La_1TaDoUuhpnzYw
Thank you for these tips! With these updates, I’ve been trying to find a way to decorate my kitchen and counters without it looking too cluttered. I just ordered a wood tray and a breadboard, and I can’t wait to get them and decorate with some spring flowers as well!
Yvonne,
I’m laying in bed on a very early Sunday morning reading every single word about your kitchen remodel, and inspired by the photos. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed an article as much as yours. Thank you for sharing every detail. It’s perfection! You’ve become my favorite designer to read daily. Love your inspirational words, as I too am a Christian. Keep up the amazing work. Blessings,
Bev
I love your kitchen and I’m in the process of remodeling mine. Can you please tell me about your backsplash? What is the name and color of it?
The backsplash is called Calacutta marble in a basketweave pattern. You can see it here:https://rstyle.me/n/fuqy4ab6by7
I love your grey and white canisters that are in front of the cutting boards. Can you tell me where you purchased them?
Here you go Vanessa:https://rstyle.me/+OIj2A0La_1TaDoUuhpnzYw
I love the canisters in the coffee station. where did you get those? thanks
Hi Kristen, I don’t see the tall one anymore, but here are a set of 6 floral canisters with wooden tops:https://rstyle.me/+Y7i4MHMNjXIya7K2XnrLfQ
What is the plant in the first photo?? Looks kind of like an olive branch with orange in it.
I’m not sure. It was already planted in our yard when we moved in. Sorry I can’t help more.
Your kitchen is beautiful! Thank you for sharing so many great tips! Would you mind sourcing where you got the extra large, white cookie jar with the wood lid? Thanks in advance!
Hi Shelley, I found this canister at a local shop. I look to see if I can source it but with no luck. Sorry.
Beautiful and inspirational.
My toaster oven is out all the time it’s used all the time – some appliances live in my laundry room – like my bread maker and that’s where I use it. Bread stays in my microwave ?.
What color is your olive oil container as there are 3 blues but yours is perfect.
Thanks
Thanks, Emily! I’m not sure which one. When I bought it it was the only blue.
I love your blog!
I moved to a planned community (from NH to MD) two years ago that has all-ages and 55+ neighborhoods. I love it! I have a beautiful white kitchen with lots of counter space, a pantry closet and pull out shelves inside the cabinets. And my sink (and dishwasher) are in the 8 foot island. My husband is in charge of emptying the dishwasher every morning while the coffee is brewing. He brings me a cup in bed every morning now that we’re both retired.
I am truly blessed!
I too like stations with items corralled but I’m a bit of a grandma-millennial so I like using a mix of vintage and new pieces. My stove top cooking utensils live in a vintage silver champagne bucket, the 3 canisters that live on my countertop (flour, sugar and tea) are white Mother of Pearl, with a beautiful vintage hand pound aluminum tray standing against the wall as their background. My toaster oven does live at one end of my counter but I have a lovely hand made serving piece that sits on top and pretties it up a bit. And at the opposite end of the kitchen, close to the fridge lives my trusty Vitamix for morning smoothies and all sorts of cooking assistance. Everything else small appliance wise lives in the pantry closet.
I too love bringing in fresh flowers, herbs, greenery and berries from our yard to enjoy on our island. Right now I have cuttings from my Pothos rooting in a vase by the sink. Sometimes I will add a few flowers to my cuttings when available. That looks great and friendly on the budget when you’re bringing in from your garden or buying just a few stems.
My next project is to figure out how best to store my spices because I’m short and getting the step stool out of the pantry closet every time I want something on the second or third shelf is getting old. I currently have everything set up alphabetically in vertical rows. Yes, I use all of these spices and go through them regularly to weed out anything old.
Wow! Paulette you are my kitchen hero! Your kitchen sounds like the kind of place I would be so happy in! I LOVE your creativity and the way you infuse your kitchen with your personality.Thanks for sharing.
Paulette, you can get spice inserts for a drawer. They lay at an angle so you can clearly see them. I put mine in alphabetically.
I would love to have them too, but don’t have a long drawer near my cooking and baking station.
This is a great article I really needed to see this. My counters are a bit cluttered right now ? and a change is needed. It’s been on my mind to declutter and this was the push I needed! Got to pick up a few things, a reason to shop.
Hi Ida! I’m so glad. When your countertops are less cluttered it is freeing!
Thanks Yvonne. Perfect timing as we are about to move into our next home and they tips are just what I need. I plan to add a bit of copper for warmth like a copper soup ladle and a copper tea kettle.
Congratulations on moving into a new home, Lynette. Copper sounds like such a pretty choice.
Great ideas. Your kitchen is beautiful.
Yvonne,
I just LOVE your kitchen! Your ideas excite me as my hubby and I continue to search for that right-size home.
Hi June, how sweet of you! Best wishes for finding that next forever home.
Where and how do you organize your pet feeding station in the kitchen?
Hi Beth, we are down to one cat. So I put his dry food in a large plastic cereal container in our pantry. He eats in our kitchen next to the banquette.
My cat is a messy eater – he’ll only eat canned food. He eats with his left paw and then shakes the left-overs off to spatter everything around him. He is relegated to a cube in my office. Too messy for the kitchen. LOL. The two dogs are dry food only. My 42 lb rescue eats a lot so I have a container on wheels. Just don’t know where to store it so it is both convenient and not an eye sore! I have a very small kitchen. any suggestions?
This is about countertops. The home remodel TV shows make it seem like you are a second class citizen if you don’t choose quartz or granite countertops. Hang your head in shame if you even mention”laminate”!! This time around for the new kitchen we installed in our 1959 home, we chose upgraded laminate. Quartz was going to be $3,000 more for our little kitchen. I thought I just had to have a farmhouse sink and you need quartz or granite for this. I found another sink I liked which I just love now and always use a cutting board. We have built several houses and done a lot of remodeling, but I just love our little house.
Hi, you said something in your comment that everyone should do- do what you love!
Thank you for all your beautiful decorating tips Yvonne! I have a small kitchen & agree with you on only keeping the essentials I use everyday on the countertop. One of those is the coffee maker. Would you tell me where you got yours? I love the clean lines!
I love this newer version of a Keurig! See it here:https://amzn.to/3SbeL4v
Hi,
Beautiful kitchen!!
Can you tell me where the large farmhouse vase is from ?
Thank you,
Holly
Hi Holly, I found this vase locally and can’t find a source. Sorry
Hi!
I noticed that you have your knives in a crock. Is it special for knives? I have my knives in one of those blocks and I hate the way it looks.
Love your blog!
Michelle
Hi Michelle, inside the crock is a kapoosh. Check it out. I love having my knives right where I need them. See the kapoosh here:https://rstyle.me/+0xQt53XKQIfzVThmxrWTVg
This is such a timely post for me to read as we’re about to replace our kitchen cabinets and countertop. If our current sink can’t be removed from the existing countertop, we’ll need to get a new sink as well. I noticed your sink’s divider is lower than the sides. I know the purpose is to make it easier to wash larger pans/cookie sheets. How do you like that? Are you still able to get deep- enough water in the “washing sink”?
I’ll keep all your suggestions in mind as I reorganize our cabinets and drawers. One of the things I’m most excited about is that we’re adding a new counter and cabinet section. I have a vintage card catalog with 15 long drawers and I plan to put it on the countertop to use as a spice cabinet. The spice bottles will perfectly fit into the drawers. I can use any extra drawers for long utensils. As a retired librarian, this is something I’ve hoped to be able to do for years but our kitchen was never configurated to make this possible.
Thanks for all the inspiration and ideas you offer.
The new kitchen you are planning sounds wonderful! We do like our sink. We have never had a problem washing anything. It’s not a farmhouse sink but a more updated version. Have fun with your kitchen remodel.
I recently purchased something on Amazon that I thought was ingenious and I thought I’d share here. My daughter had nowhere to place her coffee maker that wasn’t under an upper cabinet. We were moving it all the time to prepare coffee. I found a bamboo tray that slides out from under the cabinet. You can make your coffee, the steam won’t touch/damage the cabinets, then slide it back under when your coffee is done and everyone has poured a cup! The name is ANBOXIT. I’m NOT an online shopper but these were nowhere to be found in brick and mortar stores. I read EVERY review and this was the best one. It has not disappointed! I’m going to buy one for my home.
Love this! I have a question re the knives in the crock. How are they secure in there? I’m moving to a condo and have them in a drawer now but will need to put on counter.
Your kitchen (and home) always looks lovely! Can you please share where you found the large wire wrapped vase on your island? Thank you for always inspiring us!
Hi Debbie, I found this big container at a local shop. Sorry, I can’t find a source online for you.
How do you like your Blanco kitchen sink? It’s granite right? Do you have trouble with it staining and scratching? How long have you had it? Is your the Truffle color? I am getting ready to redo my kitchen this fall and I noticed your kitchen sink today and liked the double farmhouse sink style, so I was interested in your comments on how you like it and/or what you don’t like about it.
I love my Blanco Truffle sink. It is a granite and acrylic resin sink. The can handle pots and pan that have had boiling liquid in them. Mine has never scratched and these sinks have antibacterial properties. I love my sink! I clean it with a dishcloth and dish detergent daily and wipe it dry with a towel. You can use a non abrasive cleanser like, barkeepers friend on them. I’ve had a single farmhouse sink and this double one. I’m not bathing babies in a sink any longer, so I really love the double sink. Hope this helps. Here’s my sink; https://rstyle.me/+VN58jYu00977YvaqSpXNnA