Delicious Kitchen Details

Clever ideas give this cooking space a taste of country charm.

"The best recipes never remain a secret for long. Copy the flavorful fun of this Fredericksburg, Texas, kitchen for a color palette that's sure to please your decorating palate.

A Dollop of Cream

When Bill and Cherilynn Eggleston bought their home three years ago, it was still being built and the kitchen wasn't finished. It was a lucky break for Cherilynn, who wanted to inject personality into her favorite room. "I wanted it to have an element of country but still be modern and clean," Cherilynn says. Green glass knobs adorn the upper doors, and sleek metal handles (made for garage doors) give the sage green bottom cabinets a slight industrial edge. And nothing says cottage like a beaded-board backsplash.

The case for Style

Give your barstools the slip. Vintage linen pillowcases come out of the bedroom to serve a new purpose. On each pillowcase, Cherilynn sewed on a toile tie that fastens with a button on the back.

Cherilynn chose 100-year-old longleaf pine salvaged from old farm homes, barns, and buildings for the countertops. A commercial sealant protects the surface. The countertops can be wiped down with warm, soapy water. While nicks and scratches can easily be sanded down and the surface resealed, Cherilynn prefers the well-worn look. "Any little nick gives them character. It shows how much I love my kitchen," she says. "I live in here. Cooking for my family is my joy." -AMY BICKERS MERCER

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2007
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