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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Silver in the Kitchen

Silver Where? 
I'm a nut for anything silver in the kitchen.
I'd love to have some stainless appliances. 
I go back and forth between white and stainless
I like white because it's so traditional but then stainless looks so good and shiny.

Ideally, I'd have a vintage stove but if I can't have that, a big stainless one will do.
But I absolutely hate black appliances. Loath...disdain.
I think I'd rather have harvest gold. (ok maybe not, but almost)
I try to make my black appliances a little more appealing by mixing in lots of white and silver.
And many of my favorite kitchens that I've pinned have lots of silver accents too.
now famous because of Country Living
Loving that white and silver stove and the mirror behind the stove.
I tried a great antique mirror behind mine but it just reflected the ugly black stove top too much.
That stainless range is really the focal point of this kitchen. 
Marble topped kitchen table is not too shabby either. Or rather it IS very shabby but in a good way.
A whole tray of silver on the countertop.
See, it can't be over done.
I sure could so go for this salvaged silver kitchen island.
Another silver tray behind the stove.
 (dear silver kettle....I must have you)
And yes, I have a silver tray in my own kitchen...but it is not a very nice one.
I often leave silver cook pots out on display. 
I'm trying to cover as much of that black stove top as possible.
This little silver tray was better than nothing but I really wanted a larger and better one.
A couple of weeks ago, I found this one on Ebay at the right price.
I'd been bidding on auctions for silver trays all spring and summer and finally I won one for 
just under $20! And its big! I searched specifying large silver tray.
These are the auction photos and obviously it's tarnished.
It was delivered on Saturday and I'll show it to you in all it's glory all polished up and behind my stove tomorrow...
provided I find silver polish today.

Anyone have a good recommendation for silver polish?

This thing is soooo heavy. 
I'm super happy...yes there were others I bid on that I liked more...
but they also ended at like $150...so this one will do just fine.

38 comments:

DearHelenHartman said...

So shiny! So pretty! Love the silver and white mix, shabby elegance.

Katie @ Wildwood Creek said...

Thank you for featuring my campaign dresser, Nita! I love all the inspiration I get from your blog.

Charlotte said...

Nita -- the heck with the tea kettle, I'll take that stainless steel stove. I love all the illustrations.

the gardener's cottage said...

that marble topped table on casters makes me weak.

xo

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

What a bargain, Nita. I love it and the size is great. I am looking for a large one without the huge price tag, too. Great kitchen photos to be inspired by. I tried Carbona Silver wipes this year and love them. Just pull out a premoistened wipe and wipe all over. Works great and smells good.

Unknown said...

Great find Nita, love all the photos

Amy Chalmers said...

Love those kitchens Nita, something in every single one that looks good. Your kitchen is looking great these days too, I love the hydrangeas nestled among the silver. Looks like fall is coming...I'm not ready for it yet. WE have to find you some baby food jars or something you can use for your spices...the red tops stick out!

Patti said...

Hi Nita,
I'm a silver junkie, too. It's just so darn pretty. Good score on the tray. Amy's idea of baby food jars for spices is brilliant.

Sunny Simple Life said...

Wrights is the best polish I have found. My mother in law who has two break fronts full of sterling swears by the stuff.

Teresa said...

I love a little "bling" in the kitchen too.
Great photos- thanks
Have a wonderful day

Anonymous said...

Great kitchens and I just adore that salvaged kitchen island....the silver tray you bought is gorgeous! Xoxoxo

Debra@CommonGround said...

Love the silver accents. I really love the black in small doses. I think it looks really elegant. I had a lemon stainless steel dishwasher installed and when it broke the first day, I opted for a black one instead. the stainless just didn't do it for me. Love black accents in a white kitchen.
xoxo Debra

René said...

Ooh that silver island! Congratulations on the lovely tray Nita. Sometimes I use baking soda if the tarnish is heavy.

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

LOVE LOVE silver! And your kitchen is beautiful! I got a huge silver tray at an estate sale Saturday for $10! I was beyond excited!! I got a BIG aluminum roasting pan, bring water to a boil and pour it in the pan...add salt and baking soda and dip the tray into it. My tray was too bib for my pan, so I had to rotate it around and to get the middle of the tray, I poured some of the liquid in the tray, then laid a piece of aliminum foil on it...worked like a charm!!

Good luck and can't wait to see it in your kitchen!

Lou Cinda :)

Carrie @ Hazardous Design said...

I agree, silver just looks so beautiful and classic in a kitchen. Especially a white kitchen. Unfortunately, I have to live with ugly black and harvest gold appliances until we someday remodel :(

Cindy said...

That's a gorgeous silver tray! Your kitchen is very pretty now that you have fixed the back splash, I think. More silver is definitely a good idea at any time, though.
The images you have shown are beautiful, too.
Hugs,Cindy

Cindi Myers said...

OK, you KNOW that I'm addicted to white and BLACK. But I have to agree that it was to be "touches" of black. I was going to try to repaint my frig with chalkboard paint but I got freaked out and stopped. Instead I got some of those tiny little paint jars they use to paint model cars to touch it up!
I love your "kitchens"!
I haven't done my backsplash with subway tile yet and now I'm torn. Maybe I should use a mirror or something silver or....
Thanks ALOT Nita!
LOL! Love ya! - Cindi

mariondee-designs said...

I also have pops of silver here and there, so I really enjoyed this post and all the pics. I also have 2 silver sconces in my dining area. Your kitchen looks great! take care, Maryann

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I love silver any where and in this kitchens is no exception!! Just beautiful, I love the trays, next time I do something in the kitchen I will make it with a silver tray! Thanks sharing these, Nita. Hugs, FABBY

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Love all of this...I am in total agreement, silver looks good anywhere and it's sparkle adds elegance to a kitchen. Like the idea of displaying a silver tray in this fashion.

Olive said...

Love those trays mounted on the wall. How pray tell do you hang them? We have a massive stainless steel frig at the old house and I polish it with baby oil. The down side to the finish is the finger prints!

Michelle said...

I've been wanting to hang something behind my kitchen stove. And love that tray. Such a great idea! That teakettle is a Windsor Teakettle, made in England. I think Williams Sonoma still sells them. I bought one years ago when I had a gift card and they were still "somewhat" cheap - below $100 - now I think they sell for around $129. But I absolutely love mine and have used it everyday for 10 years. I always enjoy your posts.

Sharon Lee Johnson said...

I am a huge fan of silver and have been collecting it for years. Most of it is displayed in my kitchen. I love these pictures you've shown us and am looking forward to seeing your new silver tray. x Sharon

suzieQ said...

Oh, so early in the morning to have kitchen envy. Each and every one of those kitchens has something that caught my eye; I just love kitchens! Sorry you hate your black stove, I do love black and white myself.
I used Wright's polish for years but recently have been using Maas. I like that it is a cream and I do think the shine lasts longer. However, those mixes that people prepare with the aluminum foil and baking soda (senior moment, can't remember ingredient) do save you the work of the initial polishing.

Marianne said...

Hi, Nita. I just "discovered" you at Cottage and Vine. What a beautiful home you have!

Anonymous said...

Silver tea kettle is from Williams Sonoma. I have the same one and love it. Easy way to polish silver is to put foil all over bottom and sides of your kitchen sink put a couple scoops of tide crystals in sink fill with super hot water and fill with your silver. Make sure it is submerged and you can do several pieces at once. Wait about 20 minutes and voila, all the tarnish comes off onto foil. Just dry with a towel.

Stacey said...

Wow all of your inspiration pictures are so pretty. I have a silver service that was inherited. Maybe I should polish her up.

College Essays said...

I love your heart. Thanks for continuing to inspire me to do something.

Carrie said...

Oh... if only we had $75K to make our dream kitchen ;) I hear you with the stainless steel... it's gorgeous! I have a black topped stainless steel stove and I dislike the black top, too. The mirror behind the stove is such a neat idea... how did they pull that off?!? Your tray is gorgeous... can't wait to see how it all turns out :)

Cindy said...

After reading this I went through my kitchen and put silver out, I love it so much better with more silver showing.
Hugs, Cindy

Ann at the Handley Bungalow said...

I'm with Cindy - I'm going to pull some of my silver out and display it! I never realized how pretty it could be. I agree about the black stove. I have one too. Ick. One of these days I'm going to get my kitchen remodeled but until then, I'll try to brighten things up with silver! Your ideas are great.

The enchanted home said...

I am a bit of a silver fanatic, I own more trays than I really need and bowls, and small silver pitchers, its a bit of a fetish!
Love silver and I feel it looks great anywhere and really does add a touch of elegance to wherever its placed, case in point in this post and all the stunning pictures! Jennifer Rizzos kitchen is stunning and I love green apples as an accent, really pops! I am bookmarking this post, Nita...nice work!

Unknown said...

What gorgeous kitchens with all that white and silver. I saw a number of silver trays behind the stove. I might have to try that, I was on a tray buy craze this summer so I have a few to choose from.
Traci

kelly@tearinguphouses said...

salvaged kitchen island... yes!

NanaDiana said...

Hi Nita- You don't know me at all but I am your newest follower. Amy at Maison Decor posted about your little Newman..and I just want you to know how my heart aches for you. I hope it is alright to leave this here...if you don't want others to know you can delete it! Hugs-Diana

Cindy said...

Hi Nita,

Amy told us that your sweet Newman died. I am so sorry for your loss. Just because he is a dog doesn't mean he isn't a person. There is a book called "doggie heaven"... It tells all about where our beloved doggies go when they die and wait for their humans... It's a place with green meadows to run in, and children to scratch behind your ears, and lots of doggie treats, and wonderful places to pee. Newman has a spirit just like you and me... and he will surely be waiting for you to join him someday.. he will be there like all your loved ones will, because you love him so...

Cindy

Anonymous said...

Hi Nita,
I have just popped over from Amy's to send you some love and to say how sorry i am at the passing of your fur baby...some people call dogs 'pets' but mine are my children and i fully understand how broken your heart will be right now,
I am so sorry for your loss,
You will be in my prayers today xxx

Teresa@1800 Farmhouse Rd said...

I also popped over from Amy's to say how sorry I am for your loss. I know from having my own pets (babies) that there is nothing that can be said to ease the pain right now. Just wanted to say that I am thinking about you.