While we wait for our primed and painted open shelves to dry (ahhh, tomorrow is H-Day, aka: haaaanging day!) we realized that we’ve been waaaaay overdue for a budget blooms post. Remember when we used to do them every month? Yeah, we fell off. Oops. And a few of you have actually requested them, which is just what the doctor ordered since book chaos + kitchen chaos = a hankering for a sliver of beauty in a completely trashed house like ours. Seriously, it looks crazier than it did the day we moved in. Bed in the living room? Check. Painting and repainting a five foot swatch of wall in the playroom different colors every few days? Check. Photography equipment filling up our dining room? Check. But six bucks at the grocery store later, and I had me these beauties – and a small slice of gorgeousness in this crazy house full of people, projects, and other miscellaneous craziness.
I love this vase from Crate & Barrel (a gift from John’s older sister for my birthday a few years back) and it looks especially good with floppy flowers sort of splayed out around the wiggly perimeter.
And I love the two-tone tulip action going on. The prettiest color combinations are always found in nature, huh? Buttery yellow + poppy reddish pink + fresh green = yes please.
I like how they’re leaning out like they’re growing towards the sun in our natural-light-less kitchen. Oh the irony. These guys have actually been alive a few days now, so I guess they only need water but not too much sun (since they have yet to fall to pieces). Whew.
Oh and just for fun, I played around with them in another vase. Well, I guess it’s not really a vase (it’s a seeded glass hurricane meant for a candle that I grabbed at HomeGoods a few years back). Just as pretty, huh? Oh and I got us a kitchen radio on clearance from Joss and Main about a month ago (and we finally plugged it in after staring at it on the counter for a while). Let me tell you, it’s novel. We’ve actually never had a radio in the kitchen but since we log so much hangout time at the peninsula these days (doing blog stuff/book stuff/projects/eating) we thought it would be nice. And it is. Especially with pretty tulips next to it.
The hilarity of this photo is that if I were allowed to share behind-the-scenes book pics, the next photo would be what you see if you swing the camera about six inches to the right. A shot of our monstrous dining table that sits just beyond this half-wall and is completely full of lamps/ceramic things/paint cans/fabric/baskets/bottles/books/frames/etc. Seriously, you can’t even see the tabletop anymore. So when I say there’s a sliver of beauty in our completely trashed house, I really do mean it. And the juxtaposition is hysterically funny to us. So just know that the over-sharer in me is dying to slather chaos pics all over this end of this post to balance the sweet charming “moments” in the kitchen. Oh well, when the book is out we’re allowed to share it all, so we’re counting down the months.
Anyway, back to the kitchen and our little budget blooms. I now firmly believe that every kitchen is made better by three things: flowers, a radio, and a white ceramic tea kettle (of course). Closely followed by a giant ceramic rooster. And a wall full of penny tile doesn’t hurt either. Have you guys been buying flowers or other greenery lately? Have you played around with a few different vases just for fun? Do you have a kitchen radio? Do you even listen to the radio anymore? Oh and what are three things that you think makes any kitchen better?
Psst- Check out a whole mess of Budget Bloom posts from over the last few years here.
Evelyn says
Hey guys!
Quick question: Have you purchased the prime lens for your Nikon D3000, and are these photos taken with that lens? I also have the D3000 and was wondering what kind of equipment you’ve added to your DSLR. Not sure if I’ve missed an “equipment” post since the last time you revealed your new camera. Thanks! I think you guys are awesome :)
Evelyn
YoungHouseLove says
We use our stock lens 99% of the time (including for these pics) but also got a Nifty Fifty that we use to shoot Clara sometimes (she moves so fast it’s easier than the other lens).
xo,
s
Whitney Dupuis says
Love the flowers! They are so pretty!
Ok, so the 3 things that I think make any kitchen better are:
1. A true pantry. We only sort of have one and now I am totally envious of any kitchen that I see that actually has one.
2. Color. I like a white kitchen. It just screams clean. However, I want pops of color – either from art, fabric, flowers, or fruits.
3. A chef. I HATE to cook. I don’t do it if I can possibly get around it. The perfect kitchen to me would come with either a self-cooking oven or a chef to do the dirty work.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it. Haha. This is fun.
xo,
s
Regan @ RenovatingRothenbergers says
flowers definitely make every room better! :)
Beth says
I love listening to the radio on the weekends. I’m a public radio junkie, and there is something soothing about radio programming versus an iPod playlist. That radio is just to die for, too. Clean and cheery!
Leslie says
I could not live without a kitchen radio because I spend the most valuable hours of my day there (cooking, not blogging!). This post has inspired me to run to the store and snag some tulips of my own. Why wait for VDay?
sarah says
i just decided that we need an under the counter cd/radio in the kitchen…..would be nice for little guy to hear his kindermusik cd while i cook away.
Stacey says
I became a loyal (daily) reader in November and 10:00am and 3:00pm have religiously become my coffee + YHL breaks at work! Thank you so much for sharing with us! Meanwhile, I love all your links to prior posts because it’s like discovering new gems. I’ve noticed hard cover design books all over your house. What are your favorites?
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, good question! I think my recent faves are the Design Sponge book, the Decorate book, and a book called Undecorate. Haha. They’re funny together and all full of inspiration!
xo,
s
Sharon says
Very cutesy, and we sure could use some spring around here! Fresh flowers add cheer for me all the time. I am a hand.wash.the.dishes girl, so a radio is also a must. Right now my under-the-counter radio is sitting on top of the fridge. Working on our own island/peninsula so we can hang out too!FYI you can make the jars seal a bit better with some clear silicone caulk where the lid meets the jar, not that you need it, but thought someone else could use the tip :o)
Bethany says
Pretty flowers!
Shannon says
How funny. I was just thinking about your budget blooms series this morning while wishing I had some spring flowers to match our spring like weather in Seattle. Must be in the air. :)
Lily says
I have been buying tulips at our grocery store for a few weeks now and putting them in our kitchen by the sink for a pick me up during kitchen chores…Bleh. The grocery store puts them on sale if one of the flowers blooms too early or is damaged. $1.50 for 6 stems… I’ll take them all.
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says
Just picked up two bunches of tulips to give to my girls after their school concert tonight! Hope they will keep them in the kitchen – and not in their rooms!! We put a sound system throughout the house so we have speakers in our kitchen – they rock! I don’t drink tea – so no teapot for me. And, I have the same penny tiles in my girls bathroom – on the floor and part of their shower wall. I love them!! Love tiles going up to the ceiling – did the same in my kitchen.
Kelly
Sami says
3 things I think make any kitchen better…. a chalkboard to write lists and menus and love notes, a bowl/basket full of fresh fruit, AND music so you dance around the kitchen while doing the dishes or cooking.
Krista Lee says
So weird! I just bought the same exact tulips for $6.99 two days ago :) Your vase is pretty, I opted for a hammered metal shaker-turned-makeshift-vase for mine.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds so pretty!
xo,
s
Libby says
If you put a few pennies at the bottom of the vase, the tulips will stay straight and not fall over :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip!
xo
s
Zoe says
Where did you get that ceramic apple? I have been searching for white ceramic pears for months!!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I think that was from TJ Maxx or HomeGoods a while back?
xo,
s
Rosemary says
I love the radio! There’s nothing better than listening to the radio while doing dishes (if the dishes need to be done). And Tivolis are the best – so simple and timeless. Enjoy!
Rosemary
Kelly says
Love this! It’s amazing what fresh flowers can do to a room and a mood! Sherry, I love the “overshares” (not that I think you actually overshare). You can always take a break from calling yourself $her-dog and switch it up to Over-Sherry (overshare-y). Get it? Ah, I’m a dork.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha. It’s perfectly fitting.
xo,
s
Kate says
You guys seem to be buying a lot from Joss and Main lately, yet you all are very frugal (as am I) and I assume you think through your purchases. How do you navigate buying when you have such a short time to purchace and make decisions?
YoungHouseLove says
We have a few rules: 1) do we have a definite spot in mind (buying things because they’re cute but not knowing where to store/use them is odd, so we knew we wanted a kitchen radio and kept an eye out for a while), 2) do we both agree on it (we have a Full Agreement Agreement, which means we both have to “approve” of a purchase before it’s made so no one resents anything in our house), 3) do we have the money in the bank (we don’t buy things we can’t pay for in cash, so we usually look at the bank account and make sure we have saved money in other ways that make the purchase make sense for us – that way we can pay off our credit card as soon as it comes).
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Denise says
Tulips are one of my favorite types of flowers. Love, love, love seeing them! I’m ready for spring!
Bridget says
I can’t believe you guys have that radio! I just pinned it to my “wish list” board (in all white)!! I wish I could find it on sale too. I’m in love! You’re so 2012…lol
Georgia says
We have a kitchen stereo system”. I like to listen to the radio making school lunches in the morning and hubby and i both like to crank the tunes when we cook…we have different tastes in music though, so we can each plug in our own ipods. One reason why i will always have to have a separate kitchen with door- he likes heavy metal and is a really good cook!
Jennifer A says
Tulips remind me of my Mum…. they are her fav. and she loves them MORE when they droop!
Three things for my kitchen must haves; A chair for chatting while cooking (or standing on for tall cupboards)a coffee pot and a dog bed! My Pooch would be lost without his kitchen crate.
Stopping for tulips on my way home!
Jordan says
I just decided last week that I am going to start treating myself to fresh flowers each week. Seriously that 5 bucks adds such a tremendous deal of cheer to the house! Love the tulips too!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
I completely need to do this in my house. I need some cheer and Tulips would do the trick. Love the tip about the penny at the bottom. I will have to try that one.
And you are such a tease with the book and picturs you can’t show us for months. ;P I can’t wait to see the behind the pictures when you are “aloud” to. Shoot, I can’t wait to read your book. :)
Ivey says
If you want your tulips to stand up a little straighter, I’ve heard putting a copper penny in the bottom of the vase will do the trick. I’ve also heard vodka, but why waste it? Not sure what year pennies stopped being copper….
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tulip tips everyone!
xo,
s
Megan says
I buy flowers from the grocery store every single week. I agree that it makes a world of difference in a home!
Good luck hanging your shelves! Can’t wait to see them up!
Heather M says
Our florist just told us about the penny in the vase trick for tulips too and it’s amazing, it works really well. But it does have to be an old penny because I guess they don’t make pennies out of copper anymore and it has to be copper.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s too funny!
xo,
s
maribel says
Totally off topic…I’m redoing my bedroom (by that I mean paint, curtains, new plants, gallery style wall…one day I would like to add molding along the ceiling ). My room is an add-on ( i like to call it a “bootleg add-on”) It has cheesy baseboards and outlets were placed in odd places. I want to get rid of an outlet that is floating in the middle of one wall, do I need to have an electrician do anything or can DIY remove it myself and cover it up with that sticky patch stuff you talked about last week… hoping you might know
YoungHouseLove says
Oh I would definitely have an electrician terminate the power to that outlet since covering it up is dangerous without doing that (later someone could hammer or drill into the wall not knowing a wire is back there and get electrocuted).
xo,
s
Andrea Melberg Thompson says
Somebody probably aleady said this, but tulips will grow in the vase. Cut off the stems and they will last longer. Also throw a few pennies in the vase, and that will prolong life too.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tips!
xo,
s
Elisa says
Deez pictures are purty.
Kim says
1. children/family, 2. fresh coffee brewing 3. camellias in a bowl
Melissa says
I definitely have a kitchen radio/iPhone docking station! What’s better than singing and dancing to the most random Pandora station (with the dog) while cooking dinner? I just hope the neighbors aren’t spying on me through the windows. :)
Can’t wait for the book – I know it will be amazing!!
Elise says
I absolutely LOVE listening to the radio (or podcasts!) when I’m doing things around the house. I managed to land that adorable West Elm ceramic pig speaker for Christmas, and it’s basically been following me from room to room. Seriously, I could make him his own blog like the Travelocity gnome!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo,
s
Amanda K says
I got budget tulips, too: http://www.thekriegers.org/post/16590264859/if-we-had-no-winter-the-spring-would-not-be-so
Such a nice burst of spring!
YoungHouseLove says
Those are so pretty! They look like a painting!
xo,
s
Maggie says
I like how the cheerios and the penny tile are a match made in heaven :) what style!
alg at rental house rules says
Three things that make any kitchen better? Storage, storage & storage! Ha ha :)
Three things that make the Petersik kitchen better: hard work, patience & a positive attitude. You guys rock. It’s really starting to come together! Keep up the good work :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha thanks Alg!
xo,
s
Kristi says
I LOVE fresh flowers…unfortunately they are not in the budget for me right now, so I’ll just stare at yours! I do have an amerylis that I got for Chrsitmas that is just about to bloom so I’ll be enjoying that!
Three things that make a kitchen –
1-Definitely music – we currently have an ipod docking station in our kitchen. I like to bake a lot and listen to music every time!
2-Holiday themed/seasonally colored kitchen towels. I am always switching out our hand towels. Right now I’ve got white towels with pink and red hearts.
3-And the last I’d say is probably a baked good (see #1.) Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, etc. I have a cake platter/stand with a cover and there is always something yummy inside. If there isn’t, there is always a fruit basket filled with seasonal fruit! Yummy and a great way to introduce pops of color!
Also, just wanted to say – I’m SOOO excited to see those shelves go up in the kitchen!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kristi! We can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m totally going to bound out of bed!
xo,
s
linda says
pretty!
our fridge has pandora (and the weather twitter, epicurious, picasa, AP news, as well as digital postie notes and google calendar!) the only thing it doesn’t do is give back rubs! lol!
can’t wait to see the shelves tomorrow!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s what I need. Something in the kitchen that gives me back rubs…
xo,
s
Heather V. says
That bouquet is gorgeous! We used the same flowers to “stage” our dining table when we sold our house a few years back and I really believe it made a big difference.
I don’t often buy or receive flowers, but my brother, who is the toughest and most “manly” out of my three brothers, had a beautiful bouquet sent to me the other day “just because”! It brought tears to my eyes and it’s something I’ll remember for a long, long time.
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet! What a lucky sister you are.
xo,
s
Amanda says
Awww, love the flowers! I’m a big fan of daffodils, which I noticed were on sale when I walked by the little fruit/flower market near my office. I should pick up a bloom or two tonight (at $1 or $2 a bunch, they’re super budget-friendly)!
My husband and I have had an under-cabinet/counter radio/iPod player for a year now, and it’s awesome. We listen to music while cooking, cleaning, and even while eating in our breakfast nook.
Lindsey says
Nothing to do with your flowers (although the flowers are beautiful), but CONGRATS on the 2012 Weblog Award Nomination!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much! We’re blushing! So many other amazing blogs in our company.
xo,
s
Kate. says
I LOVE a good radio in the kitchen – we have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaito-WRX911-Worldband-radio/dp/B00066D1GI
It’s tiny! It easily migrates from room to room or outside when I garden.
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Shannon Hoving says
I always budget for a couple of grower’s bunches from Costco. If I take them apart and put them into smaller vases, I can have flowers in every room of the house, and if I remember to wash the vases and change the water every other day, I can get them to last for two weeks, sometimes longer. It’s the only way I can have anything pretty or girly in the house, because my guys have me outnumbered. (The dog is a girl, but she doesn’t get a vote.)
Suni says
Do you just use a measuring cup or something to scoop out those cheerios and whatever else you have in those canisters?!
YoungHouseLove says
We just pick up the container and dump them into a cereal bowl. Haha. Sounds crazy, but we’ve been doing that for a few years now and it seems to work!
xo,
s
Reenie says
I love fresh flowers….but I have to put them up where Lucy my cat can’t get to them to eat them. HA!
3 things that make MY kitchen better:
1) My cheery RED walls (it’s a very small kitchen ~ with little wall space).
2) My lil TV.
3) My cats laying on one of their beds in front of the heater vent =)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, sweet!
xo,
s
Jill says
Those tulips are the exact color (my favorite) of the ones I had on my kitchen table for the past week….finally started dropping their pretty petals yesterday and I had to say good-bye to them about an hour ago. They definitely add some cheer to the chaos that can take over our lives. You and John appear to be maintaining pretty well, considering how crazy your life is right now. As an older mom of young adults, I appreciated your need to see your mom in the post you shared yesterday. I hope I can be the calm in the storm for my kids when they need it. Hang in there!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jill! We’re so thankful for all the stuff going on for the book and the blog so I think we’re slowly learning how to just laugh and surrender to the chaos. Moms definitely help with that!
xo,
s
Kati says
Just the picture of your tulips brightened up my day! Makes me think that we won’t always be in cold and snow! And I only have 1 thing to make my kitchen better and that’s if I could convince any ONE of my four children that putting their dishes in the dishwasher instead of on the sink does not take that much more effort!! LOL!
kim says
Hey Sherry, just Fyi, I just got back from Michaels and they have big ceramic free-standing numbers 30% off, including a white 7!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Thanks so much! I can’t wait to see them!
xo,
s
E.Lefebvre says
I love your vase! One of the reasons I don’t like tulips is that they flop around, but with the rippled sides, it looks really neat that way. And I also love those three things… although I’d add a bowl of fresh and pretty fruit. I currently have a blue ceramic tea kettle, a pot of flowers on my window sill, a bowl of fresh fruit and winter squash, and a radio hooked up… we ran cables from our living room to create a house “surround sound” system (read: we can listen to the radio in the kitchen now). I’m in love with NPR while drinking morning coffee and making dinner at night. Hope you enjoy your sliver of serenity!