I cannot believe how many of you have experienced the terror of a missing pet before. It really is a gut-wrenching feeling and I’m so thankful that so many of the missing pet stories you guys shared turned out positive. It’s amazing the impact a beloved animal can have on our lives, huh?
My day today has been spent working away on my laptop with Sadie right by my side on the floor. The only furniture in our house right now is our kitchen table, but I was getting sick of sitting up at the table, so it’s been a work-on-the-floor kind of day.
I can’t wait until we get my home office set up! A trip to IKEA to buy the office furniture I fell in love with last week is in order.
Lunch
After working through the morning, I took Sadie on a quick walk around the neighborhood (yes, I’m all over her today) before making myself a quick lunch.
Lunch today included tuna salad on a hot dog bun served with a side of tomatoes and hummus for dipping.
As I was prepping my lunch, one of my decorating experiments from yesterday stared down at me.
I placed some colorful teacups on top of the kitchen cabinets. I thought they added a little color to the kitchen, but couldn’t decide if they looked too cheap.
When Ryan came home from work yesterday I asked him what he thought of the teacups. After complimenting all of my other kitchen decorating and unpacking, he let it spill.
“The cups remind me of the college apartments that had liquor bottles on display above cabinets.”
(Source)
I burst out laughing.
We then debated filling some empty vodka bottles with highlighters, shaking them up and turning on a black light in our kitchen to really relive the college days.
(Please rest assured that I never used my alcohol bottles as apartment décor in college.)
The cups are currently still in place until we can find something to replace them or we decide they actually look okay.
What do you think? Be honest! I’m not in love with them at all, so I promise you won’t hurt my feelings.
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I like the color they add, but I think they’re too small. Maybe put some large bright plates up there (like Fiesta Wear)—on stand-up plate holders, instead? Or big, leafy plants are always a great cabinet topper!
oooh we have fiesta dishes!
I agree! We have big plates, fern-ish plants, and a small wine rack with a couple bottles. We also have a woven basket. (all compliments of Hobby Lobby or TJ Max- nothing too expensive!)
I’m with you guys on this one – you need more of a statement piece up there. Something a little more eclectic, like this perhaps (minus the owl, obviously haha)
http://pinterest.com/pin/51200185/
oooh i second the plates! they would look great up there! i also happen to think they are too small for such a large space in between the cabinets and the ceiling.
or play around with some colorful decorative vases!
I agree on plates or something larger. I love the color of the tea cups but they seem a bit small and sparse up there.
agree with everyone else!! the teacups are too small in proportion to the negative space so they are getting completely swallowed. something bigger would definitely make more of a statement. what about big glass cookie jars filled with different colored beans (i.e. coffee, lentils, etc.) colored sand (which given ur proximity to the ocean might be easy) or beads (but that might get too expensive). i have a bunch of big glass cookie jars that i purchased at walmart for 10-12 bucks and i use them year round for various decoration and fill them with different objects.
Honest opinion here- I LOVE the idea of the added color, but I think you need something bigger…they teacups are just kind of tiny & get washed out with the white wall.
& that is HILARIOUS about the liquor bottles– good memories 😉
ahah i so agree with holly! something bigger! bigger cups!
Anything but fake plants. I agree with fiesta dishes and maybe jars of multi-colored pasta?
LOL – no fake plants, i promise!
Hallelujah
I agree with the two others: the colour is great but the cups are too small. Something bigger needs to be up there. I love that you are viewing that space as decoration rather than storage!
Haha poor Sadie will probably try to run away more often with all the attention she’s getting this morning from it 😉 I probably would!!
And i thinkkkk I may agree with Ryan on this one. I like the idea of putting something up there, but maybe something BIGGER than teacups. Not sure! Time to browse Pinterest haha.
haha isn’t pinterest the best for this sort of thing?! great idea! I agree, the cups are a little too small. It really was a great idea though!! I’m sure you’ll come up with something fantastic, Julie :]
what if you add a small shelf under your cabinets and hang the coffee cups there by their handle? a friend of mine did it and it was so cute..plus it gave it a lil pop. 🙂
cute idea!
I was going to suggest hanging them vertically on the wall. I’m not sure how much space you have next to the cabinets or if it will hinder opening the cabinet door at all. Love the colors!
The cups are cute, but honestly I think 98% of the time anything above cabinets looks tacky, I’m sorry! Maybe I’m just reminded of older women who like to put fake ivy and plates above their kitchen cabinets…
say no to fake ivy!! 🙂
hahahahha i totally have fake ivy in my kitchen. Shoot now I am regretting this decision
I totally agree with comments #1 and #2 — I like the *idea* behind the teacups (and I’m a huge tea lover myself), but they just look so tiny on top of your big ol’ cabinets. Even their bright colors aren’t popping the way they could. I really like the fiesta plate idea, or even something more in line with your filled mason jars. Those look awesome on the little side shelves!
Not loving them Julie…but I still love you!!
They don’t quite scale so they just look a bit out of place. I do love the colors though. You could always grandma out and put a ceramic rooster up there! 😉
Oh Lord! I was that college student, sad to say! Not so much with the glowing, but I definitely had my “Jack collection” (along with all my other bottles) sitting up in my kitchen. The “Jack collection” was every size of Jack Daniels bottle, from half gallon to airplane shot. Yes, I was definitely a bit of a whiskey girl back then!
I use the space above our cabinets to store our ecelctic vases and it looks pretty good. I would choose one thing and do multiples instead of a hodge podge of random things. I use Housebeautiful.com for my decor dilemmas.
I like the idea of adding a splash of colour, but agree the cups are a little too small for the top of the cabinets.
How about moving your cups to the sides where you currently have the jars and move the jars to the top? You can also buy more jars of different sizes and fill them with colourful items.
They need to all be grouped together in my opinion…with some sort of fiesta ware (as suggested above)! I think that it wouldn’t look awful with nothing up there either. The ceiling has a nice look that isn’t too plain!
I had the exact same reaction, they are too small, but I like the idea of displaying things on top of cupboards. My cupboards go to the ceiling, so I don’t have the option. Don’t rush decorating, keep looking and wait until you find items that really fit your style.
I have been living in my current apartment for a year and a half and I still don’t have things exactly how I imagine them, but I’m patient. I love looking at resale shops, garage sales etc. to find one of a kind thing that fit our style.
Haha the comparison to the liquor bottles brought back some college memories. 🙂
I think the colors of the tea cups are perfect, but I think I’d add some bigger vases, plates, bowls in the same colors up there.
The cups are a cute concept – maybe something with a little more height/bulk would help? I love decorative vases and plates on stands…Have you visited Kirklands for ideas? (I live in Ga, not sure if Fl has one?) They are inexpensive and have tons of options!
Congrats on the house! 🙂
I like the teacups, but I have more of a modern style. Monochromatic glass vases of different shapes and sizes might look cool!
they are good temporary fixes! I love color too, so I feel ya on this one. I don’t think they look bad at all, so until you find something these will work. It’s kinda hard to see them since they’re so short anyway
I like adding the color, but agree that the cups are too small. Plates behind them might work.
So thankful that Sadie was found safely. Maybe she was just exploring her new digs?
The cups are just too small… you need something larger to fill up that space and make your kitchen look as tall as it really is 🙂
My friend went to a HomeGoods store and found a great deal on colored glass vases in different shapes/sizes/colors which are really fun to mix in above your cabinets! I know almost everyone here in TX uses some sort of fake-y vines as well… my mom’s kitchen has vines, wine racks and birdhouses (she loves those).
I don’t think the teacups look bad, but I think something with more height like plates or vases would add more visual interest.. the teacups are a little short and make the space look awkward. You could add vases in between the cups though, if you wanted. Just a thought. Also.. you could probably get some sweet ideas on Pinterest 🙂
look at you encouraging my pinterest addiction!
they look lost.
plants would be better… a nice ivy that will run and drape!
You should totally go with the glowing liquor bottle! Very classy haha! On a more serious not I agree with Casey, they add nice color but are too small. Do y’all have a Home Goods in Ocala? If so check it out!
i like the idea of adding color but i think they’re a tad small. what about adding a nice string of colorful flowers across the top? and then if you find any other big pieces you’d like to put behind that, that’d be nice too! 🙂
I’m with everyone else on the size of the cups being the main problem with the setup…but I LOVE them! I’d want to make sure I could use them!
What I would do is put some cup hooks vertically down the narrow strip of wall next to your mason jars and hang the cups there. That way they would still bring a little color AND you could use them if you wanted to.
I’m fairly new to your site but I really love your entries so far. Your writing style really brightens my day! Can’t wait to see how your blank slate of a house comes to life!
I think they look cute, but there’s soooo much you can do with that space! Plants, decorative dishes on stands, etc. Something I did with my mugs in my old kitchen where I had the space, I added little hooks underneath the cabinets and hung them. I think they would look cute like that since they are colorful, and you can put them near the Kuerig! 🙂 I tried to find a good example …http://www.organize.com/cupcuphook.html or
http://bleuepiece.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/hanging-cup-hooks.jpg?w=480&h=320
I put them closer to the front edge of the cabinets though…they’ll hang different depending on the kind of mug
I am going to vicariously deecorate through you, I’m kind of jealous. I can’t wait to move and redecorate!!
Not a fan, but check out Home Goods, they always have such awesome knick knacks for up there. Like metal words such as “LOVE” or “KITCHEN”…or just random things to throw up there!
Not my favorite, I think you need something bolder and more eye-catching up there!
I agree with many of the others ~ honestly, I cringed when I saw the first pic of them. I don’t like them up there. Too small 🙂
I actually think they’re really cute!! Apparently I’m alone on that! Haha
haha yay for one fan!
you should try stacking them on cute cook books or something to make them taller and stand out!
Honestly, I think too often we feel the need to “decorate” above our cabinets. It’s just not necessary. I believe it begins to look kitschy and cluttered…reminds me of my grandmother. Also, whatever you put up there will quickly be covered in a greasy, grimy layer of dust – not too sanitary.
My mother recently had a custom french kitchen installed and was so excited to have cabinets that went all the way to the ceiling with the attached molding to boot. No more unnecessary clutter.
My opinion… less is more 🙂
Have so much fun making your house a home!
i agree! ryan is all about having SOMETHING up there though. we’ll see!
I think they’re a little small, but otherwise adorable and colorful. Maybe something similar, just bigger?
They are too small there to be appreciated (they are so cute!) i would hang them from hooks under the cabinets. You will still be able to appreciate them (and use them!). Just a thought….
I don’t think they necessarily look bad but they are a little small. I agree with the Alison about hanging them from hooks under tha cabinets. Maybe some larger vases or plants would look nice and fill the space better above.
You know I love your style in general but those cups are a miss! Love the colors but just not as kitchen decor!
I think they are too small — you can’t really see them. You could get some greenery from a craft store and put that up there — I have my cabinets bare up top — I like the cleaner look.
I think something bigger would look great! We have a space like that above our kitchen cabinets and I’ve placed some larger vases and decorative bowls that people gave us for our wedding. You could also put some cool plants up there as well. Enjoy decorating!
I agree with quite a few other commenters – love the color but the size of the cups is a little too small!
And to add – I don’t mean fake plants!!! I mean real ones…although you would have to get up there to water them….
In theory I like the idea, but I don’t think the size of them balance out the space quite right
I don’t love the cups to be honest. You could always try putting some greenery up there.
And, I’m so happy Sadie is safe and sound. When we first got out puppy (he was maybe 8 weeks when this happened), we lost him. We couldn’t find him anywhere. We searched out house for what seemed like an eternity and even started looking outside even though none of the doors were open. Finally, after freaking out, I thought I heard a noise coming from our pantry. To our disbelief, there was our little baby puppy trapped in the pantry! I was so happy we found him and he was safe. It is so scary to not be able to find a pet!
oh my gosh! what a cutie pie. if i were to hide somewhere, i’d pick the pantry, too.
Personally I’m not a fan of having a lot of stuff on the top of cabinets but thats just me.
Side note: Is that a little travel size hummus? Where did you find those? That would be perfect for my lunches but Ive never seen then before!
yes! i took it from my parents’ house, but i think my mom bought them from costco.
the colors are great, but they are a tad bit too small for the area…I am sure you’ll find something size appropriate with time. Perhaps colorful pitchers – you can find really inexpensive ones in Home Goods.
My mom once told me something I now swear by “Never rush decorating, it will all come together in time – items will find their way to the right spot”:)
I like them, but I think you need to add some variety in terms of shapes or sizes. Otherwise, they look a little lost up there…
I love the color, but I think they are too small. Although they look like the mugs from FRIENDS, so i kind of love them. 🙂
i <3 friends!
too small, they get lost up there! i would try to find one big piece to put smack dab in the middle…
I like the idea of having stuff on top of the cupboards, my family has plants or greenery up there instead of teacups 🙂
My mom has a cabinet similar to this, and a tea-themed kitchen. She started to collect cute tea pots from thrift stores and yard sales and stuff and put those on top of the cabinet while she hung small hooks from the bottom of the cabinet to hang the tea cups from!