21 August 2012

Guest Post and Giveaway!: Tina @ The Enchanted Home

While we're busy unpacking and settling into our new home, I have some fabulous guest posts lined up for you this week.  Today's blogger is Tina from The Enchanted Home talking about all things kitchen. Be sure to check out her super-generous giveaway below!


Hi there, first let me say I am super happy to be here. I love Sarah, what a sweetheart! I am so happy for them to be moving into their new house......congrats! Thrilled to be helping her out and pitching in while she is away unpacking, organizing and making her house a home. Sarah, make sure you take plenty of coffee breaks (wine breaks after 5pm, OK I will be a sport....3pm)! When you think of a bistro what comes to mind? Something like the picture above? This look and its influence has become popular in kitchens all around the globe. No wonder, the iconic Parisian bistro is a timeless classic and if I were ever lucky enough to have my own little cafe/bookstore/bakery, I would want it modeled after this look. 
Its no surprise this look has also made its way into many a kitchen. When I think of a kitchen with a bistro edge, I think of rich warm woods, maybe black and white floors, white marble somewhere, anywhere! Fun and whimsical but not corny accessories, just a few not to be an overkill. Maybe something like a fun chef chalkboard or statue holding a wipeable menu, fun bistro towels, that kind of thing. Above all, a bistro kitchen is warm, inviting, open and ready for action. So lets take a look at what a bistro influenced kitchen might look like...............
And to celebrate a bistro influenced kitchen, I am offering a small Bavarian bread board giveaway to get you started in creating your own little bistro. I own these in a few sizes and they make amazing platters  for crudites, cheese displays, crostinis....the sky is the limit! To be eligible, all you have to do is leave a comment here. The winner will be announced on my blog on Friday!
And here's how I display mine on a daily basis.....

Now moving onto the world of bistro kitchens.......
Love the lighting, the fun bistro bar stools, the pop of black on the island...the warm rich floors pull it together beautifully, Trad Home
The fun globe lighting and beautiful two toned bistro chairs make an elegant statement
Loving this idea of an actual chalk board panel in place of a cabinet, how fun! Pinterest
The black and white checkerboard floor and black and red accents lend a bistro vibe to this inviting kitchen
Steven Schubel nailed it with this very chic and sophisticated bistro influenced kitchen, this feel so old world and timeless
This gorgeous kitchen has a very sophisticated bistro feel....Beverly Ellsey
The lighter cabinets are another pretty option, and get the definite bistro vibe with the black and white checkerboard floors and open shelving, Traditional Home
Great energy in this cheerful bistro influenced kitchen, love the color and of course a touch of black does the trick every time! Squidoo
I would consider this "glam bistro", once again the black gives great impact, the brass accents add richness, the open shelving lend itself to the bistro feel, fabulous! Mick De Guilio


Now lets talk about the elements that might make up a bistro kitchen for the home. ......
Fun towels...with a touch of black make a perfect accessory (Etsy)
These pretty towels have a definite bistro theme but don't feel "themey"

I could see this sign above a doorway or above a range.....anything in French automatically sets the tone!
A fun sign can be a great way to pull together the look, keep it simple


A fun little guy like this is a whimsical conversation piece to have at the ready announcing that days fare!
Bread boards are not only beautiful looking but super functional for serving and cutting!
Bistro chairs....YES!


Gotta have an authentic bistro chair.....available in a rainbow of colors, these are just classics all the way! (HK designs)
If opting for bistro influenced china, make it something simple and elegant, like this one found at Sur La Table, this could easily be found at a chic Parisian brasserie

Yes, black and white checkerboard floors are the poster child for a bistro feel but aren't a must do, its a great look in both tile and marble...but warm wood floors or a warm colored ceramic/stone can give the same effect
There are so many lighting choices that could work effectively, a few that come to mind are this one, the Circa Yoke pendant
If you want to go bold....these stunning copper lights would make quite a statement!
As in Tommy Smythes gorgeous kitchen, an oversized lantern, the beautiful Belgian bluestone herringbone floors and black cabinets give this a beautiful bistro vibe.
I do love the idea of converting a cabinet or door to a chalkboard wall, brings in a little fun and whimsy and makes for a really inviting space


So....what do you think? Love it? Like it? I think it can be a great idea for a classic kitchen  as long as the "themey" things are kept to a minimum, I think one or two fun accents is just about right. Best part, there are no rules, you make them as you go along, these are merely ideas and guidelines. Think its a look that's here to stay and the next best thing to hopping on a plane and going to a real Parisian bistro....is making one of your very own to be enjoyed every day! Thank you Sarah for allowing me to be your guest today and to everyone for stopping in. Enjoy your day!

Photobucket

85 comments:

Unknown said...

Tina, what a great post. I love a bistro feel. I really want to change my floors to the black and white checkerboard but am having a hard convincing my husband, I have to show him this post! This might seal the deal.

Thanks for the giveaway. I will definitely cross my fingers to win.

BethA in Houston said...

Love those bistro kitchens. And I agree with keeping the "theme" items to a minimum. And those copper light fixtures? Love!!!

Anonymous said...

So happy Tina was guest posting over here because I found a new blog to follow! Moving into a new home is so exciting - hope it's going smoothly.

Love a bistro feel to a kitchen and have a few of these elements in my own home!! xoxo

Splendid Sass said...

I painted a cupboard glass door with chalkboard paint. Love the look.
Where do you find all of these images, Tina. Always so gorgeous!
Great post and great giveaway!
Teresa
xoxo

Portuguese Prepster said...

My parents have that pig haha! There is a little French bistro right my house that my family has been going to for years. It has the most charming decor!

Suburban prep said...

Oh My I have fallen in love with all your pictures for this posting. I know that the board could be used for such wonderful appetizer parties and gatherings.

Avad Fan said...

Fabulous pictures, as usual, Tina. Makes me want to jump on a plane. Your beautiful breadboard would definitely make my kitchen feel a bit more old world French. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

p.s. Good luck with the unpacking, Sarah! Overwhelming but exciting.

Lois said...

I love those copper pendants - your picture collections are always so inspiring and fun to look through!

Susan said...

Wonderful Post. Lots of great ideas in your text and in the photos. Thank you!

Joan R. said...

I love the informality and comfort of the bistro look. It makes everyone feel like they are home, and with that familiarity comes great conversation and of course, yummy food! The bread board is the perfect accent. Thanks for the great post and for transporting me back to Paris for a moment.
Joan

Unknown said...

Dana Munoz, Housron
Love French kitchens, chairs, accessories, etc. Thanks for posting and sharing great ideas and pictures! AND the lovely bread boards, I would LOVE one of these!
dkmunoz@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

What a warm, "sit down awhile and chat" feeling a bistro look adds to a kitchen. Great post, Tina. Would love to win your giveaway for the beautiful breadboard.
Christy
Barisone@sbcglobal.net

Kimberly M said...

Great images! I would love to serve some French Bread on that beautiful give away! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Love the sink in the picture with the red trimmed windows. Perfectly the best sink on the market. Thanks for the give away

Deb Franke said...

I love the come sit awhile feel to the rooms posted. I would love to add the board to my kitchen. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Faith B - Interiors Unique said...

I love all the kitchens. Lots of great ideas. Would love to win the bread board. Thanks Tina!

Cari Sisney said...

tina-

thanks for posting such a fun take on the bistro style. this will serve as inspiration for the new home we are building!! The bread board is a generous give away, thanks for the opportunity.

Cari Sisney

Anonymous said...

The bread board is lovely. I would love to win it. Thanks
Judy M.

carolyn bradford said...

Great post, Tina! Now you've inspired me on how to help my daughter with her kitchen that I posted about in my other blog! Yay! This is exciting! Can't wait to share it with her! All of these kitchens were wonderful! I look forward to reading Sarah's blog some more as well! Have a great day!

MHM1314 said...

I'm dying over the Tommy Smythes - the lantern! the flooring!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, great giveaway! I read your blog everyday and really have been enjoying your new house! Chris Jackman

Unknown said...

I have always loved a black & white floor - finally got one in my laundry room (wood floors in kitchen already, which I don't love. Like the wood, but don't love it for practical reasons). Nice post & happy to find another great blog. Thanks!
Best,
Colleen

Unknown said...

Love the bread board! Thinking of painting my pantry doors in chalkboard paint.

lynn said...

Thanks for these great ideas! I would love to win a breadboards to add that vibe to my white kitchen.

Carla G said...

Love following your blog and seeing all the great pictures and ideas. Love your bread boards and would love to see one in my kitchen!

D Ritchie said...

I love all the photos of this post, I love french country. This breadboard would look perfect in my kitchen. I'm a newer blog reader and feel like I've found a new best friend. Thank you Tina!

l o v e l y t h i n g s said...

I LOVE the bistro look because I think it adds the "Real" dimension. The bread board is a perfect example...it's useful for using as a cutting board or for serving anything from bread and cheese to sandwiches or whatever. Then when you are not using it, it just looks gorgeous in the kitchen...I've always had an all white kitchen so bread boards add that softer feel to an otherwise stark space. We also just moved into our home in July...112 year old house that needs a new kitchen, but until I figure out the bones of it, I've added a chalkboard wall...which I adore and many of these photos have been my inspiration. Tina's kitchen is amazing in every way...but not just because it's huge...every thing in her gorgeous kitchen can be scaled down to a small kitchen...like beside her beautiful stove she has bottles of olive oil, etc on a silver tray. These are the accessories that I love...as Tina says, not the "corny accessories". Tina always gets it right!
annie

Suzanne said...

Thanks for all the great pictures! Love anything french! Would love to add the breadboard to my kitchen.

Splenderosa said...

Kitchen Diva, that's Tina for certain! Lovely giveaway too. Rock on, babe !

AimeeR said...

Thank you for your all your inspiration Tina! Also appreciate the chance of winning your wonderful giveaways!!

Barbara@HausDesign said...

I love a great bistro kitchen like the ones you showed here - especially the bistro chairs - sooo charming! Great pots Tina and it's always fun to discover a new blog!

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

In my next life (!) I'm going to have black and white checked kitchen floors! Just a beautiful look that will last forever!

Sherri said...

Wouldn't it be wonderful to bring a Paris bistro memory back home. What better way than to create a Parisian bistro kitchen! I can smell the croissants and Presisent butter already. The breadboards are a good place to start.

Jennifer @ Belclaire House said...

Love it! I'd love a set of bistro chairs someday. These images are all so inspiring!

capecodcottage said...

Tina,
Love this look. If I get a chance to redo my kitchen I am going to decorate in this style.

Book of Jane said...

love the black and white floors.

Leslie said...

I love this bistro feel.. and all things French :) The bread boards are gorgeous and I like the way Tina has displayed them.

What a nice blog and I'll look forward to following!

leslie

Jennie K said...

Great post and pictures of my favorite French style! I would LOVE a bread board and would give one a good home!

cheri said...

Great post, Tina is always doing something special.

Anonymous said...

Lovely kitchen ideas, Tina! I have always loved the black and white checkerboard flooring in kitchens, and the over-sized lanterns really add a wow factor! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration and look forward to checking out this blog!! Lisa L.

Our French Inspired Home said...

Love bistro inspiration. First time viewing and I have already signed up for more! Another great giveaway from Tina. If anyone wants to look, Tina's kitchen is amazing. A great selection of materials and colors for her dream kitchen.

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Tina, Love it all. I have one of your oversized bread boards...and a couple of bistro chairs. Aren't the pendants in the first photo great?

Hello, Sarah! Nice to visit. Good luck with your move.

Debra said...

Tina what a wonderful post and a new blog to read at the same time. Bistro kitchens are great...I feel so inspired for a croque monsieur & citron presse for lunch!

Fingers crossed for the board too!!!

Alison said...

Love this look in a kitchen. And think the bread boards are fantastic too.

Splendid Willow said...

I have always wanted a casual bistro style eating area! They come with such a good vibe! (I would be purring like a cat in Tommy Smythe's kitchen.

Please put my name in the hat for that pretty Bavarian bread board.

Hi Sarah! Lovely being here.

Hugs to you both.

Mon

The Pink Pagoda said...

What amazing kitchen ideas! I remember too well the joys of unpacking from a move!

Cathie Watson said...

Thank you, Tina, for introducing me to a new amazing blog as well as an opportunity to win one of your breadboards that I have be coveting.

Cathie
parnele@comcast.net

michelle said...

Thank you for introducing me to a great new blog to follow-love all these pics and would love to start with a breadboard!

chedeb5353 said...

Beautiful images! I love the bread boards and would love to win one! chedeb5353@hotmail.com

Tracy Lyons said...

Wonderful Post, Tina! Thanks for sharing your inspiration!

Meg said...

great post! love the bistro look

Veronica said...

Absolutely beautiful! I'd be in heaven if my kitchen resembled any of them lol. Would love to win one of you boards :) Thank you for such a great idea for giveaway.

Courtney said...

I am so excited about this giveaway! Julia Child is my inspiration and what better way to channel my inner-Julia than with a French bistro inspired bread board!

Sally said...

Love the kitchens. Count me in for this wonderful giveaway :)

sally.puckett@yahoo.com

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

What a great post! The bistro kitchen, with the old world feel,had me from the start! The bread board is the perfect accent...what an awesome giveaway!

Jennifer said...

Love the bistro look. Have my fingers crossed for the bread board--just the right touch to add a little bistro to my kitchen.

Donna Reyne' said...

What great kitchens! I love this bistro inspired look it's just so fun and old world!

Anonymous said...

Love the picture with the three copper lights in the kitchen.
Hope it's my lucky day.. would love the board for entertaining.

Carol

Lori said...

Love those copper pendants! Would also love to win the bread board--can think of a million ways to use it!

Donna in Potomac said...

This post makes me appreciate my dark wood & white marble Bistro table even more. I can also appreciate that good looking Old World bread board!

michele said...

the board would look fabulous in my kitchen, girlz! bring it on!

michele

Unknown said...

I've been searching Pinterest and apartment therapy in earnest for ideas for our new kitchen. Love these concepts.

maggie said...

Love those bistro chairs. There's just something very cozy about this style.
Thanks for the giveaway, too!

Amy said...

Excellent post as Tina's always are, she never disappoints.
Tina these are all gorgeous kitchens but yours is TOPS for me. Just everything I want in my dream kitchen, you covered the topic beautifully here.
I would love to win the bread board, a little bit of "the enchanted home" in my own kitchen, talk about make my day!
Thanks, and so nice to meet Sarah and her adorable blog.

Unknown said...

I love the lighting fixtures and the overall relaxed feel of the bistro style.

Anonymous said...

Awesome kitchens. I love the bistro feel. So warm and inviting. Count me in on the generous bread board giveaway. :).

Lauren said...

Beautiful images Tina! I'm in the midst of remodeling my kitchen - so much inspiration here! Have a great evening :)

Lauren

MariaT said...

Great post Tina! I always love your style and am in love with all things French right now! Thanks also for introducing me to Sarah's blog!

Tricia L. said...

What beautiful and inspiring photos!! I painted a chalkboard on a pocket door (between the kitchen and the dining room) and its just the greatest thing ever!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the breadboard too!!

Karena said...

Sarah thank for having Tina guest post. She has such an excellent design sense of what works together perfectly...great kitchens!!

I would be so thrilled to have this extraordinary breadboard!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
2012 Artist Series

Taylor Greenwalt said...

Tina, thanks for hosting and introducing us to a new blog.Great images of kitchens!

I Dream Of said...

Gorgeous Bistro kitchens and a great giveaway! I have to say, I do love my classic café bar chairs from TK Collections and red and white bowls that I've picked up at Paris flea markets over the years. It's easy to imagine I've run off to France when I have my morning coffee!

Anna Ferguson said...

Thank you for the new blog ind and another great giveaway.

mary ann said...

You inspired me to use a mixture of the bistro look for my lower level kitchen. the copper lights & bistro bar stools really stand out!
took a few pictures for my file.
great photos by the way..
love the boards, I love to entertain so I can think of many ideas for use. regards, mary ann

Deborah said...

Love the post Tina! Great kitchen ideas and great giveaway!!!!

Adriana said...

So happy to have another great blog to follow. Thanks Tina, beautiful pictures.

keshakeke said...

I love how you have displayed your bread boards! They are so pretty! Thank you for the giveaway!
keshakeke@aol.com

Pat@Life At Lydias House said...

Pick me, pick me pick me!! I would love to win the bread board and I love your kitchen post!,

Unknown said...

I truly love the Traditional Home kitchen...definantly my style...but love the bistro chairs!
Thanks for sharing and for offering such a gret giveaway!
Melinda

Cheryl said...

Love the idea of chalkboard door. You have great taste . Would love to win the board and add to my kitchen!

Unknown said...

Sarah...so exciting about your new place. Enjoy the joy of turning into your home!!

Love Tina and what great kitchen ideas! Her bread boards are amazing...such a sweet give away!

Have a wonderful week!
xoxo Elizabeth

Sarah Brooke said...

Great post. I'd love to win! Thanks! xo

Heather Bien said...

Love wooden bread boards! They make basic bread with dinner look extra special.

penny said...

How timely! I've just recently realized how much I'd like to add some bread boards to my kitchen. I always use the same small board, one that my daughter made in shop class, of all things! Something about it makes the other ones seem clunky or too light, or just generally wrong...so I'm now on the lookout for boards that are as pleasing aesthetically as they are functional. Especially love the ones with handles and this one looks perfect! Thanks for the great giveaway.

Portable Sinks for Sale said...

Very nice kitchen collection in these photos and we will also follow some tips for our home.