A Year in the Life of Our Hutch

After living in our rebuilt home for two years, last summer I finally found the last piece of the puzzle for our big open kitchen, dining and hearth area.   I had a budget (that I thought was reasonable) and I was restricted by the size of the wall, so the hunt was a little harder than I had expected.  There was an option at a local antique store that I had had my eye on for 4 years.  It was the perfect size and patina, but it was too expensive (by twice as much as my budget).  As my Aunt advised - if no one else has bought it in 4 years, then it is priced too high.  Another friend thought that it seemed a little too fanciful for our home.  I wasn't so sure, but after looking around and finally finding this hutch that was perfectly in budget and exactly the size and finish that I was hoping for, now I see that the other was not the right one and this one was worth the wait.

Searching for the right furniture for a home can be a little exhausting and seem almost silly.  But we all know, that a well considered and beautiful space can be comforting and soothing for our crazy lives.  While the hutch hasn't changed our lives dramatically, it has become sort of the center of our home.  It is where Emma's artwork is displayed, where she props up found treasures, where we string holiday decorations and display seasonal accents.

This is what the wall looked like before the hutch.  It looks really obviously blank in the photo, but in person it was just sort of forgotten.  When we designed the room, I thought about having a built-in installed that would house china and flatware, but I thought that might feel a little too contrived.  Since everything was going to be brand-new, I thought a piece with a little character might warm up the space a little. 

This was the photo of the hutch on 1stdibs.com.  Because I know you are wondering, and it can be helpful to know what to expect to pay when shopping for antiques, this was $2,000 + $400 freight.  I had seen other similar versions for $4,800-12,000, so as you can imagine, I'm so glad I held out for this one.  I determined that it was a forever piece.  Wherever we end up living, in whatever house, I know I would always find a spot for it.

I love the little hooks - they've been fun to use for displaying and stringing decor.

The Summer Hutch

This is our hutch right now for summer, featuring the new Green Garden Leaf Plates from my Summer Garden Collection in my online store.  I also have Classic Handled Service Trays displayed and some of the platters from my Creamware Platters Set of 6.  My Classic Cream & Sugar Set is holding some little flower sprigs.

Green Garden Leaf Plates

Classic Handled Service Trays

Creamware Platters Set of 6

Classic Cream & Sugar Set

I love the hardware on the hutch.  It seems like original brass.

Sprint Hutch

I have the same platters and trays displayed, but this time, just creamware creamers instead of the green garden plates.  I love the mix of the silvery pewter tone with the cream and white.  In the bottom cubby, we have a Match Pewter footed bowl that was a wedding gift.

  

Early Autumn Hutch

In early Autumn, I took some photos of the hutch style for my fall collection.  I still have my Creamware Platters, but also feature my Spode Woodland China plates to bring in a warmer feel.

As we got further into Fall, I added a pumpkin in the bottom nook, took away the cream platters and added more of the Spode Woodland Plates.

I guess I didn't take any photos of the hutch at Christmas - I remember it being covered in homemade paper "Christmas Lights" and lots of decorations Emma made : )

The Valentine's Day Hutch

For Valentine's Day, Emma made more homemade valentine's and cut out hearts just for the hutch.

Bedazzled Love Bug

Her pride and joy of the season was the pop-out valentine in the center - you can see it best from this vantage.

My favorite part of the Valentine's Day hutch is the barricaded cabinet on the left.

Does it get any better than that?!  I know furniture doesn't make a house a Home, but goodness, this hutch has really been a treat for us this year.

Our New Outdoor Furniture | Ballard, Signature Hardware, Pottery Barn & Hayneedle

This will be our fourth summer in our house since we re-built it.  We had plans of new outdoor furniture the minute we moved in, but the interior took priority - we did need a sofa and kitchen table, after all.  Then, each year that passed, we sort of got comfortable with the furniture we had.  It was fine.  Sure the old love seats we had on the porch didn't have great cushions, and the wood was sort of rotting a little.  The picnic table was great, too.  We could squeeze 8 for dinner and it was easy for kids to get in and out of.  But it wasn't that comfy for adults.  And, because of the set up it created an awkward conversation barrier for those sitting on the love seats on the porch, since half of the people at the picnic table had their backs to them.  

This year, I determined that we had waited long enough.  As soon as spring showed up (little by little), we would have nice, new, grownup outdoor furniture.  

In Mike's perfect world, I would open up the page of a catalog and order everything on that page.  Easy.  Done!  He'll say - they've picked all of this out to go together, who are we to decide to mix and match?  They've done the work for us!  

I, on the other hand, can't help but not be satisfied by exactly what I see on a single page.  I need to mix and match, I need to pull from one source and pair it with another, and another.  It is how I'm made : )  

My requirements were : 

Teak

All 100% unfinished Teak.  I love that real, old fashioned weathered classic like we typically saw in New England and on our vacation to Nantucket last summer.  Classic.

Small Round Table

A small table that can grow for parties.  We have a small family - the three of us.  We use our backyard every morning and every night of the week.  I love our little Wednesday night dinners on the patio.  I don't want to sit down to a giant farmhouse style table with my little family of three.  I wanted it to feel cozy and sweet like a backyard garden should.  BUT, I want to be able to have 8 for dinner, so expandable was a requirement, also.  

Love Seats

We have loved the configuration of having two love seats on our long back porch.  They do all of the symmetry things for me, flanking our French doors.  I come out every morning with my coffee and I sit and watch the seasons change.  

Replaceable Cushions

I wanted to be able to easily replace the cushions each year if needed.  I didn't want to have to have custom cushion covers made.  So, sources like PB and Ballard were perfect for this because they have repeat styles each year with coordinating cushions.

What I didn't find...

A sectional.  I really wanted to add a sectional sofa to our patio.  I thought it seemed like such a comfy idea - perfect for parties, and for afternoon naps in the sun.  It looks like Ballard discontinued the sectional from the line of love seats I selected.  However, this was a happy accident, because I don't know that we would've had room on our patio.  The table and chairs are so comfy with our pillows and seat cushions that they serve as a second lounge area.

I ended up mixing and matching from several different sources to get the look I wanted.  It can be risky to mix and match, but these turned out so great.  I 100% love each item and the way the work together perfectly.

Resources : 

Expandable Teak Table, Signature Hardware

4 x Dining Arm Chairs, Signature Hardware

2 x Dining Armless Chairs, Signature Hardware

6 x Dining Chair Seat Cushions, Pottery Barn in Linen Sand with Contrast Piping

Dining Chair 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check, my store >

Teak Loveseats with Natural Sunbrella Cushions, Ballard

Loveseat 22" Pillows in Natural Cream Check, my store >

Striped Umbrella, Hayneedle

Wood Planter Boxes $150 each, my store, local pickup in the KC area only (email us) >

Did you get all of that?!

I like to stay pretty neutral outside (and inside?!).  I love our creamy house with creamy upholstery + the soft natural teak wood and lots of lush green.  It is an easy theme that I stick with all summer long.  Of course, there are little pops of seasonal colors in potted flowers like pansies now and mums in the fall.

Dining Chair 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check>

I took a zillion photos.  Sorry : )  It finally felt like spring outside and I just went crazy.  I could've edited harder, but I just want to be surrounded by it right now so I didn't.

The softness of the natural teak is so good.  It is so, so buttery smooth.

I pile lots and lots of little pots filled with herbs and pansies to greet us.  I mix and match my pots, and layer on lots of different plants to create a cozy, lush feel.

The boxwood hedge is growing up nicely.  I'll probably let it get about 6 inches taller, then start to top it off.

Emma painted some pots that she was super excited about and has displayed them on the steps.

These exact planters are not available anymore, sorry.  I got lots of requests from Instagram about their source.  I love them, too!  We do have access to similar versions, but because of freight charges are too expensive to ship.  If you are local to KC, we can arrange a local pickup.  If you are interested, email us at store@jennysteffens.com

The big 22" Pillows in Natural Cream Check make the loveseats so comfy.  I use the euro square inserts from Ikea ($9) to fill them out.  The covers aren't technically outdoor fabric, but I'm going to see how they do.  Someone also told me that Scotch Guard offers a spray that helps them resist fading from the sun.  I might try that!

22" Large Pillows in Natural Cream Check >

This is a flowering Vinca that has a tiny blue flower in the late spring.   I thought they were a fun change from a mini potted boxwood that I would typically do.  They are similar color and leaf but with a little more of a viney growth.  We'll see how they do!

I tried to take some cute photos of Mr. Darcy, but he just kept looking at me like this.

And this. 

The table only hold the umbrella when it is expanded, which I didn't realize.  But, I love the shape of it expanded, so I'll keep it up for a while.

I love how classic and luxurious the natural teak looks and feels.  It is so solid and heavy.

I chose the Sunbrella Linen Sand cushions because I thought they would be a little forgiving.  The white piping really sets them off.

To make each chair super comfy, I am using on of my 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check.  It coordinates with the seat cushion so nicely.  

I LOVE how this came together... from so many other sources.  The checks, the stripes, the white piping.  All coordinates so well, without being too matchy-matchy.  

For those of you that are new, we built this playhouse for Emma a couple of years ago.  Here is the DIY post I created >

Emma's cherry tree is in full bloom!  Best $90 tree from Home Depot, ever.  It has grown sooooo much.

This little formal garden will be full of roses and the hydrangea standard will be in full show in a couple of months.  More details on the rest of our garden, here>

Emma's been in our raised beds setting up some fairy gardens this spring.  I am just now realizing that those are quarters... I need to go get those for the car wash!

Well, happy Spring everyone.  Working in the yard is maybe my very favorite thing to do.  I'm still learning all of my gardening skills, but I love experimenting, walking around with my barefeet in the grass, potting, planting, moving and peeping at everything as it grows.  And lounging.  Lounging on our very comfy new furniture : )