Hey my loves, sooo I went to New Orleans last year. I know right?! It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I rented a little Airbnb in Marigny about a 20 minute walk from the French Quarter. I left my babies in Texas with their grandparents, and I did ALLL the touristy things. And it was so beautiful. It was so incredibly magical, and surreal, and PERFECT..well ALMOST but that’s neither here nor there😒🥺….
The problem with New Orleans though…is that it speaks to my soul the same way Scotland spoke to my soul when I was a teenager. And I yearn for it. I left so much of my heart there when I returned home. And the thought of it brings this sense of longing and sadness that I haven’t felt since I was 17 and I had that pull on my heart for the Highlands of Scotland. It’s this aching of knowing, of a life I’ve lived. I felt home. I felt feelings of joy, happiness, and belonging. So I know that it’s not the last time that I’ll see it. Just like I knew that when I first arrived in NOLA, it wasn’t the first time I’d been there either. It’s so hard to explain. But my heart knew. Little things that I look back on now makes me realise just how much of a pull New Orleans has always had on me. Growing up and to this day the Fleur de Lys has always been one of my favourite symbols, I had such an intense fascination with the Mississippi and the history of slavery and just African American culture in general. As a little girl I read every book I could get my hands on about the ghosts of New Orleans, the Underground Railroad, and the cotton plantations. So I’m not surprised at all with the intense feelings I have about a place I’d never traveled before. This past birthday Kyle even got me loads of books on Nola. Some about hauntings, others about history…and even a couple of romance novels set in the Crescent City 🤣🥰❤️Anyway…I digress…
We had big plans to renovate our kitchen in March…and then when the pandemic hit…our plans were put on hold. So we waited it out, and once lockdown was lifted, we got the contractors in and the work started. Of course when doing home renovations …there are always a wee bit of delays for a number of different reasons. We of course also experienced these delays. And I was left without an oven…and a hob for over 2 weeks. It was absolute chaos. I am so incredibly lucky to have a wonderful friend just across the street from me. Kyle was away doing his firearms course, I was a single momma with no working kitchen…so Kerry came to my rescue and we ended up cooking dinners together, and basically cohabiting while the workers got stuff done. EVENTUALLY, we got everything in…Kyle laid the laminate flooring. I plastered behind my sink, and painted the walls. Because we spent so much on the kitchen, we decided that a new fridge and freezer would have to wait. But that’s ok…because I bought some spray paint..and gave my current fridge and freezer a new lease on life! I mean it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I ADORE THEM!
I knew that I wanted to incorporate my love of New Orleans in to my decor. So I hung Spanish Moss all along the ceiling between the breakfast bar and living room.
I got French Quarter street signs, Batik (I know…Indonesian but it has a french feel) style tile backsplash, art work, wooden shutters, and just lots of colour. At first I was worried because ‘oh my goodness, my kitchen is a wee bit….quirky..and strange’ but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that. If I love it. And my family loves it. That’s all that matters. Looking at my new kitchen brings me so much joy on a daily basis.
It always brings a smile to my face and I’m done with living for what other people think of me. So I’ve created my fun, productive, safe haven and I’ll continue to create. And I’ll do it with a sense of calm, of pride, and a full heart. So here’s a wee glimpse of my new kitchen! I’m so looking forward to having many more year of creating in this spaces.
I’m going to sign off now because I’m feeling a very heavy heart coming on. I’m missing New Orleans so so much…but it has inspired me and I’m off to work on bringing you my next creation…keep watching, and don’t forget to subscribe!!
Sending so much love and light my loves! 💓❤️