Now that our English-inspired cottage kitchen is finished, we’re ready to begin making Christmas memories here. This will be our first family Christmas in this house, and I wanted to share a little of the story behind the kitchen design—details inspired by the English Tudor kitchen where our family last lived together.
The last Christmas we spent in that Tudor home was in 2008, just before we moved away amid a fierce snowstorm on January 1 to start a new chapter. Remembering that season still makes me teary; seasons change, and life moves on. I’ve shared much of that journey on the blog over the years, so I’ll keep this brief.
If you’ve followed along since the early days, you might remember our English Tudor home from when the blog began in 2007. After that chapter, our family members spread out—my husband and I and our son moved to Washington state, and our daughters later joined us in Seattle so they could be near their brother during his childhood. Those were meaningful sacrifices from our daughters and son-in-law, and I remain grateful that our family stayed close despite the changes.
Our oldest daughter, Kylee, and her husband Lance have since moved back to the Oregon area where we once lived. Over the years we’ve created many homes that became the backdrop for family gatherings and memories, and each one holds a special place in our hearts.
Fast forward through more changes, challenges, adventures, book writing, blogging, and blessings, including two more moves over the last decade…
We’re empty nesters now, settling into our cottage by the sea where we moved two years ago. Inviting my parents to live with us in this small home felt unsure at first, but the choice proved right. Over the past year we completed a thoughtful renovation and a small addition to make the space comfortable for multigenerational living. The house now supports island life and everyday comforts, and I’ll share more about my parents’ Tiny Cottage soon.
This brings me back to why I designed this kitchen the way I did. When we renovated the English Tudor kitchen in Portland years ago, I worked around existing elements—transforming a once neglected space into a warm, welcoming family kitchen on a budget. That kitchen became the heart of our home and the scene of many gatherings and memories.
Since then I’ve renovated other kitchens I’ve loved, but none captured that specific English-inspired feeling quite like the Tudor. When it came time to design a kitchen here, there were many directions I could have taken. I chose to bring elements of that English-inspired style into this coastal home so the design would both honor our past and fit the new setting.
We didn’t copy every detail from the Tudor kitchen, but we captured the feeling I love—warm cream cabinets, soapstone countertops, tongue-and-groove paneling, a white sink with a nickel faucet, a cozy stove alcove, glass cabinet brackets, open shelves, a center island, built-in bookcases, and a special spot for a kitchen stool. The touches of toile fabric and the vintage-inspired hardware echo the original inspiration while fitting the coastal context.
Seeing these familiar details in our new kitchen feels like reclaiming a piece of that former home and season of life. Of course, life is different now—our children don’t live here day to day, but they’re happy and building their own lives, and we’re expecting our first grandbaby. Seasons change, and homes change, but family love remains constant.
In just a week our three children and two sons-in-law will come home for the holidays. It won’t be the same Tudor kitchen where we once lived, but this new English-inspired kitchen in our cottage by the sea is where we’ll gather, make new memories, and honor the old ones. Our hearts are here—this is home now.
I’ll return soon to share more of our Christmas home and the Tiny Cottage.
