While we waited for our freshly primed and painted open shelves to dry (hanging day was scheduled for tomorrow), we realized it had been far too long since our last budget blooms post. We used to share them every month, but life and projects got in the way. A few readers asked for more budget-blooms posts, and honestly, with book chaos + kitchen chaos happening here, I needed a little slice of beauty to brighten the mess. The house looks crazier now than the day we moved in: bed in the living room, a five-foot swatch of playroom wall getting repainted every few days, and photography gear taking over the dining room. But six dollars at the grocery store later, and these tulips brought a small, much-needed moment of gorgeousness to a house full of people and projects.
I adore this vase from Crate & Barrel — a birthday gift from John’s sister — and it’s especially lovely with floppy tulips splayed around the rim. The casual, slightly messy arrangement feels relaxed and welcoming.
These two-tone tulips are a perfect example of nature’s best color combinations: buttery yellow, poppy reddish-pink, and fresh green. It’s a simple palette that brings instant cheer to the kitchen.
I love how they lean as if reaching for sunlight — the irony being that our kitchen doesn’t get much natural light. They’ve been holding up for a few days now, so apparently tulips are content with water and a little neglect.
For fun, I tried them in another vessel — not really a vase but a seeded glass hurricane I picked up at HomeGoods ages ago. It works beautifully. We also finally plugged in a kitchen radio we picked up on clearance from Joss and Main about a month back. We’ve never had a radio in the kitchen before, and it’s surprisingly lovely to have music while we hang out at the peninsula doing blog work, book work, projects, or eating. Flowers + a radio = instant atmosphere.
These pretty photos hide the circus just a few inches out of frame: our massive dining table sits just beyond the half-wall and is completely buried under lamps, ceramics, paint cans, fabric, baskets, bottles, books, and frames. You literally can’t see the tabletop anymore. So when I say there’s a sliver of beauty in our trashed house, I mean it. The contrast between the tidy little bouquet and the surrounding chaos makes me laugh — I’m dying to show behind-the-scenes book photos, but we’ll wait until the book comes out to spill everything.
Back to the kitchen and budget blooms: I’m convinced every kitchen is improved by three simple things — flowers, a radio, and a white ceramic tea kettle. Close runners-up include a giant ceramic rooster and a wall of penny tile. Small touches like fresh flowers or a fun vessel can instantly make a chaotic space feel cared for. Have you picked up any blooms or greenery lately? Tried different vases just for fun? Do you have a kitchen radio, or do you rarely listen to the radio these days? What three things do you think make any kitchen feel better?
Psst — see a whole collection of past Budget Blooms posts here.