A Kitchen Revisited...

I know many of you have seen my kitchen before. However, I am participating in Julia's (of the fabulous blog, Hooked on Houses) house tour (make sure you head on over there...after leaving me a comment, of course), and I thought I'd give her readers a quick look around my favourite room in our house. I also figured, you don't see a kitchen with blue cabinets that often, so here it is:
My husband built the cabinets himself, although we purchased the doors from a cabinet maker, and the kitchen island was my 10th anniversary gift from my husband, which he made to my specifications. The colour on the kitchen cabinets is Summer Shower, from Benjamin Moore. We settled for laminate counter tops disguising themselves as a marble look-a-like. They don't pull it off, of course, but they fit the budget and are easy to clean. I applaud those who invest in the real thing, but I am not yet into higher maintenance surfaces, and certainly not into trading my children's college fund for high-end counter tops. Maybe someday...

I love my schoolhouse lights, and they were bought at a great price from local building supply stores. The light over my dining table is from Homesense, and was a steal at $130. I love great lighting, and I believe every kitchen should have lighting that draws the eye up.

Most of the accessories in my kitchen are from yard sales, flea markets, or Homesense. I like the less is more approach to dressing your counter tops, although it is an ongoing battle to beat the clutter bugs living with me. For some reason, pockets tend to get emptied onto my island, and I often find Barbie shoes, "special" rocks and seashells, and gum wrappers that simply don't make it to the waste bin.

Our flooring is hardwood - I prefer wood to tile, as I am very clumsy, and would otherwise have to replace my dishes more often than is reasonable if I had tile underfoot. I also love the warmth of wood, and find it lends a more cozy feel to an otherwise cool palette.

My back splash is miniature subway tile with a line of glass mosaic tiles thrown into the mix.

One thing I would never change about my kitchen is my open shelving. They offer such easy access to everyday dishware, and provide great display space for my favourite treasures. I know some feel dust is an issue with open shelves, but our dishes are used and washed on such a frequent basis, that I give it nary a thought. I love the look of an unfitted kitchen, and while my kitchen has more of a traditional design, the open shelving is my nod to old-fashioned kitchens.

My kitchen isn't perfect - it isn't large, and it isn't filled with high-end appliances or finishes...but, it is bright, welcoming, and fills our needs. I have attempted to create a space that has vintage style paired with modern conveniences. It is, to me, a pretty kitchen, and I am happy it is the heart of our home...

Living at the Island...

photo source: www.cottageliving.com

A kitchen without an island is no place to be, apparently. At least that's the impression I get when I talk to any client planning a kitchen reno. A (big) island is always tops on their wish list, and who am I to disagree? In fact, I wanted a kitchen island so badly a few years back, that I requested one for my tenth wedding anniversary. My husband had always planned to make us one, but there always seemed to be something more pressing that required his carpentry skills, that the island always seemed less important. Once I finally got mine, I wondered how I ever lived without it!

Because we hadn't the room for a large island, I designed ours with every desired function in mind. It has two drawers to keep our spices and awkwardly shaped utensils like our nutcracker, lobster tools, tongs, etc. I also incorporated two shelves which hold baskets to store our potatoes and apples. Two lower cupboards with shelves house my bread machine, which is so clunky and big, and all of my party supplies, napkins, seasonal dishes and crock pot. I always wanted it to look like an old-fashioned candy counter, so my husband built it with vintage style in mind. We used old pine lumber for the top, which we salvaged from an old property we used to live on, and while it is too small to realistically sit at it for meals, I love my island for preparing the kids' lunches, and for when we host buffet style meals (which are my trademark).

Would I want a larger island if space permitted? Well, technically, I suppose...but my island was made as a gift for me to mark a special time in my life, and therefore is more than just an island to me. It is another gift from my talented husband, and is a symbol of a mantra that we have lived our entire married lives by: live off your skills and talents where possible and make the most of that which you have. Then, fill in the gaps as you can afford it.

No way will my island become a deserted island...

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Here are some photos of beautiful islands that take pride of place in their respective kitchens:

photo: source unknown

photo: Ballard designs

Technically, this is not actually an island, but who cares? This picture is for those who cannot fit an island into their kitchen. With this pretty set-up, who needs one?!!

photo: Cottage Chic Store

photo above and below: source unknown

photo: Martha Stewart.com

The following photos are all from www.countryhome.com

This island is my all-time favourite!!

The quest for the perfect kitchen...

I have had many kitchens of my own as a result of my gypsy nature (which luckily my husband also shares). We have built five homes and renovated two. We get "itchy feet" every spring and haul out the house plan books ,poring over each and every one to find the perfect plan. This never actually happens, as we are yet to find a plan that we don't tweak to death. The killer for many of the plans is a lack of a mudroom (which I'll address in a later entry) and a less than perfect kitchen layout.
What is it about kitchens and our need to have this room fulfill all of our culinary and emotional needs? One of my favorite things to do when I go on an evening stroll is to see into people's front windows and glimpse a family sitting down to a meal together. It looks so perfectly cozy and brings me back to my girlhood desire to have my family sit together that way. I come from a family of six children with a mum who served up our dinners in no particular order, short-order cook style. We plunked ourselves down on the nearest available chair, gulped our meal down (to avoid vulturous brothers) and off we'd go. I know, for me, that is why my kitchens are always planned to invite one to stay seated and enjoy the view, and hopefully the food!
I believe kitchens should be functional, attractive, organized (or at least open to organization), and welcoming. Although my sister would challenge me on this assertion, I don't believe they should look perfect. Today I did a kitchen design consultation with a client, and knowing her wants and needs, I had done my homework in order to be able to present her with what I instinctively knew would work for her tastes. I had browsed through some decorating mags to have pics to show her and I could not believe how many looked exactly the same! White cabinetry, large island, vintage faucet, pefect tiles, the perfunctory granite or carrera marble countertops, apron sink, etc. Now don't get me wrong- all of these features are beautiful, current, and coveted by many (including me). But, they were so identical, that they looked like the same designer/decorator had done them all! What has happened to color, eclectism, personal taste in artwork (even if it is your kids' creations)? Does everything have to match perfectly and be what is expected? My sister is a great example of decorating with a knowledge of what is current, tempered with a thumbing of her nose to what is common. She instinctively decorates with what she loves and makes it work. I am more about the big picture. I have the vision in my head and am more planned in my approach. She decorates as she goes and meets with the same degree of success. Two entirely different looks, equally pleasing, but I can't help but wonder if her kitchens are more "homey."
...(sigh) Oh well, I do love my kitchen of the moment, which I have no intention of leaving for many (okay, 4-5) years. I selected a blue-gray colour for the cabinetry, I have my beloved "candy shop counter" island, apothecary drawers, school house lighting, open shelving, crystal knobs and library pulls. It is as close to perfect as I can afford at the moment....but why, oh why, do I still dream about apron sinks and vintage appliances?... I guess I'm just as bad as all the other predictable people!!!