More Pretty Itty Bitty Things

I went to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, hoping to find sealant for my spare bedroom floor. Instead, I found a number of little treasures, ranging from 25¢ to $2ea.  These little accoutrements delight me.  Also, I brought some of the outside in, arranging river rocks and pine cones on the window sill above my kitchen sink. I appreciate the balance of elements stone brings -- since there's so much wood already in the kitchen. It's hard to see in the pictures, but the three soup cups hanging under the cupboard couldn't be more appropriate accents (both in color an in style) to the poppy-colored countertops.

Kitchen Makeover

Okay, okay, I know you are all dying to see photos of the kitchen makeover. After much deliberation (and sampling Benjamin Moore's Pale Avocado and Sweet Caroline), I decided to paint the kitchen Richmond Gray, which is a shade lighter than Sag Harbor Gray, which I was originally imagining for the living room. Turns out that the brighter greens appeared too bluish-cold against my red-orange counter tops, whereas the gray actually has a warming effect. It's so hard to see how green the wall is in the photos, but the results are lovely, and provide a subdued backdrop for my red, orange, and green accessories. A few highlights:

• Note the original Oh So Lovely Peach-colored paint, discovered behind the stove. This picture also shows off the greenness of the Richmond gray best, since you can see the peach, white, and strip of gray next to each other.
  
• Also, take a look at photograph of my cabinets, before and after a fresh coat of wood stain!
• Finally, check out my new appliances: a microwave, toaster oven, and RED rice cooker.

Having posted these, I realize that there aren't any panoramic views of the entire kitchen AFTER. I'll have to take some more pictures during our next sunny day.

No Buyer's Remorse Here

I picked up my new kitchen furniture on Saturday, and momentarily experienced the anxiety that accompanies most major purchases, questioning whether this was money well spent. Two days later, as I sit in the kitchen with my laptop, bills and papers spread out around me, sipping a cup of tea, and watching my neighbors rake the backyard and push their daughter on a swing, I can say that my new table and cart are perfect additions to my home. The kitchen is my favorite room in the house, and now that it has functional furniture, I can spend more time here, soaking up the Southern Exposure.

New Kitchen Furniture

This weekend is the final week of 2009 Kitchen Cure, which I am marking with the purchase of new kitchen furniture. Tomorrow, I am acquiring two craigslist finds: a kitchen table (and chairs) and a kitchen cart (CL pictures below.) I wasn't originally looking for a cart, since I don't need more cabinet storage, but I am looking forward to the extra counter space. Yesterday, I made panacea vegetable soup, and found myself needing more room to prepare vegetables and such. Also, since I am hosting my parents for a week for the Thanksgiving and My Birthday holidays, I've been looking for an attractive, modestly-size kitchen table. Ideally, I would have preferred an round table that extends; but the table I'm purchasing is simple, functional, and perfectly suits the space I have.

"After": Organized Pantry, No more black shelf

This past weekend, I accomplished a number of kitchen related "cures":

• I stocked and organized my pantry, transferring all my food items from the open shelves in my kitchen to the pantry shelves. I grouped food items by grains & cereals, legumes, canned foods, vinegars & oils, and baking-related supplies. I also dedicated a shelf to glass containers (for re-use) and another for cookware. I'm sure I'll re-organize this over time, but it's nice to have a well-stocked kitchen and see all my food in one place!
• I sorted my recyclables (which I'd been collecting all month, since I didn't know where my recycling bin was or when pick-up was!) Since I only have one bin, and need to separate glass/plastic/aluminum from paper, I will have to take out one or the other each week until I can pick up a second bin from the county. I'm impressed that Orange County has free curbside-recycling!
• I hung a picture and moved my makeshift "table" to the wall where the black shelving unit was. Eventually, that might make a nice wall for a kitchen cart, which would provide more counter-space than I current have. For now, it also serves as the meal central for the Kiddos™.
• Finally, it may seem like a small thing, but I printed out the oatmeal poprocks mosaic and pinned to the wall behind the oven. The colors make me really happy, and I'm still trying to consider the best way to incorporate this palette into my home.

Lazing About

I haven't completed my kitchen assignments yet, in part, because I've been catching up on my real assignments: for school! Also,  I'd originally  scheduled an eco-friendly housecleaner for this week, and was planning to wait until she worked her magic before cleanly my kitchen shelves and pantry more deepy. However, I ended up rescheduling the cleaning for next week, so I'll have to put in some elbow grease for Halloween.

"Before" Photos: The other half of the kitchen

In my previous post, I forgot to post photos of the other half of my kitchen, which includes a not-yet-organized dining area.  So far, I've been using this space to collect all the things on my to-do list:

1. Land line phone: I need a cordless phone for the wall, but since I have DSL, I'll also need a filter. Eventually, I can move my red phone and answering machine to my office/living room, but I also need to buy a splitter.
2. Recycling: Turns out that homes don't come with "how-to" manuals, so I'm still trying to figure out where, when and how to take out my recycling. I found an overturned blue recycling bin in my back yard, covered with dirt. I think that might be mine. Until then, I've been sorting my recycling into leftover moving boxes.
3. Veruca (my red bike) has two flat tires: One of the tubes needs to be replaced, so I need to find a good local bike shop. Also, I might want to buy a less expensive bicycle for commuting to/from school. Veruca prefers to live indoors and I'm not confident about locking her up on campus.
4. Kitchen table: As is evident from the photo, I currently have a makeshift table, which I rarely use for dining. I'd been holding off on looking for a table and chairs until I knew my roommate situation. Now, it's time to start looking.
5. Plants: At least half of my plants didn't survive the move. The other half didn't survive the kitties. Cricket and Oliver made it clear that they don't mind houseplants -- in fact, they love digging in the dirt and chewing the flower petals! I need to find a way for all living things to co-habitate under one roof.

"Before" Photos

Storage, storage everywhere, but not a single full-sized drawer.

The Fall 2009 Kitchen Cure

What better way to finish unpacking and organizing my kitchen than to sign up for Apartment Therapy's four-week Kitchen Cure? I was excited to see my friend, J-fer, participating, since her orderly kitchen inspires me already!

Unlike many cure-takers, I suspect, I moved into my home less than a month ago, and am stocking my kitchen and my pantry nearly from scratch. In the past, I've always shared kitchens with roommates, so although I have a minimum foundation of kitchen tools and utensils, my kitchen's symptoms are best described by the nursery rhyme:

Old Mother Hubbard
went to the cupboard
to get her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there,
the cupboard was bare.
And so the poor dog had none.

Pretty Itty Bitty Things

Not exactly on my wish list, but Sarah and I indulged in some must-have impulse buys that have definitely put a personal spin on my kitchen. The tiny  salt and pepper shakers make me feel like I'm a miniature person who lives in a tree-house. I don't need to explain that -- just know that they make me happy!

What Time Is It?

It's SASSY TIME!

I am very excited about my new clock, bestowed upon me by my dear friend, Sarah (the sassy red head on the left.) I especially love its number "10" and would love to know what font that is.

For now, the clock is hanging on the wall above my desk, but I intend to display it in the kitchen as it is good feng shui to know the time and keep a balanced and well-paced daily routine. Eventually, I hope to find a small desk time piece too -- but do not want to have a clock prominently displayed in the living room, as this is a place to relax and entertain guests, not to think about the passing of time.

Wish List

Tomorrow marks the two weeks anniversary of closing, and I've spent most of that time moving and laying low. More pictures will be forthcoming, so you can admire the hard work and devotion of my BFF, who spent a week with me unpacking and organizing. Meanwhile, in case Old St. Nick is making a list and checking it twice, I've put together my own list of items to improve my home's functionality:

1. Dust buster - especially for cleaning up litter, tracked or spilled by the kiddos;
2. Breadmaker - i've never really used one of these before, and if I have a roommate who makes bread, this might be superfluous (or maybe even sacrilegious!) but for now it goes on the list;
3. Microwave - never thought I'd want or need one, but as someone who often eats on the run, I'm willing to sacrifice aesthetics for nourishment. Anyone have recommendations for small, efficient, and unobtrusive-looking microwaves?
4. Water filter - my faucet PUR water filter has sprung an irreparable leak and the water around here is terrible to taste. 
5. Potato brush - i found potato-washing gloves the other day, but both the gloves and the brush are unnecessary novelties..
6. Trash can - hanging plastic grocery sacks from doorknobs is a bit unsightly. :)
7. Salt & pepper grinder - thanks to Sarah, I now have the most *adorable* salt and pepper shakers; but i'd like bona fide grinders for peppercorns and kosher salt.
8. Screw-pull - mine broke and I cannot justify the $50 or so to replace it. But they're so niice.
9. Silverware divider - come to think of it: i still need silverware! But the drawer is very narrow, so a standard sized divider will never do.
10. Toaster - i don't think i've ever owned one, and yet I don't think I've ever lived without one. I miss having a toaster almost daily.
11. Broom
    
12. Mop - yep, need one.
13. Desk chair - i'm using an IKEA dining room chair at the moment. It's neither ergonomic nor comfortable. I figure this will be my next big investment since I expect I'll be spending lots of time sitting in it. Update: For the time being, I'm using my yoga ball. At some point, my workspace needs a complete overhaul for better health and posture. Update #2: I reappropriated a desk chair from my cube at school. Turned out to be the perfect color, perfect size, and has rollers appropriate for hardwood floors!
    
14. Ice cube trays. That is all.
15. 11-inch slotted spatula. I'm not really sure why this made the list, but it seems like one of those kitchen essentials that I don't have.
16. Coat rack - I have two hooks for hanging coats and hats just inside the door, but a coat rack woudl be a welcomed addition or maybe just a hat rack ( I have a lot of hats.)
    
17. Box grater - because sometimes a flat grater isn't enough
18. Jelly-roll pans (with 1-in sides) - actually, any pans for baking; otherwise, there can be no pie, bread, casserole or otherwise.
    
19. Clock - Pictures forth coming, but Sarah hooked me up with the hippest wall clock this side of the Mason-Dixon. Courtesy Urban Outfitters.
20. Kitchen scissors - yep yep. Need 'em. Nothing more to say.
21. Knife guards: Two 8" Chef's knife guards; One 4"paring knife guard; - I've wanted these for a while, in order to store my chef's knives safely in the drawer. However, I've had trouble finding non-clunky looking guards at stores (Here they are! http://www.broadwaypanhandler.com/broadway/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Wusthof+Knife-Life+Edge+Guards&pf_id=wusthof_knifelife_edgeguards&dept_id=2430)
22. Cookbook holder
23. One and/or Two-quart saucepan(s): Preferably stainless steel with copper core. I really like Meyer Bella Cuisine cookware (http://www.meyercanada.ca/MeyerCanadaProductSpecifications.asp?Pid=1), and use the 3-qt saucepan, despite having caught it on fire once (yeah, not so shiny anymore...)
24. Maple lid racks: Medium-sized for lids, and tall for trays.
25. Two-piece sponge tray: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/sinkArea/sinkAreaOrganizers?productId=10005749
26. (NEW 11/4/09): Popcorn hot air popper!!
27. (NEW 11/4/09): Toilet brush

Okay, I realize that my list focuses primarily on the kitchen, but aside from my desk and my bed, that's where I spend most my time. Yay for stuff!

Day Two: taking form

My best friend from Argentina arrived today to help me unpack and start to settle. Although we spent most of the day running errands and napping, we made significant progress toward a more organized space. We focused on the living room/home office. Tomorrow, we'll work on the kitchen.

Poppy Artwork

I ordered this print, "Poppy," by ally gore and Robertz Reader for the kitchen a few weeks ago, and it arrived just before I moved. The colors matches are spot on, and the poppy matches the hue of the counter-tops exactly.

Day One: unpacking begins

And so the work begins.

Amazing Tile Project Idea

I love the whimsy and boldness of the tile-work in this Charleston home, featured in Apartment Therapy DC's recent gallery. The first image is a children's bathroom, but I doubt I'll have the time or money to invest in gutting my own bathroom and installing a new tile shower or floor. The second image shows a tile-topped table, which would make an easier, more portable project for my kitchen.

Step 1) Find a table from craigslist or thrift that would look attractive with a tiled top.
Step 2) Establish a color palette. Been there, done that.
Step 3) Make nice with some local flooring contractors or tile distributers, and see if they'll throw a surplus tile or two my way.

Btw, don't you love the barn door in the second picture? Another future project perhaps: separating the kitchen from the rest of the house for  cat-free cooking and outdoor patio entertaining.