2020 has proceeded like a bulldozer through our lives. But, we tend to be the kind of people that look for a silver lining rather than wallow in unwanted change. One positive outcome of Covid life is that we now spend a lot of time in our kitchen. The benefits are tangible: the food we prepare is healthier and less expensive. Our kitchen is not only our favorite new restaurant, it is our break room and conference room. It is literally the center of our house.
Aprons for pancake Sunday
Layout
Our kitchen is large and bright, but oddly shaped and lacking in a practical space for a farmhouse table. I think a table was supposed to go in the window bay. We tried that when we first bought the house but I found myself constantly squinting at the morning sun. Our solution was to tuck a small table under the center island so we can spread out onto the island if we need extra room. Then, I put a houseplant jungle and cozy reading chair in the window bay – the perfect spot for an afternoon coffee and sketching session.
Kitchen table tucked under the island.
Afternoon coffee and sketch break featuring “Dia De Los Muertos” (fabric basket and blanket) and “Mass Ascension” (pillow).
Coffee Station
Coffee is a big part of our day. I prefer dark coffee in the french press – so thick you could almost stand a spoon in it. Neal likes his coffee considerably more tame. Since we don’t have a lot of upper cabinets, Neal built the gorgeous shelves to organize our favorite mugs, teas and sweeteners. The white countertops are great for reflecting light but easily show the coffee station mess so a stack of wiping towels is essential!
Coffee station
Balancing the Overwhelming Whiteness
I’m not a huge fan of the white cabinets because of their tendency to show dirt. But, I do like the natural brightness of the room. I find the best solution to toning down all that white (and hiding some dirt) is to tuck colorful placemats in here and there. Bonus: on cleaning day, I can change the color scheme with new placemats. As with our business, we mix the warm wood with the textiles throughout our kitchen.
Living with Old Appliances
Most of our appliances are close to 30 years old and they all have their issues. The gas stove igniter hasn’t worked in years, so I use a lighter. The oven door leaks and the microwave occasionally loses its mind. I worry about the planned obsolescence of modern appliances so I don’t want to replace them unless I absolutely have to. I have learned to live with their quirks and I surround them with colorful textiles to hide their age.
Dressing up the oven door with dishtowels. L-R: “Tangerine Stars“, “Sunbeams“, “Traffic Jam”
Stovescape: Wood utensils, cutting board and salt cellar by Neal, gauze dishtowels designed by Tammy
Functional Beauty
Our kitchen may not be the perfect embodiment of our “less is more” ideal, but we working on it. Over time, we are replacing clutter with functional beauty. While we are having fun exploring recipes and fine-tuning our cooking chops, we will also continue to do what we can to support our favorite local food-based businesses. For the foreseeable future, we are sticking with to-go orders and curb-side pickup followed by a picnic in our kitchen. And, grocery delivery is my new normal. All that time saved driving around and shopping can now be directed at reading old cookbooks in my cozy chair with a cup of coffee in a mug made by a friend.
Dinner salad featuring Collected Hands salad tongs, trapezoid salt and pepper shakers and cottonwood lazy Susan with “Traffic Jam” placemat and “Sunbeams” dish towel.
Snack break featuring a Collected Hands cutting board and jam spreader and “Roadrunners on Desert Rain” cloth napkin.
Ahhh. Covid life.
