Seven Favorite Kitchen Features

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I would LOVE to paint my kitchen cabinetry and make some other minor changes in there.  But, my husband (like most men I know) loves to save money the natural maple wood look (sad face here).  So, we continue to live with the current state of affairs.  

But, recently, I decided to focus on the things I do love about my kitchen.  And realized, there are quite a few!  Also, many of the things I love are not expensive items; rather, they're easy (weekend project) fixes that could truly change how you function in your kitchen.

First, here are a few pictures of our current kitchen.

My kitchen is unusual in that there are no windows in the space.  It's really in the center of our home and is open to our den/family room on one side, our dining on the other and our breakfast on yet another.  The wall of cabinets is my only wall in the space.  

Here is a view looking into our breakfast room.

Here is a view looking into our family room (on the right where Lottie is hanging out) and our dining room (straight ahead).  BTW, our dog thinks I'm totally crazy snapping pictures of the kitchen. 

OK, so here's my list of things to be grateful for in my current kitchen.

Counter tops

A couple of years ago, we changed out our solid surface white (dingy white) counter tops for honed absolute granite.  I have loved having them in our kitchen.  They have the look of slate without the maintenance.  I actually increased the size of the island, so we had to add the extra support to the right side (notice I have NOT stained it to match the rest of the maple wood - I girl can hope).  I cook a ton in this kitchen, and they're very durable.  They do not show stains or scratches at all.  Really, could not be happier with them.

Garbage Pull Out

This was a small change, but prior to having this built in, there was no real home for our garbage can.  So, I found a sleek (expensive) garbage can and it lived at the end of my island.  Well, at some point, a very honest friend told me my garbage can was the first thing she noticed about my kitchen. (YUCK!).  So, that spurred me on to find this.

It took my handyman about an hour to install and now you can not even tell it's there. I picked a cabinet between my sink and chopping block so it makes for easy cleanup.  Love it!

Here is a similar one to mine that I found on line.  The key is to find one that mounts to the bottom of the cabinet (as opposed to the sides) to prevent having to find an exact size match to the cabinet you're retro-fitting.

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The Knife Strip

My kitchen is very deceiving.  Since it is open to other rooms, people walk in and say, "You're kitchen is huge!"  But, if you really look at the space, I don't have a ton of cabinetry.  In fact, I have only six drawers in the entire space.  I also don't have a lot of counter space, so this knife strip was the perfect solution for storing my knives.  I also keep a pair of utility scissors on the end of the strip for easy access by my children.  They know exactly where to look if they need help opening something.

Here is an on line option I found that's similar to mine.

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The Sweep Vacuum

This feature was in the house when we moved in, and it's so convenient.  Never would I choose to put in a central vacuum system, if I were building a home.  But this little feature I might consider including.

 There is a small "slot" at floor level on the end of my island that you operate by pushing a lever with your foot.  This opens the slot and the vacuum begins.   You simply sweep the dirt, crumbs, etc into the slot.  This is part of the central vacuum system which is housed in our garage and periodically you do have to change out the filter bags in the system (just as you would with a regular vacuum).  It makes clean up quick and easy after preparing a meal or eating a snack.

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The Refrigerator

We have a subzero refrigerator that was here when we moved in.  Many people have told me they don't like this style of frig since it is very shallow.  But that is the exact feature that I like about it.  It is wider than a standard frig, but very shallow.  I love being able to see everything in there when I open the door.  No more finding leftovers weeks later that got shoved to the back!

My Griddle

We have a Jenna Air cook top with four burners and a side bar for different attachments.  When we moved in, there was a grill attachment.  I used it one time and realized that the clean up of that thing was not worth it.  So, it sat useless for three years.  Then I happened upon the owner's manual for the cook top which showed tons of different attachments, including a griddle.  I ordered it (I think it was $89) and I use it at least three times a week.  It makes the best pancakes and french toast (you can make six at a time)!  Also, quick clean up.  If you don't have options for attachments to your stove top, consider a griddle pan like the one below (you can stick it in the dishwasher when you finish).

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Wooden Chopping Block

I don't think I could live without a chopping block.  I only use this wooden one for vegetable prep (I have a smaller dishwasher safe one that I use for meat) and other cooked items.  I like to put out cheese and crackers (for a pre-dinner nibble) on it when we have friends over for dinner.

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So, that's my list of seven.  I would love to hear about your favorites kitchen features! Have a great weekend. M.

Girls Day Out!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to get a group of fun girls together and do our local holiday house tour.  This year, in Birmingham, the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House tour is going to be held on December 11th & 12th.   So, if you happen to be in town that weekend, it really is a must see.  If not, I would encourage you to do a little research in your city and find a house tour to check out.

Also, for the friend who has everything, consider giving them tickets to a tour as your present this year.   In fact, you could pre-order your tickets as a surprise and kidnap them for the day!  It's really fun, and the money goes to a great cause.   

I remember when I first moved to Birmingham a friend called and asked if I wanted to do the tour.  I remember thinking when we walked into the first house, "Where are all the Christmas Decorations?"  I quickly realized that it's not about the decorations, it's about the homes.  Now, to be clear, some homes have very minimal decorations while others are over the top, it really just depends on the homeowner's taste.  In fact, I remember a home on the tour one year that was beautifully decorated for Chanukah.  That's what makes the tour so interesting.  Each home is unique and is full of ideas on interior design.  

Early in the year, a committee at the church puts together a home tour of the most stunning homes in Birmingham.  These very generous homeowners open their homes to thousands of people who will walk through taking in every detail.  

The event only last one weekend in December, but the number of volunteers it takes is staggering.  All the proceeds go directly to church missions for the next year.  Some of the homes are extremely large while others are quaint and cozy.  There is usually a wonderful mix of styles and interiors on the tour.  It will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.   

The IPC tour starts at the church with tons of gorgeous floral arrangements, amazing treats with hot tea, and songs being sung by their choir.  After these festivities, you continue on to the homes at your own pace.  It truly is a wonderful way to kick off the season!