My thoughts have turned toward things I'd like to change about my kitchen periodically over the course of years we've inhabited it. In all the homes in which we've lived, I've focused on ways to change things that cost little + are often subtractive rather than additive.
Here, I've removed most of the doors on our upper cabinets + painted all of the insides + outsides clean, light reflective white. This provides open shelving for functional ceramics + jars full of bulk ingredients. The bottom cupboards were painted a warm, latte tone that doesn't fight with the red tones in the flooring which came with the house. Drawer + cabinet pulls were swapped out, cracks were caulked, the ceiling was painted, and we got down to living.
These days, we're thinking we might be able to embark on a bigger shift, and it's both thrilling + terrifying. Money is a big barrier...and so are my thoughts regarding waste. It's difficult to reconcile thoughts of ripping out a finished kitchen just because I have a desire for a different one. No matter how "eco-friendly" the new choices are, doing nothing at all is usually the most environmentally-conscious choice.
Minimalism is often useful both monetarily + environmentally. Most of the changes I'd like to make, at this stage, are again subtractive rather than additive: removing a wall, upper cabinets, soffit, and the dishwasher (which we haven't used in eleven years). I've thought through the value of each item I'd like to keep in the pared down space. My hope is that everything would be useful + nothing would be superfluous.
People like to caution that removing storage space in the kitchen always leads to regret. I'm not worried. There is a wall that could be great lined with tall cabinets, if we (or the next home owners) decide to add them. I'm so grateful for the mind shifts that I've lived into over the years. It feels like freedom + confidence + lightness.
As far as additions go, I'd like to add a larger window which means the addition of lots of light. One long, wall-spanning shelf would provide space for those functional ceramics + jars. For now, that's it. Space, light + clean lines are what I'm after...because it's all just the frame for all the rest...laughter, stories, good food, hugs, rest, celebration, life.
Love,
Jane
Here, I've removed most of the doors on our upper cabinets + painted all of the insides + outsides clean, light reflective white. This provides open shelving for functional ceramics + jars full of bulk ingredients. The bottom cupboards were painted a warm, latte tone that doesn't fight with the red tones in the flooring which came with the house. Drawer + cabinet pulls were swapped out, cracks were caulked, the ceiling was painted, and we got down to living.
These days, we're thinking we might be able to embark on a bigger shift, and it's both thrilling + terrifying. Money is a big barrier...and so are my thoughts regarding waste. It's difficult to reconcile thoughts of ripping out a finished kitchen just because I have a desire for a different one. No matter how "eco-friendly" the new choices are, doing nothing at all is usually the most environmentally-conscious choice.
Minimalism is often useful both monetarily + environmentally. Most of the changes I'd like to make, at this stage, are again subtractive rather than additive: removing a wall, upper cabinets, soffit, and the dishwasher (which we haven't used in eleven years). I've thought through the value of each item I'd like to keep in the pared down space. My hope is that everything would be useful + nothing would be superfluous.
People like to caution that removing storage space in the kitchen always leads to regret. I'm not worried. There is a wall that could be great lined with tall cabinets, if we (or the next home owners) decide to add them. I'm so grateful for the mind shifts that I've lived into over the years. It feels like freedom + confidence + lightness.
As far as additions go, I'd like to add a larger window which means the addition of lots of light. One long, wall-spanning shelf would provide space for those functional ceramics + jars. For now, that's it. Space, light + clean lines are what I'm after...because it's all just the frame for all the rest...laughter, stories, good food, hugs, rest, celebration, life.
Love,
Jane
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