Repurposing a Kitchen (1) - Skirt in the Kitchen

I’m starting a series beginning with, Repurposing a Kitchen (1), letting you come along with me through minor (and possibly) major changes in my kitchen. Then we’ll have cake.

It’s really not a secret that I can grow as large a green thumb as anybody’s big nose with hairs that need weeding–like a garden that’s not been carefully tended, so why can’t I pick up a hammer and knock down worn-out cabinetry–not just hammer nails into wall studs?… Here’s something to ponder: Don’t wait for anybody to do a single thing with you or for you. It just won’t happen. But here’s what can happen: You’ll get your best work done doing it yourself, because if you’re this determined, you can count on yourself!… Waiting on somebody can be like waiting for it to rain and snow in the same day with sun shining on a sandy beach in one location–in July heat. If you want something done, and if you want it done promptly and badly enough without hiring it done, you’ve got to do it yourself. I’m not sure just how far and how deep I will go in the overhaul of this room becoming a different view and a new feel. I’ll let myself be surprised with what’s meant to happen along the way. I have a few things up my sleeve, but we’ll see.

Everything needs its place, like people. It’s life. It’s got to be resourceful and useful. This is my humble abode and this is my “clutter” as many people would call it, but to me, it’s my good clutter. It’s what I wouldn’t part with because I have a reason and a purpose for all this good clutter of mine that I consistently use–not only for the work of photographing, recipe developing and publishing–but because I love it–these items that don’t mean a hill of beans to the next person. But they do to me. I use these items around the memories that I have of my family, time with them, and time spent for them. It’s largely what I do for them in the way of service and provision. It’s my lifestyle.

Anyone can tell that I’m into vintage mixing bowls and serving dishes. I remember seeing the same kind of bowls if not exact duplicates of these breakables on my grandmothers’ tables and on my parents’ counter tops when preparing food for our large family.

I took the doors and hinges off the cabinets and made these into open-face cabinets. I left the interior of them gray while painting the frames white. I thought it just opened the room, made it more conversational, and it showcased my beauties. Mostly, it helps me see just what I have in the way of an organizational purpose for my kitchen. I have dreams for this room, not such a high-classed and expensive dream, just resourceful and attractive intentions for this room that I spend a lot of time in when I’m home. My aim is for it to be functional and pleasing; comfortable like a good set of shoes.

I painted the walls and open-cabinets a medium-gray color several years ago. Recently, I wanted more light to filter into the kitchen and to reflect off walls for photographing and making my kitchen more cheerful, so I’m repainting the walls white–Silent White by Valspar. It isn’t a knock-you-out shade of white. It’s soft to the eye.

Not only has this kitchen been several shades of gray in its former days, but it used to be orange, then lemon yellow, also red, and even black! Medium and dark colors are great in a room, but I think for me, it’s time to brighten up this nook and make it look a little larger than it actually is–for my particular needs.

I store what I use the least at the very top, near the 12-foot ceiling, where I resort to climbing on a ladder if I want something that high-range.

There are plenty of windows. I might not hang curtains or shades.

Certainly, there are flaws in this kitchen. Not everything is going to set straight, prim and proper, but that’s okay with me. I like the flaws in everything, somewhere… Flaws give character and offer a uniqueness in an item; irreplaceable. In this case, in the over-all look of what I’m trying to achieve. Did you see the crooked shelf?! I won’t be straightening it.

I have cake stands stacked, one on the other, and on another… Halloween is coming up, so some of those dark items will appear, now, since I make many of my creations for that time of year to market–right out of my kitchen! No, I don’t go into a secret closet or craft room or basement. For a strange reason, it’s more enjoyable for me to craft them in my kitchen since I use vintage kitchen tools and dishes for the Halloween decorations that I make for retail.

I like milk glass and black wire.

I want indoor plants, more of them. Not only are they beautiful to behold, but they aid in having clean air in the home.

I’ve already changed my mind–!–I’m using the top of my Frigidaire baker for an extra shelf. I’ll place the Wandering Jew plant somewhere else.

Here’s a retro light with my father-in-law’s name. It also happens to be the name of a close friend who passed away with brain cancer a couple of years ago. I need to fix the corner that’s broken. All it takes is a little glue.