Create the Look: Vintage French Shopping List
By request, here’s my latest Create the Look, which is geared towards celebrating vintage goods and utility in our smaller kitchens with the help of these reusable, secondhand, French shopping lists.
But here’s the thing— I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to constantly encourage people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should — for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments, and to feel inspired by their space. So here are some pre-loved items from independent storefronts that can help you bring a touch of French charm to your kitchen.
I sometimes earn a small commission from the sale of select secondhand items.
Low Waste & Limited Budget: Upcycled, Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt
Low Waste & Limited Budget Home Decor Project: Upcycled & Removable Kitchen Counter Skirt
I find such joy in making adjustments within our little home (which is also my full-time office) in order to creatively improve our household’s day-to-day routines. But I have zero interest in wasting material resources, spending money or acquiring new items in order to switch things up. Instead, I strive to find ways to work with what we’ve got to make impactful changes. These little endeavors usually involve a bit of repair, customizing, crafting, and/or trial and error. Sometimes things play out perfectly. Other times the project ends up a complete disaster. But either way I delight in trying.
Recently, while shuffling things around the house, we stored some extra produce and cooking ingredients, emergency storm supplies and library books in the built-in cubbies of our kitchen island. I found myself visually overwhelmed by everything, which can happen easily in a smaller space with an open layout. I wished I could conceal the cubbies when desired without making any permanent changes and without buying new goods. Usually I quite like the cubbies, and they’re certainly highly functional. I’m glad they’re there, and that we didn’t opt for cabinets instead, as I appreciate the character and depth the cubbies offer. But every now and then — particularly when I’m working on creative projects for others — my mind and eyes need a reset, or at least a calmer canvas of sorts.
A counter skirt / kitchen island curtain seemed like a simple solution. And our younger beagle-mix rescue helped me bring the concept to life by digging a hole in the bottom of our flat sheet on our bed, leaving me with a lot of leftover linen fabric to repurpose. (She’s a menace, that dog, but we love her just the same.)
With a few Command hooks and a telescoping sash rod (we have two on-hand here because we find them as ever-useful as tension rods and s-hooks), I was able to swiftly install an imperfect but entirely passable counter skirt. No damage, no waste, no bulk — everything can be removed and reused as desired.
These simple Command hooks are only visible when ducking below the counter.
It’s not fussy or flawless, but it’s perfect for our home, priorities and needs, and that’s what matters to us here.
Items used:
Telescoping Sash Rod
Repurposed Flat Sheet (cut and sewn to specs)
10 Low Waste Ways to Add Color & Texture to a Room
Even for those of us who work hard to ignore interior decor trends and stick to what we truly love and need, it can be tough to resist the allure of introducing new things. Our homes are our ever-changing art palettes— safe places where we should feel empowered to try out what brings us joy and utility, without fear of judgment or expectation. But given the realities of the climate crisis and the devastating impacts of “fast furnishings” and accessories, coupled with limited budgets and bandwidths, how can we switch things up responsibly?
Here are ten of my most commonly employed tips for bringing a fresh wave of color and texture to a kitchen, keeping budget and the wellness of this extraordinary planet in mind.
Borrow
If you don’t have a public library card, now is a great time to get one! Borrowing books about cooking, canning, gardening, and culinary reference guides can not only provide you with a wealth of new information and ideas, but the publications themselves will add layers of color and meaning to your space. I have a small collection of folding, secondhand bookstands and racks that I use to display volumes, both opened and closed. Public libraries encourage sharing within our communities, and borrowing items rather than permanently acquiring them can help us save funds and inches while preventing material waste, all without depriving us of the information and character we seek.
Peel & Stick
Installing a backsplash (and removing an old one) can be pricey and involve a large number of materials and packing materials. Whether you rent or own your home, consider a playful peel and stick wallpaper instead as a way of instantly transforming accent walls within your kitchen. (Just be sure to keep safety and humidity in mind when selecting placement.) I recommend taking a peek at the Love vs Design website, because they have delightful designs that can be customized for the exact color combinations desired, all in a damage-free format. (You can also get larger format custom samples, which is helpful for highly visual folks like myself.)
Aboev: Some of my favorite Love vs Design patterns and colors.
Visit the Farmers Market
Using fruit and leafy greens to adorn your kitchen is a great way of ensuring that your decor is ever-changing, all while reminding you of the healthy snacks and meals you can access throughout the day. Vintage bowls with citrus, hanging trays of apples, dangling hooks with herbs and bananas, water-filled mason jars of broad-leafed kale and chard, and repurposed yogurt pots with spinach and edible flowers are all ways of livening up your space with food and functional decor.
Paint & Stamp
A sample size of non-toxic paint can help transform a room, whether you paint an entire surface, add a few stripes or spots here and there, or stamp a pattern in an unexpected area.
Repurpose
Dangle stemware with a repurposed bookrack. Use an old basket or sifting tray create hanging, breathable produce storage. Use wall-mounted, folding drying racks to store, display and air out kitchen linens. The possibilities are truly endless, and the results will give your space a one-of-a-kind feeling that can never be found in a retail store.
Get Help from Hardware
Adding hooks in both obvious and unexpected places can help you exponentially increase the storage space in your ditch. Use knobs, pulls and hooks to craft endlessly flexible and functional displays of linens, utensils, mugs, herbs, etc.
Ditch the Packaging
Be mindful of the packaged goods you bring into your home. Product packaging is typically wasteful, loud in design, and bulky. When possible, refill pantry essentials and cleaning supplies in your own, preferred containers. This will not only cut back on waste, but allow you to customize the most utilitarian zones within your kitchen. When packaged items are unavoidable, research ethical brands with thoughtful containers.
Get Spicy
Display ingredients with intention. Slowly finding jars and containers to repurpose for your colorful spices and baking ingredients will help you craft displays that are as delightful to look at as they are to cook with.
Create a Canvas
Art isn’t just for walls. Thanks to unique secondhand frames and DIY hangers, as well as damage-free accessories like Command Strips, you can display art in a variety of ways on a myriad of surfaces. The front of a fridge or cabinet can become an art wall if handled carefully.
Maximize Windows
A window frame can be put to extended use (without being covered up!) with the assistance of tension rods and/or slim shelves. Where it’s safe to do so, consider using S-hooks to dangle everyday kitchen items in a window frame, or create a petite potted herb garden on a sunny ledge.
Create the Look: Cottage Kitchen Corner
I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable ideas that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love. So when people ask where I got XYZ in our home, I usually point them to similar handmade and vintage designs. As such, folks who inquired about this little functional corner of the kitchen, here are some secondhand items and independent online storefronts with handmade goods that can help you recreate this look in a sustainable way that suits YOUR needs and YOUR style.
Repurposing Project: Boot Rack Turned Stemware Storage
We don’t need a bigger space — we just need to creatively enjoy the space we have.
One of our little repurposing / upcycling projects for the Rightsizing in Real Time series in my newsletter was this secondhand boot rack turned stemware storage:
For me, this is a great reminder that most of the time we don’t need a bigger space — we just need to creatively enjoy the space we have.
A Carbon Negative Kitchen Appliance with a Positive Impact on Soil Health
Imagine what our world would look like if, at the end of its life cycle, everything nurtured this magnificent earth as nature intended…
What if the world was waste-free? After all, there is no “waste” in nature — humans are the only species that create trash.
Food waste is one of the greatest contributors to climate change, and over 40% of that waste occurs at the household level.
But we have the ability to change this. Food waste is not really waste when it’s handled mindfully.
Instead, no matter where you live, food waste can become sustenance for nature, contributing precious natural resources back into the earth. Now, at the push of a button.
The Lomi Bloom is the only carbon negative appliance, and it can turn fruits, veggies, plant trimmings, yard waste, animal products, grains, and more into nutrient-rich plant food that supports healthy soil and its regeneration.
Lomi Earth — the result of Lomi’s “Grow” mode operating cycle— produces nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer that’s perfect to use on houseplants and gardens. When the Grow cycle is run with a LomiPod, the end result is packed with vital microbes to support plant health, and can also be sprinkled on lawns to improve soil health.
As we know, healthier soils store dramatically more carbon than degraded soils. When Lomi Earth is mixed with other soil and used to grow plants, the organic carbon in Lomi dirt is partially sequestered in soil and as plant matter. As such, not only are we able to avoid the harmful emissions of landfilling food waste, but we can also help sequester additional carbon.
Not only does Lomi Bloom reduce our carbon footprint and enhance our positive impact, it also rewards users in additional ways with every use. Via Lomi’s app, users can track their Bloom’s impact, and receive rewards like Lomi products and other useful, eco-minded items that can help us curb household waste.
Imagine what our world would look like if, at the end of its life cycle, everything nurtured this magnificent earth as nature intended…
Thank you to the wonderful folks at Lomi for supporting our small business by sponsoring this post. All opinions and photos are my own.
One Small Step Towards a Cleaner, More Stylish, Eco-Friendlier Kitchen
In a small space, little details are particularly important. Because with less room to store daily items comes the frequent necessity to keep all sorts of goods out in plain sight. This by no means has to be a negative thing.
One little detail that elevates a kitchen time and time again are mindfully selected cleaning materials, including sponges and cleaning brushes. More importantly, eye-pleasing alternatives are usually more eco-friendly and budget-savvy over time.
Typical sponges are made of plastic, with toxic dyes, and synthetic disinfectants. Not only are they less healthy for your body, but they’re also less healthy for the planet, as they cannot be recycled or composted, and even shed micro-plastics into our waterways and aquatic ecosystems. Plus, let’s be honest. They’re usually hideous.
As always, if your current cleaning supplies are functional, don’t toss them out in exchange for the following. Instead, as the existing goods wear out over time, consider these (or other) greener alternatives. Here are my three favorite sponges + sponge alternatives that are kinder to the Earth… and kinder on the eyes:
SPONGES
These handmade, reusable kitchen sponges are compostable at the end of their life, and are machine washable and dishwasher safe. They’re comprised of dual layers of antimicrobial bamboo pressed between two layers of thick and scrubby, unbleached cotton waffle-weave fabric. The cotton is pre-shrunk to make it optimal for scrubbing, and to help minimize further shrinking.
SWEDISH DISHCLOTHS
These dishcloths are made of FSC certified 70% cellulose and 30% cotton, and are are 100% biodegradable. Ours are from this particular company, which donates 1% of every purchase to non-profits through 1% For The Planet, supporting environmental restoration. The dishcloths can be used for wiping, polishing, or scrubbing, and can replace 17 rolls of paper towels each, as well as packs of disposable wipes, and even sponges. Not only are they an eco-friendlier alternative, but they also absorb 20 times their weight. (We keep one at our kitchen sink to wipe the counters down, and one in the bathroom to wipe the vanity.)
SCRUBBER SET
This organic cotton and jute scrubber set (7” x 7” each) scrub without scratching, allowing you to replace your disposable scrubbers with these tough cleaning, long lasting organic alternatives.The set includes one hand knit jute scrubber and one hand knit cotton scrubber, both of which are machine washable, plastic-free, synthetic-free, toxin-free, compostable, and biodegradable.
Our Layered Cottage Kitchen
We’ve been enjoying our cottage kitchen for a month, but now that our backsplash and island countertop have been installed, it’s finally the finished space we’d long envisioned.
On our list of priorities when designing this space were tall surfaces, space-saving features like a retractable drying drawer and built-in step stool for the kids, and countertops that would enhance visual interest and texture without overcrowding the compact room.
For the back counter, we used spare river recovered pine floorboards oriented front-to-back for texture and depth, and coated them in an eco-friendly hemp seed oil with a matte finish. For the island, we chose Cambria Quartz in the creamy, nature-inspired pattern Brittanicca Warm, also in a matte finish.
In order to tie the two contrasting surfaces together, we used another Brittanicca Warm slab for the backsplash.
I appreciate how bright and clean the island looks, and that it bounces the sunlight from the abundant skylights and windows to help maximize the look and feel of the room without casting a reflective glare. Thanks to the streamlined island surface and backsplash, we are able to layer our everyday functional decor out in the open without the kitchen appearing cluttered or crowded.
We’ve saved a tremendous amount of drawer and cabinet space by suspending several other essentials from the overhead beams, and from the undersides of two little floating shelves (also made of floorboard scraps).
Pots, measuring tools, mugs, linens, fruit, and more are all within arm’s reach, without consuming valuable counter space.
Read more about our kitchen design via a slightly older post here.
Uniting the Design of the Kitchen and Bathroom
We used the same French floor stones in the kitchen as we did in our compact bathroom / laundry room.
In order to further unite the spaces, we selected another creamy-hued quartz pattern from Cambria for the shower curb in our new bathroom / laundry room.
For the curb, we used Colton, which is a warm white with loose and sandy veining that echoes the sand-infused soil of this region.
We are so pleased with how both spaces turned out, both in terms of functionality and appearance. And I delight in the fact that while both spaces are distinct in their own styles, they’re also joined by carefully selected materials and themes that create a cohesive look and story within our little home.
Thank you to Cambria for providing the cottage with the aforementioned quartz. All photos, opinions, and product selections are my own.
Extra Tall Kitchen Counters
Note: The kitchen is still a work in progress, as we await the arrival of our backsplash, shelves, and permanent island countertop.
Our family is tall. I am nearly 6’, Adam is 6’2”, and my father is 6’4”. Since we designed this new cottage from scratch, higher-than-usual surfaces were an option, and became one of the top essentials on our wish list.
(We didn’t overlook the kiddos when deciding this— see one example of our space-savvy features for them here.)
After years spent hunched over lower surfaces, this design feature has been beneficial for our bodies and our workflow.
In the kitchen, we designed surfaces that sit at 40.5” high. This meant that we had some atypical space to play with in the lower cabinet area, and that we’d have to get a bit creative when designing around standard appliances.
To start, we have a slightly heightened toe-kick area. I know that zero-recess toe-kicks with seamless plaster frames or flush, decorative trim are in style, but with taller folks come bigger slippers, and we find the carveouts to be practical for our home and bodies.
But the real height is added through the addition of 4” high peek-a-boo storage nestled between the tops of the major appliances and beneath the countertop on the back wall.
On the island, we heightened everything with the help of a pull-out drying surface above the customizable Café Appliances dishwasher, and utility drawer over the appliance-sized pull out rubbish + recycling + compost drawer.
In a compact kitchen (particularly one with kids!), the under-counter storage space has been immensely useful already. Plates, a child-size silverware organizer, bowls, and cutting boards easily slide in and out of the cubby.
And since the recessed space extends to all the way to the back of the kitchen wall, there are even more storage opportunities behind the often-used items, proving concealed homes for items like spare glass bottles, carbonator cartridges, serving platters and more.
One of the key design elements that allowed us to make this unique storage option so spacious (the only interruption from wall to wall is the range,) was the inclusion of two sub-counter refrigerators, rather than one wide/tall model. A panel-ready fridge was an option we considered, but we preferred to maximize the upper cabinets, using them to hold dry goods, small appliances, and glassware.
The two customizable Café Appliances , drawer-style refrigerators hold everything we need within reach of the kids, and allow us to retrieve food and drink with ease. Each fridge has 2 spacious drawers, and built-in adjustable organization accessories.
(We don’t have a freezer, as we almost never use one and didn’t want to waste the space. Plus we do have access to a freezer in the grandparents’ house next door if need be.)
The beautiful, customizable Café Appliances range sits on a platform that blends with the toe-kick. We could’ve turned that lower support into a drawer, but for optimal safety and support we left it as-is.
Once the backsplash, wall storage and kitchen island are installed we’ll do am updated post and full tour!
Sources of note:
Nontoxic wood stain and sealer: Rove & Dwell
River-recovered pine floorboard back countertops: Goodwin Heartpine
Knobs & pulls, clean / dirty magnet: Connected Goods
Mugs + drying mats + animal magnets + custom sink: Etsy
Pots & pans: Caraway
Coffee maker: Ratio
Water filter: Walter Filter Ceramics
Note: Café Appliances generously gifted our range, refrigerators and dishwasher, which we appreciated hugely — particularly because we decided to leave the major appliances we’d secured for our Venice Canal Cottage there for the next stewards of that space. Product selection and opinions are entirely my own.
Traditional Yet Informal Holiday Hosting
Creating a festive holiday tablescape in a small home or garden.
I can’t remember the last time we hosted… perhaps late November of 2019? Regardless, I’m eager to get back to it. In the meantime, I’m resharing this informal-meets-traditional tablescape I created for Food52 during a live broadcast, in the hopes it’ll provide some ideas for folks who are entertaining in small spaces this holiday season:
A Traditional-Meets-Informal Holiday Table
As a way of showcasing some informal-meets-traditional tablescape ideas for this holiday season during which we’ll be sheltering-in-place, Food52 invited me to do LIVE broadcast in which I styled this lil’ vintage garden table at the cottage for their online community. Photos below:
(Click here to view the IGTV LIVE video via Food52.)
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.9)
Our 9th episode of Tiny Takeaways offers the tiniest and simplest tip of all, but I still think it’s one worth sharing: Consider utilizing the outside of your compact kitchen’s refrigerator. Every space is different— maybe your fridge isn’t magnetized, or perhaps you barely have room to open the door or access the sides or top, in which case this episode might not apply to you. But when I think back on all the tiny kitchens I had in the past, I wish I’d thought to save precious surface and drawer inches by using low-cost items such as clever magnets and wire baskets. In our 8+ years in this cottage we’ve stored so many items on the exterior of our fridge: timers, reusable coffee filters, aprons, herbs, bottle openers, spice racks, new user guides, table brushes, chalk boards, produce bags, candles, and multi-use clips. This is not an earth-shattering hack, but that’s not our intent anyway. Our intent is to demonstrate that you don’t necessarily need a bigger space, because with some creativity, you can enhance function and character WITHOUT increasing your footprint.
For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.
Small Space Highchairs
Baby West is now ten (TEN!) months old. As such, he's at a point where he's feeding himself, and drinking from sippy cups and glass bottles. This means that mealtimes are a complete and total mess-- but they're also (honestly) a complete and total joy. A few items have proven themselves to be extremely practical for feeding our son in our tiny home, and on-the-go.
This is ridiculous, but we actually have TWO highchairs here at the Cottage-- the reason being that they were gifted to us, and we decided to hold on to both for an upcoming project we're working on (and excited to share in the near future). We like each chair for different reasons. Perhaps one might be right for you, depending on your particular needs and space.
We have: The folding NANO highchair from Bloom. We like it because it folds up, and sits slenderly against our Dutch Door when not in use. It also comes with everything needed (safety harness, removable, machine-washable tray, seat cover, and foot rest), so it's nearly ready-to-go out of the box. The downside is that it's a bit tricky to deep-clean in certain spots, but we still use it daily. It's the perfect counter-height, so we pull it up to our breakfast bar and enjoy meals there alongside our son. I recommend it to anyone living in a standard small space.
We also have: The Stokke Steps Chair, which we use less frequently, but really love. It's a clever and streamlined system. We like it because it will grow with West, so we won't have to buy different dining chairs for him as he gets older. It's also very easy to clean, and beautifully designed. We use it when we convert the living space into a dining space for entertaining. The add-on tray is the perfect place for West's meal, or for his books and suction-cup toys. The downside is that it doesn't fold up, so we ran into it constantly when we used it full-time. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a design-savvy, adaptable highchair that they can use for years to come.
We've also used and recommend: The Lobster Portable Highchair, and the Space-Saver High Chair. These are two products we've tried elsewhere, and believe they would work particularly well for micro-space dwellers, and/or for the grandparents' house.
Another small space lifesaver is the Gathre Mat. These mats come in a variety of colors and sizes, including one design that's intended for use beneath a highchair. We ALWAYS use one under West's chair if he's eating. It prevents his food mess from getting all over the floor. They're stylish, easy to store, and only take a moment to wipe clean.
Our other favorite baby-feeding tools aren't necessarily small-space specific, but since they are always visible (whether on the drying rack or in their standard storage places when not in use), we selected them for both their look and how they function:
The Mini-Kitchen's Mini-Makeover
Our little kitchen is adorable, but has needed a makeover for YEARS. The countertops were thin slabs of black, white and grey speckled granite, the backsplash was unfinished, and the walls were patched with paint in mismatching levels of gloss. Seeing as how the Cottage is a major part of our lives and business, why on Earth would I wait so long?
Here's the thing about renovations in a tiny home: you can't just relocate to another part of the house while work is being done. In a small place, there's no where to go to escape the fumes and dust. Add a home-based business, kids, and pets to the mix and there never, ever seems to be a good time to tackle any larger-scale updates and repairs. So I just kept putting it off... and years passed, as they do.
But since West is eating solid foods, we're finding ourselves spending more and more time in the kitchen together... and I started getting actively annoyed by the countertops. I could never see if they were actually clean, and I felt like they were making the space feel darker, smaller and more cramped than it actually is. As I paid more attention to the counters, the conditions of the sink, faucet, and walls all started to stab at my eyeballs, too. I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. Our neighbor agreed to let us stay at his place for 2 days while he was out of town, so we pounced on the opporunity and started planning.
Rather than exploring other kitchens online for inspiration, I pulled materials, textures and colors that inspired me. Then I decided what parts of the kitchen needed immediate attention, as we were operating under a tight timeline, and within a strict budget. Adam and I agreed that the cabinetry and appliances could wait, and that we'd focus instead on the countertops, paint, repairs, backsplash/tiling, and sink.
I was craving bright countertops, but I also wanted something with slight texture. Nothing overly marble-y, nothing speckled, and nothing too heavy in appearance. While thick countertops are lovely and certainly on-trend, we wanted something in between-- not too thin, but not so chunky that they looked out of place in our tiny kitchen. And in order to help increase the light and visual space within the room, we wanted something slightly reflective. We found the PERFECT answer to all of these requirements via Cambria's Torquay countertops. I love the characteristics of Torquay-- it's like sand and marble made a baby together:
The planning / measuring, removal of the old counters, and the installation of the new tops were a breeze. Both visits combined took under 4 hours. I can't believe I waited 6+ years for this update. It's made a HUGE difference in our home, and we LOVE it.
Next up was the tile for the kitchen and breakfast bar counter backsplash. I knew I wanted Fireclay. I think their handmade tiles are just so gorgeous. I initially wanted to use their Picket shape, as it mirrors the fence supporting the grapevines outside. I'd also planned to go with Rosemary, which is a muted yet distinct shade of green.
At this point, I called my incredibly talented friend, former neighbor and tiny house expert Kim Lewis for her input. While I consult on tiny home decor every day, I find that it's handy to get an outside opinion when working on the Cottage, specifically. It helps me get out of my bubble and see things differently. And Kim is the best. She knows me. She knows tiny homes. And she knows design. Kim and I decided that the Picket shape was wonderful, but just too large for this project. But neither one of us wanted a particularly modern shape, and we wanted to steer clear of subway tiling. We opted instead for a 1/6 cut. It's tiny, like our home, and rectangular like all of the built-ins and shapes throughout the house. We also updated our color selection, picking French Linen, which is a light shade of pale grey with a beige undertone. It's a perfect balance between cool and warm notes, and has a semi-reflective sheen to bounce light around our small space:
We used to hang smaller kitchen tools and accessories from the backsplash walls, since there was nothing there before. Now, with the tile in place, we moved the accessories to magnetic hooks on the refrigerator, which work just as well, and make the space look more organized and simplified.
With the new backsplash tile and countertops, it seemed silly to leave our cheap old sink and faucet in place. We upgraded to a white undermount Kohler, measuring about 17x18". (We installed it sideways to provide us with wider access, and more counter space for the faucet and soaps. We installed a small Purist pull-out spout faucet in vibrant polished nickel. It measures under a foot tall, so it fits well in our compact kitchen.
The final step was to repaint the kitchen, and repair various damage to the walls that built up over the years. We figured that it was time to repaint the entire interior of the cottage-- including the ceilings. We moved most of our items to the laundry shed and garden for 2 days and nights while the painting was underway. (Luckily the LA weather had our backs, and nothing was damaged in the process.)
We adjusted our wall color ever-so-slightly, and picked a slightly warmer, earthier hue than the previous yellow-tinted version. We used "Muscat Blanc" Everest paint by Dunn Edwards. We selected the Velvet finish, which is easier to clean than Flat-- an essential, given the baby and the pups. We used Flat White on the ceilings, and Semi-Gloss White for the moldings.
We are so happy with our tiny kitchen's new appearance. I'm looking forward to sitting here with my little family for years to come.
Tiny Updates
With the Cottage nursery finally set up (see previous posts), I wanted to make a few minor updates around the house to allow the spaces blend together a bit more seamlessly.
My main resource for the updates was Couleur Locale. I love the neutral, Earthy tones and textures of their products:
New grass fringe lampshade, as we thought the bare-bulb would be a bit too bright for the baby.
New coconut tea light holders (for real and faux candles, depending on context) and bowls. This way we won't have to worry about glass or porcelain holders breaking once the baby begins to grab things.
New rattan wicker baskets for decor and market goods:
New handmade bedspread from World By Hand:
New anchor hooks for the bedroom, to match the subtle, nautical theme in the closet nursery:
New stools with backs-- we want to feel more secure and supported when holding the baby during our meals at the breakfast counter:
And a few more little accessories, here and there:
Lil' Kitchen
The kitchen at the Cottage isn't actually all THAT tiny... or at least it doesn't feel that way. We have an apartment-size refrigerator, a dishwasher, a standard stove, and a breakfast counter. The skylight overhead, the window under the cabinetry, and the dutch door at the end of the room make it feel bright and spacious to me, regardless of its actual square-footage.
Recently, several people have asked me what appliances, accessories and tips I would recommend for a small kitchen. As always, I'd advise going vertical, and opting for multi-purpose and/or reusable items when possible. Here is a list of my go-to goods from the Cottage kitchen:
S-Series: Personal Blender by Vitamix (perfect size for those of us with limited counter space)
Compact Pop-Up Toaster by Muji (simple streamlined design)
Over the Sink/Stove Cutting Board (adds counter space over 2 standard-sized burners)
Source Sparkling Water Maker by SodaStream (make your own bubbly water-- there's no need to buy, haul, store, and trash bottles)
Mini Colander (easy to hang on a wall, saving valuable cabinet and drawer space)
Polder Food Storage Box (a bit of extra food storage for your countertops)
Wire Mesh Caddy from West Elm (to store slim plates and mugs-- we keep ours on the top of the fridge)
Slim Cuatro Plates from CB2 (they stack-and-store so easily)
Cutting Boards (for cutting, serving, dining, and decorating)
Otis Wire Wall Basket from Domino (vertical storage for the tiny items you commonly reach for, such as tea strainers, corks, and bag-closure pins)
Hooks, extra-strong magnets, and linens with hanging loops (handy for hanging aprons, artwork, pot holders, dish towels, etc.)
One of these days, I would so love to redo the countertops and backsplash. But for now we're simply working with what we've got, and it's more than enough!
Temporary Dishwasher Cover
So many people have asked about the fun lil' dishwasher cover featured in one of our recent Cottage images:
The artwork pictured is a piece of wallpaper that was designed by my friend (and total genius) Justina Blakeney for Hygge and West. Instead of fully adhering the paper to the front of the dishwasher, I simply used four magnets to hold it in place.
Try extra strong magnets. Or, if you'd prefer to use adhesive, try something "damage free," such as contact strips.
Wrapping paper is a wonderful way to expand your options, and switch up your look at very little cost.