Tea For Two
Posted by Erin | Filed under Inspiration, Musings
With it being Valentine's Day, I've got my mind set on something sweet. No, not chocolate, flowers or jewelry — tea! I'd much rather spend a slow Valentine's Day morning sipping tea with my love than a romantic (read: pricey) night on the town.
In honor of my favorite V-Day tradition, I thought it would be fun to round up some spectacular tea-inspired finds that are sure to brighten up your kitchen this February! Enjoy:
Image Credits: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
What are your plans for V-Day, friends?
Tags: cooking, drink, holiday, kitchen, tea, valentine's-day
A Black/White Industrial Kitchen
Posted by Erin | Filed under Inspiration, Musings
Behold, my dream kitchen. The bones are perfect: a mix of industrial and natural elements with a touch of quirky, home-spun details. In my opinion, it doesn't get any better than this.
Here's why it works:
1. The open shelving keeps the industrial, cold look from appearing too minimalist. By displaying fresh foods and ingredients (bread, flour, sugar), there are plenty of textures to keep the kitchen interesting and cozy.
2. The sleek stainless cabinetry juxtaposed with the white farmhouse sink create an eclectic mix that is hard to define, making it the perfect classic kitchen. In other words, because you can't place a finger on the time period in which this specific kitchen was designed, you've created a timeless atmosphere that will need little updates in the future.
3. Below, the sheepskins softly draped on the hard seating create another cozy layer to the space. After all, metal looks dreamy, but who wants to sit on a cold, hard bench for more than a few minutes?
All in all, this is a beautiful space, indeed. Although, admittedly, I'd add a touch of In Stitches under the dining room table. But, you know, that's me. 
[Images via AlltiHemmet]
Tags: cozy, dining, industrial, kitchen, textiles, texture
Wood detail…
Posted by Peggy | Filed under Inspiration, Musings
Somehow I find wood to be very comforting… in any season, in any weather. Maybe it's because – wait, scratch that, I know it is because – of my love for nature and the outdoors. I started hiking with my parents at a very young age, and continue to do so till this day. When I see images that showcase wood in the most unexpected and clever places, it makes me smile a little more, and linger on just a tad longer. I know this may sound silly, but it's like my comfort food, for the eyes.
… a pair of vintage wooden doors made into a headboard. Looks pretty fabulous, doesn't it? And that chandelier… definitely kicks it up a notch.
Tags: bedroom, kitchen, organization, reclaimed wood, recycle, wood, wooden floors
Common Household Solutions: Where To Hang Kitchen Towels?
Posted by Erin | Filed under Design Tips, Inspiration, Musings, Solutions
After spotting this image of a Mark Olson-designed kitchen on Desire to Inspire (shout out to two of my favorite bloggers, Kim and Jo!), I noticed something I hadn't ever thought of before: kitchen towel storage! Because I'm in the process of renovating my dream home, I've had function on the brain for more weeks than I'd like to admit and am astounded I hadn't yet thought of where to hang my kitchen towels.
When renovating or re-designing a space on any scale, the questions to ponder are endless: where to keep winter boots? Where will I store my jewelry? Where will the bar of soap go in our shower? It's enough to make my brain explode.
Now, when it comes to kitchen tea towels, I'm of the school of thought that you can never have too many. I rarely keep paper towels handy and almost always opt for clean-up of the cloth and linen variety. So, here's a basic, handy list of creative ways to hang that endless supply of tea towels in your kitchen (and no, the oven handle does not count!):
1. In the image above, you'll see a handy towel bar installed on the kitchen island. I love this idea!
2. Why not DIY a peg board for miscellaneous spatulas and towels to hang beautifully in the open?
3. The ENDO magnet clip can stick to your fridge and hold even the heaviest of tea towels.
4. In the image below (courtesy of Design*Sponge), a simple nail in the wall provides the perfect resting place for a tea towel (or apron!). Or, you know. The oven handle.
What do you think, readers? Where do you hang your kitchen towels?
Tags: cleaning, dining, kitchen, organization, storage
Carpet In the Kitchen: Yay Or Nay?
Posted by Emily | Filed under Musings, Solutions
Since moving into our new apartment a few months ago, my partner Gregory and I have given the kitchen a fresh coat of paint, hung shelves, replaced old knobs and hinges, and really worked to make the space clean and bright … but there still exist a few glaring remnants of decades past. Chiefly among them is the vinyl flooring, a mottled mix of beige, cream, and yellow. It looks perpetually dingy and hurts my eyes just to think about it.
As renters on a budget, we aren't able to realize all of our decor dreams, but we are committed to making this our home for many years, which means doing something about the kitchen floor. For those who can't remove ugly flooring, there's always the option of covering them up. Gregory recently suggested FLOR tiles, thinking that they would be relatively economical and easy to lay down over the vinyl and around appliances and counters. We could certainly find something to suit our style among the range of colors and patterns.
Unfortunately, my reaction wasn't terribly positive. In fact, it was more along the lines of, "Ewww!" for I can't help but shudder at the idea of carpet in the kitchen. Wouldn't it get horribly dirty? I can't picture a carpet in the kitchen without seeing it covered in greasy oil stains, sticky cake crumbs, and tomato sauce splatters.
Yet, I know that carpet in the kitchen is not unheard of. There are several examples of it in the FLOR catalog, not to mention decor magazines and websites. Perhaps the key is to choose something in a dark color or pattern to disguise the inevitable stains? I do know that my feet would probably love a layer of carpet during those long hours of cooking and washing up. And anything would be better than that vinyl tile…
What do you think? Am I being overly concerned or rightfully wary? Do you have carpet in your kitchen?
Tags: carpet, design, FLOR tiles, kitchen
