Welcome back! Did you have a good weekend? I enjoyed my three days off with Monday being Martin Luther King Day here in the States. Benny and Bixby and I bundled up and went out for walks in the snow, made some yummy soup, browsed a few local bookshops, and I spent a good chunk of time finally getting to several little projects around the house I had been putting off. Like clearing out Bixby’s closet and sorting boxes of his clothes and toys for keepsakes & giveaways, which felt good to stay on top of!
Over the weekend I also caught up on my blog reading, and among my wanderings I found myself drawn to kitchens over and over again. What I really love is an open kitchen with big windows looking into a garden, an old farmhouse sink, a touch of marble, open shelving and pretty glass-front cabinets. So of course when I came upon the kitchen above on Bonnie Tsang’s absolutely gorgeous blog, I was stopped in my tracks. I found that this kitchen belongs to a property rented out as a location for photo shoots by 1′st Option locations, based in the UK. Are you as seduced by this kind of space as I am? If so, you can drool right along with me as we take a further peek:
So many things I love here, from the white floors and subway tiles to the raw wood counters and simple industrial style lighting. I like the sense of history and love that comes from worn wood and vintage porcelain – this is so much more appealing to me than a brand-new kitchen.
This shot above comes from another location available through 1′st Option – see those thick-cut floating white shelves? That is exactly what I want. If it were my home I would be tempted to add a framed art print or small painting casually propped on the counter, big luscious piles of produce, and a chalkboard wall.
I have to admit that if I were to transfer all of the contents of my kitchen cupboards to open shelves and glass-front cabinets right now, it would not be a pretty sight! The fact is, there are always going to be certain kitchen items that are best left hidden deep in closed storage :) But hopefully, as I collect things over time, there will come a day when I love the bulk of my kitchenware enough to happily put it on display.
Other things I am a sucker for: vintage (or vintage-looking) stoves, milk glass, hand-thrown pottery, perfect tea kettles, Bialetti espresso pots, Le Creuset dutch ovens, fun tea towels, glass jars for storing pantry items, large cookbook collections, and fresh potted herbs.
I would love to know: What about you? What would your dream kitchen look like?
(all images: 1′st Option)
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I love nosing around on 1st option – isn’t it fun?! I love this kitchen, it was used in a cookery programme here in England by Sophie Dahl and each week I admired the kitchen as much as her cooking.
xx
Cassie´s last [type] ..Tumblr Tuesday
Cassie – Ha! I didn’t know that, but now I want to go find that cooking show :) xo Laura
We must be having the same brain wave. I posted one of my favorite kitchens yesterday and was asking the same question. I really do love your choices as well. My biggest concern right now in my own kitchen is the lack of light. There is no window on that wall of our apartment so it makes it pretty dark.
Traveling Mama´s last [type] ..the perfect kitchen
Traveling Mama – Oh light, that is such a big one! My current kitchen is also lacking in the light department – I do have 2 small windows, so I can’t complain too much, but one is mostly blocked by the neighbor’s overgrown hedge and the other is just really small! I’m coming over to your place now to see your fav kitchen! xo Laura
Well i work for a kitchen company in Manchester and i only wish my clients would be interested in these kitchens, it is always the same designs that they want ie black worktops and gloss white slab doors, brush nickel appliances and big american fridges that make ice! Anyway loving the styles here especially the almost shabby chic farmhouse kitchen…thanks for sharing some inspiration.