Now that we’ve lived in this house for over a year and a half, it’s about time we share the kitchen. This space dictated so much of our floor plan decision and gave us the most drama (again and again) in the details. Our pendants are vintage with a cool story and local roots. They are huge too at 18 inches in diameter and height.
We needed barstools/counter stools. I found some I loved but couldn’t justify the price. All the cheaper solutions weren’t really that cheap either. Target had these natural wood counter stools on sale for $15. Then I had a coupon. It was just too good of a deal to pass up. AND guess what? They are life changing. We already gathered around the island at dinner parties (despite having 2 tables to sit at all the people would stand around the island, go figure). Now we get to sit while we gather.
I’d still like to upgrade the stools to some with a back to make the situation even more comfortable, but it isn’t a huge priority especially since aesthetically I like the stools. They work with the navy cabinets and open shelving.
Nick has a strange obsession with buying teak bowls. I oblige because he cooks and likes to plate his dishes all fancy. Who am I stand in his way of some wood bowls?? Our plates and low bowls are from west elm.
Using a magnetic strip for your knives is choice, y’all. It cleared up so much countertop space and streamlined meal prep. The utensil containers are actually planters from Target.
Cutting boards are used enough that keeping them stacked on the counter is pretty and functional. We use my Kelly Lamb planter as a fruit bowl because we classy. These tiny white flowers grow as weeds in on our lot. Ramona picks them for me, and they are beautiful. So dainty and interesting shape.
Nick has a coffee station by the refrigerator. It’s possibly the most used part of the kitchen. The bonavita kettle allows the entire process (and it’s a process friends) of making coffee happen in this corner of the kitchen. For extra coffee nerd points, we use an acaia scale.
All of the windows on the sink side of the kitchen open fully to the patio. It was a beautiful day yesterday in North Texas, so we opened them up. Mainly just for this picture but also it was a nice reminder that this is a pretty awesome feature that gets forgotten in the heat of summer.
We have our nook space between the kitchen and living room. There’s plenty of room for a table and walking space which was a huge concern when we were working on the floor plan. My mother in law bought this table for $150 at a consignment shop. It was exactly what we had been looking for in scale and style. Plus you can’t beat that price. *Full disclosure this is a staged photo because I removed Beckett’s high chair to make prettier.
That marble tho. I’m so glad we found such a beautiful slab that was large enough to waterfall it like we’d hoped.
In case you didn’t notice, the countertops and styling in the kitchen is very minimal. First it’s easier for me to keep the kitchen clean when there is less on the counters. Things tend to spiral out of control when I add even a centerpiece to the island. I don’t know if it’s the stage of life we are in with 2 small kids or something indicative of our personality, but somehow 1 thing on the counter inevitably turns into 1 million by the end of the day. Regardless we’ve found it’s best if we let the elements in the kitchen – the marble, the open shelves, the tile wall, the pendants – be the styling in here.
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It’s so open and bright! And the island turned out so beautiful. I love that you are using “weeds” as flowers – we do that too
I just can’t coordinate a trip to town for real flowers with a space being clean enough to shoot!
i mean…. it’s insane! i love it! those pendants make my heart race. i want to come have coffee with you.
Name the day and I will have the coffee and pastries ready!!
Ridiculously gorgeous! I hate my kitchen for not being so bright and airy like yours. And oh MARBLE!
Haha thanks Sarah! I think the marble secretly hates me because I use it to fold clothes. It feels like that’s really beneath its job description.
Your kitchen is so, so gorgeous! Sigh. love it. Remember how my friend found the 2 twin pendants just like yours at a thrift store here and gave one to me? She finally gave up trying to find a place for hers and sold it on Craigslist. I wonder if the person who bought it has a blog ;). It was hard for me not to snatch it up, but I couldn’t think of anywhere to put it, either. I had something else to say….oh! bar stools! yes, isn’t it crazy how expensive they are?! If we ever get our island done, we’ll need SIX of them. I might have to go the Target route, too–yours look good in there!
I’ll never forget that you’re my pendant twin. I can’t believe she sold it! I would have bought it from her. Surely I could find a spot for it with the others I’ve got up in the hallway. One of my friends stumbled upon a home for sale in my {very} small town with our exact pendants! From the same place and everything. Isn’t that nuts?!?!
Barstools are crazy expensive. Go the Target route if you need 6 or some knock off Bertoias on amazon. Nick wants some, but I think they are too similar to the Eames we have in the nook. I also want fancy upholstery ones that will require a blood sacrifice to obtain.
Good gracious, it is spectacular. It doesn’t matter how many times I see that counter, I was to give it a snuggle every single time. You should probably never invite me over because I would totally molest your counters.
You’re still allowed over. I will just leave you alone for a while and pretend that it isn’t weird at all. 😉
I love it all – it’s such a beautiful kitchen. Those windows that open completely? I’m so jealous – what an amazing feature.
I wish they rolled and folded like an accordion, but I didn’t want to even know how much something like that cost. The window guy really discouraged me from even checking. I mean if the guy who sells windows knows that it’s so expensive we won’t do it, it has to be bad.
Gosh I wish you would blog more! You truly own my dream kitchen and the styling is spot on. I have those counter stools too and they are perfect for your kitchen. There’s not always a need for fancy stools.
I wish I would blog more too! I take on these crazy projects and wipe myself out for months. I need someone to ground me and keep me rational about my crazy ideas!! The only thing I don’t like about the stools is they don’t have a back. We tend to sit around the island all night when we entertain. It would be waaaaay more comfortable if I could lean back!
That is true! I feel the same way but I don’t have room for backs. Our kitchen is too tiny
So I’m suuuuper late to comment on this, but I just thought I would anyway… I adore your kitchen! I’m glad it’s all up here on the internets so I can go crazy pinning it 😀
You so crazy girl! Come over and let’s drink a beer and eat some food in this now internet published kitchen.