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I know it's much too stark for the average taste but I love it, although I do consider this more art than a living space. I would love a minimalist home that looks like art, but it's not very realistic for anyone who works full time, has a family, and a few too many pets (I'm a crazy cat lady :)
It takes a lot of work daily to keep a kitchen like this clean, I know because I have a white kitchen. Never mind "stuff", just the everyday cleaning of this kind of space is very time consuming.
I didn't chose our white kitchen, it was what we had to work with. We did a lot of renovations in the home, but I just couldn't see ripping out kitchen cabinets that are like new. I added warmer colors on the walls to soften things up and what I consider minimal accessories.
I love the look of my kitchen when it's spotless, but with a family I assure you that doesn't happen very often. I will never have another white kitchen if I have anything to do with it. I prefer low maintenance any day. Minimalism doesn't only come in white.
Did you notice that the microwave is the only stainless appliance and all the others are white? I originally had dreams of someday replacing all of them with stainless steel appliances. Much like the cabinets, the white appliances were all in working order other than the microwave. I decided to replace as needed instead of spending the money to replace things that didn't need replacing yet. So glad I took that road, I can't stand my stainless steel microwave! I can scrub, polish, and shine and it still looks all smudged all the time, even right after I clean it, before anyone even touches it. I wish I would have started with a stainless steel toaster instead - lesson learned.
When we decide something is what we would really love to have or change in our lives, big things or little things, we should choose very carefully and with much consideration. We can't base our lives on magazine images or even the so called experts. Everyone's walk in life is so different. We might love the look or idea of something, but it might be more of a pain than it's worth, sometimes much more. It's a good idea to ask around and learn from others, research carefully, and even try things out whenever possible before taking the plunge.
The grass really isn't greener on the other side - and the cabinets aren't any whiter either.
10 comments:
It is ironic how different ALL kitchens are and the family/environmental influences on them that make them our own. I love the white with the warm walls and minimal stars decor.
Thanks Tamy. I really loved my little kitchen in my other house. It was tiny but very functional, this new kitchen is spacious - but not very user friendly at all. I'm trying to make it ours but find myself wanting to go back home more and more all the time. I guess I'm the lucky one, I still have the option to do that if I really want to.
You did well warming the kitchen upo with the paint color. My sister was into Shabby Chic and everything was white or slipcovered. Learned my lesson from her on the white issues that you are experiencing. But, I too bought the whole shebang with stainless steel appliances. Never again. I think you can match form and function and stainless is not functional. How did we all get hookwinked into stainless? I can't wait to see what the 'next generation' is!
Look at it this way... you could have a sink that was marigold yellow or avocado green! My kitchen still has the original 1954 cabinets, floor and counter. I think it was originally done up in a combination of copper, and robin's egg blue, and you can still see the remnants.
Every year I swear that THIS will be the year I redo it, or at least paint the cabinets and put in a new floor... but alas, life always seems to intervene.
And the truth of the matter is... it really doesn't make much difference in my life. CatMan and the fe-lions are pretty much the only ones who ever see it (besides me) and the only thing that matters to any of them about a kitchen is that good food comes out of it!
I do have to say that I would pretty much kill for the amount of counter and cabinet space that you have... the only way I'll ever get that is to move or blow out a wall! Sigh...
Less stuff, less stuff, less stuff... I'll just keep repeating the mantra...
I loooooove your kitchen (but I know how tough it is to keep one clean). In my last life, in France, I had a huge kitchen where I entertained. It was gray walls, with a red accent wall and wenge cabinets. And I also had this old green dresser where I put my once owned beautiful dishes.
Anyway. I'd love to have a beautiful kitchen again, though I think I'll probably go minimalist this time.
Or I'll do a 50's design.
Thanks for the ref. Glad you liked the article!
I just happened to catch that article this morning. I think the all white apartment is fun to look at, but yeah, I couldn't live like that. I'd be pretty ticked if someone spray painted all my stuff though!
Your kitchen looks minimal in the most lovely way. I hate cluttered countertops!
I am obsessed with white cabinets. I love them. My current cabinets are white but needed repainted badly. I have stainless appliances too, and while white would be easier to clean, I don't struggle as much with mine. Have you tried different cleaners? I used to use white vinegar, and still use it to keep the vent hood grease-free, but the toxic stainless cleaner works much better and lasts longer.
I love your kitchen and I do feel its warm.
We renovated our kitchen a few years ago and although I love it, it took awhile for me to get use to all the stainless steel. The appliances always looked smudged. I tried a lot of products and never felt like I could get it to be “smudgeless”. Then one day, I found Weiman’s stainless steel cleaner and polish at Walmart and feel in love with the stainless steel in my kitchen. This stuff works like magic.
I hope it can change your relationship with your microwave. Seriously, try it!
xoxo
Part of minimalistic living should always include minimalistic care, or what is the point? At least that is the way I see it. I have some friends who use a lot of makeup to make it look like they have a little makeup on. I just wash my face & use lipstick. Minimalist.
I like your added touches. Your counter tops are much cleaner than mine! I have tins sitting on mine. I'd love to have new cupboard doors but that's not happening for awhile. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you everyone for all your comments. I haven't had time this week to respond to each individually or visit your blogs. I hope to catch up on the weekend, Hope everyone is having a great week!
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