This kitchen is what made me not give up while looking for a place to live in Vancouver. It called to me in the ad. It reminded me of my mom. It was so bright and homey and wow, granite countertops? Ah… yes please!
The Move
Then the moving chaos began. The moving guys kept emptying box after box and I could not put stuff away fast enough and everything piled up and my brain turned off. I could not handle it. So I let there be piles everywhere and just started filling every spot with towers of my kitchen tools and dishes.
I was not planning on putting a standing organizer in my kitchen but it became clear, it was absolutely necessary. It created a home for all my appliances. The problem? For a while the kitchen became a dumping ground for everything else. Ack!
Getting Organized
It took days to figure out where I wanted my stuff, how I wanted it… One thing I am very excited about is I have all my tea and coffee-making supplies on the left of the stove. Including mugs! I have always wanted a “beverage-making” station and now I have it. Wonderful!
And see how all the bowls and plates are so neatly stacked on the right? That’s before I found everything that I had packed away for home showings.
Oh it looked so nice and neat and organized.
OMG! Now I have plates and bowls teetering everything and stacked super high. As long as I do not find one more box of kitchen gear, I should be OK.
Reg had a wonderful idea of only putting glass items in the cupboard that gets the most light and has tons of glass.
That way the light continues through to where I do all my food prep and does not take away lighting for my photos. And, it looks cool. Yes, I have stuff stuffed literally to the rafters!
Today
So I took these photos this morning for you to check out. There is still stuff everywhere but it is so much better now. I have a new IKEA cutting board, new cookbooks…
I love having my mortar & pestles on my window sill.
Oh there is still so much to do but at least the kitchen is now “functional” and I love the design. Everything is perfectly place and even on a grey day like today, there is light.
One day it won’t be so cluttered and I will have found homes for other stuff but today, it works. Not bad for just being in here just a month!
I can’t imagine having to pack and move and unpack… but my time will come soon enough. You did a great job! Congrats! 🙂 It looks so homey <3
If you can lighten your load ahead of time first it makes a bit difference Michelle and yes, your big “trip” is coming up. Thank you, yes, we feel very much at home here.
Looking great, Suzie! I’ve been in my new place for 4 months now and I STILL have lots of junk just sitting around in piles and boxes on the floor! Mainly CDs, DVDs and books, waiting to be put away in the new IKEA furniture I just got delivered and assembled this week. So by Christmas, everything should be ship-shape! My kitchen is under control and has been for awhile, though, simply because I don’t have anywhere near as much cooking-related stuff as you do!
LOL, thanks, makes me feel better Debra! Christmas is a great goal.
I too think it looks great! Moving is a process, one that I have been so GLAD not to have done for 11 years. Before that though I moved almost every year…the longest I’d ever lived anywhere was 4 years once! xoO
Thank you Olivia! Moving is exhausting so it sounds like you got a bit of a break for the last 11 years!