** “This New House” Series on MomFavorites.com is sponsored by Unpakt. Search our story on Twitter/Facebook with the #thisnewhouse hashtag!**
My kitchen is my home within my home. It’s where I stumble to in the morning to grab my first cup of coffee. It’s where I feed my family before sending them out to conquer the world. It’s where we party with friends, cherish our family traditions, and break bread. It truly is the heart of the family.
Every family kitchen and dining room is a workhorse, but because we spend so much time here, it should also be a place you enjoy to be in, and a room that makes daily chores and clean up as easy as possible.
I’ve pulled together some great product and fun tips that I’ve found instrumental in making my kitchen my favorite room of the house to be in. Not simply for my love of cooking, but because it’s where my whole family can be together, enjoying each others’ company and making a lifetime of memories.
Let’s get started:
Here’s a quick glance at my kitchen.
I fell in love with the kitchen of this house, but I had to overcome one obstacle – no breakfast room. In our old house we had a breakfast table and a dining room, but with our new floor plan, the spaces are combined, with the island serving as the casual dining spot.. At first, I wasn’t sure how that would work out. But not that we are settled in, I love it. Our family lives at our kitchen island which serves as: our breakfast gathering spot, homework central, and a food prep zone.
And, I love how the World Market stools work with the space. They rotate, are height adjustable, and you can even remove the backs. Perfect for entertaining and every day use. Never mind that Will uses them like a frog does his lily pads. {Don’t miss the $50 World Market Gift Card giveaway at the end of the post so you can score your own World Market products!}
One thing that I knew I needed to have in my new kitchen was the Innovia Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser. I had one in my laundry room in the old house, but not in the kitchen. I actually had my husband install it the night we moved in. Right by the refrigerator and directly next to our island, our paper towels are easily accessible, yet discretely tucked away. If you aren’t familiar with this incredible example of accessible home automation, check out this post. Then be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post to score one for yourself! Can’t wait? Enter “thisnewhouse” at checkout for $20 off your Innovia Home Paper Towel Dispenser purchased through their website!
Now, if you know me, there are three other areas that we need to take a look at. Hint… take a look at the MomFavorites facebook cover. Yep. Coffee, sippy cups and wine. The beginning, middle and end of the day. One thing I learned early on this year when I launched #Organizedin2013 (which had to come to a halt when my life became very disOrganized in 2013 due to the move) was that everything in the kitchen needed to be functional yet placed in a convenient location near to where you use it.
I used this methodology throughout the kitchen, but especially when it comes to coffee and sippy cups!
See? Everything where you need it. And when it comes to coffee in the morning, that can be a big plus. Did I ever tell y’all about the time I almost poured wine in my coffee instead of half and half? Yeah, I’m foggy before my morning caffeine fix.
I also finally mastered the art of sippy cup storage in the new house. It took five years, but I finally realized, that if I put the cups where the kids can reach them, then they can help themselves to water when they need it. Talk about an ah-hah moment!
And since we all know I love my wine, let’s not forget about wine storage. I fell in love with the ThinkEco2 Etsy shop and their repurposed and reclaimed wooden wine crates. They’ll customize the wine crates (and other fun goodies) with paint colors that match your decor. Wouldn’t that be a fun birthday present or Christmas gift?
Now, let’s walk around to the kitchen sink. Here’s a place that I thought needed a little TLC. My kitchen sink is the centerpiece of my kitchen, for better or worse. So, I made sure it had a little finesse: A focal point with color (the vase w/ flowers), and elements of convenience: a soft mat on the floor, soap (in a nice dispenser – look in the bathroom department of a home store), and a dish towel where everyone (including the kiddos!) can reach it. I found the rack at Walmart; it simply hangs over the cabinet. But I found the kitchen towel on… you guessed it… Etsy!
I adore all of the linens in the AO Handmade Etsy shop, but it wasn’t until I asked the shop owner that I learned she not only lived in Charlotte, but we sent our kids to the same preschool. Small world. So, needless to say I knew it was meant to be. All of her handmade items are adorable: from table runners, napkins, towels and baby blanket the fabrics she uses are fabulous. Oh, and at checkout, enter the promo code “MOMFAVORITES” for 10% off your purchase before 11/30/13! {Don’t miss the AO Handmade Towel Set Giveaway at the end of this post!}
Finally, no room is complete without decorative touches. A wise woman once told me, you don’t pick art to match your decor. You choose art because you love it. If you love it, you’ll find the right place for it. And that’s exactly what I did with my new home. I found the right places to feature the art that I wanted to include in this series and in my new home. I absolutely adored Elizabeth Mayville’s Measuring Spoons and Silverware prints from her Etsy shop. The only thing was, I couldn’t figure out where to put them in the kitchen.
That’s when my interior designer, Andrea Robinson, suggested I get some command hooks and hang them on the tile backsplash….Brilliant. Don’t they look fabulous? I also love her food art… especially they strawberries and grapefruit. I may have to add them to my collection. If you love her work as much as I do, use the code, MomFavoritesFall for 15% off through October! Check out her nursery art too. It’s precious!
Now before we move on to the dining room, I thought I’d give you a peak into my organization process for my kitchen. Beyond my: “Put It Where You Use It” motto to organization, I also employ the “Put It in a Container” method.
My pantry is at an odd angle, with deep corner storage. It’s nice to have, but not overwhemingly accessible, so I have lazy susans in the corner. (I wonder what poor gal inspired that name!) And if you don’t know me, the final bit of advice when it comes to storage – the back of a door is your best friend!
Now, I know I’ve just thrown a lot at you… so stay tuned! Tomorrow we’re chatting up the dining room! And don’t forget… you get points for our #ThisNewHouse grand prize every time you enter one of our giveaways. Claim your points to win a $500 Visa gift card here: https://forksandfolly.com/2013/08/this-new-house-home-base/
Innovia Home – Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser Giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway
AO Handmade – Set of Two Towels Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway
World Market – $50 Gift Card Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can follow our journey with by using the #thisnewhouse hashtag on Twitter and Facebook!
*I did not receive compensation for any of the elements of the This New House Series. I was provided with product and/or services to review and will only be sharing those with the audience that I fully support. All opinions are always my own! *
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