Kitchen

I suppose now that my kitchen has been gutted it is time to really nail down what it is I want. It is somewhat daunting, yet very exciting at the same time. It is a luxury designing a space around one's own needs. I was fortunate enough to purchase home with a pretty functional, albeit outdated kitchen.

The kitchen of my dreams is white, white, white. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who knows me. I am an unapologetic white addict. I have entire volumes devoted to the decoration of homes using white. It's so bright and fresh and crisp and clean, yet also ethereal, sexy and chic all at the same time. White is timeless. I am in the process of painting out my lovely circa '89 honey oak cabinets, you guessed it, Simply White by Benjamin Moore. Soon to follow are countertops in either quartz or carerra marble, subway tile backsplash with a marble accent, stainless appliances, cafe curtains, bistro chairs and dark wood floors.

I live in my kitchen so it has to be beautiful and comfortable. I love to cook and have my people hang with me as I do so, whether it's my two kids enjoying cookies and milk or girlfriends sipping wine, a big island with comfy stools to perch upon is a necessary requirement.

Then there are the things I am still questioning. A wine fridge. Seems the more wine we have in the house, the more wine we drink. Not that this a negative thing! Perhaps a nice built-in wine rack will suffice. And then there is the thorn in my side. Spices. To have them exposed or not. I think not. Some things in the kitchen are pretty to look at, but spices just aren't one of them. But I hate digging around for rogue spice containers, so my spice quandary continues. And what about cookbooks? I love the injection of bright colour my cookbooks bring to the kitchen space. Since the microwave shelf will not be going back to it's former location the nook by my sunny kitchen window may be just the place for some open shelving and my dream beverage centre. Think of a Parisian bistro with a shiny cappuccino maker and all the cups and saucer stacked up like little soldiers.