I can't believe I have never given you, my friends, a tour of The Little Kitchen before. So here goes…the five things I LOVE about it.
-
the after is way better than the before
Don't you agree? We moved into this house, more than 8 years ago, less than a year after we got married. Our first home purchase and it was overwhelming. We planned a ton of renovations and the first one was the kitchen. Curtis bought our countertops and the cabinet kits from Home Depot and put them together all by himself. It was a huge improvement from the dark, dingy cabinets the house came with.
With our new appliances from KitchenAid a few months ago, our kitchen got a much, much needed boost. It's pretty amazing, we have burners on the range that actually work, a dishwasher that doesn't sound like it's taking off. True story, our old dishwasher scared the heck out of our puppy when she first heard it. She ran around the house barking when we turned it on.
-
the kitchen is my space
It's definitely my space and it shows, most of the time it's disorganized. It's where I cook, where I spend a lot of time and where I feed my family. In my family, cooking and feeding is how we show love. The place where I spend the majority of my time these days and I'm loving it.
Even though it's little, it's mine. I truly, truly believe you don't have to have the biggest kitchen to make amazing food. To give you an idea, when the dishwasher is open, there's not much room anyone to stand on the other side of it and a dog or two can just about eek by.
The space is limited so I'm known for throwing people out of the kitchen to get out of my way (most of the time nicely). The only thing I miss is that I don't have enough space to be able to have family and friends join me in the kitchen while I cook or even space for bar stools so people can hang out there.
-
two ovens is better than one
I think you'll agree with me on this one. I love, love having two ovens. I can make 3-4 trays of cupcakes at once. We can make two pizzas at once and I cannot wait until Thanksgiving to give the two ovens a huge workout!
And I love the glass cooktop, way easier to clean and maintain than my older range and I just love the way it looks too!
-
having a wonderful dishwasher
The appliance guy who installed both the dishwasher and the microwave was so excited when he brought in the dishwasher. He proudly said the dishwasher I had picked out was the best dishwasher on the market. I was so excited and really…really you're thinking? Yes, really. Because it was a huge step up from what we had before…it's so quiet, I forget often that I already turned it on. Anyone that does a lot of cooking, knows you need a reliable dishwasher and I'm so darn excited to have this one.
-
I'm thankful the pantry is not in the kitchen
And ummm, I'm kinda sorta really embarrassed to show this to you…that's the next thing I need to tackle organizing! The pantry is not directly located inside the kitchen, it's off to the side in a hallway next to the kitchen and I'm totally glad. It's good and bad because I can avoid it.
It's semi-depressing to open this pantry, I can NEVER find anything and that's why I'm so glad it's not a part of the main kitchen. I'm going to have to put some gloves on and dive right in…send help!
Any ideas to help me organize my pantry? And tell me what you love about your kitchen?
Disclosure: My kitchen appliance remodel was sponsored by KitchenAid. I received no compensation and my opinions and the words written on this site are ALWAYS my own. As you know, I only share with you brands I love. The end.
Laura O in AK says
My husband and I both have dreams of a double oven in our future. Actually, we’d like an entire kitchen makeover as this one is set up so poorly.
Penelope says
Hi Julie! I wanted to tell you, we recently went to contract on a home and are waiting for a mortgage approval, but while we wait, we started shopping for the things we need to renovate, and I was inspired by your lovely new kitchen, and am getting everything Kitchen Aid 馃檪 The fridge, oven and dish washer and all stainless steel. I didn’t even know they made major appliances until you said they were giving you a new kitchen, so I looked into it and loved it all (so you can tell them you inspired readers to buy their stuff, and in fact let readers know they make more than beautiful stand mixers, because I had no clue before!)
I’m choosing a counter depth fridge, and a single oven (I’m not a great cook like you are), the handles are the same style as yours鈥hanks for the inspiration!
Marly says
Your new kitchen is beautiful! Organizing pantries? Lots of shelves and containers help. You need to call OXO!!!
Karen says
Congratulations!. I would be so thrilled to get new appliances, since my house does not have any at the moment. Your new look in your kitchen is beautiful!
Diane {Created by Diane} says
great kitchen! I have issues with my pantry too 馃檪 I miss my basement, that is all I can say on that subject.
Rachel Cooks says
Love those gorgeous appliances!
Kristen says
I love your little kitchen, Julie! It’s so you!!
Those appliances are beautiful!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
I love your little kitchen! Those appliances are so great and I always love your outlook on everything!
Megan K says
Beautiful! Ok, now tell the rest… Which dishwasher did you choose? Which oven/stove? Model names & numbers! I want to read the details and dream…
馃槈
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
great post Julie! Great photos
Angie says
I love seeing the before and after photos of your kitchen. What a difference! I love it!
hui says
i love your new kitchen! it’s so sleek now ^^ for your open-space pantry (i have the same prob), you might like to consider using kitchen racks (see http://www.daisojapan.com/p-15467-plastic-kitchen-rack-12pks.aspx) to separate n organize your goodies. They can be stacked on top of each other.. and comes in 2 or 3 sizes. it’s cheap at 100-105yen a piece and more importantly, it worked for me ^^ hope this helps. btw, i enjoy reading your blog ^^
Lenore says
I love these 5 things posts of yours! Your new appliances are sooooooooo pretty…I am insanely jealous of that gorgeous oven!
Also, here’s a secret…until a couple of weeks ago, my pantry was SO full of stuff, too. When I finally organized it I found some canned goods that expired in 2009!!!! AHH!!!
Jen @ BeantownBaker.com says
I cannot wait until I have two ovens!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I love those appliances and I am totally jealous of your sweet dishwasher. As I type this, I can barely hear myself think over mine–and it’s only a year old! I think my favorite thing about my kitchen is the double oven too. That was on my wish list when we were house hunting and it was SO hard to find!
Paula - bell'alimento says
Julie it looks fantastic! I absolutely love your double oven and that dishwasher IS so quiet isn’t it ; ) xoxo
Penelope says
So do you recommend a glasstop over a traditional range? I’m looking at these now for my own kitchen, so maybe I should consider this, because I hate cleaning it.
Julie Deily says
Hi, Penelope. If you have accessibility to gas, I would get a gas range. But if you don’t, I definitely recommend the glass cooktop. You do have to keep up with cleaning it but with the availability of cleaners, I find it really easy to clean! Hope this helps!
Jeanette says
Julie, I love seeing the before and after pictures – what a gorgeous kitchen – love all the KitchenAid appliances, especially that double oven!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Julie I lOVE your little kitchen, and yes the after shots are WAY better than the before, as always. Aren’t KitchenAid products the best?
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
HAHAHA! Great tour! I love how you’ve made the most of the space. It looks WAY more organized than our kitchen.
Aggie says
Your appliances are gorgeous! I bet you just love cooking in those! I secretly want my dishwasher to break so I’m forced to buy a new one lol.
Cleaning out the pantry is therapeutic! It will change your life! I get cranky when mine gets messy. Love this post Julie! 馃檪
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Love your kitchen! We are in the middle of a remodel and I can’t wait for it to be DONE!
katie says
I love your little kitchen and I can say that because I’ve been in it! I use to have a little kitchen and I can totally relate with you–you don’t have to have a massive kitchen to produce amazing food!
Rachel says
YAY! I was wondering the other day if you had the new appliances yet — it looks SO GOOD! YAY!!!!!!!!
And, the pantry? Ugh — I hate my pantry but I did tackle it last month to get it organized. I invested in bins and wire baskets to help keep everything organized. It has made a HUGE difference and I find it much more “user friendly” … but I still want a bigger one!
Karly says
Julie, your kitchen is absolutely adorable. That dishwasher makes me weep with jealousy.
Viki LE Fevre says
My kitchen is even smaller than yours! I had 6 cabinets when I moved in (that includes the 2 tiny little over the stove spice cabinets) and installed a home depot cabinet on the other wall so now up to 8, life is good! My kitchen was line green w/formica and closed walls w/an electric stove to boot!
I have since removed a wall, installed granite, bought new appliances, put up a river rock back splash (myself love costco) and installed a gas line….My pantry is down the hallway also, though after receiving a custom made pie safe that my father made I am happy to say that my pantry does not look like yours anymore! the secret, find another cabinet…..my kitchen opens up to my micro dining room so I put my cabinet in there…it works great! would love to submit some before and after of my micro kitchen…I actually love to cook, and have built an enclosed green house that allows me to get a jump on growing season in CO……
Carolyn says
Okay, soooooo jealous of the two ovens. That’s what my next kitchen will have, plus an extra range.
Mimi says
I love your beautiful little kitchen! Especially the two ovens!
Kathryn says
Ooh I want two ovens! My kitchen is a similar sort of size and I do dream of the days where i have somewhere bigger but, like you say, it is my space and i treasure it.
cassie says
I love your gorgeous little kitchen. And at least you have a pantry…I have to stuff and shove things in my kitchen cabinets, and I assure you that I have one that looks very similar to yours!
Bunkycooks says
We were able to fit in a small pantry that was supposed to make for better organization when we remodeled several years ago. It’s an improvment, but I still have overflow into the old pantry and basement (espeially with home canned goods). I don’t think you can ever get completely organized or have too much space! Good luck! 馃槈
Jenny @ BAKE says
Your kitchen is so gorgeous!! I am so jealous! I agree with what you said about not needing a huge kitchen to be able to cook, your kitchens about double the size of mine! Hopefully one day I’ll get a kitchen as beautiful as yours!
MommyNamedApril @ Mama Loves Food says
I love your kitchen!!! We just bought a house last week that is 1970 vintage. We ripped the kitchen out and now I have to buy appliances. Ack!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Thanks for the kitchen tour! Mine is very small too but like you said, it’s our space! Someday hopefully, I would love a kitchen with an island to cook with friends and family. I get so claustrophobic when friends and family try to help out in the kitchen because it’s so tiny!
As for the appliances, I am SOOOOO jealous of your double oven. I told Jason that when he proposes, I don’t need a diamond ring – just a double oven! 馃檪
Tracey Evans says
Beautiful! Throw that Jiff Peanut Butter and Duncan Hines box in the trash! They have hydrogenated oils in them (trans fat!) 馃檪
Meghan says
Your kitchen looks awesome!!!!
Leonora says
Two OVENS?! I’m jealous! Our built in oven (house is from the 50s, so it is a monstrous yellow eyesore that no longer WORKS!) died a few years ago the day before Thanksgiving! I have to bake in toaster overs. 馃檨
Beautiful kitchen!!!
Mikkel says
I love it, Julie!! LOVE!!!! So happy for you, all your success, and GORGEOUS kitchen that brings you such happiness. 馃檪 xo
Vera says
I love your kitchen. Even your pantry doesn’t seem so bad :>
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Omg a remodel by KitchenAid. You deserve it! I want one, too! My kitchen is half the size of yours. You’re right, you don’t need a ton of space to crank out good food. The flow and functional workspace of it all matters just as much. But of course I’d love to have a bigger kitchen!
And that’s quite high praise about that DW coming from the DW install guy!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
um, my pantry rivals yours. not even kidding.
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
I love seeing this! You make so many beautiful things in this small space!! And your new appliances are so pretty!!!
Stephanie says
I agree. You don’t need the biggest kitchen to make amazing food.
Thank you for the tour! ^_^
Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says
Those are some gorgeous appliances! Your kitchen looks so modern! 馃檪