If you love to cook, then your kitchen is no doubt the heart of your home. Andrew and I really enjoy cooking. I love trying new recipes and making old favorites, Andrew loves to just throw something together and have it come out incredible.

One of the major reasons for our renovation was to make our kitchen more user friendly. It wasn’t small but just laid out in a way that made things a little trickier than it needed to be. We made due though and whipped up some fantastic meals that we shared with family and friends over the years.

Open Spaces

A well planned kitchen layout was crucial. Andrew designed it all himself, from the initial drawing to the cabinet making. He had a vision and brought it to life. When we opened up the space by taking down and shortening a few walls this made the space feel so much bigger and brighter. Previously, when you were in the kitchen you felt a little isolated from the rest of the house. Now we have this beautiful breakfast bar so that you can chat with the person who is cooking.

Another thing that he wanted was to make sure we had the classic “work triangle”. This is the relationship between the stove, sink, and refrigerator which allows for easy movement between these areas. Having open concept helped with flow, making it easier to work in and socialize at the same time. No bumping into each other here!

Storage

Plenty of well organized storage was a must. We didn’t have a lot of cabinet space before so we had a lot of things just sitting out. Andrew’s thoughtful cabinetry maximized our storage and got rid of all the clutter. Pull out shelves, deep drawers for pots and pans, and specialized spaces for items like spices and cutting boards have made all the difference.

Invest In The Good Stuff

Durable, energy efficient appliances were a must when we were planning this renovation. We made some amazing meals on our little black oven but it was time for an upgrade. We opted for a double oven and a stand alone range. Often we’d need to be very strategic with our oven use because we may need to bake two things at different temperatures. Not anymore though! We also invested in a high quality range hood. I’m known to set off the smoke alarm… so this has been a game changer. This is also the first time that we’ve had a dishwasher. Crazy, I know. I love our new farmhouse sink – so I appreciate a clean sink SO much more.

These new appliances have definitely elevated our kitchen’s functionality and were worth every penny. Remember to shop local for your appliances! We went to Agren Appliance in South Portland and they were so helpful. They even told us to hold off on our initial order because there would be a sale the following month. Do big box stores do that for you? Locally owned businesses will often price match too and really appreciate your business,

Personal Touches

Yes this is a bright and shiny new space but it’s still our bright and shiny new space. With all of the white and grey we wanted to make sure we had pops of color through art and other pieces in our kitchen. We also love quirky things and haven’t lost that in our new space. We have vintage posters from WWII, a cosco step stool that belonged to Andrew’s grandmother, our plat du jour board, favorite cookbooks (on an Andrew made shelf), and cat magnets hidden around the room. If you look closely I’m sure you’ll find some. Our aprons hang from the pantry instead of being tucked away, our dish soap bottle is a flower covered wine bottle, and we keep our orange Le Creuset out because it’s pretty.

We are so happy with our new space and look forward to serving up tasty meals for our friends and family for many years to come.

Cheers!