In the Details // My Kitchen

Recently (okay, over three months ago), I posted about how I would be starting a new series here where I share bits and pieces of different rooms and spaces throughout my home.  I explained that when I visit someone's home for the first time, it is most often the details of the space - pictures, patterns, knickknacks, textures, corners, artwork, colors - that move me and stick in my memory.  I also shared some details of my living room, with a promise to make it a more regular thing. 

Well here's the deal.  I love design, and I love home decor, and I love how it feels when my space is organized and beautiful.  But I am also very messy by nature.  And I work from home, and that means all sorts of extra clutter.  The reality is that my house is usually in no condition to be snapping photos to share on a public forum, hence the lack of these "in the details" posts on a regular basis, despite my original (and best) intentions.  My home is lived in, and a lot of times it just looks like crap.  Period.  Thankfully, I decided the other day that my kitchen was clean enough (although truthfully still far from spotless) to share some of my favorite details from it with you guys.  So here we go.

I've mentioned before (several times, actually) that I'm a terrible cook, but that I still have a thing for kitchens.  The kitchen is the heart of the home in many ways, and although mine is tiny, I've still done my best to create a space that is equal parts visually appealing and practical.  My kitchen is also probably the boldest, most contrasting room in our place as far as color scheme.  Whereas the living room is quite minimalist and neutral in both the furniture and the decor, the kitchen is full of pops of vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and greens against dark backgrounds.  The counter tops are charcoal, the walls are very dark grey, and our dinnerware (which we keep in an open cupboard) is classic white, so I went for cheery, bright color with things like containers, countertop appliances, and our vintage Pyrex mixing bowl collection.  (Side story - the big orange daisy bowl was a wedding gift that my parents received and ultimately gave to me because it was always my favorite.  A few years ago, Robbie and I were in an antique shop and found the rest of the set for $15.  Score!)

Anyone else get much more excited about the details of kitchen design/decor than they do about the act of cooking?