My *almost* dream kitchen! PIC HEAVY.

[Kiwibird]

I am *so very excited* that I have finished our mini "kitchen" makeover AND stayed under $500. I have truly had the *worst* luck with kitchens, the past 2 were old and disgusting no matter how hard I scrubbed We currently rent a basement apartment with no access to the rest of the house, so we don't technically have a kitchen at all (just a especially large laundry room we can use as a 'makeshift' kitchen). I count my blessings though because this is a NICE house, so even the owners 'old' laundry room has nice cabinets and floors and counters and is clean. I accepted long ago I am never going to have one of those $50,000 chefs kitchens, but this setup is about all I *need* and is really cute IMO. So here's the 'before' and after:

BEFORE (this has been my setup for the past 6 months, and no, there is no stove and yes, we have been cooking in a toaster oven):

AFTER:

I painted my stand &stained the butcher-block top, and found this amazing vintage cart in amazing condition (I have been looking for one of these for a long time):

Imagine, actually having room for your coffee maker AND toaster on the counter:

-To be continued in next thread-

 

[Kiwibird]

And the best 'upgrade' of all MY NEW 1.5CU FT INDUSTRIAL GRADE CONVECTION OVEN (bought half-off on amazon)

Our old oven on top, for comparison:

I also got to move all my cleaning paraphernalia onto the door for easier access:

New scrubbies for the sink

AND straightened up my rack of things I use less frequently and am unable to fit in the kitchen:

 

[Dinosrawr]

That's awesome! I love the little splashes of colour here and there

 

[RavensGryf]

You blew me away again !! I LOVE that. Everything is always not only clean, but neat too! Really nice convection oven

 

[Terry57]

Wow, April, it turned out fantastic! I love all the little touches you have everywhere, and it is so organized and neat That stand looks fabulous, love the dark stain on the butcher block.

 

[Kiwibird]

Thanks everyone. I'm typically a tad OCD with clean, neat, and everything having a 'home' Everything was pretty tidy, just mismatched and not visually appealing. I was also having to drag my blender, juicer and mixer in and out of the kitchen too which was a MAJOR pain, so that cart is just *perfect*. It's been *so* nice to be able to bake a dozen or 2 cookies at a time instead of....6 in the toaster oven that burnt the back ones and left the front one mushy I'm not terribly picky or too high of hopes for a kitchen, but I do appreciate having a reasonably sized oven that bakes evenly. Especially since I do a lot of baking and it was just so frustrating before. YAY!

 

[4dugnlee]

That's really nice! Love the colors! Wish my kitchen was that organized!!!

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks everyone. I'm typically a tad OCD with clean, neat, and everything having a 'home' Everything was pretty tidy, just mismatched and not visually appealing. I was also having to drag my blender, juicer and mixer in and out of the kitchen too which was a MAJOR pain, so that cart is just *perfect*. It's been *so* nice to be able to bake a dozen or 2 cookies at a time instead of....6 in the toaster oven that burnt the back ones and left the front one mushy I'm not terribly picky or too high of hopes for a kitchen, but I do appreciate having a reasonably sized oven that bakes evenly. Especially since I do a lot of baking and it was just so frustrating before. YAY!

Your nice new oven should cook everything evenly. That's what you really needed since you love to bake.
I don't use an oven much anyway, but coming up, where we're moving to (to take care of my elderly dad in his house) the oven is LONG broken, but we will have a toaster oven and stove. Oh, and the very important crock pot and microwave!

 

[Kiwibird]

Your nice new oven should cook everything evenly. That's what you really needed since you love to bake.

Exactly. And the difference in the week I've had it is just amazing. It is *so* much easier to cook in a convection oven. And I do bake a lot. Today I will probably be making birdie cookies (for guess who) and banana bread (for us).

I don't use an oven much anyway, but coming up, where we're moving to (to take care of my elderly dad in his house) the oven is LONG broken, but we will have a toaster oven and stove. Oh, and the very important crock pot and microwave!

If you don't use an oven much, a toaster oven works great for heating stuff, just sucks for baking, and even then, you still can just with not as perfect results . I think it might have something to do with being vegetarian, but I only find a use our crockpot maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I don't know what to cook in it lol (I inherited it from my grandma, or else I probably wouldn't own one), but I know some people use them all the time What do you use yours for?

 

[ruffledfeathers]

That looks great. I can't believe that this was the "old laundry room". It is really nice, neat and clean. Sometimes when you find the right apartment, it is worth working around little quirks like this, because a good thing is a good thing!

I spent most of my life with a crappy kitchen!! My parents were divorced and we lived in a small apartment with really crappy 'stuff' (tiny fridge that wasn't frost free, etc.) Then as an adult I had bought a tiny condo with a little galley kitchen. But i have to say, it is how you FEEL about your home that matters more than anything in the end.

I had been in a relationship with someone and he and i bought a "luxury home" together--but i had no peace of mind and was unhappy. After that failed, I bought my current house, with my quirky 90 year old kitchen. I love it, quirks and all.

So yeah, i'm with you on this: 'i don't need to have a luxury/gourmet kitchen to be happy'.

 

[Nakiska]

WOW! What an excellent eye for organization you have! And Thank you for the idea's you have given me for our house!

Last year we bought an older farm house (1957 - not ancient, but seasoned ;-) ) with a full basement that I was very excited about. I'm told that at one time it used to have a kitchen down there and I think that is why our laundry room is ginormous...is because it used to also accommodate the kitchen.

Initially when we bought the house, we thought about renting our basement out. It's 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, huge living room with woodstove, decent size walk in pantry room.

We only use the main floor (other than going down do laundry) and in our rush to get moved from our old house the basement has become the "catch all clustered storage area...eeks!

Eventually, I am going to get the clutter organized, the boxes and totes emptied and put a kitchen back in the basement, mostly so when we have family or friends come from "afar" they can stay and be comfortable and "on their own."

You've given me some great ideas! I'd love to see pic's of the rest of the basement, as I'm gathering "remodel" ideas for ours. Do you ever have any musty odor, sweat or moisture problems in the basement you live in?

Toni