Entries in Kitchen (5)

Monday
Aug112014

Window of Opportunity

I’ve joked in the past about having a black thumb - or no thumbs at all - when it comes to plants and gardening. I had just about given up on all of it, but then Chris and I moved into our new neighborhood in Kew Gardens. We were suddenly surrounded by charming gardens and a park full of towering trees, and it sparked an intense desire to bring some of nature's beauty into our own home.

I decided to give myself another chance. After all, I grew up watching my dad work magic in his garden. Surely there’s got to be a hint of green thumb-ness swirling through my double helix somewhere, right?

Starting with a tiny collection on our sunny kitchen windowsill, I began researching and learning about every single plant under my care. With a steady dose of patience and diligence, my collection started to thrive and expand! The windowsill soon became overrun and crowded, and I ran out of space for new projects.


While searching for space-saving solutions, I came across these amazing window gardens on Pinterest. This was exactly what I needed for my growing family of projects! I was so inspired and immediately began to brainstorm aesthetically pleasing ways to securely mount glass onto a window frame.

Surprisingly, these antique drawer pulls turned out to be my final answer. Aren't they gorg? The egg-and-dart detailing echoes the Old World vibe going on in our kitchen, and that brassy patina looks absolutely delicious against the cherry wood window frame. What can I say, good hardware gets me hot and bothered.

Wait. Drawer pulls... for shelving? The saleslady at the store looked at me like I was all sorts of crazy, so let me explain: These bin pulls have a one-inch overhang and finish at 90 degree angles, making them perfect little brackets for glass shelving. It's a odd concept, but stay with me on this one.

I had a local glass supplier custom cut two panes to fit the dimensions of the window frame. Glass can get pretty heavy, so I went with 3/4" panes in order to keep the shelving as light as possible. This thickness is sturdy enough to support the weight of a few plants without placing excessive weight on the brackets.

I decided to install the shelves along the upper window sash. This placement allows us to continue using the window as needed. Good ventilation is very important, especially in the kitchen.

My level became my best friend during this project! The last thing I want is lopsided shelving. The screws that came with the pulls were kind of flimsy, so I opted for durable construction screws. They can easily be painted to match the brass finish later on.

I added a few squares of cork inside the "cup" prior to screwing on the upper pull. This creates a snug bumper and will discourage the glass from sliding around.

I finished off the bracket by installing the top pull, leaving a 3/4" slot to accommodate the shelf.

Once the brackets were installed, I simply slid the glass into place. Having a top bracket secures the shelf and prevents it from ever flipping over. The shelves are easily removable for cleaning or storage.

Wahoo! 1st level complete!

Double, triple, quadruple-checking my work as I go. The antique, handmade pulls each had slight variations, forcing me to adjust my measurements throughout the process.
I may have spent more time measuring and re-measuring than on actual physical labor.

The extra work was worth it in the end. I had two new, perfectly level shelves, ready to be filled with happy plants!

Look how delightful this space has become! Nothing breathes life into a room quite the way a plant does.


This window has become a laboratory of sorts. Each level is packed with ongoing experiments. I love the way the glass shelves allow sunlight to shine through, keeping our kitchen bright and cheerful.

The top shelf is dedicated to long-term projects. I am currently soaking three avocado seeds in the hopes of starting some avocado trees. They are beginning to split, and tiny roots should start emerging any day now.

I accidentally snapped off a section of my fiddle leaf fig tree a few weeks back. Rather than toss it out, I stuck it on the top shelf to propagate. It is already growing roots!
Chris has also taken an interest in the window garden and is working on raising his own philodendron. I'm not allowed to touch it :)



The middle shelf is dedicated to plants that are already established and simply require regular maintenance and care. They are within easy reach, and especially pleasing to have in my direct line of sight. It is super convenient to have the kitchen sink just a few feet away - these plants will never go unwatered!

This is Oxalis Triangularis, a pretty cousin of the shamrock. Its leaves fold in each evening, then open up again in the morning sunlight. They look like a bunch of butterflies :)

The bottom level is for new and high-maintenance projects. Here, we have what I call the ICU. It's where my precarious plants go to recover or fail. The ICU currently houses a few Mimosa Pudica cuttings that I brought home from the office to propagate. It was touch-and-go for a while, but they are doing much better now!

Growing a few additional Mimosas. As you can see, many of my plants are still in the beginning stages of development. I love coming home each day and eagerly checking on their progress.

I am so glad I decided to give gardening another chance. It has been such a fun educational experience, and I am also learning a lot about patience, persistence, and resilience.
I may be giving you guys a shout for help in the near future, and will definitely keep you updated on exciting developments.

More later! <3

Tuesday
Aug132013

If These Walls Could Chalk

Well, it certainly has been an eventful summer! Chris and I have been enjoying back-to-back soirées - birthdays, baby showers, bachelor/bachelorette trips, weddings, reunions - it has been nonstop. There is so much to celebrate! Life is good :)

I’m always happy to find a little downtime in between the all the confetti and champagne to work on projects I’ve been itching to tackle. I recently took advantage of a quiet Sunday afternoon to add a chalkboard wall in our kitchen! This was a relatively easy project that transformed the entire wall into a fun and useful surface.

When we first moved in, Chris and I were surprised to discover that our fridge is not magnetic. This project was the perfect opportunity to add that additional handy functionality to this wall.

I used three coats of Rust-Oleum's Magnetic Primer, which dries to a deep grey finish. *Tip* When using this stuff, make sure you stir thoroughly before pouring the paint, and keep stirring throughout the painting process. The heavy magnetic "goo" tends to sink, so you need to make sure it stays suspended in order to achieve an even application. I used a foam roller to get a super smooth finish. The smoother the finish, the stronger the magnetic attraction will be. Allow 30 minutes between each coat.

I was pretty shocked when I opened the chalkboard paint. It looked blue! I triple-checked the label to make sure I had purchased a "black" formula, and even upon confirmation, I felt uneasy. It just looked very blue...

I got even more nervous when the paint went on the wall. It was definitely blue. I threw down the roller and rushed to Google "Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint + blue". Not a single person on the internet mentioned their black chalkboard paint looking blue! But then I saw that the paint only came in "green" or "black" - blue wasn't even an option. I decided to take a deep breath and keep going. I applied two layers of paint, allowing 4 hours between each coat.

Thankfully, the paint dried to a satin black finish. Whew!! :)

After allowing the paint to cure for three days, it was time to season the wall. It's important to season a chalkboard before writing anything on it because the surface is very porous. Seasoning easily prevents ghosting, which is when chalk lines are "burned" into the board and never fully erase.

Seasoning is easy - just turn a piece of chalk on its side and shade in the entire surface. Rub the chalk top to bottom, left to right in order to get into all of the pores. 

Once the entire surface is covered, simply erase, and you're all done!

Now the fun can start! I was never good at writing neatly on the board in school, so it's definitely going to take a while before I get a hang of it and start creating any real chalkboard art.
But that's the beauty of chalkboards - If you mess up, just erase and start over! Practice makes perfect :)

The magnet wall lets us share sweet mementos and reminders of upcoming events!

I thought it would be fun to start a gallery wall as a neat way to display all our random notes and doodles.

Wonka has his own little gallery! His first two installments? Portraits of his Mini-Poodle mama and Yorkie daddy :0)

Monday
May062013

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

One of my favorite memories of Florence was the time Chris and I spent sitting outside a tiny bistro café, chatting, people watching, and sipping cappuccinos. It was so relaxing and romantic!

Since our existing kitchen already had an Old-World-European motif going on, I decided to take it and run with it. My goal was to adapt the same look and feel of that café into the workings of a functional kitchen. Here are the traditional and modern elements I married up to create a timeless space that we can enjoy for years to come:

Brass Hardware - Rather than changing the color of our cabinets, I sprung for some new hardware instead. Swapping in new knobs, handles, and pulls is an easy and affordable way to update cabinetry. Hardware is like jewelry for furniture, and you'd be surprised what a difference a tiny change can make! I opted for brass hardware, which develops a lovely patina over time and will beautifully compliment the cherry wood as it ages.

Pendant Lighting - Pendant lighting provides an industrial quality that is often present in classic bistros. My handsome Hicks pendant delivers a solid punch of masculinity in an otherwise elegant space.

Marble Backsplash - I've got a slightly unhealthy obsession with marble and have been searching for a practical way to incorporate it into our home. Marble is a highly porous stone and it stains easily, which makes it a high-maintenance choice for countertops. It also comes with a fancypants price tag, which made it no-go for tiling the bathroom. Our backsplash, on the other hand, only required a minimal amount of square footage. It was the perfect opportunity to pounce!

I went with a polished Carrara Bianco, which has a greyer base and more veining than Carrara Venato, which is a whiter stone with less veining. The cool marble gracefully harmonizes with the warmth of our cabinets and lends a rich gourmet feel to the room. Totally worth the splurge!

Gray walls - Benjamin Moore's Chelsea Gray is a deep, sophisticated gray with a hint of brown. Combined with a fresh coat of white paint on the ceiling, this new color sets the tone of a very fresh and cozy atmosphere.

I also have a bucket of chalkboard paint that I'll be using to create a chalkboard wall later on. I dare you to find a bistro without a chalkboard! Not only are they extremely useful, they are just so much fun.

Get a load of this spice drawer! This drawer was part of the original kitchen design, and I get a little giddy every time I pull it open.

Wine fridge. 'Nuff said.

The sink and faucet are staying put for now, until I find an ideal replacement. (I'm thinking farmhouse!) Still working on styling those glass cabinets...

This sunny spot on our window sill would make a great home for some kitchen herbs! Even though my two current victims include a lonely cactus and a basil plant, I hope to gradually expand. Maybe some cilantro for guacamole... or perhaps mint for mojitos?? :)

Black & White Floors - I did not touch our floors because they were already the shizz. Black and white octagon tiles are the quintessential example of pre-war aesthetic, and I love how their vintage New York vibe balances out the modern sheen of our stainless steel appliances.

And there you have it! A simple, yet powerful transformation. ("Befores" here) This room feels much more personal now, and it actually inspires me to step up my culinary game. And you know what? I am really, really glad I gave those cabinets a chance :) More later!