Ahh…I love it. My kitchen. It’s my favourite room in the whole house.
It’s not that I have a chef’s kitchen with professional grade appliances and granite countertops and a gas stove and a centre island. In fact, I have none of these (admittedly wonderful) amenities. I have a plain old late 80’s style kitchen. The cupboards are "honey oak", the countertop is laminate and its (horrible) dusty-rose matches the accent tiles on the backsplash and, incidentally (and horrifically) the accent slats on the metal venetian blinds. Until I repainted, the whole room was a complimentary shade of what can best be described as "country blue". In other words, not quite a real, solid, saturated colour. More of a washed out, dusty colour, like the not-quite-pink shade of the dusty rose accents. Other than painting, though, the only upgrades my kitchen has seen in our 10 years in this house are: nickel cupboard handles to replace the brass originals, a new faucet and a laminate floor over the old vinyl.
On a side note, I don’t recommend laminate. Not that it’s not economical – it is. Not that it’s difficult to install – it isn’t. Not that it doesn’t cover the old floor – it does. It just. Looks. Cheap. And I can say this, because I have it. When you walk into a house, you see laminate, you know…99¢ per square foot. Better than old scratched, faded vinyl? Sure. As good as saving just a little bit longer for ceramic tile and/or hardwood? No. Okay…just my opinion…and it’s over now.
Back to my kitchen, which is, despite its design ennui, still my number one favourite place to be in the house. There are a few good design aspects to my kitchen, though, that I love. We have a breakfast nook. A nice floor-to-ceiling bay window, with views of the backyard and, if you sit up really tall and crane your neck in just the right way, the Rocky Mountains. And I can also see the kids’ school from the breakfast nook. I love that. We also have a window over our corner sink. I love to gaze out on the suburban backyards while washing up after meals. And on the other wall, behind the stove, we have a full wall of glass block, instead of the narsty 80s tile backsplash. Now I know, I know, glass block is also somewhat dated. I don’t care. In mid-January, when it feels like we only have 3 hours of sunshine a day, I love the fact that the light streams into my house every afternoon through that west-facing glass block wall. No matter how cold it is in the house, I feel warm when there’s a splash of sunlight in my kitchen.
And beyond all the physical features, I love the fact that my kitchen is the heart of my home. And my home is more than just a house that needs some updating: my home is where I’ve lived with my family for nearly ten years now. Both my kids were born here (almost) and have grown up here. And my kitchen, that very flawed but lovable (and often messy) space, is at its heart.
You know how certain foods give you comfort? Maybe it’s mashed potatoes or homemade macaroni & cheese or fresh-baked bread…Well for me, making those foods also gives me comfort. When I’m feeling a little low, I’ll try to squeeze in enough time to make a batch of cookies. Or I’ll plan and execute an elaborate, delicious meal. It never fails to cheer me up. The satisfaction of actually making something myself, that tastes good and looks good and makes other people feel good. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.