Thursday, July 12, 2007

Now about that kitchen

It is way smaller than I am used to, with much less in the way of counter space. But it does have its great features. One is a window over the sink. Haven't had that in decades. And I am very happy to have a gas stove, mostly unfindable in Tennessee homes. The microwave is a combination convection oven too, so that is a fabulous addition.
I have plenty of display space for my Mexican colors (Target plates and bowls) so that will offset the gray fakey granite formica. How did they get it to shine so much? All that open cabinetry is fun, and the enclosed pantry adjacent to the kitchen is floor to ceiling shelves, which makes me even happier.
Notice the dropped counters on either side of this stove. They are normal height, but the counters that they join are higher. The design was to prevent stooping at the sinks. Working height for the owners was two inches higher than regulation. So they said.
But really I think it was to accomodate the extra necessary counter space within this small footprint. Out comes a pristine cutting board,
then this cabinet wheels out for more workspace. It can also serve in the dining room as a mini buffett. Then afterwards it can be tucked back into the nook, out of the way. Genius!

But still it is a way smaller kitchen, and altho it has a side by side refrigerator (with ice and water in the door) it HAS NO DISHWASHER. Ahem, O Da-ave!



The Details


Across the street is a big chicken coop. Defunct, but promising lots of wonderful fertilizer. The town is Palmer, Tennessee, but of course it is not in the town. We worried about being in chicken ranch territory when we were scouting out the area. But thankfully there is no fowl smell emanating from this coop. Is that a pun?

Our own hen house has no fragrance either. And no hens at the moment. One thing at a time.


As for my retirement. I have contracts currently running until March 2008, and one or two that I haven't decided upon in 2009. I have been systematically turning down invitations for the last two years, only agreeing to the ones that seem irresistable.

For my creative endeavors I am looking at where to do it and when. This house has much less space than our current one, unless you count common areas, which may be co-opted. Even making the outbuilding warm/cool enough will be my first creative effort. I have ideas.


And I have new ideas about what kind of stuff I want to make. More on that later.


Now about that kitchen.

14 comments:

  1. congratulations on making a decision. The two of you will be busy making this your home in the country. A place to be creative, a place to be with each other, a place to nurture yourselves and each other. Overcoming all the other stuff will happen.

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  2. Anonymous11:43 AM

    Thanks for the photos...all I have to say about the kitchen is this....it is kind of like a purse..it doesn't matter what size it is you just fill it up until it is full...personally, I have gone to a much smaller purse and survived...you make do...I read or saw where they said to take everything out of your utensil drawer and then only put back what you use in one month and that is all you need...well, maybe if it is spring and you have not used the turkey baster you could keep that one!!!! Good Luck...with your creativity it will be a very well organized working kitchen indeed.

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  3. Look into a Dishmaster for at the kitchen sink. It is a faucet with brush and soap dispensor under the counter....GREAT idea and not known to most of the public.

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  4. From "country" to Mexican Chalet.....I can't wait to see the transformation!

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  5. Anonymous2:02 PM

    Your kitchen looks to be about the same size as ours, except with more counterspace and cabinets (ours don't wrap all the way around, nor do they go all the way up). The key has been to keep the essentials in the kitchen and the duplicates (more than one box of teh same kind of cereal, or can of beans), and the lesser used appliances (raclette grill, turkey-sized roasting pan) somewhere else in the house. As long as you can avoid piling too much stuff on the counters, then you'll be just fine. I love how everything is within reach. It's a little tough for two people to be prepping/cooking at the same time though. Oh, and I say paint the cabinets white before you fill them up with yout colorful dishes.

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  6. Anonymous7:04 PM

    Congratulations on the decision and fabulous find!!!! I hope you have many happy years there.

    Ihaven't used my dishwasher in years and years. Get a scrubby brush that holds dish detergent for the small meals. Then make dishwashing a time to chat when you have a crowd. One of the best photos I have of my mom and grandma and sibs is from the 1940's. It's of all the "girls" doing the dishes. Quality time!

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  7. Dear Susan from Nerk,
    I hope to be in a situation in the future where there WILL BE a crowd trying to fit into the kitchen. But everything takes time, and being a Northerner may make me and Dave a curiosity, if nothing else. As an arty type I never expect to fit in, no matter where I live.

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  8. Anonymous7:59 PM

    That looks like my dream house! (which exists in my head). I am so excited for you. You knew what you wanted and went for it. What a woman!

    I also have to say that Ms. Arty Farty, you will fit in no matter where you live. You're too nice not to.

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  9. Your new kitchen is about twice the size of my current one. I don't love my kitchen, but I can stand it in small lumps. Wont it be fun trying out new ways of doing the same old things, finding out how to do it better? I know it's not your first design choice, but if you think asian with the smaller space, you'll find many ways to make it work. After all, billions of asians do it, and with lots less space.
    Met your neighbors yet? I mean the ones without feathers?

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. Dear Mel,

    Welcome to Tennessee! I, for one, am ecstatic that another northerner is joining our ranks. I am a "big-city-girl" (DC) and also lived in Iowa for ten years. I've been in
    TN off and on for nearly twenty and it has become my home. You will be close enough to both Nashville and Chattanooga to get culture when you want it, and the people are getting very accustomed to northerners moving here. The arts community in Chattanooga welcomes artists--several just recently moved here for the culture, the surrounding beauty, and the climate--and because they feel welcome.

    I enjoy your blog so much--your writing style and artistic talent are always a sight for sore eyes!

    Peggy in Chattanooga

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  12. Anonymous8:42 AM

    Re: dishwasher- my aunt had none in the "cottage" (formerly the staff's main quarters from the Cherokee Lodge in Montague, MI) so she just got one of those roll-away ones, dubbed it "James" and James lived in a closet until he was needed. He also had a butcher block top so he could do double duty.

    Pretty country there fer sure.

    teri in Nova Scotia where the Tall Ships came in to port yesterday in the fog but the sun is shining brightly today....

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  13. If you have enough room a portable dishwasher with butcher block top aka "James" could live in center of kitchen and give you a bit more countertop space. I had one of these a couple of time in my life and it certainly improved the little kitchens they were in.

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  14. Anonymous2:47 PM

    Melody, congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for the work sheet. I'll think of you every time it emerges from a heap.
    Carole
    UK

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