kitchen Archives - Emily A. Clark

Quick Change: Our Kitchen Sitting Area

Oct32018

I’m forever making small changes to our home which I don’t always consider significant enough for a blog post. But, it occurred to me that maybe some of these changes could trigger small ideas for your home, as well. Some of you have mentioned that you like when I share the “why” behind my design decisions. So I’m making more of an effort to share the quick changes and my thought process behind them, starting with this ottoman switch-up in our kitchen sitting area.

Looking for something similar? This ottoman comes in lots of colors and patterns! (Images below are linked.)

You can see our entire green and white kitchen makeover here.

10 Hardworking Runners for the Entry or Kitchen

Apr182018

I added a seagrass runner to our kitchen several months ago because I thought it could use a little texture and honestly, because it was $32. I thought it was worth taking a chance even if it didn’t hold up to this extremely high traffic area between our island and stove.

hardworking-runners-kitchen-entryway

As it turns out, I had this post halfway put together when, on my way out the door to church with all five kids, I dropped an entire smoothie on the rug (and myself). The kids thought this was hysterical, of course. I did not. So, I can personally attest to the fact that this is a fabulous option for the kitchen. I threw it out in the driveway, hosed it off and let it dry in the sun. You can’t see any evidence of the smoothie.

jute-kitchen-runner (In case you’re wondering: sandals, jeans)

My other requirements for a hardworking runner in the kitchen and/or entryway? It has to be easy to vacuum in a great texture or else, a very forgiving pattern. Here are a few more good options:

By the way, I ordered the 6′ option for our kitchen but it also comes in a 8′ option. (I didn’t need a rug pad.)

kitchen and entry runner rugs

You can read more about our honed granite countertops here.

And, the full “before and after” kitchen renovation can be found here.

Our Kitchen Layout (Before & After)

Jun202017

After sharing most of the “after” pictures of our kitchen remodel, I wanted to follow up with a post to show you how we changed the actual layout.

As with most traditional 30-year-old houses, ours had a formal dining room (attached to the kitchen). Before the renovation, we had been using ours as a sitting/piano room.In our previous houses, we’ve either never used the dining room or turned it into a home office. I didn’t see us turning into a formal dining kind of family anytime soon, and we need all the kitchen space we can get. We knew from the start that the wall that separated the two rooms was coming out to make one large space.

renovation, week 1

I initially had my heart set on a sink in front of the row of windows at the end of our kitchen that overlooks the backyard. The designer we worked with helped me walk through a day (in my mind) of how that would work logistically. She helped me see that it would create a really busy traffic pattern in my main workspace, resulting in lots of frustration and probable yelling. :)

That’s when the idea of the of the sink in the island (and FIVE bar stools, please) came into play. This has worked out really well. I’m able to stand behind the island and get the kids what they need and then clean up all from one spot. There’s a dishwasher on each side of the sink. (No regrets there.)

Behind the island is our range, open shelving and lower cabinet storage. This is where the stove–and all of our countertop space–was before.

MLS photo

soon after we moved in

renovation, week 1

Again, I’m staying in mostly the same area when I’m unloading the dishwashers. It’s nice to just be able to turn around and place most of what we use every day on the open shelves.

I remember some of you being concerned about the refrigerator being on the other side of the island. To tell you the truth, there wasn’t a lot of options since we were working with a fairly long space. But it hasn’t bothered me at all to walk around the end of the island to get what I need. (If that’s my worst problem. . . ) And I’m especially good at telling the kids to get off their stools and get me what I need. ;) Before the renovation, the stove was in this space.

MLS listing photo

after we moved in

We also removed the pantry closet right beside of it (behind the shelving unit) which ate up a lot of floor space.

Yes, I love the huge fridge/freezer. An appliance post coming soon. . .

We opted for two pull-out pantries that are both in “the green section” of our kitchen. I keep our food in one and dishes/serving pieces in the far one by the front window. And, as I’ve mentioned before, the addition of comfortable chairs has made this area my favorite spot in the house. (This area is what was previously the dining room/black sitting room.)

MLS photo

the front room before we started renovation

On the opposite end of the kitchen (by the back door), we kept our dining table. I had originally envisioned a built-in window seat, but in the end decided that’s not where I wanted to use our budget. (It would’ve required reworking the windows.) I’m glad, because we use the table way less than we do the island.

MLS photo

Anything I missed? Let me know. :)

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In case you missed our kitchen reveal, you can find that post (and sources for everything) here.

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