A while ago, a reader wrote in and asked for a tour of my kitchen. Something that included lots of photos! I meant to respond sooner than this. Truly I did! But did you know it isn’t easy to write an interesting article about your kitchen?
I tried months ago and failed (miserably). Here I am again, making another attempt. But this time, I’m just going to tell you what my kitchen means to me and infuse it with pretty pictures of the space.
So here it goes!
My cottage style kitchen is the #1 place in my home that brings joy to my heart. It’s also where I toil and labor, most.
And in this space, I find my place.
When I step into this kitchen, the atmosphere instantly touches me and I feel charmed by it’s rustic simplicity.
It’s true. I may be overwhelmed and disgruntled when a pile of dishes accumulate on busy days. Or when I find myself frustrated by the fact that I have to sweep the floor again (why can’t I learn to be a neater cook?!).
Some days, I feel unmotivated and uninspired to prepare food one more time.
But the next day, I return.
Because this space makes me happy. From the little windows on either side of my stove to the white open shelving, this place stirs something in my heart.
Even though many parts of it are rougher than the camera reveals, and in spite of the fact that it’s far from perfect, it’s the place I want to be.
Creating.
Cooking.
Providing for my home with the everyday skills I practice in this space.
You won’t find copper pots in this kitchen of mine. No ironstone china, nor a beautiful, farmhouse kitchen sink.
I don’t hold to any specific genre in my tastes and decor.
Instead, I lean into whatever makes the room feel simple and settled. I want it feel as if the many parts are in harmony with one another and the “soul” of my kitchen is at rest, like a lovely middle aged woman who knows who she is and what she’s about.
In my decor, I also go for the things that make my kitchen feel pleasant and functional, that appeal to my sense of beauty.
And I like to decorate with items I actually use! The more I can incorporate food, herbs and live plants into this space, the happier my heart becomes.
When I give women a tour of my cottage style kitchen, I often hear the words…“it’s just not for me.” And I always smile at the truth in this.
You’re right; it isn’t.
This space is an expression of what I find lovely, inspiring and beautiful. Things like natural light and bundles of fresh herbs. Or braids of onions and beeswax candles.
Woven baskets quietly display eggs, garlic and fresh produce on the countertops.
There are mason jars, water jugs and mixing bowls displayed on the open upper shelves. All of which I use nearly every day in my home cooking and baking.
The cast iron pans hanging from hooks on the wall were put there to please none other than myself.
I liked the look and the slightly “colonial” feel they bring to the kitchen. And the black pans really stand out against the whitewashed pine paneling!
The open shelves were a creation of my mind, something I thought would be simple and beautiful. A place where we could easily access out plates, bowls and other dishes without opening a cupboard door.
I didn’t stop to consider what others might think about it.
And here’s why.
As a homemaker, from scratch cook and as a woman who preserves lots of food for winter, I spend most of my waking hours in this space.
So why wouldn’t I create a kitchen that uplifts my spirit and softly tickles my senses as I go about my work? Why wouldn’t I create a space that subtly refreshes me inside as I cook, clean and create?
Tell me. Is there a better way to go?
This is my kitchen, my happy place. When I step into this room, I feel like I’ve finally come home.
Simple though it may be, I was given the opportunity to design, fill and decorate my kitchen in a way that speaks to me. So why wouldn’t I take opportunity of it in full measure?
Why, indeed?
And with that, my friend, I wrap up this simple tour of my cottage style kitchen.
Now you’ve seen it. And now you know!
I'm Autumn. Join me in the simple cottage life and learn how to keep a traditional kitchen, garden and pantry!
I love your taste! your kitchen is warm .
I’m on my kitchen personality as well, tossing things that never are used..
You know who you are!
Thanks for the tour of you’re kitchen. I love the fact that you’ve made it you’re place. It’s what suits you and you make no apologies for it,I really love that because sadly many of us take pples opinions more highly than we should and end up not owning our spaces
I love your kitchen! I have very similar taste as far as decorating with useful items (nothing like a huge bowl of lemons to give a pop of colour and to make lemonade with later)
Everything feels so perfect and cozy in these photos!
Thank you! I still love this space and feel so fortunate to have an inspiring kitchen to work in. And yes to the bowl full of lemon! 🙂
I love your kitchen, simple and charming with all the essentials close at hand. I really like the colour of green you have on your bottom cupboards and love seeing the cast iron hanging on the wall. I wish I had a spot like that in my kitchen to hang my cast iron collection. 🙂
Thanks Sam! I love it and I feel so lucky that I got to make this space my own. Hurrah for cast iron collections!
Beautiful kitchen and beautiful post! 😉 I find myself dreaming about and mentally planning my kitchen quite often. I can’t wait to get to the point where I can bring it alive. An advantage of our building process being so slow is that it’s given me a long time to refine my vision and really settle on what I want.
Thank you Maggie! I hear you on how good waiting can be. We create plans for our home about 2 years before we built. It was definitely a bonus, because as we sat with it, we did decide to change some things. And now we’re so happy we made those changes, especially where the kitchen is concerned! 🙂
Warm and bright is the feeling your kitchen invokes. What a blessing to be able to design your space! I love the bundles of foodstuffs hanging all in a line. Also, hanging the cast iron is an intriguing idea. Do your walls get marked up from them?
I love hearing you say “it feels bright” because that’s exactly what I wanted in this space! My cast iron pans haven’t marked up the wood paneled walls. The iron hooks I have keep them just off the wall (for the most part), and I always clean these ones after using. My everyday pan lives on the stovetop! So far, no marking issues. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Lovely kitchen, I would be happy to have a kitchen like that. Everything you need is visible, no checking cupboards to find what you want.
I tend to be a messy cook and in other homes, my upper kitchen cabinets were always smudged with oil and flour. Every time I baked, I would inevitably forget to pull something out and have to go back in for it, leaving fingerprints behind. So with this kitchen, I told my man “no doors on the upper cabinets, please!” And it has been wonderful!
Hi Autumn, I love your kitchen. Its so natural feeling. I hate kitchens that have that sterile look and feel.
Also, I love the green with the white. The cabinet with the dishes placed in it is awesome! Just a great kitchen!!!
Thanks Jenn! I feel so lucky have this space (and the handy husband who built it!).
I absolutely love your kitchen. Pretty close to exactly what I want!
Thank you Rena! It’s been a work in progress and it was the very first kitchen I’ve ever designed/decorated. But I love the results and they make me happy nearly every day!