When you live in a rental property, there’s not a whole lot you can do with a poorly laid out kitchen. There is one drawer in our kitchen. One. So we’ve learned to live with that precious drawer. We’ve introduced freestanding drawers into our kitchen and I keep boxes inside my cupboards for various knickknacks that other people might put in drawers. I mean, aren’t drawers just a stack of boxes with handles?
I’ve had this set of white corner drawers since I was in high school. It was great in a corner of a teenager’s bedroom, but looked out of place in the middle of our kitchen. It stuck out too much and it didn’t hide enough.We had cookbooks, bags of potatoes and onions, stacks of shopping bags and tablecloths that needed homes.
This spring, we added a whole lot of useable space to our kitchen by adding a long buffet/sideboard. I grabbed this from an online auction site and my initial intention was to paint it with blackboard paint. But when we got it home, the wood looked too nice to paint over. With heaps of storage, it already holds all our tupperware, bags, cookbooks, potatoes and onions and is still half empty (or is that half full?). By moving the drinks tray, kettle and toaster from our countertop to this sideboard, we’ve gained over 30cm of extra bench space. I’m already thinking about what appliances I can invest in to plug up that extra space. I’m keen for a slow cooker, The Koala would probably prefer a deep fryer.
We invested in a new fridge/freezer this spring too. The old one we had was very possibly older than me and probably chewed through loads of power. Getting rid of our old fridge was also a good excuse to clear out our fridge. There was some stuff in there that had been there for a good 5 years.
Bunny Eats Design 
That great new storage Genie. When we renovated our kitchen, we basically doubled our space and because I had be ruthless in getting rid of stuff I no longer used, the cupboards were half empty too. Now five years later, I barely have room for anything new. You basically grow into your space. Enjoy it while you can!
Yes, I’m sure we’ll grow into it. I love being ruthless. My wardrobe needs a ruthless hand to rummage through it. Sentimentality has no place in my wardrobe. It’s bursting at the seams with sentimentality.
I’m so proud of you. Clutter in the kitchen is my nemesis! I just don’t understand how it all happens!?
Thanks bacon biscuit. I think it’s because I can’t bear to throw things out. Are you the same? I threw out a food processor a few years ago and now I wish I still had it as I’ve found out it could be quite handy.
I usually take stuff to goodwill so I should think on it as racking up karma. You can never have too much karma.
I bet that felt good!
A very grown-up make over, indeed. Bet your kitchen now talks with a posh accent.
Only one half of it speaks with a posh accent now and when it has a glass of wine, that posh accent turns into a Cockney one. 🙂
Just saw this reply….you do crack me up!!
A very neat transformation indeed :), stuff in the fridge since last 5 years! 🙂
Wow Genie! This looks soo much better. I love what you have done. I was actually in the middle of a space rant last night. I long for a bigger apartment and a place for Flatpac and I to grow a herb garden.!
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