Our Kitchen.

A few months ago I promised you a look at more spaces in our house. I showed you the living room (at one point in it's constantly changing state) and that's it. I guess I got stuck with the "It's not quite how I want it." bug. But I'm realizing that things will probably never be quite how I want them to be in our house. I mean, we live in a white renter's box with purply gray carpet and textured walls. So sometimes I get insecure about putting my space out there. (By the way, comments really help that insecurity thang. :)

But, the truth is, I love our little home. AND I know that the homes that inspire me most are not always the perfectly styled rooms but the ones where it's apparent that real people live there and are working with what they've got (ie. ugly cabinets, and bland countertops)

Anyway, today I wanted to show you our kitchen. 

The color palette was taken from these paisley mugs. I don't really use red anywhere else in the house so I thought it'd be fun to use it in the kitchen (our dishes are rusty red and yellow). I also threw in a little of every other color. Cuz I'm like that.

I brought some punch into the bland kitchen with our dishtowels (IKEA and someplace else...) and that rug is from Pier One and is oh so comfy under the feet while doing dishes. 

Here's my little cookbook nook. The binder on the right has plastic sleeves to hold recipes I've torn out of magazines (mostly Rachael Ray). Truth be told, I am stuck in a rut with trying new recipes but have been working on getting out of that rut. We made Chicken Piccata a few nights ago and it was delish. 

Just bought these glass canisters from IKEA when we were there a few weeks ago. The biggest one holds Chris' favorite cereal (Honey Bunches of Oats!) and the rest hold flour, sugar, brown sugar and bread crumbs. I have notions of making labels for these bad boys but who knows if I'll get around to it.

I also bought those napkins at IKEA. That punch of green + graphic image = love. 

This mail/key holder is from Ross. It was white with country apples on it. It immediately got a coat of yellow paint (Sunburst by Behr, left over from my entryway bench.) It's usually overflowing with mail, spilling onto the counter. 

Oh, and I have to show you our drinking glasses. They were a wedding present from my friend Michelle and are a sweet reminder of our home state. 

So, that's about it. 

Don't forget to enter the TidePools jewelry giveaway. Today is the LAST day! Check in tomorrow to see if you won!