69 Tips for the Perfect Kitchen

1.  I love Ina Garten

2.  I want a kitchen just like her kitchen-either the main house or the entertainment barn,

3.  I am actively designing a new kitchen

4.  I found this.

5.  I plan to steal as many ideas from this list as possible.

6.  If you have checked out my registries you know I had this thought sometime ago-since it reads a bit like this list.  White platters and cake plates anyone?

 

69 Tips For The Perfect Kitchen by Ina Garten!

I found this on the fabulous Barefoot Contessa Site and want it ALL! Don't you?  1Parchment paper for sheet pansAvailable at nycake.com		2Cook's IllustratedAvailable at CooksIllustrated.com		3Graduated glass bowlsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com
4Baking mixesAvailable at BarefootContessa.com StonewallKitchen.com		5Olio Santo extra virgin olive oilAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com		6Spice drawer and jarsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com
7Personal Recipe FileAvailable at Golden Eagle Art 631 324 0603		8Plan B - containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com		9Le Creuset potsSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
10All-Clad 12" fry panSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com		11Post-it notes for seatingAvailable at Office supply stores		12Votive Candle HoldersAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940
13Post-it notes for plattersAvailable at Office supply stores		14Cake standsCassandrasKitchen.com and Hotel Silver at Bergdorf Goodman 800 558 1855		15Extra mixing bowlAvailable at CulinaryParts.com 800 543 7549
166" wood skewers for cake testersAvailable at grocery stores and CassandrasKitchen.com		17Flat platters by ApilcoAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		18French bread basketsAvailable at Antique stores andPastryItems.com
19Gel matsAvailable at GelPro.com		20Large basketAvailable at Axel-Vervoordt.com		21Cast-iron skilletsAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores
22Two DishwashersAvailable at Bosch.com		23Chef's Choice 130Available at SurLaTable.com and Amazon.com		24All-Clad cookwareSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
25White BakewareApilco and Pilluyvet DeanDeluca.com Williams-Sonoma.com		26Extra bowl for food processorAvailable at CulinaryParts.com CassandrasKitchen.com		27PepperMate pepper millAvailable at PepperMate.com CassandrasKitchen.com
28Large stockpotAvailable at DeanDeluca.com		29TimersAvailable at Hardware stores and CassandrasKitchen.com		30Half-sheet pansAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com CassandrasKitchen.com
31Grocery padsAvailable at The Monogram Shop TheMonogramShops.com		32Parchment paper for baking pansAvailable at nycake.com		33Lots of measuresSurLaTable.com Williams-Sonoma.com CrateandBarrel.com
34ThermometersAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores		35Counting ingredients before finishing a recipe		362 ¼" Ice cream scoopSurLaTable.com CassandrasKitchen.com CrateandBarrel.com
37Crocks for utensilsAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com Williams-Sonoma.com		38Pop-up spongesAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		39Handmade bowlsAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940
40Salt crockAvailable at DeanDeluca.com		41Crock for spoons and spatulasAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com Williams-Sonoma.com		42Candy thermometerAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores CassandrasKitchen.com
43White dish towelsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		44Cooking spoonsHotel Silver Bergdorf Goodman 800 558 1855		45Plain white platesAvailable at CrateandBarrel.com
46Dish towels as napkinsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		47Large bowl for wineRoyal Boch earthenware Ruby Beets RubyBeets.com		48White plattersAvailable at Antique stores and Williams-Sonoma.com
49Pretty dessert platesAvailable at Antique stores and TedMuehling.com		50Drinking glasses for vasesAvailable at CB2.com		51Place cardsAvailable at The Monogram Shop TheMonogramShops.com
52Unironed linen napkinsAvailable at Bloom 631 725 5940		53Chinese strainerAvailable at Restaurant supply stores		54Box graterAvailable at Hardware and Cookware stores
55Coffee grinder for spices by KrupsAvailable at amazon.com		56Salad spinner by OxoAvailable at amazon.com		57Linen twineAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com
58Vegetable peeler by Kuhn RikonCassandrasKitchen.com Amazon.com		59Professional utensilsAvailable at Restaurant supply stores		60Microplane raspAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com
61Professional plastic wrapAvailable at Restaurant supply stores CassandrasKitchen.com		62Glass ingredient bowlsAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		63French rolling pinAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com CassandrasKitchen.com
64Cooking scale by SalterAvailable at Williams-Sonoma.com		65Wooden salad bowlAvailable at Antique stores		66Storage containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com
67Graduated stainless steel bowlsAvailable at Restaurant supply stores CassandrasKitchen.com		68Pastry bags and tipsAvailable at SurLaTable.com CassandrasKitchen.com		Chinese take-out containersAvailable at CassandrasKitchen.com

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

One of the first things on the list for the new house was a good, solid backyard fence.  We have a beautiful yard -but for the dogs to use it we needed a way to keep them in.  And really to keep other pets out.  In the first day there...before we had our gates on the fence we were visited by two neighboorhood hounds.  Both very friendly and promptly returned to their owners.  No harm, no foul.



A view of our yard before-from the driveway.



The same view with the new fence.

More of a side view..taking in the carport as well.

Derby Party, Shaun's wedding, Bird Cage veils!!!

We are still working on the house but May has been a month of sidetracks.  We knew we were going to have lots of activities on our weekends and we certainly have.   We started the month with the annual Derby Party.  This is one of my favorite events because it encourages, maybe even requires, hats for the ladies.  This year I did a nod toward the British Royal wedding and wore a fascinator.  I felt fascinating and LOVED it!!!



Scott and I at the annual Derby party.  This is one of my favorite parties because I get license to wear a fascinator!!

 The next weekend was the second big event of the month-my little brothers wedding in Hilton Head.  We went over for a long weekend and got to visit with family and spend some time outside.  The weather was wonderful the day of the actual wedding which was a relief since it was a bit overcast the days prior.  Scott used the event as a firm reminder that wearing a tie or maybe even pants at our wedding might be out of the question.  I think my brother Shaun, who had to wear a suit and tie in 80 degree weather, will gladly agree that maybe long pants and sleeves are ill-advised;)   


Scott and I at the rehearsal dinner.

Scott and I at the wedding.  The reception was held right on the beach, it was lovely.





Shaun and Allie during the cutting of the cake.  I think the expression is due to some inappropriate comment made by the crowd.

  

Shaun and my mom dancing at the wedding.

 

The whole fam-damily at the wedding.  This was toward the end of the evening so we might look a bit worn...but still cute:)

Speaking of weddings....I am still planning the big day for Scott and me.  I have made serious progress on all fronts-except for my dress.  I knew I needed to get on the stick.  I gathered a group of girl friends and we went shopping, wedding dress shopping.  It was so FUN!!!  I tried on everything the ladies wanted to see....nothing was off limits.  I think I am narrowing in on what I like and want...but haven't quite found it yet.  I do know a headpiece like these will be featured!!!



I love wedding fascinators.  Stay tuned to see this again!!



Bird Cage veils make me HAPPY!!!!

 

Jen got into the fascinators as well.  She saw this when we walked in and wore it during the entire "try-on" session.  I think she would fully support if I asked the lassies to wear head gear like this to my wedding reception.

 
 I will the second half of the month in another post.  Yes-this is only two weeks worth of activities and doesn't include any of the house stuff;),Jen

Bedrooms before and in progress

The bedrooms of the house are large and part of a really good floor plan.  The master has access to the back deck and yard which is fairly fantastic for the dogs.  The master is also VERY big at 15x 19.  By far one of the biggest bedrooms we have seen in a house in this neighboorhood.  The other two upstairs bedrooms are also good sized and one we will turn into an office.  Here are the before and in progress pics as we rip these rooms apart.

Master bedroom in all its wallpaper/carpet glory

The study.  Multiple walls of wallpaper:(

Close up of clam shell wallpaper in study.

2nd Bedroom with wallpaper that was impossible to remove.  This one wall took longer than all the other bedrooms combined.

Master bedroom after.  No wallpaper and no carpet.

2nd bedroom after.



The hall bath before and in process

The house has a TON of wallpaper.  Every room has wallpaper.  OLD WALLPAPER.  MULTI-LAYERS.  I spent much of the past weekend taking down this offensive decor.  I started with the hall bath which in hindsight was a horrible idea.  It was by FAR the WORSE experience of the last week in the house. 

Hall bath in all its glory.  Dated and ugly.

In progress.  I got the first layer of wallpaper down to realize there was a second, and a third.  It was horrendous.  Took me the better part of a day and a half.

My little buddy-the steamer.  Steaming the wallpaper off in the bath turned it into a sauna.  I thought I was going to melt.

The hall bath without the vanity, the toilet removed and no more WALLPAPER.  WOOHOOO

The kitchen before and in progress

One of the things we really like about the new house is the kitchen.  Its good sized.  It's open to the dining room (kinda) and the cabinets are solid.  We saw potential-LOTS of potential.  We plan to open the wall between the dining room and kitchen, pull up the floor and tile, paint the kitchen cabinets, new counter tops and updated appliances.  Here is the beginning of the process.

Here is the view of the kitchen from the dining room.

We took out the top cabinets and started taking down the wall.

We also started taking up the floor.  Three layers, the top two are peel and stick tiles.  Right now the half of the floor we have removed is a bit like fly paper. 

Standing in the kitchen here is the new view into the dining room.  WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

View of the kitchen from the dining room.

What a difference a week makes...a selection of the before photos

We have had the house now for 7 nights.  A solid week.  A long week.  We are both so very tired but excited and really proud what we have accomplished.   I am going to share some before photos to give you a lay of the land. 

The house has 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths.  It is a split level/split foyer.  When you walk in the house you face a few stairs and the living room is a few feet up on your left.  The living room connects to the dining room with a view through to the kitchen.  If you walk upstairs in the hallway and take a right you come to three bedrooms and the master bath.

When you walk in the house you can also take a right and go down a flight of about 8 stairs into a large bonus room.  There is also a bedroom, a full bath, a bar and a laundry room downstairs.

Currently there is a good sized deck outside.

Plenty of room to dream big:)

This is our bonus room downstairs.  When you walk in the door from the carport this is what you see. 

When you walk down the stairs into the bonus room you see the fireplace and one of the two sliding doors to outside.  While this is a basement its a walk out so its very bright and open.

When you stand at the sliding doors you get a gander of the built in bar.  Its tragic in its 1970's greatness.  Scott won't let me change a thing.  Much more to come on this little gem.

View from the bonus room downstairs up to the second floor.

This is a view of the dining room from the living room (which I will show a before photo of later.)

View into the kitchen from the dining room

View of the kitchen from the entry near the dining room.

View of the kitchen from the entry in the hallway.

Hall bath.

Master bath with a door to the outside deck.

We rented a huge dumpster to collect all our demo materials.

This is the dumpster as of Sunday afternoon.  Its been a busy week:)