Oh, hi there! I'm sorry I disappeared. It seems I took the summer off. Life got surprisingly busy for a while there, but I'm working on getting back into the blogging groove.
I spend a great deal of time thinking about kitchens. Oh, do I love to cook, you ask? No. Not really. I want to love to cook, but usually I'm so hungry and exhausted when I get home at night that I can't even contemplate the idea of cooking. Because cooking isn't just cooking - it's a time-sucking and energy intensive event. It's going to the store, acquiring ingredients, hauling them home, chopping/sautéing/simmering/baking them, serving them, then eating them, and, when it's all over, cleaning them and all of the dishes up. Seriously? No, thank you. Eating falls far too late in that chain of events. And I love to eat. And so, to Seamless.com I go. The thing is, while I don't necessarily cook on a daily basis, Matt and I do like to entertain when we can, and I also -- despite the not cooking -- seem to spend a lot of time in the kitchen every day... making coffee, dealing with mail, assembling whatever Seamless.com has delivered, doing the dishes, wiping off the counters, replacing the sponge.... etc. etc. etc. I also find that, for whatever reason, when gathering, people tend to gravitate towards the kitchen regardless of how messy or tiny it is. And so my thoughts are: Cooking? Eh. But kitchens? YES! I love kitchens. Adore them. Dream about them. Want to live in them. Etc. Which brings me to our kitchen. It's in desperate need of a renovation. It's super charming in that old, New York apartment galley kitchen kind of way, but it's not the kind of kitchen that inspires kitchen envy and causes hyperventilation. There is pealing wallpaper, track lighting that burns out weekly, ancient appliances and a sink that reminds me of camp kitchens. We will, at some point, renovate, but I find decisions of this sort extremely difficult. There are so many fabulous options out there, how could you possibly decide on just one? It's much more fun to dream than to actually execute. In the dreaming phase, there are no price tags or finding contractors or measuring space... there's only big ideas and space for kitchen islands and the possibility of floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto terraces. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you some photos of kitchens that I find inspiring for one reason or another. Today's focus will be on subway tiles. Economical, clean, modern. There's something very delightful about them. A beauty in the utility. They're meant to be juxtaposed against windows and light - not underground. You can be playful with them, through pattern or grout, use them to create a wash of color or to create contrast. You can dress them up or dress them down. They're useful and above all, quite beautiful in their simplicity. Scroll down to see 10 of my current subway tile crushes. Which images do you like best? Happy Monday and have a happy week! KK
9 Comments
Kate
9/15/2014 03:26:18 pm
Ellen - Thank you so much and thanks for reading this blog! I think your pick is my favorite kitchen too... upon further investigation, I've found the source!! Holloways of Ludlow. All of their kitchens are quite lovely. I also made a visit to your fab blog - love it! You make me want to actually cook in the kitchen! :)
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Kay
11/1/2014 04:09:41 am
I love your blogs - I love hearing about your life in NYC. And I love you lots. I sort of like the white tile with grey grout -- but then I also like the look of the white tile with white grout that looks so clean.
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Kate
11/8/2014 08:56:09 am
Oh Aunt Kay, thank you! I have such a hard time deciding too.... I think it runs in the family! Thinking of you always... xoxo
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12/16/2014 02:39:14 am
Some beautiful inspiration here, although I have to admit, I'm still on the fence about subway tiles!
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6/2/2016 06:43:39 am
This is a wonderful article, Given so much info in it, These type of articles keeps the users interest in the website, and keep on sharing more ... good luck.
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6/14/2016 02:24:09 am
I love your blog entry. And for my favorite image - I would have to say it's the white glass subway tile.
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2/15/2017 12:27:55 am
It's in urgent need of a remodel. It's super beguiling in that old, New York flat cookroom kitchen sort of way, yet it's not the sort of kitchen that moves kitchen envy and causes hyperventilation. There is ringing backdrop, track lighting that wears out week by week, old machines and a sink that helps me to remember camp kitchens.
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8/22/2017 02:16:47 am
For a long time the only thing you needed to know or ask when choosing a built-in hob for your newly designed kitchen was if it was Gas or Electric? Today you can choose between gas, gas on glass, electric, ceramic, radiant and induction, as well as colours and finishes such as black glass and satin steel.
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Kate KellyI am an artist/designer and former financial professional with a background in comparative literature, business and design. I live in New York with my overworked lawyer husband and my two boys Michael and Theo and spend much of my free time dreaming about how to enhance the aesthetics of our little world. I am endlessly inspired and always in search of something new. This is a blog about my search, my inspiration and things I just really, really like or want. Archives
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