The Baking Center

When we built our house, we were definitely on a budget. And that was okay, because Colin and I had never lived any other way. Although we had a builder, I took classes at the community college on being your own general contractor, as we wanted to have as much information as possible, and be educated enough to make good choices. We also spent a lot of time at the library (one of our favorite places on earth) looking for inspiration. When I found The Not So Big House book, I was really happy. Small-ish homes, built with quality materials.  We loved the concept.

Colin's best friend, Tony, was just discovering a new hobby of cabinet building and offered to build our kitchen at cost. We were thrilled with his offer. Tony and I met up one morning at Starbucks and sketched out the kitchen. I wanted it to be classic, full of light, and have plenty of space for foot traffic so the boys could ramble freely through, even if the dishwasher and oven were both wide open.

And most importantly, I wanted a baking center on the island in the center of it all.

What I love most about the baking center are the drawers that hold my spices - right next to the stove, and the flour, sugars, etc. in the others. If I need to dust the countertop with flour, I can just reach right in and grab a handful.

 

 

 

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I have another fun little place that I keep more of my spices. I'll show you soon!

Comments

[studio sister lisa]

I can just smell the apple crisp! Oh so pretty...where did you get the ceramic egg holder thing?
Lisa

[jeanne]

Now I need to go and reorganize my spice drawer:-)

[Serena]

Hi Lisa,
The egg holder is from JoAnn Fabric. They had a big selection of them at Easter.
:) Serena

[kasey]

beautiful!

[cynthia]

Hi Girls!

I am love with your Island , what beautiful work! My Island is an old desk of mine, I love it, but yours is FAB!! anyway, I always catch the little details and you have a ceramic egg holder, and I just about fell off my chair when I saw it, lol.... I had bid on one last year on ebay and lost because I had to go out, lol( a pretty robins egg blue) ....well anyway , long story short, Ive been looking for one ever since!!!! If you could be kind enough, I would lOVE and appreciate so much if you could let me know where you go that one ?!? at this point i've wanted one for so long, id pay a million bucks for it too, lol, ok, j/k, but its awesome!!

Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful talents with us all, your blog is amazing!

~ Hugs ~ Cynthia ...

ps: If you can help me in that direction, just visit my blog or email me at [email protected]. Thanks so much!

[cynthia]

Hi Girls!

I am love with your Island , what beautiful work! My Island is an old desk of mine, I love it, but yours is FAB!! anyway, I always catch the little details and you have a ceramic egg holder, and I just about fell off my chair when I saw it, lol.... I had bid on one last year on ebay and lost because I had to go out, lol( a pretty robins egg blue) ....well anyway , long story short, Ive been looking for one ever since!!!! If you could be kind enough, I would lOVE and appreciate so much if you could let me know where you go that one ?!? at this point i've wanted one for so long, id pay a million bucks for it too, lol, ok, j/k, but its awesome!!

Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful talents with us all, your blog is amazing!

~ Hugs ~ Cynthia ...

ps: If you can help me in that direction, just visit my blog or email me at [email protected]. Thanks so much!

[Christa from Chloe Rose]

I wish I had found that book when we were building our house.....I think there is a lot to be said for a well-planned "smallish" house.....there's less area to clean, less property taxes to pay, and you can put your money into better cabinetry and pretty extras. I love how your spices look, with the colorful labels and such......I need to go show my pantry some love ;o). Thanks for the inspiration!

Christa
Chloe Rose

[Donna]

I love the Farm Chicks............I am glad that you have a blog, I will read your posts regularly. You are both so clever!!!

[Pat]

Love the kitchen - and also love the ceramic egg holder - you might have to carry some of those !!! We all want one!!!

[Mary Lou Weidman]

Great ideas you are sharing and the thing I so appreciate about what you share is the lovely color and clean appeal. You girls rock! Keep up the great work, you inspire us!
Mary Lou Weidman

[jenny]

...there you go AGAIN--tempting us with that book of yours! ;)

I love how you organized your drawers. The labels on the tops of your jars are oh-so-cute!!!

[Bethie]

Man, you are so organized! I still have one of the those turny things in the corner cabinet:)...great kitchen!

[Kim~HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

This is my first visit to your blog and I love it!

Great baking center.

[Amy]

love that book--my in-laws (builders) have it and I ooooh and aaahhh over it everytime I pull it out. looks like you did a great job.

[Gabreial]

I love the baking center idea. I also love those counter tops!

[ashley crim]

what fabulous uses of space...lovely blog and baking station!!!

[Patty W]

I love that egg holder ! Where ever did you find it?? I adore it!

[Massage chair]

Smaller, more efficiently designed houses are definitely the way to go. You've done a great job here!