There's a great deal of focus on the kitchen here in the states. On all of the home improvement shows it is the main room in the house. If you're thinking of selling your home you need to upgrade your kitchen [so say the experts]. If you only have a certain amount of money to work with then put it toward upgrading your kitchen. Cardinal rule. http://www.thekitchn.com/how-much-did-your-kitchen-reno-149500
For years you needed to have stone or hardwood floors, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. It was in all the magazines. On all the shows. Everyone was doing it. De rigueur. Nevermind the cost. Or the inconvenience. Or the fact that it all scratched or was a pita to keep clean, especially stainless steel. It was what was demanded by the industry. One, afterall, must succumb to the demand.
Now, after 25 years the trends they are a-changing. Stainless is giving way__but it has no clear replacement. What will be the new trend setter? They don't seem to be able to make up their minds. Black? Well, no, maybe not. White? It's so stark. God forbid we return to harvest gold or avocado from the shadows of the 70's. [shudder] So what does that leave us? I have it all figured out. http://realestate.msn.com/what-comes-after-stainless
Clear.
Yep. Glass or lucite fronted refrigerators, glass top and glass door ovens and glass freezers. We can see all our food 24/7. No more wondering if we need milk. We can see w/o having to open the door.
And
There is a huge business in selling these machines second-hand from commercial outlets.
Of course you may have a Coca-Cola logo on your refrigerator but, hey, it adds a little color, right?
I am not a trend setter. LoL. The entire concept makes me laugh. I cooked out here on a two burner hot-plate for over twenty years...before that over an open fire. I don't have a dish washer__I AM the dish washer. When I watch these shows on tv I marvel at the amount of conspicuous consumption they imply because I know this isn't the way many actually live. [not that many live as close to the ground as I have over the years but still...]
ReplyDeleteI like the refurbished pop fridge idea!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky (?) to have a just updated kitchen in this house it is stone floored, granite counter top and stone sinked. It's big and well designed the sink is in the corner so it has lots of counterspace that's usable and storage too it's nice to keep clean I haven't used a cutting board since moving here. But it's ALL stone and dark and black and gloomy.. I like bright white and yellow in kitchens how did I get this?.. and I can't paint anything it's stone for heavens sakes! My ancient stove and refridgerator sit in the appliance pockets like two poor relatives at a Kennedy reunion... the dishwasher that came with the house gleams it's stainless steel face at them as they work faithfully for me each day mocking them like a prima donna - since I haven't used it in over a year because it is lazy and doesn't wash the dishes as well as I do. stupid dishwasher.
When it comes time to sell the house I don't know what I'll do... I sure hope the trend lasts a little longer. Or I snag a couple who dig the retro feel of it. lol
My pickle lake kitchen will be minute. but bright and airy and just as functional. I will punch skylights in the storage bin right over the kitchen so I can cook in sunshiny brightness.
Don't get me wrong.. I do love my kitchen my appliances that will likely still be working and join me in Pickle lake. In the two houses I've had prior to this the kitchens were my bane.. one was so big with one and a half feet of workable counter space and more than half the house to cross to get to the fridge... the other was a galley kitchen nice enough but the front door opened into it and the traffic that ran through it made it a bottleneck hazard zone... I don't like interruptions when I'm a flurry in the kitchen.
The good thing is... I've now had enough extremes I know what I like and don't like and oh yes, that storage bin will be just perfect.
I want to paint the kitchen yellow. I love bright , sunny yellow kitchens. And one of my future creations is going to be the floating island on wheels. There are many designs for these so really all I need are the dimensions for the space and the storage I want. I can put it anywhere in the kitchen I want. That is really appealing...and it can be built as extra counter for seating, all you need are bar stools.
DeleteI would NEVER used a refurbished pop cooler. I worked at a convenience store for wayyy too long. They use tons of energy, work inefficiently, and cost tons to get repaired.
ReplyDeleteI've never delved into the field of trendy kitchens, not liking decorating helps... so does never having to have bought my own appliances (except for a dryer, and then I went for the least expensive I could find).
I don't care what the appliance looks like... what I really need is a digital display on the outside that shows current milk levels and best-before date. Now THAT is something I could get behind. Hey... that's a good idea, actually...
Oh, well, there goes that idea. Your idea is great! Now if the machine could send a message to the grocer and have the new item delivered it would be even better. *grin*
DeleteI like the stainless steel look myself. Don't really like the clear look. Out of sight, out of mind kinda thing ... you really can't have that if you can see your food 24/7
ReplyDeleteYou could always have gangsta glass...
DeleteLOL @ gansta glass!
Delete:)
ReplyDeleteLOL. Gangsta glass... I find it funny, but I don't even know what that means... lol@self.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Miki
ReplyDeleteThe dark glass they have in cars in hot climates to act as a sunshield...but it's also used in cars to shield the inhabitants from being seen by people on the outside.
ReplyDeleteI live in a small modern open plan home and hate the kitchen. It is disfunctional and not enough bench or storage space.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I like the floating island idea. You can make it as big or small as you want it [as small as a chopping board. You can set it up for storage with extra drawers and use it as a seating area then wheel it out of the way when you're not using it. And if your're renting you can take it with you when you leave.
DeleteI'd be cleaning constantly. I don't know the last time my fridge was scrubbed. Ack! With glass doors....OMG. No it is not for me!
ReplyDeleteMy kitchen is circa 1974. It works. It does not work for more than 2 people in it at once. It is U shaped with an adjacent dining room. It needs to be redone and yet....it still functions. And I dream.....
Retro ! It's the new thing now. LoL
ReplyDeleteIf you've seen the bottom of one dining table, you've seen them all. At least that's my perspective.
ReplyDeleteAh, ever the pragmatist, Augie.
ReplyDelete