So I was hoping to share the final worktops this week on the blog but alas, we didn’t get quite as far on them as we’d hoped. All the pieces are now cut to size and sort of just ‘resting’ on the cupboards but we still need to do all the joining work so that’ll be next weekend now. We managed to paint the end panels, however we hit a bit of a snag there which I’ll share with you soon – it’s nothing detrimental, it’ll just take a little longer than planned!
Oh and you’ll notice, due to my incredible impatience, I decided to swap out the handles to my new ones despite the fact the cupboards aren’t painted yet. It’s a sickness, I tell ya.
Speaking of sicknesses, I can’t stop shopping for the kitchen. In preparation for the new and improved space, I’ve kinda been hitting my Paypal account hard (seriously, I need to slow down now) but shopping for the kitchen is just way too fun.
The thing is, I firmly believe that even the most mundane things can still be pretty or to borrow Marie Kondo’s phrase, ‘spark joy’. No, I haven’t read the book but I like the idea of being sure the things I surround myself with are useful and pretty but it’s even better when they are both.
So I already shared with you the pretty gold dish drainer (£29) that I got to coordinate with the new gold sink. I used to have a rather ugly silver drainer which, yes, was totally practical but not exactly inspiring, ya know?
I know that so many people said the gold sink was far too pretty to do dishes in but the truth is, I actually quite ENJOY doing them these days. I know, I know, that’s weird. But still. It gives me an excuse to go over and ogle my sink without anyone thinking I’ve actually gone off the deep end. (You understand, though, right? I knew you would.)
To add to that, I decided to upgrade the usual ‘Fairy Liquid’ bottle of washing up liquid that used to hide under my cupboards. I recently purchased a set of Meraki dish soap (£10) and hand wash (£17) from Trouva that use all natural ingredients and smell absolutely gorgeous. I love having pretty bottles by the sink and the fact they use natural ingredients makes my hands (and the environment) a lot happier as well.
I’d been eyeing up this fabulous brass pepper mill (£45) for absolutely ages but when our cheap and cheerful plastic one finally bit the (pepper) dust recently, I decided to just go for it. It wasn’t cheap, clearly, but my goodness, is it beautiful. It also works incredibly well (at the price, you’d kind of expect it to, let’s be honest here) and is so much heavier than you’d think. But I adore it and it makes making dinner just a little more special too with the very satisfying ‘crunch’ of a flourish of pepper.
I also found this fabulous hand forged gold bottle opener (£8). I’ve been looking for a gold one to replace my old silver one so I could hang it from the rails in my kitchen alongside my other gold utensils. This fit the bill nicely and it has a wonderful hand-made quality that I love.
If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don’t, what are you waiting for?), you may have seen my recent post sharing a new set of dishes and mugs I recently purchased from H&M. Black and white animal print mugs (£7 each) and plates with gold trim (£7 each) and some small side plates (£5 each) with the cutest hand-drawn leopards. There was just no way I was going to pass these up. I MEAN LOOK AT THEM.
I adore the little message inside the mugs!
My little ‘message center’ in the corner got a little upgrade as well. I used to just throw any old ugly pen and pencil here just for convenience sake but I suppose the ‘back to school’ vibe is getting to me too. So I purchased a new planner as well as a few new sets of pretty pencils (£3) and pens (£7) from Fox & Star and chucked out the old, broken, dried up pens that used to reside here. The pretty patterns look lovely peeking out from a glass mug I’ve had for a few years.
If you’re wondering, no, that’s not Meisha on the calendar there! Ha! But I do love bengal kitties.
And lastly, we had boring white Ikea box that used to live on top of the microwave. Wayne used to leave all the dog paraphernalia all over the worktops being the chief ‘dog walker’ in our house and it used to do my head in. So in a moment of frustration, I threw everything into the box and shoved it on top of the microwave simply to get it out of the way. Wayne liked that it was convenient for him to grab the lead, doggy poop bags, etc when he took Quito out and I liked that I didn’t have to look at the lead or doggy poop bags on my countertops ;)
However, I really never particularly cared for the box and it was starting to get a bit ratty. I decided to replace it with this beautiful jute basket (£20) that I’m quite happy to leave out now. And it fits all sorts of things including a dog towel, some of his toys and chewies as well as the lead and doggy poop bags! (How many times can I say ‘doggy poop bags’ in one post before people start finding this post when searching for them on Google? Hmm.)
And on that note (doggy poop bags FTW), that’s essentially my ‘kitchen haul’ for the day (or week or perhaps month, seriously, I need to stop it now). Have you bought any entirely practical items lately that were also pretty darn gorgeous as well? Any favourites of the things I’ve purchased? Where do you put your doggy poop bags? The comment box awaits.
i have to admit, i just gave my timber dish drainer the side eye after reading this post… would love to know how the sinks hold up in a few months time as they’re super gorgeous & even though i don’t have much gold in my household scheme, i’m sure i could accommodate! please report back ;) the pepper mill is also calling to me & i’m about to order the dish soap as i too have been wincing at the fairy bottle!
can’t wait to see the end result, it’s all looking joyful!
Hahaha! Sorry to your dish drainer. Believe me, I was shooting daggers to my silver one for years. As for the sink – so far so good. Of course, we’ve not had it for long but it’s used many times a day and it seems to be very similar in terms of durability as my old stainless steel one. I imagine we’ll get a few small scratches and things in time but it buffs up nicely. Happy shopping for other bits ;) xxx
Beautiful Kim!! I love the gold sink and you know, I know you’re in the process of doing the backsplash but in the photos the gold accents look great against the rustic like effect made from the exposed wall. Haha
Hahaha! Yeah crappy looking walls always looks so beautiful in pictures, don’t they? In person? Not so much! ;) xxx
OMG! I absolutely love the leopard dishes!!! Especially the cup and saucer sets! Those are perfect for a large cup of tea (or coffee)! Gonna be looking for something like them in the States.
H&M Home is in the States as well! Happy shopping! ;) xxx
Haha, i’m glad there’s not only me that’s impatient about putting handles on before things are finished.
I love your new plates and bowls, they are stunning, and so is the brass pepper mill. Wow just thought, {sad person that I am} how good those plates, dishes and cups, are going to look in your gold sink, NICE xxx
I know, I’m so HORRIBLY impatient, I got fed up looking at the old ones! LOL! And I’ll be honest, everything (even dirty dishes) look pretty in that sink ;) xxx
So many gorgeous things!! You truly are an expert internet shopper – how you find so many pretty, lovely, unusual things.. I don’t know!
Oh yeah, I voted for you in the Amara thingy! xx
I spend a ridiculous amount of time on the internet, that’s how! Hahaha! #nolife Aww thanks for the vote my dear! Mwah!! xx
hello, do you have any tips for a newbie like me on how to beef up my computer skills?
I am going to start a blog but have no idea how? How did you learn the computer? A class? Consultant? What basic skills does a person need to do a blog ?
I am on instagram, pinterest, blog lovin that’s it. the rest are for movie stars!
Rita
I’ve been online since 1997 so I am pretty much self-taught! As for starting a blog as a complete beginner, I would recommend Blogger as a platform – it’s very simple to use and set up :) xx
Kimberly- I’ve been following you for a while now – and love your style! Although I don’t know you -at all -except for reading your blogs etc.. I would say those dishes are Purrfect for you! p.s. ..I love your sinks! must look beautiful with the iridescent soap bubbleS!!
So many pretties! Well jel <3 <3 <3
That brass pepper mill! Love! And I had that those H&M plates in my cart countless times. I think I have to just give in and buy them too.
Hi Kimberley,
Your kitchen looks gorgeous from what I can see are you going to write a final post showing us all of it?
Can you also tell me where you got the cabinet hardware from I cant seem to find it in your post.
Oh yes of course I will, it’s just not done yet! Ha! The remodel is just taking longer than we’d anticipated ;) I’ll be sharing a full source list as well, stay tuned, hopefully in the next couple of weeks :) xxx