We are painting the kitchen again this weekend, after doing it around this time last year. What is annoying is, we aren't doing it properly again either, as we still aren't ready to do the entire kitchen renovation. However, we are lifting up the terrible floor to see if there is salvageable wood underneath it that we can paint.
If not, I guess we will have to put down more laminate, as replacing the entire wood floor requires taking out the kitchen anyway and the cost is high, just for the floor to be installed. It will make quite a difference to the overall feel to have the floors painted the same as the others, so fingers crossed it isn't a cluster fuck under there.
When we bought the place, the previous owners had lived here for about twenty years already, and when we asked about various things, they confidently gave us answers - though as soon as we started taking things apart, we realized they were very much full of crap. We were changing a lot anyway, but some of the things that we were hoping to keep as original. were far from it anyway and, poorly installed, so we had to dice some of our plans.
The stairway is one of the only things that we were able to keep and they are as old as the house itself. It seems redoing them poorly like the other things they had done, was still too much work to consider - luckily.
In regards to the kitchen, sometime I stand in there and try to visualize what will be done later and I have even used some 3D software to plan it out, but it is very difficult. The space is large, but it is poorly thought out, with doorways in off places and the window installed too low to put a benchtop under it. We can have it raised, but it cuts even more light out and is still very expensive to gain a few centimeters.
However, without those centimeters, building a well appointed space is going to be a challenge and we might have to resort to having a floating island instead, but I am really hoping we can avoid it. We don't need much of an eating space here as there is a formal dining room next to it, but the kitchen still tends to be a place people congregate when visiting (because that is where the food is) so having a bit of a breakfast bar or something will be handy. As you can probably see, there isn't much bench space for food prep.
The second coat of base paint is almost dry and it has taken quite a lot longer than usual, as it is very humid today, as the temperature is approaching 30, but it was pouring down with rain in the morning. The other thing is, the paint underneath is a thick acrylic paint, so nothing is soaking into it. I suspect that this isn't going to last very long, but I hope that we will be able to do the proper renovation sometime soon anyway.
Kitchens are the heart of a home in my opinion and a practical and well-functioning space makes life easier and better in general. I have the "fantasy" of being able to have a place to experiment with food and somewhere that while doing so, guests can comfortably chat with a glass of wine in their hand, without having to feel like they are getting in the way, but also feel that they can lend a hand too.
Older Finns like my in-laws, don't have a culture of preparing food together and even when family visit them, the food prep is all done and ready to serve at the invite time. If they say come to dinner at six, the food will be ready to eat at six.
In Australia it is quite a bit different, where the "come at six" invite will likely mean that for those arriving at that time, they will be given a drink in one hand, and knife in the other to chop up some salad, while the main goes into the oven. For me, this is far more natural and social, so rather than feeling like being served at a restaurant, the cooking of the meal is part of the interaction and experience for the night.
When people are "put to work" without the formality of having to work, the conversation flows and it can be a lot of fun. Not only this, when the food is served, they helped create it, which takes even more formality out and further relaxes the situation. When they say "this is good!" they also get the sense that they can take some of the credit for it.
The spaces of our home are important in not only how we feel, but also how we interact with the people around us. Cramped and disorderly spaces can feel expressive make people feel like they have to get out of the way all the time, but when there is flow, a lot of activity can happen, without having to continually say "excuse me" every 10 seconds. But more than this, well designed places improve interpersonal communication, where rather than thinking about where to stand or what to do, people can spend more time talking about life, love and heartbreak.
Some of the best conversations I have had in my life have happened in kitchens while preparing food, as there is something releasing about it, where people feel more comfortable opening up about their lives. Perhaps it is because of the handling of food itself, where there is a fair bit of trust involved, considering it is going to be consumed - or perhaps it is hardcoded into our DNA, where the preparation of food for the group has been persisting through society, since communities began.
It is a luxury to spend time thinking about the implications of spaces in the home, even more of a luxury to be able to do something about influencing the spaces. But if the opportunity arises, thinking about and making some small design changes to the spaces in which we live, may have minor but profound implications for the way we experience our world and the types of relationships we form.
This kitchen might have an ugly face, but it could also have a heart of gold.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Preparing food together can be bonding if those working have a good attitude and are resourceful. What I see are blond cupboards in your photo. Hmm. Yeah the renovation would be work but well worth it in the end.
Do you have the habit of cooking together with friends?
Actually yes.. I have done some with friends and for holidays.
No surprises here. One of my most memorable experiences of all the bullshit people say to make a sale was when my dad bought a used car about a decade ago. It looked good on the surface so I and my siblings gave the nod of approval. Instant regret as soon as he drove it for the first time
I have bought two new cars in my wife, both without test driving them - I just assumed that they will be okay. All of the used cars though... I have to testdrive.
In my house lifting anything up involves sheer horror at the half assed state of underneath. Doing a great job on your place though!!
Loool soon as I saw your comment I prepared myself for a good laugh
:0D
I am surprised that they don't use granite stone kitchen tops in over there.
Like I said before boet, you missed your trade as Interior Designer sounds right up your alley.
That kitchen will look much dandier once you guys are finished with it methinks.
Me too - but they are really, really expensive here.
Can't wait until we can do the proper reno on it though...
So, ship some granite tops over from here and start selling them as you will make a killing in profits :)
Finishing is always filled with headaches and yes, it can take a long time.
I like the interior house painting as long as someone else picks up the goods, cleans the floor and places the goods again after painting.
Unfortunately - we are doing most of the work ourselves :D
It would be better one for painting, the other/others for cleaning :)
So true. The kitchen is so important to the flow and feel of a home, especially one that has regular guests and friends popping around for dinner or drinks.
We are in the process of buying a new house and the kitchen is a bit dated, so we are trying to decide what to do? Small makeover or major overhaul? I guess we will wait until we get the keys and live in the space for a few months first to get a feel for it.
I love this idea. We often do the serve people at 6 and it can be a bit of a stress. Your idea could work really well, I must give it a try.