I have the privilege of living in the family home where I grew up. At any given moment, I can recall fond memories from every corner of the house. But coming from a big family, most of my earliest memories always centered around family gatherings and of course…a huge meal. I can vividly remember watching my Mom happily clanging pots in the kitchen as she put on a spread and never batting an eye. So for me, the kitchen is truly where my heart is most at home.
People say some “live to eat” or “eat to live.” While I love food, no doubt, my upbringing stamped me to live to cook. With so many things in life we can’t control, I find it tremendously comforting to prepare a meal in a space you love, complete it, be proud of it, and share it with those you love. Nothing makes me happier than to hear someone walk through the kitchen and say “Something smells good!” I can’t say that any other room in the house can do all of that.
When I was renovating the original kitchen, I knew I had to recreate the space with things that make me happy. And nothing makes me happier than blue and white. So I hung my flo blue platters, added two old blue French pieces, installed a dark hardwood floor for contrast, and the rest just fell into place. I designed my kitchen for cooking and every day that I’m in that kitchen, just like my Mom before me, I am truly in my favorite part of home.