My kitchen shelves have been gradually evolving ever since we moved in and now finally I think have it right. They suit me and I really do think they suit the house. I'm not the sort of person that needs to be changing things around, but until I've got them right and got something just how I want it to look I will tinker with things and re-position them.
This was how they were a few months ago, but I found there were things on the shelves that were not in constant use so they got dusty and if there's one thing I hate doing it's dusting!! Now they contain the foodstuff in jars, and just a few special things that light up my day when I see them.
The salt and pepper set that mean a lot.
We had two cruets, the cat set was bought around 10 years ago because the cat looked like one of my four cats at the time who was called Pepper. Rather ironically the pepper one got broken a couple of years ago and so 'Pepper' the cat is our salt cellar, the pepper is from another half broken set. As a pair they are my idea of perfect.
The little owl was bought in Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market this year and the heart shaped hand thrown bowl that he sits in was bought from the Eglwysbach country show, the first one we went to this year after moving in. It's just along the road and up the hill from us. Memories of two lovely days out together.
We bought this lovely little egg cup candle from Winchester too, along with a 'Pug' jug that I fell in love with.
But of course the main things on the shelves is the food.
Lots of lovely dried food in jars, that if hidden in the cupboards just would not get used the same. Near at hand and glaring at me defying me to think up ways of using them, I love seeing them all neatly lined up.and ready for action .... and now after a good second cleaning they are finally free of that dreaded fine plaster dust that seemed to get everywhere while the conservatory renovations were going on.
Do you have things on shelves and near at hand or do you prefer clean lines and things tucked away in cupboards.?
Sue xx
We don't have shelves in the kitchen but many more cupboards following our own move nine months ago, so inside the cupboards I have, as you say, things arranged in a way that makes me smile when I open a door!
ReplyDeleteI am about to move to a kitchen with far fewer cupboards. So being ruthless. But some have glas spanels in the doors, which require tidier habits!
DeleteI love open shelving in kitchens..... Even though they are a bugger to dust
ReplyDeleteI love your shelves, I spotted Monkey I have one of those also.
ReplyDeleteOne of Lovely Hubby's favourite presents is a box of tea bags with a 'free' Monkey, when a new one comes out he donates his last one to the charity shop, otherwise we would be over run with the cute little fella :-)
DeleteYour shelves look fab and I love the little owl. My kitchen stuff is hidden in cupboards, purely because I am far too lazy to dust things. Instead I open cupboards doors and everything falls out. I'm not very domesticated ;)
ReplyDeleteTwiggy
Small kitchen so things shut away but I do love the open shelves.
ReplyDeleteYours looks lovely.
I had built 3 long shelves above some cupboards with curtains in the front. I also built a shelving unit that stands alongside those shelves. I prefer shelving to hanging cupboards ever since we had the old ones fall off the walls about 7 years ago. That`s when I decided that I wanted all my kitchen wares to be on display on open shelving. It works for me and helps me to see at a glance whatever needs to be replenished.
ReplyDeleteI have shelves which are full of cookbooks and jars of dried food. I love my cookbooks and try to use most of them. I don't have a lot of cupboard space so the jars full of porridge oats, lentils, rice and pasta it's also a great way of seeing when I need to buy more of anything.
ReplyDeleteSue. I love your open shelves. I have open wooden shelves in my kitchen which I keep my cookbooks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate. Then I have caster sugar, plain flour and s.r. flour., all in kilner jarts. Then my very old piggy biscuit jar. Under my shelves I have cup hooks for my favourite floral mugs and four special mugs for us four.
ReplyDeleteRosezeeta
The best part of our kitchen is the small drawer next to the cooker, I got loads of small glass pots with glass lids, they are all filled with herbs and spices. Just so handy and the aromour we get when opening the drawer or cupboard below, just bliss. I keep everything tucked behind doors, unless it's the kettle. Our kitchen is small and its better being tidy.
ReplyDeleteSue, I don't have any shelves in the kitchen, as they are lined with cabinets. But I do have a wonderful pantry that has a wide shelf for all my kitchen appliances and other shelves for canned goods, baking stuff, plastic bags and tin foil, etc. etc. etc.... I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you: I don't need to be constantly arranging and re-arranging; but I will "fix" until it's just right. Your shelves look very nice. Do you know though that anything displayed in a clear glass jar should be used quickly as nutrition deteriorates faster? BTW - That owl bowl is adorable.
ReplyDeleteHopefully by having them out and visible they will be eaten before they deteriorate too much and the jars all have good seals so I am only fighting the light.
DeleteThe owl and the little bowl do look good together don't they :-)
I love your jars, I sometime manage to pick them up for a few pence at the jumbles but not very often, the chazzers have put the prices up to dearer than I can by brand new at Wilkos.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteYour shelves look lovely, my kitchen's all built in cabinets, I'd love to have some open shelving but don't have the space to.
We drove past your house on Wednesday on our way back from Betws. I did consider turning up at your front door, but thought it may have been a bit 'stalker' ish!
I'm SO jealous of your view, it's such a lovely part of Wales. You're so lucky having Llandudno so close, it's a long drive for us, but we go every so often because we love having a wander along the prom, followed by lunch or afternoon tea at the St. George's Hotel. Oh, the joys of being early retired, it's brilliant!
P.S. We had two cats, Salt and Pepper, Salt was a Tortie and Pepper was totally black, they were litter sisters, Pepper lived to fifteen and Salt kept going strong until she was almost twenty one!
I was out for the day on Wednesday so unfortunately I wouldn't have been home to meet you, but PLEASE do stop next time you pass if my car is parked next to the house (a small white Fiat 500). The kettle is always on for blog readers in the neighbourhood and the dogs are always willing to jump all over visitors.
DeleteI love your shelves. Where did you buy all your storage jars?
ReplyDeleteCaroline
I've picked them up over a few years, some from car boot sales, the big ones on the top shelf are from Dunelm when they were reduced to clear. The little blue one, bottom shelf on the left was a gift from Karan, a lovely friend met through the Blog and it always holds my dried chilli flakes :-)
DeleteI'd have everything on shelves if I could! Would prevent wastage from forgetting things at the back of the cupboard and like you have said - if you can see it then you plan what to do with it! I have a dresser with everyday china on which I change with the seasons and my mood, like having something different to look at!
ReplyDeleteThose kitchen scales are just glorious!
ReplyDeleteWe needed some that went up to a high weight when we used to sell our pork and bacon, and these ones go up to 10kgs. Smart and useful.
DeleteI love to see open shelves like that instead of closed cupboards, the trouble is they need dusting regularly !
ReplyDelete