In My kitchen June 2016
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In My Kitchen is me with a big smile.
We’ve been living in this location for 9 months now, and it wasn’t until I was able to move into my newly renovated kitchen that I realised how deep my lack of cooking motivation had been. I had whinged about the old kitchen in this forum but it really was the pits. It had stolen all the joy I used to feel while cooking. Now I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My creativity is flowing, the ideas are plentiful and the pleasure and energy have returned.
I feel a renewed vitality for all things food.
A couple of the major aesthetic features have been returned to the cabinet maker for rectification. I’ll not reveal all until they’re fixed but instead share with things I love about my new kitchen.
Splashback tiles
The splash back tiles far exceed my expectations. They looked amazing in the showroom but that little niggle of doubt had been eating at me until I saw them on the wall. They add a necessary touch of complexity to the look of the kitchen. I’m also extra pleased with my new Ilve cooker. My bread now has extra good crusts and my wok gets hot enough to stir fry.
Deep open fronted drawers that are tall enough for bottles of booze, the Kenwood mixer and Magimix food processor were a stipulation I made after finding it difficult to find the right shaped space for them in my last kitchen. Easy access means they lift out without a struggle too.
Kick board drawers with touch open fasteners are perfect for trays and seldom used things. This is the ultimate use of waste space. I have three of these drawers. And deep wide drawers mean that saucepans and their lids can be easily stored, easily retrieved.
sensible drawers
Our smart kitchen designer suggested pocket doors for the appliance cupboard and a bifold door on the pantry so I could work in a space that had minimum impediment into the walkway. Brilliant.
well planned door openings
The bench top surface is the best I’ve ever worked on. It’s porcelain ceramic, a product called Dekton. It’s heatproof, stain proof and super tough. After working with a highly polished stone surface, I’m finding the matt surface a dream to keep clean.
Dekton benchtop
I’ve finally stopped repacking drawers and moving cupboard contents around. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy cooking in my wonderful new space.
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46 comments on “In My kitchen June 2016”
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Please Pass the Recipe by Sandra Gay is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Please Pass the Recipe 
Talk about a dream kitchen, you must feel like you are in cooking heaven. 🙂
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It’s a wonderful space to work in. After a visit to my local Farmers Market on Saturday I had a fantastic produce led cooking session, I really put the workflow to the test and the kitchen came up trumps
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That is terrific!
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i am very jealous sandra of your new kitchen. and that stove! i struggle with a tiny gas stove; the door doesn’t shut, the timer, fan and lights don’t work and it is minuscule. i really need to get me a new stove.!
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Thanks Sherry. I feel I’v done my time on crap cookers, I hope this one will see me out
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Your kitchen looks amazing Sandra – I’m a bit jealous of your amazing Ile stove & oven, it’s exactly what I’d love in my kitchen. Maybe I’ll get one in ‘our house’ one day. Those Moroccan tiles are simply divine! I love them 🙂 Enjoy the creative juices that are flowing from your wonderful kitchen and so glad to hear your cooking mojo is back!! YAY Lovely kitchen for #IMK, see you soon xx
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Thanks Nicole. I’m just loving my new Ilve stove. I had one similar in Melbourne and missed it so much
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Stunning back splash, what a joy to be in your new kitchen. I love all the thoughtful storage.
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it’s so good to be back in the kitchen Liz, keep rearranging tho, I’ll get it right soon…
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Sandra, what a dream come true! Functional, beautiful, inspiring… a winning combo. So happy you’re cooking up “ideas” again. Those tiles are a work of art. LOVE your new kitchen and so happy for you!
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Thanks Kim. The gift of inspiration is invaluable so the new kitchen is extra special
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Oh that’s so exciting to get a sneak peak into your new kitchen Sandra. Those tiles are gorgeous and I’m totally envious of your cooker… ahhh to have the space for more than 3 pots on the stove! Hope they can finish it all off for you soon, so that we can have a proper look and you can relax and enjoy your gorgeous new space. xx
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We’re inching closer to the end. Loving the new cooker, it’s wonderful to have real heat. The tiles were a bold choice but we’re really pleased with the the look
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It looks fantastic Sandra, love the splash back tiles and the deep drawers are so handy. Love the matt worktop too and the fact that it wont show up every fingermark 🙂
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Thanks Moya. The benchtop is the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried ’em all
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Your kitchen looks gorgeous. I had a beautiful Ilve oven in my last house and it’s one thing I regret leaving.
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Thanks. I had an Ilve in my last house too so it was easy to choose a new cooker
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What a gorgeous kitchen! I’m having kitchen envy now, especially all the clever storage. Some day I may yet get the kitchen of my dreams. Those tiles are stunning.
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You you keep walking past and checking out the tiles? I bet you do they are stunning – so many great ideas especially the drawers for the trays. Can’t wait for the big reveal and happy for you that you’ve got your inspiration back.
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You’re right, I do keep peeking at the tiles, can’t believe how good that look, or how well everything works, it makes such a difference
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OMG – that cooker, beautiful! I’m sad to be leaving my kitchen and moving into a rental kitchen in 2 weeks. We have already worked out that my fridge will not fit, but I can’t downsize with another bub on the way!
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Congrats on the new bub. It’s tough with family obligations to spread the $$$ around. Are you renovating?
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Wow! I love your stove, love your cupboards. What’s your secret to keep them clean and tidy? 😉
xx cathy
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Don’t be deceived by the photos, I’ve just moved into the new kitchen. I hope though that now it easy to see where everything goes it will help
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It looks fantastic, Sandra, and what a difference a well-designed kitchen makes to one’s cooking! Our house had one of the worst kitchens I’ve ever seen (designed by someone with no interest in food who also happened to be eight inches shorter than me) and the transformation when we rebuilt it had a huge impact on our cooking and general daily pleasure. We virtually live in it now. I’m so glad you love your new space! Looking forward to heaps of creative new recipes. 🙂
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Thanks Linda. Our old kitchen had no storage, and terrible appliances. The space was large, dark and empty. It’s wonderful to be cooking in a well designed space that has great work flow and organized storage
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Wow, the artistic touch of the tiles to the great deep drawers for the heavy appliances. Fan-bloody-tastic Mrs R.
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It is fantastic Lisa. Thanks
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Those tiles, those tiles, those beautiful tiles . . . a subtle elegance in spite of the busy patterning somehow taking one to Istanbul and points around . . . and I would settle for that benchtop very happily also . . . looking forwards to the next chapter . . .
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Thanks Eha, glad you like the tiles too. They have an amazing impact on the room
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What a beautiful kitchen – you’re sure to produce loads of wondrous things here Sandra.
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Thanks Megan, I’m certainly feeling inspired
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Very happy for you. It all looks very swish and functional. I think the thing I loved most after our kitchen renovation was that I had a place for every single thing and in just a few minutes I can put everything away and have the kitchen look perfectly tidy. Wishing you many happy hours of creative cookery!
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I’ve noticed how stream lined clean up is, , and what’s more I’m happy to be the drudge.
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Well done, you made it. I can just imagine how inspire you feel. It looks great too.
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Thanks Francesca, glad it’s almost done and happy to be in my new space
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I admire the functionality of your new kitchen… so many clever ideas… but if I could select one thing only it would, impractically, be the tiles because they are stylish, warm and funky. So nice that the kitchen has delivered all you desired even if a few tweaks are a WiP ☺
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I love the tiles too. I was worried they’d be a bit too much but all is good
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It’s beautiful – I especially like the tiles. The kitchen is such an important space and if you have a lovely, energising space it’s such a joy to work in and whets your creative juices.
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Thanks Jan, having a free flowing work space makes the world of difference
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I’ve never had a kitchen with enough storage. Ever. Here, I have lovely natural-edge wooden benchtops and a nice big, wide gas stove, but the smallish room is afflicted with two doors and two windows and a terrible insufficiency of cupboard space, so I’m deeply envious.
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Truly Kate, no matter how much space you have, it’s never enough. Accessability is important to me, not as young, adept or as flexible as I used to be
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Oh I hear you, on all three fronts! Love your tiles and stove, though, deep envy of all those burners.
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It look fabulous Sandra, and I’m glad you’ve got your kitchen inspiration back! I can’t wait to see the whole thing 🙂
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Bit by bit the finishing touches are happening Beck, but at least
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Oops just wanted to say at least I’m cooking in my new space..
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