Thanksgiving Essentials: In the Kitchen

The right tools for the most important food day of the year. Note: Pop a bottle of something bubbly early!

1. Large All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster w/ Thermometer $159.95
2. Stir Crazy Wooden Spoon $7.95
3.  Hedley and Bennett Oh Joy! Apron $80.00
4. Stainless Steel Flat Whisk $12.95
5. Buena Vista Social Club $4.95
6. Ruffled Pie Dish $19.95
7.Acacia Salt Cellar $9.95
8. Food Mill $50.00
9. Stainless Steel Salad Spinner $49.95
10. Four Event Timer with Eraser Board $14.95
11. Nicholas Breed Free-Range Turkey $62.00-$110.00
12. Wusthof Classic Carving Set $149.95
13. Mosser Glass 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set $65.00

Blood Sweat and Tears

We have had the keys to our new abode for 10 days and a lot of work (refer to post title above) has already gone into that money pit. I have single handedly been working on giving the kitchen a 'lunch-hour facelift' [A ten-day lunch hour!] (one that doesn't require major surgery or major bucks.) I have done a lot of sanding, a lot of priming and the painting continues. All in all though, it's worth it. We spent our first night in the house on Saturday and it already feels like home. A sneak peak at what I've been working on:

Ok, the inside of the cabinets look green... but they're gray I promise! More to come!

How Bad Can That Be?

I love to cook. I love a bright clean and nicely appointed kitchen where everything has and is in its place. Its no secret around Casa Berlin that I also love Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Everything about her, from her delicious foods to her perfect gardens (and that kitchen!) are my dream. I am really excited and antsy for the weekend to get here so that we can get to work on the new place. I want to chanell as much as I can of this in my new kitchen:

*Photos via House Beautiful

The Brightest Bulb

We are going to install a pendant over the kitchen sink. That much has been decided. Here are two fixtures out of hundreds that we've green lighted. We're obviously hard to please. Too hard?

Calhoun Glass Pendent $149.00 Pottery Barn
Kichler Lighting 2713 $108.00 Lighting Universe

C-Ment

Tons of ideas have been thrown around regarding inexpensive fixes for our new house. Last night we decided that cement countertops in the kitchen will be a cool ( and DIY) way to update our house asap. We're thinking something like this:

Our floors are terracotta tiles but we will paint the cabinets white and install hardware just like the ones in this photo (although we may go with a brushed stainless steel.) Yay? Nay?

*Photo via modern-decors.com