Loving My Outdated Kitchen

Have you ever heard of the saying, “The kitchen is the heart of the home.”? I believe this statement is true. No matter the size- the kitchen is always filled with bustling bodies or food to feed the weary. The kitchen is a gathering area. It hears stories of the day, worries about tomorrows, and whispering prayers.

January is the beginning of a new year. My goal for this winter season is to declutter any unused items. With this decluttering goal, I am reminded of how much we have accumulated over the years and being fortunate in receiving an overabundance of household items when we married.

This house was built in 1985, and we purchased it in 1994. We remodeled the kitchen 18 years ago. Light oak cabinets were the style in the early 2000’s. Not much has changed since the remodeling except a new refrigerator and removing the dish washer.

The counter tops have faded to a lighter shade of the original darker burgundy. The color’s purpose was to mask future stains and shield against the hard well water. Surprisingly, the counter tops have held up quite well and continue to look in good condition for their age. I know they are not in style, but who can complain when they are doing a great job. My goal or wish is to replace the counter tops with butcher block, but this will be a project for another day.

I know, I know. The appliances are different colors. We started with the white theme but had a change of heart when the refrigerator had to be replaced. I love the black stainless look; it matches the microwave. We will go with the newer scheme as the appliances are needing replacing.

Our stove top is unique. The top is divided with a grill on the left and two heating elements on the right. We keep a removable Lodge gridle on the grill. If needed, the grill can be used as two more elements allowing four pots to cook simultaneously. I love my stove top and the interchangeable grill element even though we never took advantage of purchasing additional parts.

The lighting for the stove top is hidden under the upper cabinet as well as the electrical strips concealed under the other cabinets. The light switch is for the newly converted sunroom.

Lastly, a trash can and other items are stashed in the dishwasher’s space. I never felt the need to replace it. What was the point in having a dishwasher if I was going to rinse beforehand? This way the overflowing trash can is not visible to the visiting eyes.

A door way between the stove top and microwave cabinets open into the sunroom. This was originally the side porch, which was utilized more often than the main porch off the living room. The sunroom is a dream come true; however, it is still under construction with only the small details left to be finished. I am eager to share the new room once I get the “go ahead” from my husband.

I would be telling a false statement if I said this is the kitchen’s normal state. Most days the counter tops are filled with items needing to return to their home. I have to give myself “grace” when it comes to cooking and cleaning in a timely manner.

As I was writing earlier, I love my outdated kitchen. It has been good to us. The kitchen brings me joy and happiness even if it is a little cluttered.