“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” ~Pablo Picasso.
Being in the kitchen should be more than hovering over hot ovens, scraping pots and pans, and unloading the dishwasher. Injecting art into a room helps lift any activity from the mundane to the magnificent. That’s especially true in the kitchen.
Since I have a small condo kitchen, I have little room to spare; at the farm I have more counter space, but fewer walls. The art I chose has to be utilitarian as well as whimsical. Below are a few pieces I’ve accumulated over the years as I moved from a walk-up apartment to a pre-fab house, to a subdivision, a farmhouse, a mansion, and now a condo.
I found this small piece of carpet when traveling years ago and loved the vibrant colors and pattern.
Some of my kitchen art is amusing, others pieces inspire me to cook, or remind me of time spent with family and friends. One metal sculpture sat on the floor of my kitchen in DC, but has gotten misplaced during my many moves. The two-foot tall turquoise and yellow rooster was made of bolts and pieces from old farm machinery. It always made me smile when I started to cook. Today in my kitchen I have a 4 x 6-foot carpet I bought in Afghanistan. It brings color and design to my otherwise bland floor and after 15 years shows no signs of wear.
Guess What These 3 Photos Have in Common
I love the color, shape and convenience of this “salt pig” I bought in France. The colorful knives were a gift from my daughter. I enjoy using and looking at them everyday.
I first saw one of these salt bag in the desert of the Khyber Pass. I later came onto one in a carpet store.
This antique salt box was given to my by a friend a half-century ago when my kitchen was decorated in blue and white.
Camera in the Kitchen
I love this photo that I took of Eggplant Parmesan a few years ago. Each time I see it, I’m inspired to pull out the recipe.
Food, too, can be a work of art. We take photos of our other creations, but often neglect to record what we cook or bake. I have a friend who photographs her best dishes and keeps them in a binder along with the recipes. What a great inspiration that would be to cook the recipe again. Your family doesn’t have to ponder how to describe that wonderful dish they liked so much. They can just point at the photo and smile. Better yet, they can learn to cook the dish themselves.
A few of my favorite food pictures can be found in the Photo Gallery (top of page) under Best Shots.
Life Is a Kitchen
Yeah, yeah, I know. . . refrigerator magnets are tacky. But at least I have a theme—an item or two from everyplace I’ve visited this century.
It’s been said: “Life’s a kitchen, so put on your prettiest apron and whip up something incredible.” Your cook zone can be a place for boundless creative expression. Place mats, table runners, aprons, dishtowels are all ways of adding color and interest. A funky kettle or toaster or a gallery wall of photos helps make your workplace unique. Don’t forget those “too-good-to-use” pieces, that are hidden from view. I often pull out one of my mother’s cut glass bowls to serve a side dish at the farm. It looks perfectly at home among the more rustic pieces.
Butternut Squash Salad in my mother’s antique pressed glass bowl
Create your own kitchen highlights by framing a few old recipe cards that belonged to your mother or grandmother. Enlarged wall photos of places you’ve been can boost fond memories while peeling potatoes. I’m sure you have art of some form in your kitchen now, even it’s a child’s crayon drawing or magnets posted on your refrigerator door. Whatever flips your spatula!
Take a look at Houzz.com. It’s a great place to find clever items to decorate your home and cook space. The most important thing is to make sure your kitchen’s an easy place to sit, work, laugh, and have tea.
No Kitchen Too Small for Creative Design
It’s good when a piece of art can be both fun and useful like my green pig bowl at the farm.
