In my old house, the one I thought was a forever home, my kitchen was my pride and joy. Green-tinged granite counter, hand-crafted oak cabinets, and a terracotta pantry. Big windows, sun streaming in. I tried as much as possible to keep the countertops clear – the toaster, mixer and kettle all lived away in cabinets so as to allow for a sense of minimalist calm. It just looked lighter and brighter that way.
But in my new rental home, I've inherited a pretty dated kitchen. The cabinets were once off-white and are now aging to be closer to magnolia. The wood countertop has seen better days, with water damage around the sink and a few marks here and there. It does the job, functionally-speaking, but even the most determined Instagram filter couldn't lift its aesthetic spirits.
