Time For a Grown Up Kitchen!

My house is undergoing a bit of a cosmetic make-over at the moment and I have come to realize that it coincides with a shift in my own personal attitude. I believe this represents the natural organic nature of my sense of home rather than my unwitting surrender to the pressures of a media machine pushing all things new and trendy. I certainly won’t be tossing out functional white appliances to make room for stainless steel just because I’ve seen it done on TV.

My need for change is internally motivated, not externally coerced. I bought my house after my divorce; it was not a particularly horrific event as divorces go but, nonetheless, it was extremely sad. When I moved in, the interior was completely white ... white walls, white ceilings, white trim, white lace curtains, etc and, although I absolutely LOVED the house, the colour scheme—or lack thereof—left me cold. I desperately needed a place my sons and I could come home to where we would feel energized and cheerful, so I splashed saturated colours on practically every vertical—and even some horizontal—surfaces to wake the place up.

It was—and is—a happy place. But now, it doesn’t need to be quite so vocal about it. My children are both grown up and living their own lives elsewhere and, having finally got used to the quiet they left behind, I feel ready to bring my newly acquired sense peace and acceptance to my home. I still want plenty of bright and cheerful colours, but I’m ready to tone them down a few decibels.

I’m also at a stage in my life when I’d like to de-clutter somewhat—both literally and figuratively. I no longer feel the need to load every surface with a project or work-in-progress in order to justify my place on this earth and I no longer fear the silences that often fall between projects. I still have plenty of projects and ideas for future projects, but now I’m strong enough to enjoy the quieter spells in between.

Currently, my kitchen is an explosion of op-art primary colours ... every cabinet surface painted in a different Vasarely-esque design. It's been quite the conversation piece over the years and was a good tonic for tired old plywood cupboards and a weary and worried divorcee. But now I’m ready for a ‘grown-up’s’ kitchen. I want smooth, clean surfaces, functional drawers and efficient, accessible storage. I’ll still need splashes of bold colours because that’s who I am, but I’m sufficiently settled now to be comfortable with a few neutral beats as well.

Our inner selves are at their best and most balanced when our living and working environments support, reflect and nurture us. And that, quite simply, is why I have listened to myself and am prepared to go to all this trouble. This represents yet another new chapter in my life whose time has come; it's natural evolution and, as always, a great ride!