My recent tv culinary tour with Nigella Lawson and around her kitchen, or what more likely is probably a staged set of her kitchen has had me champing at bit to start some foofying in the Beach Cottage kitchen.
There were three main things that I thought might turn me into a goddess, floating around the kitchen happily. First some twinkly lights, gotta surely make the end of the day feeding-of-family a bit less arduous. Then some vintaging up – some old bowls, china and bottles. Then some colour, you know I love white but I wanted something in there and my new Cath Kidston mugs and cookery books were just the ticket.
We ripped out the kitchen when we did the reno and were left with a very nice, very tiny, square room, freshly painted and eagerly waiting a kitchen fitter…a few stupefyingly high quotes later and I took myself off to trusty IKEA to see what I could find. I'd always hankered after a stand-alone kitchen, for what reason I don't know. And there was one there I liked, modern, rusticy, country. Price? Amazingly low. Oh how wonderful I could simply bring it home and Mr BC could simply erect it and slot it into place. Easy peasy. How many things have you bought from IKEA that are easy? Errrm, yeah, if you're like us, that would be none. Nothing was easy. Buying it was a drawn out process of many trips as nothing was ever all in stock at the same time, staff were no more in the know than we were, getting it home was tricky and erecting it was accompanied by much sweat with Mr Beach Cottage eyeing me with disdain…
There happened to be another mummy at the school having a kitchen done too, although not quite to the same budget constraints and a bit more, ya know, yummy-mummy-banker-husbandy. One morning over coffee she gushingly told us all about it being imported from Italy and how staggeringly expensive it is to import marble to Australia. With that they all turned around and asked me where I was importing mine from, I'm assuming there were a number of European establishments that might of fit the bill…I guffawed to myself and before realising what I was doing blurted out…"oh errm, Sweden" 
too funny
Sarah, you cracked me up with this post, the whole yummy mummy with the banker husband thing. You are sooo clever to have hit back with Sweeden as your answer! Having studied your photos I think your kitchen looks fabulous, it’s not what it costs, but how you arrange things that make the difference. Also giggling at how something that should be so easy turns out to be so complicated!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Sarah xxx
It’s bloody gorgeous and probably 100 times better than ‘imported marble, banker wifey’s kitsch over the top kitchen’. Stand proud…. you have exquisite taste, style and flair! A-M xx
thanks for stopping by my blog, it’s given me the opportunity to take a peak at your beautiful place! OMG! I will be back to drool again often!
Sarah,
Your kitchen looks very professional….and very immaculate….I bet you are a wonderful cook to boot!
Betty @ Country Charm
I love your kitchen – the stainless steel is so industrial and all the accessories make it look so pretty! ‘At my French table’ is one of my current fave books – its so beautiful.
Cute kitchen! I love how clean lined and simple things are, yet you have a lot of cute details! I especially love your flowers in simple bottles. I like simple but effective decorating like that.
I love your kitchen. Cant see what else you cook up!
Thank you! You gave me this morning’s first chuckle, and on a frigid 12 degree (f) morning, looking at your sunshiney kitchen warmed me up a bit! A wonderful kitchen! Blessings, Becky G.
Finally we see your kitchen! Forget Italian marble. Your kitchen is perfect.
Sweet and cottagy!
I love Nigella Lawson and her kitchen, and I love yours too. Those white ceramic “glasses” used to store silverware are great. Your Dhalia’s are beautiful as well…wishing for summer now!
What an adorable kitchen! I love how clean and seamless it is and the cute little touches you added to give it color and POP! Great job!
-Desiree
Love the Swedish “imports”! It looks amazing as always!
It looks great, love the little touches like the fresh flowers in the vases.
Mel x
very yummy…it’s not what we spend on it…it’s how it makes us feel. you love it don’t you?! yay for you! xoxo happy cooking
Very inspiring kitchen to me! Love it, must say I am so glad you and Mr. Beach Cottage have a hard time assembling Ikea items too… I thought it was just my hubby and I… especially when it show that one person can do the job and it’s taking the both of us!!! Happy cooking this weekend!
LuLu
love your kitchen…looks like a showroom! or a cooking studio:0)…cute cath kidston coffee cup too!
Love your kitchen – I’m going to steal a few ideas from you if ya don’t mind.
Without breaking the bank every room in your beautiful cottage is proof that you have your own style and your taste is FIRST CLASS all the way. God bless Vinnie’s and Ikea! Who needs money. lol
Have a happy day!
Vicki
I have tried to imagine what your kitchen would look like. I have trolled through your photos to try to catch a glimpse of it…..but….I didn’t even come close to imagining this…wonderful of course. To me you are wealthy beyond my imaginings. Imagine that ….
Well, I LOVE your kitchen!
Beautifull…..you have outstanding tastes girl. cherry
Kitchen looks great and how funny ! Imported from Sweden – how very upmarket.
Sweden!! That’s brilliant! The kitchen looks great also!
Just saying Hi, as I happened across your blog a while ago and have found it inspiring and delightful! I emigrated to Canada and now live about as far from the sea as you can get in all directions and miss it terribly so thanks for bringing a bit of beach cottage living to my laptop
Charlotte
OMG…”yummy-mummy-banker-husbandy”….Bu-wha-hahahahahaha! I love your Swedish-imported kitchen! So cottagey and welcoming. The little touches are so sweet…like the occasional piece of vintage floral china, and the white tumblers you keep your utensils in (brilliant!). And for someone who’s a reluctant entertainer, you certainly look ready to entertain at a moment’s notice. Well played, Mr. and Mrs. Beach Cottage.
I love it! The whole look appears to be a page from a decorating magazine. Everything so neat and organized!
Brenda
I love the fact that you live by the sea. I’m going to mark your blog and stick it on my site so I can come by and see your updates. Although we currently live in the middle of California, and I teach in an inner city high school, my goal for 2010 is to live in high rise apartment in San Francisco. You have some inspiring ideas for me.
your pictures made me wonder how many of us bloggers have an Ikea kitchen or… a jamie oliver cooking book
I smiled at the ‘where are you importing yours from’- how pretentious…great comeback!
Love your blog. I’m a remodeling guy and, as such, I love a “doer upper” (assuming that’s the same as a fixer’ upper!) We’ve recently moved from a big house on a lake to a small house near the sea…a long way from you in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Visited Australia a few years back and loved it! I’d love to hear from down under if you want to check out my brand new blog (like, today is the first day…you’re my third comment EVER).
I’m looking for people I can help with remodeling advice, but it looks like you have the cottage about done to me. Looks great!
What a gorgeous kitchen And really it doesn’t matter what country the marble comes from… the ground in Italy isn’t that much different to the ground in other countries… where all the marble is made. I had this kitchen maker explain how funny it was that people cared where their marble was from. He said it was totally so they could tell people it came from Italy!
Your kitchen, just like the rest of the Beach Cottage, is just precious. I love everything in the room. Great job.
Now, I am searching for a spot to add twinkly lights in MY kitchen….:O)
xo bj
WHAAAAAAAT a room!!!!!!!!!!!
M ^..^
Pure LOVE I tell you, looks so GREAT!
hi, i would like to say that u have a LOVELY kitchen! it sure looks like a cosy and nice kitchen to be in. u got me envious of how your kitchen has everything. REALLY LOOKS GREAT.
)
GORGEOUS kitchen! I love the stainless steel look, with the creamy white china you’ve been showing, with a touch ala Kath Kidston! My kitchen is in a sorry state… it hasn’t been updated since the house was built. Well in a few more years, everything in my kitchen should become collectible and retro again! lol Hubby wants to redo the entire kitchen (YEAH!), but he won’t do it unless he can pull one of the walls down and extend the kitchen into our much needed playroom… therein lies the dilemma, and the kitchen remains in its sorry state! lol hugs from beachy! =)
good for you and your perfect kitchen! i have a question: what is your method for cleaning the blinds. i have similar ones, live in a dusty place, and insist on having the windows open. i can’t quite get the cleaning technique down. any hints? jkj
I am loving your kitchen (imported from Sweden) Very cool, very soulful…looks like you love to cook.
My fave kinda kitchen…a REAL one!
Thanks for leaving a comment! I have you on my blog roll! I can’t believe I didn’t before!
It looks wonderful. I’m so excited I’ve found your blog. It is my dream house! I love all your painted furniture! I’ve enjoyed your Australian words- my Vacation Bible School theme this year is Australia and it is fun to hear some of your great words!
Your imported Swedish kitchen is gorgeous. Your comment to that other renovating mom made me laugh out loud. I love the white flowers you have by the window. I’ll have to see if I can grow dahlias here. I’ve seen pictures of them everywhere today.
What a yummy kitchen!
Whata charming and adorable space! I LOVE it all!
I’m pretty sure I have to stop reading your blog…I’m too envious of this kitchen…way too envious!
It looks very nice.
I absolutely love this kitchen- probably better than Mrs. Italy’s.
beautiful, Nigella would be impressed.
May I recommend a book to go with your collection. Its Nigel Slaters Real Food, he is another Nigella admirer and has some of her recipes featured. What makes his book is each chapter has a very vivid description of a food and how it tastes. I put on weight just reading it!
I A D O R E you kit! My favorite style, sort of sick of all of that vintage style crap everywhere in the kitchen…this is my kind of a kit!
I love your kitchen and those dahlia’s are beautiful.
wow i’m drooling over your kitchen. i love the look of the glass bittles with the single flower. think i might try that in my kitchen to give it more life!
Cool kitchen – what a nice, clean look!
Karen
Holy cow! I am blown away by your kitchen! Its gorgeous!
kayceewilliams at gmail dot com
I just discovered you blog! I love your cottage! So lovely!
Loved it, from Sweden. I also enjoyed “At my French Table.”
I do like very much the combination of vintage, country, Long-Island-style and modern in your home. It all matches so well and nicely. Your kitchen is a very practical one, exactly as I would like to have. I´m reading for the moment that book ´At my French table´…