The Black Apple › Inside A Black Apple

Suddenly, I found myself loving my kitchen

July 06, 2007 · Domestic

So, I think it's fairly well documented how much I love my apartment. It's perfect for me. Perfect. I don't intend to live in it for more than a few years, but still. It's the bee's knees. And I've been gathering more and more perfect stuff to feather the little nest with lately (lots of art for the walls, some small furniture pieces, etc.).

The only room that I don't love as passionately as the rest is the kitchen, and that is due to the curse of awful "Apartment Cabinets". But suddenly, I do.
I can cope with the bad cabinets (for now). I'm really liking it. At least, this little stove-top view:

Some_girls_1466

I think it's mostly due to these little greeting-letters.

Some_girls_1471_3

...and the very hilarious vintage embroidered hand-towel (a recent thrift-find).

Some_girls_1467_2

I don't really agree with that sentiment, but I DO find it wildly hilarious that someone believed in it strongly enough to embroider it.

Comments (46)

i have a funny dutch looking trivet (made in japan) with the same saying "kissin' don't last but cookin' does". i don't quite get it either but it does make up for some of the minuses of my kitchen.

tiffany · July 06, 2007 at 05:59 PM

i would trade my why-don't-my-housemates-EVER-wipe-down-the-stove-and-countertops kitchen for your awful (BUT CLEAN and cutely accessorized) boring apartment cupboards anyday!!!!!!!! :) ahhhhh...one day!

AnonyMouse · July 06, 2007 at 06:41 PM

Your kitchen looks really cute with your red teakettle, cute towel (that I agree doesn't make much sense), your "HI" and all the other cute stuff on your counter tops! How could it not? - it's you!!!

Erika · July 06, 2007 at 06:49 PM

I swear - I have the EXACT same kitchen in my apartment too (minus the checkerboard tile floor - mine's just boring grey) and I HATE it... however, you have just inspired me to go shopping this weekend for some cute kitchen accessories! Thanks :o)

Suzanne · July 06, 2007 at 07:54 PM

I have that very same tea kettle, but in pastel yellow! Your kitchen is a delightful dream.

Katie · July 06, 2007 at 08:01 PM

hah! that towel is cute!

I, too, suffer from the awful cabinetry. Unfortunately, mine is not even painted white. It is beat up laminate with shifty shelving. Ugh.

precious letters, great find!

sarah · July 06, 2007 at 08:13 PM

your kitchen looks really cute - the nice red touches detract from the standard apartment-issue cabinetry.

chez shoes · July 06, 2007 at 08:34 PM

yeesh, I'd love your kitchen. :) Mine is old and nasty looking with nearly falling apart apartment cabinets, and full of bugs now too! ikk.

I got such a kick out of that dishtowel! I had never even heard the prase before. That is so funny! I am seriously thinking of paying more attention to the non-bookish areas of my local thrifts next time I visit... although I doubt I'll have much luck... the thrift gods rarely smile upon me. :)

Sarah · July 06, 2007 at 09:28 PM

Emily, I love your posts about the little nooks in your apartment.

I think a full-on photo tour of your place is in order, it would be fun to see!

A few posts back I saw how big you kitty Miette is getting! There sure do grow up fast...

Jen... · July 06, 2007 at 10:58 PM

Oh, and I was going to suggest, maybe your landperson will allow you to paint them? Even a fresh coat of white or cream paint could do wonders.

I painted my awful bathroom cabinets awhile back and it really made a difference!

Jen... · July 06, 2007 at 11:01 PM

Ha ha! I recently picked up an embroidered tea towel that says DON'T BE SILLY.

Roxanne · July 07, 2007 at 12:41 AM

That is *too* funny, because I recently picked up the spoon rest version of your towel! It says "Kissin' Don't Last, Cookin' Do" and is my very favorite thrift find to date: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8128909@N02/616618446/in/set-72157600274303091/
I love the photos of your kitchen & all the little touches! :)

Tessa · July 07, 2007 at 01:54 AM

Hi, Emily!
Your kitchen is OK, mine has only ONE cabinet (under the sink), and that's it! ... But I like it, it's very cute (by the way, my english is bad, I'm French, I read you from Lyon, and I haven't practiced my english for a long time...ô_ô)...
I love your blog, I love your look, I love your home (and Le Chat Balthazar is in love with Miette), in fact I love everything you do!!!
Bises!
G

Géraldine · July 07, 2007 at 05:18 AM

Hee hee! That towel makes me laugh. I can imagine a cowgirl exclaiming, "Kissin' don't last!" I think I might make my own for my cowgirl loving friend. And then I might make one (maybe with a tough looking man on it) saying, "Chicks dig scars." You could create a whole series of teatowels with invaluable facts that everyone should know. I don't know why "chicks dig scars" and "kissin' don't last" sit together so well in my mind...?

Laura · July 07, 2007 at 05:50 AM

gosh. that kitchen is charming. you are a miracle worker. you should start a yucky apartment room advice column. really. folks could send in their icky photos and you could perform you magic. boom!

risa · July 07, 2007 at 11:24 AM

Apartment cabinets are the PITS. We literally just moved into a new apartment, which was built before 1979, and I'm pretty sure these cabinets have been here ever since.

Your kitchen is adorable! You've definitely made it look sweet and charming. (I have one of those tin planters, with the bluey stripes, in my bathroom!)

Nichole · July 07, 2007 at 05:43 PM

Cute little kettle! It's fun to try and imagine the person who chose to embellish that towel with those words. Hee hee.

Megan · July 08, 2007 at 02:23 AM

Hello! Congratulations by your work because he is really beautiful, I adore your illustrations. Your kitchen is fantastic, I I do not see no problem in her. Pardon because I not to be spoken English. Affectionate greetings.

chiscoleando · July 08, 2007 at 04:55 AM

love love love you and your blog, but can i please direct you to my hi sign...yours and mine together could go hi hi...mine was a thrifty find, i think the guy thought i was crazy when i ran towards it screaming.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensaccidents/574555011/in/set-72157600314081845/

steven · July 08, 2007 at 08:28 AM

Oh there are so many red things (my favourite colour)! Lovely kitchen. Wish I had a fire-engine red toaster oven just like that one :D

Harlie · July 08, 2007 at 10:06 AM

Have always wanted to have a black and white checked floor.

Janet · July 08, 2007 at 06:27 PM

I have stinky 1980's "almond" cabinets and counters with faux wood trim. Yuck! But one groovy dish towel with a map of 1950's New Jersey and my red tea pot makes it all OK.

I guess thats why they say it's all in the accessories!

Jane · July 09, 2007 at 12:51 AM

that towel is hilarious!!!! You're right someone needed to feel so strongly about that, that they had to embroider it....

lol

stilettoheights · July 09, 2007 at 08:32 AM

how delightful!

Jeannine · July 09, 2007 at 10:18 AM

I don't know if you subscribe to yourself on bloglines, but your feeds are not working. You probably want to contact typepad about that.

sarah · July 09, 2007 at 10:27 AM

I love everything you do, too bad I live in Brazil...Do you ship to other contries??

Juliana · July 09, 2007 at 12:51 PM

Yay for red tea kettles! (http://picasaweb.google.com/poetas/DreamsAndMemories/photo?authkey=HMLhGD0cPiA#5072018322094628066)

Ours was a goodwill find that my lovely Trina found, and it just happens to be Polish as well as pretty, which made us happy :)

I always loved the Morton's salt with the little girl with the umbrella on it. Even when I was a kid, for some reason I remember being enamoured with it.

Dave · July 09, 2007 at 01:35 PM

oops, that link didn't work... but at least it gets you to the right photo album... the kettle is obvious :)

Dave · July 09, 2007 at 01:36 PM

I want the same kitchen!

Minuit Citrouille · July 09, 2007 at 04:35 PM

Totally cute kitchen!!!!!!

Nicolle · July 09, 2007 at 04:53 PM

Totally cute kitchen!!!!!!

Nicolle · July 09, 2007 at 04:53 PM

Totally cute kitchen!!!!!!

Nicolle · July 09, 2007 at 04:53 PM

Totally cute kitchen!!!!!!

Nicolle · July 09, 2007 at 04:55 PM

your kitchen is way cuter than ours is! the letters are definitely what are making the room.

amanda · July 10, 2007 at 12:20 AM

your kitchen is way cuter than ours is! the letters are definitely what are making the room.

amanda · July 10, 2007 at 12:20 AM

i once had plain white cabinets, and i hotglued pretty black & white postcards to the doors, just one per door to keep it minimal. when it's time to leave, you can carefully pull them off.

layla · July 10, 2007 at 01:06 AM

i once had plain white cabinets, and i hotglued pretty black & white postcards to the doors, just one per door to keep it minimal. when it's time to leave, you can carefully pull them off.

layla · July 10, 2007 at 01:06 AM

i once had plain white cabinets, and i hotglued pretty black & white postcards to the doors, just one per door to keep it minimal. when it's time to leave, you can carefully pull them off.

layla · July 10, 2007 at 01:06 AM

i once had plain white cabinets, and i hotglued pretty black & white postcards to the doors, just one per door to keep it minimal. when it's time to leave, you can carefully pull them off.

layla · July 10, 2007 at 01:06 AM

I am also the proud owner of a trivet featuring a Dutch lad 'n lass and the words, "Kissin' don't last, Cookin' do."

Cracks me up all the time!

ros · July 10, 2007 at 08:45 AM

haha, at first i thought the title of this post was, "Suddenly, I found myself loving my kitten"

ert · July 11, 2007 at 07:36 PM

No kidding. I did me some kissin' that has been lasting for quite a happy long time now. :)

tiffany · July 11, 2007 at 10:06 PM

emily! i found a set of recipe cards at one of my thrift shops that say "kissin' don't last. cookin' does." ha! love 'em!

amy · July 21, 2007 at 12:34 AM

emily! i found a set of recipe cards at one of my thrift shops that say "kissin' don't last. cookin' does." ha! love 'em!

amy · July 21, 2007 at 12:34 AM

emily! i found a set of recipe cards at one of my thrift shops that say "kissin' don't last. cookin' does." ha! love 'em!

amy · July 21, 2007 at 12:34 AM

emily! i found a set of recipe cards at one of my thrift shops that say "kissin' don't last. cookin' does." ha! love 'em!

amy · July 21, 2007 at 12:34 AM

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