TDM: Kitchen // After

Welcome to another installment of Team Douglas Moves! Over a month ago I shared with you what our kitchen looked like when we moved in. I thought it was about time I showed you what it looks like now! Obviously, since we're renting it's not like we made any real big changes (we're no Chip and Joanna Gaines!), but we have put our own special touch on the room and it really is one of my favorite upgrades in our move. So without further ado...

We love that we get lots of natural light and the amount of space makes cooking so much more enjoyable! And I like that I get to sit at the table and watch my cute husband do the dishes. BEST part ever!

Sources//
Polka Dot Rug: Ikea
Black Wire Shelving: Target
Minnesota Cutting Board: Bed Bath & Beyond
Dishes: Target
Tea Towel: Bed Bath & Beyond
Hanging Planter: Ikea

Anything else you'd like to know, just comment below!

Team Douglas Moves: Kitchen // Before

Happy first day of Fall, friends! And welcome to the first of many installments of "Team Douglas Moves" (you can check out our Instagram hashtag here). This week has been exhausting (is it the weekend yet?!) and I can say with certainty that I have never done this much cleaning in one stretch in my life! But I can also say that I am so incredibly grateful for the wonderful family and friends that have come over and poured their blood, sweat, and tears into the place already (ok, maybe just sweat...). I seriously would be crying in the middle of the dirty floor if it weren't for them, so thank you to each of you who has scrubbed, steamed, wiped, and inhaled lots of cleaning chemicals along the way. 

Today I wanted to share with you a few before photos of the kitchen. This room was a pretty big selling point for us. After living in our 4-plex apartment for a year, there were 3 things we really wanted in a kitchen:

• Windows
• A space to sit and eat in the kitchen
• More space (especially counter space) 

This kitchen has given us all of that! There are two windows that let light stream in (no more depressing florescent lighting!), plenty of space for a table and couple of chairs, and the room is huge. We are hoping to find some kind of an island for the middle of the room for even more storage and counter space. The long counter on this wall makes me SO happy! We've been using a small chunk of counter for the past year and have used our stove as a counter multiple times!

We are hoping to put up some open shelving on this big wall above the sink. It's just asking for it, dontchya think? :)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peak into our kitchen! I can't wait until there's some more plant life, a rug on the floor, some pretty shelving, and all those other lovely little touches that make a house a home and a kitchen oh-so-cozy!

Interior Inspiration: Kitchen Love

I kind of love a good kitchen. Which is sad, because the place we're living right now that I'm totally in like with has a not-so-wonderful kitchen [apparently I'm in a nice mood]. Forget the fact that it doesn't have a dishwasher [besides my cute hubby ;)], but the counter space is abysmal, the lighting is florescent (eek!), and the layout is not great. 

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But I'm counting my blessings with it's crazy amount of storage, normal-height sink and countertop (another apartment we applied to had a low sink and countertop!), and double sink (born and raised with one of those!).

All in all, it's not terrible, but it certainly isn't my favorite room in our place and doesn't super encourage me to cook, which is kind of bad considering that's not my natural bent. So I am left to Pinterest dreaming, in hopes that one day I will have a kitchen as cool as one of these. But until then, I guess I'm stuck cramped on my little slice of countertop underneath the florescent light. :)

Currently

On this rainy, dreary day I get to work from home. [Yay!] So that means no shower, pjs, and cuddled up in a blanket. Maybe I should find a job where I can work from home every day??

Here's what I'm currently...

Looking at:

Listening to:

John Lucas <<< pssttt... it's free on Noisetrade right now!

Dreaming of:

How sweet is this print?! I think it would look amazing above our stove... hmmm. :)

//via

Weekend Wrap-Up

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Here's a little collection of some things I've been diggin' lately.

Gold jewelry has been on my radar lately... and I always love multiple rings on one hand. 

Bright florals are inspiring to me, especially these super gorge tulips.

The ballet flats with ankle straps are adorable... feminine but not over-the-top since they're black.

Open shelving in a kitchen just about makes me swoon.

The outdoor scenery is getting me pumped for a weekend up north with the fam that's coming up soon.
I am always a fan of vintage tins... and candles. 

C.S. Lewis pretty much always knows what's what. 

The bright tribal patterns on the pillows make me want to turn on some Shakira and dance.

P.S. We tried the Pepperoni Pizza rolls this week that I mentioned wanting to try in this post (recipe #6) and they were heavenly. Seriously, almost bad how good they were since we gorged ourselves and got stomach aches. We will be having them again, but maybe next time with a bit more self-control. Just check these babies out, though!

Have a wonderful, inspiring (maybe even delicious?) weekend, folks!

Kitchen Creativity

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A lot of meals this summer have looked like meat, vegetables, and carb/starch. It's easy, requires few ingredients, and quick. However, I'm getting a little tired of singing this song and need a little more creativity in the kitchen. Plus, this girl isn't the hugest fan of chunks of protein (although Loverboy can't get enough). So I did a little Pinterest round-up of my recipe board and decided that I'd like to try these recipes sometime in the next couple months.

I'm pretty excited about the edamame since it's definitely our vegetable of choice right now and if the pizza rolls turn out we might have a stay-at-home option for the Old Chicago Sicilian Pepperoni Rolls we drool over. If I remember to snap some pics and document the process you might get to see some Pinterest fails (let's be real- stuff never turns out this pretty), and why don't you let me know if you try any of these before I do!