Haleigh's small apartment kitchen in Paris is full of personality, lightness and great space–saving ideas. And most important, it is the locale of her favorite purchase ever, the baby blue Smeg fridge in the corner! This is certainly the piece de resistance, although I adore every little detail in this creative place to cook.
Haleigh is an American woman who first fell in love with Paris while studying abroad, and she has now called the City of Lights home for the past four years. One of Haleigh's greatest challenges while living here was renovating a dusty, oddly-laid out artist's studio (with no kitchen at all, mind you!) into a living space and a lovely little kitchen.
Quite a lot of energy was spent transforming a small nook into a kitchen and dining area. She installed cabinetry, a washing machine ("It fits two towels!" Haleigh proudly pointed out), a sink and an oven/range.
Haleigh and her mom stained the counters themselves to a distressed white look. The results of their efforts are stunning and the space gets used frequently as Haleigh loves to cook and entertain.
Haleigh's blog, Making Magique, allows viewers to catch glimpses of this fabulous girl's adventures and lifestyle, including many fun snack parties which occur in this very kitchen. She certainly doesn't let limited space hold her back from hosting and dining in style.
I was at once warmed by the vibe of this gem of a kitchen and totally in awe of its effortless style. And the blue fridge, oh the blue fridge, don't even get me started. It's a stunner! Even better in real life than in the photographs. Let's just say I'm saving my pennies for the powder pink version, starting now.
10 Questions for Haleigh (and Her Kitchen)
1. What inspires your kitchen and your cooking?
Color! I like my food, my kitchen and everything I am cooking with to be colorful. Even my whisk is pink and blue, and my favorite frying pan is robin's egg blue as well.
2. What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
My Laguiole knives. I used them for preparation but they are also handsome enough for place settings.
3. What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
My family's Southern fried chicken recipe I made for some Frenchies. I bet when my great-grandparents thought it up they never imagined I would be cooking it in Paris someday.
4. The biggest challenge in your kitchen:
Surface space. After my stovetop and my sink there is not a lot of open counterspace for preparation, cutting, etc. That gets tough because I tend to make a mess quickly as the space fills up, especially if I am cooking with many ingredients.
5. Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I would have chosen different countertops. I love with look and stain of my wood now, but for long-term wear and ease of cleaning if I had it to do all over again I would go for tile or light granite.
6. Biggest indulgence or splurge in the kitchen?
My baby blue Smeg fridge, of course! I don't think anyone needs to spend 1000 euros to have a decent refrigerator but it was one of those things I dreamed of all my life. I always said "When I have my own place I am going to have one of those!" and well, now I do! Also the way the kitchen is in the apartment means that corner where the fridge is is actually quite a design focal point, so I really needed something to lovely to put there.
7. Is there anything you hope to add or improve in your kitchen?
Yes, I don't have any drawers! I sort of overlooked that when I designed it...then all suddenly I was unpacking everything in there and I realized I have no drawers! I have found cute solutions but it's still quite impractical.
8. How would you describe your cooking style?
Hearty and simple, like me?
9. Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
Keep it simple.
10. What are you cooking this week?
Anything and everything that involves radishes.
Featured Resources
• Oven/range: IKEA
• Knives: Laguiole
• Cabinets/cupboards: IKEA
• Furniture in the kitchen: Maison Du Monde, chairs antique Louis XV
• Pots and pans: Beka, Villeroy and Bach (kettle!), and antiques
Visit Haleigh's blog: Making Magique
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Show us your kitchen here!
Related: Kitchen Tour: At Home in Paris with David Lebovitz
(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
TW Salt Mill by Wil...
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Really cute! With a romantic feel. That fridge is great. Would love to see a tour of her whole place.
I love this, but I can't help but wonder how someone seemingly quite young manages to have their dream fridge and custom kitchen already (it's jealousy, really).
Not sure I'd have put the stove cheek by jowl with the fridge. Had a setup like that in a rental, and you could actually feel the heat of the stove through the wall of the fridge. Maybe a 1000 eu fridge is better insulated than my rental fridge was. Cute, cute, cute kitchen, though. Love the fridge and the sink, especially the sink.
Looks very nice, but what is 'Paris' about this kitchen?
Gerard: Perhaps it's because she lives in Paris.
@SOPHIETO, do not be fooled by my childish enthusiasm! Luckily Leela's nice pics don't show my work wrinkles ;-)
@LARROUXGIRL, you are right about the fridge and stove. Unfortunately I tried every puzzle ever try to rearrange so they wouldn't be right next to each other, but the small space and plumbing on the right side wall mean it was my only option. It's not ideal but it works out ok. I use mostly the right side burners and the range fan helps keep it cool so the fridge doesn't take on too much heat.
Cute kitchen.
Have the same problem with a wooden countertop. Now we are switching it out. It just doesn't look pretty anymore.
BTW the company's name is Villeroy & Boch.
www.villeroy-boch.com/
There's a lot of blank wall space above the counters that could be used for storage (shelves, things hanging from rods like at IKEA). Also, you could replace the charming table with a really useful kitchen island on wheels and get a lot of counterspace and storage that way. Yes, even drawers! Just move the table around the corner and pull it out for company. Eat breakfast at the island with a counter stool. Despite the practical problems, it's a charming and truly unique kitchen. Yes, I'd love to see the rest of the place too.
To assist with the issue of wood countertops I have found that Renaissance Wax (a specialty wax created by British Museum research laboratories in the early 1950's) works miracles and it is safe to use on wooden kitchen counters. You can purchase it on www. amazon.fr.
The wax will assist with the counters long use and keep wear and tear to a minimum. It is also amazingly easy to apply and a little goes a very long way. I have used it for years on wooden kitchen counters in Finland and Sweden with remarkable success.
This seems to be less about a Parisian kitchen than it is about someone who is having fun and really enjoys her life...
It's adorable, just like her!
Very cute! Oh and the kitchen is nice too. ;)
I love how all the colanders and stuff are hung up. I want to get rid of the upper cabinets in a big part of my kitchen and go with open shelving or hanging storage but I have a feeling that would meet quite a bit of resistance.
Very nice! I'm curious about the SMEG; been thinking about purchasing one for a couple of years - are they reliable? The reviews I've read are negative.
I am in LOVE with this kitchen!!!
Gorgeous!
What a refreshing antidote to the mega-kitchens fetishized in shelter magazines!
Waterlox is a great solution for sealing wood countertops. And it's available in a satin finish too.
@MEEMZ - about the smeg! Here is the thing...the cost does not reflect the quality. That is not to say that quality is bad by any means, just that the the price is very high. However I have had no problems with mine. Tempature is reliable and nothing has broken. However I would not recommend it for a family where it might get a lot of wear and tear with kids, because the compartments and what not on the inside are not really heavy duty. But it definitely does it's job. It's true the reviews are bad online but I think they were definitely a bit exaggerated. I wouldn't let them discourage you from buying if you really feel the design is something you are willing to pay for. I hope that helps! - Haleigh
J'adore, J'adore Haleigh's cute little Parisienne kitchen! I'd buy a pastel fridge too, but I think my Chef, who uses the fridge more than I do, would probably say no way...
Someone seems not to have to worry about money! That's would be my answer Gérard!
Very cute kitchen! I love the little pops of colour as well.
Rose, French don't get the mont of august off, what is that idea coming from?
Looks fantastic! Very romantic, would love to see a full tour please!
It is an American woman's kitchen so I wouldn't call it Parisian. At best it is Parisian inspired.
I lived a few years in Germany and I never thought of my kitchen as being German except for the house itself. It would be just as odd as a French site highlighting an "American kitchen" from a Parisian living in America.
I would have preferred to have seen an actual Parisian's kitchen.
Lovely kitchen! The fridge is an amazing colour, but I couldn't stomach the thought of the word SMEG plastered across something that holds my food. Ugh.
Haleigh you have an adorable space. I love the fridge like many have mentioned, but my favorite is your lovely silverware and their pink box.
I LOVE your sink. I'm looking for one for a similar space. Where did you find it? Love the whole kitchen too!
It looks wonderful. I was just wondering about the oven. I can't find it on IKEA's website. Is it only available in certain countries?
Oh my. When I first moved to Germany, I spent an inordinate amount of time searching for an apartment with a fitted kitchen so I wouldn't have to provide one myself. Now that I see how pretty yours is, I find myself wishing I'd just taken a normal place and hooked myself up with an Ikea kitchen like everybody else.
What about the pendant light, anyone know where I can find that? Is this Ikea too?