Annie and Paul are young architects who do a lot of residential design for a living. As such, they are able to appreciate the kitchiness of their first kitchen together.
Paul and Annie hate how neglectful their landlord is of their mid-century apartment building but they know that if he took better care of the place, they'd be stuck with a cheesy, characterless kitchen and bathroom renovation.
The left-alone kitchen is in great shape and is original to the building. It's yellow laminate and brown fake wood cabinetry create a warm and instantly cozy color combination. The exposed brick along with Annie and Paul's great art highlight the small space as opposed to making excuses for it.
While Annie and Paul focus much more on long-lasting design than the ephemeral nature of food creation, they manage to cook home often and eat well while doing so. They've learned to cook, by example, from friends and family rather than via cookbooks by strangers. And they are very practical rather than esoteric or trendy when it comes to food shopping.
They get the job done with basic resources, basic foodstuffs, and a very tiny, very retro kitchen.
Annie and Paul's Answers to the Kitchn Questionnaire
What's your cooking style?
Winging it.
What inspires your kitchen?
We’re more design nerds than foodies- the look is inspired by the un-renovated mid-century laminates and tile (we’re renters).
What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
(Annie) I love my bright orange colander.
Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
(Paul) "to taste" ...response from my mom when i ask her how much of something she uses.
Biggest challenge in your kitchen:
Space! It's tiny! We can only really have one person in there at a time so you're on your own!
Biggest indulgence:
Our “happy cow” milk — we get it from the farmer’s market from Milk Thistle who also supply Momofuku Milk Bar.
Dream tool or splurge:
I’ve always wanted Jasper Morrison's coffee maker for Rowenta.
What are you cooking this week?
I made one of my favorite salads that I learned from my friend Wes that is so simple and yummy — just tomato, feta, onion and olive oil.
What cookbook has inspired you the most?
We don't really use cookbooks, but Paul is really inspired by what his mom and his grandmom cook/cooked.
What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
(Annie) I tried to make biscuits (It was not so successful.) But for me, the most memorable meals that Paul has made are his Mom's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs and his grandma's Lebanese taboule and chicken with rice.
Resources
We don’t have fancy cooking implements, but for cheap and cool dishes and glasses we shop at IKEA and CB2. When I helped my sister and brother renovate their kitchen, I found remodelista to be a good resource — they’re good at rounding up fixtures and appliances and even materials.
• Kitchen Tour Archive: Check out past kitchen tours here.
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Submit your kitchen here.
(Images: Jill Slater)
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Bugs me when people place the knives like that on the magnet base. If it slips while grabbing it, it will cut your hand. Place the blade down and handle up for safety.
A Trader Vic's menehune man! YES!
Loving the Phillies schedule on the fridge - I'm a Philly girl so I'm always glad to see when NYC folks are into my team! :) Cute kitchen too. I like it. You guys weren't kidding when you said it was tiny.
i'm glad it wasn't renovated; i like it. i love the wall-mounted folding table idea and might just steal it for my tiny kitchen.
I totally love your yellow countertops. Also those canisters above the stove are fantastic, where did they come from?
they're from Ikea. not sure if they still sell them though.
Cute little kitchen!
Am I the only person seeing something explicit in one of the fridge photos? Yes? Okay, just me then.
I have been searching high and low for another person with a kitchen as tiny as mine, and here it is! Unfortunately, mine doesn't have the brick wall, the gas stove (I have electric) or the fun counters... but switch the sink over the the stove side, and that's my kitchen!
I've been playing with the idea of the fold-out table, as well... I just wish I could warm my kitchen up with fun colors that wouldn't clash with the immediately adjacent living room.
I want to try chalkboard paint as a backsplash (my boyfriend is skeptical about that), and a whole wall of painted pegboard to the left of the stove.
The fold-out table is genius. Our 2100 sq ft house has a 120 sq ft kitchen with a terrible layout that seems to have been an afterthought. There is a "breakfast nook" that could *maybe* squeeze in two people for coffee, but no way could it fit a family of 5 for breakfast. This fold-out table, though, could be a great solution so my 6-year-old could do her homework or draw with her two younger sisters while I cook, and could provide additional counter space when I need it, while still providing access to the window right above it... hmm.
Adorable kitchen!
Oh how I wish there were more kitchens like this with a tour. Thank you so much for showing us your home because I have been lost on what to do with our kitchen.
Adorable little kitchen! Where are the wine racks from?
Great kitchen. These days I really prefer small kitchens as opposed to large ones where you have to move around a lot to get to everything.
The brick helps to warm this place up. I am not sure that it would be so cute without it. Just curious as to why you went with grey walls as opposed to avocado. Ha just kidding.
Love these old kitchens - there is a "let's gut it" epidemic that will lead to regrets later.