My First Kitchen

This kitchen doesn't look like much - and I'm embarrassed by my love for dyed eucalyptus at the time - but it was my first kitchen of my very own. We're looking back on our first apartments over at Apartment Therapy, and while looking back through old photos of mine, I came across this one of the kitchen:

I absolutely loved this space. The feeling was a bit irrational: I mean, there were no windows, there was no ventilation fan, the cabinets were finished in white laminate that was peeling off. The only counter space was the butcher block you see there. But this was my kitchen.

My friends and I roasted a huge Thanksgiving turkey in that little 20" oven. We set the heat, popped it in, and took off for the parade (this seems absolutely crazy to me now - to leave the oven unattended). Hours later, we returned and feasted and it was good.

I baked my best rhubarb pie to date in that same oven. It was 4th of July and I served it a la mode. My guests were Chinese and hadn't had such a dessert before and it was quite apparent that they didn't like it. But I knew is was one special pie - one I haven't been able to match to this day.

The second Thanksgiving in this home, my then-boyfriend (now-husband) and I opted for stuffed cornish hens. I hunted for the little birds in about seven different markets around the neighborhood until I tracked them down.

Those wicker bar stools came from my neighbor's trash. I watched her put them out there, then waited 'til the coast was clear to run out and bring them into my apartment. I remember being too embarrassed to just approach her and ask if I could take them off her hands while she was putting them on the curb. Finally, it was so nice to have an alternative to sitting on the floor for meals!

Do you remember your first kitchen? Was it a humble little one? What did you love about it? What did you hate? Please share below!

(Image: Regina Yunghans)

Comments (4)

I'm still in my first kitchen--but it's changed a lot since we bought the house 7 years ago. It's still not ideal--but now on its 3rd paint job, (with other changes along the way), it's getting there! Next up: a new range. Eventually it'll be my dream kitchen.

looks remarkably similar to my first kitchen, except the counters were lemon yellow. That was 20 or so years ago, and I still have very fond memories of the little "lemon kitchen"

Wow, you really sat on the floor? XD Surely not the kitchen floor, but the living room maybe?

I want a studio. Separated kitchen is definitely a bonus. You can't do as much with a kitchen as far as personalizing it with your own furniture goes, so I think it helps with the flow of your living space to have it separated in some way, even if it's only an island/counter. Also, when it's not separate, it tends to take up a chunk of wall which you might want for other things....

My first kitchen was conveniently located in the hallway into the apartment. No windows, the ventilation system either didn't work or was non-existent. Storage and counter space were at a minimum and the sink was small. Despite all that I was still inspired to make some above-average collegiate meals. (I made my own bread, gnocchi and baked goods.)