Make My Equipment Fun and Cheery

"If you want to add color and personality to your kitchen and to your table there are many vintage kitchen collectibles that will fulfill your design vision. It's easy to take a generic kitchen and transform it with collectibles into a warm and unique space without spending a lot of money."

I allow myself to buy items that aren't essential but adds charm to a mostly white kitchen.  Ebay, Ruby Lane, and Etsy are my friends!  But there is no room in my kitchen for things that are purely decorative, they need to be functional also. 


When I was a tiny child of about 4, and until I was about 15, my mother had this set of metal canisters and a matching bread box.  I remember the pattern exactly, and I remember them being used and they bring back fond memories.  I saw the same pattern online recently.  Here it is.

I saw this cake carrier on Ebay one day, and because it reminded me of mom's I just had to have it. 
Then I was in a thrift shop and saw one just like my original cake carrier but with a solid red lid, it was on!  I bought it too.  Both cake carriers can sit on top of the refrigerator when not in use.

So you won't be surprised when I say that I had to have this matching bread box and the matching match safe, now will you?

There is even another version of the match safe I saw online.  I like it too, but can't justify buying another match safe.

There is even another version of the bread box available. I don't know if I will buy one, or even what I would do with it if I did, but it is nice to know.  Well, I have decided exactly what to use one of these breadboxes for.  I will put all the little household tools normally used in the house inside the box.  Then, the box can sit on the bottom shelf of my yellow Cosco rolling cart.  I bought the one with the yellow top from Ruby Lane.

I won't use the canisters as food storage, but I will use them as crocks to hold utensils by the stove, like this. 

I may use the smaller canisters as herb pots on my window sill like this.

I have recently found out there are other kitchen items available in this floral/wheat pattern. Yes, there are canisters, but there are also wastebaskets! They are available in both round and oval versions. And yes, I will be buying both canisters and wastebaskets.  There are even dustpans in this pattern out there.  I found this one online, but the owner won't sell it.  I will search, and I will find one.  I know I can!

 

I might use one wastebasket to hold my collection of Thorpe rolling pins in the bake center.

I found this creative idea while surfing the net.  Isn't it ingenius?  A vintage magnet board made out of a colorful tray.  I'm gonna steal this idea when I find a tray I like!

I could have used the canisters to match the breadbox and stuff, but I didn't want to.  I chose to use vintage aqua blue glass storage and canning jars instead.  I remember my maternal grandmother had a root cellar full of these jars filled with home canned vegetables and I have always been fond of these jars.

But that is not the only reason.  I like the fact you can see what is inside without having to open them.  The fact that the jars are impervious to rodents, insects, and such is great also.  And when I finally have the soffit shelves installed in the kitchen, the mass of aqua canning jars will make a dramatic and colorful statement as well as increasing my available storage.

I have about a dozen of these 12 inch tall Horlicks jars which are my main canisters.

I have dozens of the 2 quart, one quart, and pint mason jars.

And I have several humongous 3 to 5 gallon jars and jug  which I use for pickling, winemaking, etc.

And there are lots of jars to use for oils, vinegars, etc.   I use these jars to hold all of my dried foodstuffs and lots of other things too.

I wish I had the room to make a storage pantry like this one. 

I think I will put three of these pendant lights over my butcher block table. Can't you picture them holding pots of lushly growing herbs?