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How to Become Friends With the Kitchen Again

Get ready for cooking season with music, cookbooks, light, herbs in the window sill and more

Erin Lang Norris August 29, 2011

Houzz Contributor. My husband and I live in a 1950 ranch-style home a few miles west of Madison, Wisconsin. When I'm not working, I like to do projects around my house, get out in my solo canoe or go camping, read design and psychology blogs and work on mixed media art.

Houzz Contributor. My husband and I live in a 1950 ranch-style home a few miles west... More

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Okay, I'll finally say it: Summer really is fading away. The days are getting shorter, the flowers are nodding off and the kids are back to school. Daily routines are becoming, well, routine, and home-cooked meals will become more common with the season winding down.

But getting back in the kitchen may feel like quite a stretch and is sure to be in full stride with procrastination. Peanut butter and jelly will only work for so long, cereal should probably be kept for the morning and fast food is, and always will be, a money suck and a calorie donator.

If you are feeling uninspired to pull out your pots and pans, it may be time to get the kitchen back to a space you enjoy. Ahead are a few suggestions to help you get back in the swing of things.

Bring in the tunes. First things first, and that is the need for music. There is no better way to spend half an hour slicing and dicing than to have a flood of music filling the air. Radios and docking stations have come quite a long way in terms of visual appearance and are now a product of design rather than just a black plastic box. (Click the photo for the product tag on this one.) Unless, of course, you're like me and you drag your laptop into the kitchen when you cook. Then it is still just a black (or white) plastic box.

Echelon Custom Homes

Add a rug. Kitchen rugs are easy on the feet and provide a nice variation of pattern or color on the floor. Long, narrow runners are perfect for this, but be sure to get one that can be thrown into the wash.

Transitional Dining Room Transitional Dining Room

Enjoy a glass of wine. Shuffling through a cookbook with a glass of wine may inspire some lengthy list making and possibly even an entire meal. And if you're not up for cooking, just bribe yourself with a glass that awaits once prep is done. Tada, magic.

Tal Goldstein

Change your cabinet pulls. If you like the color of your walls and haven't quite made it to a super sleek kitchen remodel, you may find that swapping your current cabinet pulls will brighten your mood a little.

Nic Darling

Bring your spices into view. Not only are spices and herbs the most interesting shades of color, but they are used in just about every meal. There's really no use in hiding them, and having a long magnetic rack will never let up on the constant reminder to trying something new.

24 Hot Ideas for Stashing Spices

Du Bois Design Ltd

Add color where it's least expected. Seeing a block of color from a swatch you've never tried before is most likely the easiest way to make a space feel fresh and new. Although this particular area is made up of small tiles, it shows that color in an unexpected place can be just the what you need to get the groceries through the door and into the pan.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Illuminate your cabinets. While adding lights to every single cabinet may be out of the question, it's still something you can add to a single corner cabinet that has been switched out with one made of glass. It provides a warm, ambient glow that light both your mood and your beautiful dishes.

Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

Keep your cookbooks out. Cookbooks certainly aren't what they used to be, but I'm not complaining. What has been coined as "food porn" has swept poor photography to the side and is now often paired with beautiful text.

Buckminster Green LLC

Add houseplants. The kitchen seems to be an ideal space for plants; there is generally a natural light source, water is close at hand and fertilizer can be kept under the sink. Studies show that plants can enhance a dull mood, and even if you don't have a green thumb, you can probably keep a jade plant going for a while.

Mark English Architects, AIA

Grow herbs. There's really nothing like using fresh herbs. They're fragrant, easy to grow and pack a punch when it comes to adding flavor to your favorite dish. They'll add charm to your window sill and will allow for quick access. Snipping a few leaves or sprigs is always enjoyable, and if nothing else, at least try your hand at basil.

Crate&Barrel

5-Piece Bamboo Utensil Set in Cooking Utensils - $19.95

If you have kitchen tools that you love, you'll be more likely to use them. These bamboo utensils are stronger than wood, and will not harm cookware, and they look great on the counter when not in use.

Crate&Barrel

Set of 3 Flexible Grip Mats in Cutting Boards - $12.95

With a slipless backing and handles to hang, this set of colorful mats is sure to bring a smile with each use. The non-porous polypropylene cutting surface is durable and also easy to wash. Color coding prevents cross contamination.

Erin Lang Norris

LEDBERG Light Strip - $14.99

LED lighting is perfect to use inside your cabinets. Because they emit a low amount of heat, they can safely be used in small spaces and are also easy to install.

Etsy

Hedgehog Dish Towel - $12

This sweet dish towel is designed and screen printed by hand in Japan. It's a fun way to add both pattern and function to your kitchen and makes a great gift as well.

What are you doing to get back into the swing of cooking? Tell us in the Comments section below!

More: 23 Inspiring Real-Life Kitchens

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Comments (11)

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wingoms

Fall is time for crockpot cooking soups and more! Prep, plug and go. Leaves time to rake those leaves outside! (And it makes the house smell so good!)

Like August 31, 2011 at 12:06PM

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Saffronia Baldwin

Great pos. I especially adore the Sutton Suzuki white kitchen. Clean, crisp and uncluttered but not stark. The arrangement of baskets up high is fabulous! (why do we love baskets so much?.....perhaps because they hold the promise of things to hold)

Like September 1, 2011 at 11:57AM

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