Kitchen Refresh – Larchmont Buzz

A kitchen refreshment is underway at the home of food writer Deborah Brooks.

Hello everyone. Happy New Year to you all.

There are many new things at my house. Well, it will be sometime in the next few months, which is why there’s no recipe today. As you can see from the photos, a kitchen makeover is in the works. My husband and I like to call it a refresh versus a remodel since we decided to keep the cabinets; Brand Solid Wood Mode which were installed by the previous owner and were still in excellent condition. It was a decision based on economy and ecology. Why cut down more trees? Everything else, with the exception of the double wall ovens, will be replaced.

No matter what we call it, it’s still time consuming and stressful!

Plastic sheets keep the dust out or mostly out of the breakfast room during kitchen refreshment.

To help us get through this time, I have set up a work kitchen with essentials in our breakfast area and family room. I was determined not to rely on take out for 3 months. We have our coffee/espresso maker, toaster and microwave in the family room along with our reusable “plastic bag pantry”. And a mini fridge (yes, it looks like a Fender amp) and a trash/recycling center in the breakfast room. We have a large fridge/freezer in our garage. We wash our dishes in the guest toilet. Always the same dishes. Sometimes we use paper plates. I kept one or the other collection of leftovers from children’s birthday parties for emergencies such as earthquakes. Well, here is that emergency!

Countertop appliances have been moved to the breakfast and dining room while the kitchen is refreshed.

While it looks like a Fender amp, it’s really a clever mini-fridge that’s now in the breakfast room.

The beverage center is now in the family room.

The family room doubles as a pantry.

While making meals with so much less than I’m used to, including a garbage disposal in my sink, has been a challenge, I’ve managed to keep meals to a minimum. It was a good lesson to appreciate everything I usually have and learn that I can live with the basics when needed.

I look forward to creating some recipes for you in my barebones kitchen over the coming weeks and sharing the result when it’s ready in a few months.

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