the arugula files

My Ugly Kitchen Floor

Modern Kitchen by Vancouver General Contractor JL Construction

I know, that kitchen floor is not ugly.  That's because it's not my kitchen.  It's one of the dream kitchens I've recently pinned.  Isn't it gorgeous and bright?  Maybe I'm dreaming of a yellow kitchen?  My ugly kitchen floor after the jump.

I'm Dreaming of a White Kitchen

When we first moved into our house about three years ago the orange and brown linoleum floor really bothered me.   Every time I walked into the kitchen I avoided looking down.  When I had friends over I would mention my disdain for the floor immediately, as if to say, yes, I know this floor is heinous looking.  

I had big plans to rip it up and replace it with something else.   It's amazing how fast I forgot about my ugly kitchen floor when confronted with the reality of actually removing it and laying something down in its place. 

I moved on.

But now I'm back.  I want to do something with my kitchen.  We recently re-did our bathroom and used white subway tiles for the shower and white penny tiles for the floor.  I have some of the subway tiles leftover and am thinking about adding a back splash.  I'm dreaming of a white kitchen. 

I'm also thinking about cork floor.  Does anyone know anything about putting down cork floor?  I think it could be easy. But beyond the installation, I'm afraid of how hard it will be to keep clean.

I would share a picture of my current kitchen, but I'm currently writing this from a plane.  So, stay tuned for part 2, when I share my ugly linoleum floor with the world.

{photo credit: apartment therapy}

Crazy Owl Lady (I Can't Help It, I'm addicted)

I've never really thought of myself as a collector.  Things like beanie babies, Hummels, or White House Easter eggs, make me snicker.   But recently I've noticed quite a few owls cropping up in my presence.  I'll admit it: I love them.  I can't help myself.  Recently I played a game with my neice.  She had to run around the house and find the owls.  She found nine.  Crazy owl lady.  That's me.

Here's the thing, now that I'm a crazy owl lady, people buy me owls.  ALL THE TIME.  Isn't that nice?  Here are a few owls hanging around my kitchen.  The first one is a butter dish (above); it's from West Elm and it's on the way.  It goes perfectly with my mid mod place mats and teak serving ware.

My New Dinner Table (The place mats cost more than the chairs and table)

We are slowly furnishing our new house.  Slowly because that is how fast our bank account moves, but also because we want to buy furniture that matches the midcentury modern feel of the house.  Marcus' brother picked up this table, five chairs, and a credenza for $60 bucks at an auction on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  What a great brother in law!  The chairs came with revolting fabric (see photo below), but they were in otherwise  good shape.  It only took Marcus about 30 minutes to reupholster each chair. He's crafty.