Make it a Green Spring in Your Kitchen!
One of the best parts of a kitchen remodeling project is adding your personal touches to the fresh new space. With Spring in the air, and maybe more time at home right now, we thought we’d present some inspiration on how to decorate your gorgeous new J&J kitchen with greenery and style!
Here in Chicagoland, there are plenty of opportunities to find and grow plants from early Spring on. We suggest inspiring your inner chef and softening up your window sills with an indoor herb garden. If you’ve never been able to enjoy the sensation of sprinkling just-picked basil leaves into a dish, or snipping a few sprigs of chives for your salad, you’re about to be pleasantly surprised.
Your first herb garden can be as simple as a decorative basket that has been lined with something waterproof. Gather 3 or 4 small pots with good drainage, plant your herbs, and keep them in a sunny window.
Don’t be afraid to keep your new herbs trimmed back. By using them frequently, they’ll grow back bushier and stronger. Although you may be tempted to let them flower, remove any blooms for longer-lasting plants.
As days get longer, you can move growing plants out to your sunroom or deck. But, if you can, divide your herbs so that you can continue to keep fresh ones right in your kitchen.
Stumped for ideas on what to grow? If your family loves tea and juices, mint is an easy friend to add to your kitchen garden. Did you know it comes in different scents and flavors? Try varieties like spearmint, peppermint, orange, pineapple, and even chocolate to add zest and zip to your beverages. Just cut and lightly crush the leaves into your glass. The smell is wonderful, and mint can be harvested frequently – the leaves will grow right back.
Your family pets can also enjoy your green thumb. Surprise: Catnip is actually a mint, too! Add some to your mint collection, and you can also use it for a stomach-soothing tea. Another surprisingly easy project is growing your own cat grass. Look online for special seed blends that you can sprout yourself in a small pot.
Don’t forget that even basil comes in a wide variety of flavors and sizes. Tiny globe basil keeps a compact shape and has a spicy taste. If you’re into exotic flavors, try Thai basil – it might remind you of anise or clove. Mild-flavored lettuce basil is perfect to add zest to fresh salads.
Add Some Personality to Your Storage
Even with all your new custom cabinets, you’ll still need spots to stash frequently-used items like your favorite wooden spoons, coffee-making supplies, and kitchen tools. If you’d like to get away from matched canister sets and show a little more personality, look for some of those decorative-but-seldom-used pieces you may have been hiding away until now. There’s nothing like going on a treasure hunt when you’re cooped up at home!
Cookie jars make great storage containers. Even without a lid, they can corral tall kitchen utensils and handle large quantities of Keurig cups, sugar, or coffee beans. Group them – mix them – match them – they’ll add some vintage charm to your space and spark conversations.
The same goes for those decorative pitchers that get relegated to the back of the cabinet. Get them out into your new space and let them help organize your kitchen implements and tuck away things like plastic bags. Pitchers look fantastic in groups, so enjoy their look in multiples.
Your new J&J kitchen is ready for your unique stamp! Keep watching our blog for more decorating tips, news on home design trends, and great inspiration. Contact us today with any questions or to schedule a free consultation.
Happy remodeling!
