Foodie Friday: Shop This Kitchen

 Photo Credit: Universal Studios (all photos used for educational purposes and inspiration)

Welcome to the February 3rd Foodie Friday!

The Shop This Room Series is a new feature at Designs by Gollum/Rattlebridge Farm. I will attempt to deconstruct beguiling, gorgeous rooms and "shop" them. Virtual shopping is my favorite kind. Today's inaugural article features the beloved kitchen in the film "It's Complicated," starring Meryl Streep. Her character's kitchen plays a major role, too.

Unlike the One True Kitchen (OTK) in the movie "Something's Gotta Give," the "It's Complicated" kitchen feels like home, and it doesn't take anything too seriously--except food. This is a cook's kitchen. Everything has a dual function. The marble island is perfect for rolling out pastry dough, but it is also a place to dine. The butcher block cart features pretty glass canisters, and all of the baking goods are in a handy location. Herbs and fruit serve as edible decor. How nice to pinch off a bit of rosemary from an herb pot that sits in your window and just sprinkle it over your chicken casserole.

 The white dishes are lovingly mismatched--serviceable and handsome, as only white dishes can be.  The shelves hold cake plates bowls, glass domes, and jars. White cups sit atop an espresso machine. The items in this room can be bought at pricey boutiques, of course. Or you can look for similar items at Home Goods, Walmart, Target, yard sales, and Goodwill.

The joy of shopping this room isn't recreating it to the last detail. Rather, it's fun to borrow elements that call out to you and make you smile.

Ready to shop?

 1. French Marble Island, Crate and Barrel, $999.00
2. Delonghi Espresso Maker, TechNG Net, $149.00
3. Butcher Block cart, $644.60, The Simple Dining Room Store
4. John Boos Butcher Block Island, $2179.00, Amazon
5. Pagoda Compote, Global Views, $272.50
6. Great White Cake Stand Set, $30.00-45.00, Pottery Barn
7. White Utensil Crock, BIA Cordon Bleu, $11.00, Golda's Kitchen
8. KitchenAid Mixer, $165.99, Best of Sale
9. American Atelier Bianca Bead, 16 pc set $60.94
10. Herb Garden, $29.99, ProFlowers
11. Linen Table Runner, $52.99, Linen Me
12. Maison Tableware 16 pc set $29.99, Bealls Florida
13. Lidded Glass Jar, Anchor Hocking, Nextag, $10-22.00
14. Pendant Light, Currey & Company, "Manuscript," $528.00, Carolina Rustica.com

Bonus Items:

 Glass Domes, $19.00-$29.00, Pottery Barn

Dualit two-slot toaster, $259.00, Zappos

Cuisinart 4-slot toaster, $53.33, DC Closeouts 

Vintage Lidded Jars, $42.00 at Etsy (EsterandHarper)

Libbey Selene Trifle Bowl, $19.65, Amazon.com

The charm of the "It's Complicated" kitchen is the laid-back, come-give-me-a-hug sort of look. However, when I began checking out similar items, I was shocked at the prices. Even the lookalike pieces I found aren't bargains. But if you see something you love, a little real-life shopping trip might turn up an item that you can refurbish for a fraction of the cost.

If you're like me, you'll probably have more fun going to tag sales and Goodwill to collect white dishes.  But it's a good idea to have one or two 16 piece dish sets. If you have room, a basic, 48-piece set can serve as the foundation for your tablescapes. I've got a couple sets--American Atelier, Mikasa, Villeroy and Boch. My "Gollum" dishes look exactly like my Mikasa Italian  Country dishes, but they came from Big Lots. I use them every single day. Depending on your area, you can find bargains galore and beautiful dishes at the Dollar Store and Big Lots. The sales at Home Goods are exciting, too.

Farm tables are getting hard to find, but I still see primitive pieces in dusty shops and estate sales. Old tables can be topped with a marble scrap--most granite places have a graveyard of odd slabs, and they will cut it to fit your table.
Finally, it goes without saying that it's cheaper and more satisfying to plant herbs from seed than to spend a fortune on a ready-made pot.

Well, that was a fast, fun shopping trip. It's time to kick back with a chocolate croissant and a cup of espresso.
Did you see anything you like?
Check out Metamorphosis Monday for other home-related ideas.

You may have noticed that DBG has undergone a "fluffing." It has a nickname, Rattlebridge Farm, in honor of our farm-to-be. Upcoming posts include house sprucing, cottage gardening, building a chicken coop, and making an island in the pond for the ducks/geese. As always, you'll find easy-peasy, carefree recipes that might appeal to exhausted people.

 If you are contributing a recipe this week, click on the blue Inlinkz frog (below) and follow the instructions. If this is your first time to participate in Foodie Friday, or if you aren't sure how to add a permalink, a short tutorial is available. If you are linking a recipe to Foodie Friday, a FF button can be found on the sidebar. If you'd like to add it, simply copy-and-paste the code beneath the button (located on the right-hand sidebar).

Happy Recipe Hunting!