C: Inspiration from Julia


A couple weeks ago we had a real girlfriends’ night out. My mother, mother-in-law, sister, niece, V and V's two daughters and daughter-in-law (have I left anyone out???) went to see Julie and Julia. I liked the movie because for me it was a “double whammy.” I love blogging and I am a foodie/cook, although not of the Julia Child caliber.

Although I enjoyed the humor and the victory of the movie, the most prominent thing I took away from it was the image of Julia’s kitchen with her husband marking a peg board to outline where each and every pot should hang. Man! That image would not
leave my mind.

My son and I are NOT (let me repeat, NOT) housekeepers. When we put pots away, they are generally “chunked” into the space beneath my range. No careful placing of the pots for us! What that means, of course, is that space turns into a nightmare. Nothing can be found without getting down and digging through pot upon pot, and things topple over and out of the cabinet with alarming regularity.

So, we have this equation: that total inefficiency thing PLUS we have this blank wall between my kitchen and dining room. Hmmmmmm. Hmmmmm. Hmmmmm.

The thought of Julia’s pegboard would not go away, so I determined to have one of my own. I planned it, designed the trim in my mind, thought about what color I should paint the peg board (vacillating between pale yellow and pale green--kind of like Julia's, shown in the picture above). I thought about how to build the frame hang the peg board away from the wall. I concentrated on how to miter the corners of the trim, having never done such a feat and just knowing in my marrow I can do it. I thought and thought and thought and thought about this project.

Now, something else you must know about me is that I will plan and scheme and design this type of thing for days on end and then never get around to doing it! I rebelled at the realization that it is entirely like me to dream about this for months on end and never get it done. I whipped into The Home Depot on my way home and bought these items:
Three 2 foot x 4 foot pieces of pegboard, opting for the ease of handling this size offers over the 8 foot sheets. These were brown on one side,white on the other.
Three four-foot pieces of 1”x2” trim
Pegboard hanging hardware

These were the minimum...they did not quite live up to my “dream” of a perfectly-trimmed, beautifully-painted area but, by golly, they were enough to get the job done!

That evening my son and I screwed the trim pieces into the wall and then screwed the peg board on the trim pieces, making sure all was level. No trimming of the edges, no pale yellow or green paint. Just peg board hanging on the wall. And Voila!!

And, you know, that’s probably going to be as far as I’ll ever get, and I am just fine with that! What I know about myself? I would never have gotten to that trim thing, etc., and I like the white side of the peg board well enough that I talked myself out of painting it. No decorator, me! I actually like the utilitarian look this has. Makes me think I'm organized.

And, trust me, there will be no outlines of pots drawn on this peg board! I am way short of the organizational ability to make that kind of permanent decision about pot placement! But look at these wonderful little baskets that just fit right into the pegboard. Now there is no more searching for potato peeler or lemon zester!!



And, just look at my meat thermometers and other long, skinny tools hanging from this screwdriver holder:



Aw, lawzy! This is making me giddy with happiness!!

The change has been wonderful. Now the below-the-cooktop area is reserved solely for the seldom-used. I even have room there for the crockpot. My pots and many of my utensils are just a half-step away from the stove, hanging within arm’s reach on my "Julia Child Pegboard." And—best of all!—I love seeing my cookware displayed!

Thank you, Julia! C

Comments

Vickie said…
way too go C-that looks fab...would love something like that in my own but we have way too much dust flying around and way too many daddy long leg spiders-oh my they would think it a fabtastic idea,cheers Vickie
Debbie said…
I am impressed! That looks so neat and utilitarian! I don't have enough pots to worry about and only one meat thermometer. But if I had more, I'd try that!
I enjoyed the movie too. Meryl Streep is Julia, is she not?
Anonymous said…
Great job! I love it and want one myself. Hmmmmm, which wall will I use.
Anonymous said…
Oh C, I loved that post. You are too cute for words. I can't wait to see the movie. I am waiting for the DVD.
That movie is talked about so much and so many folks have been inspired to do new things, like you. I call that a success. Blessings
QMM
Liz Harrell said…
Wow! I am beyond impressed! That's fantastic!
Zuzana said…
Wow, that is what I call a kitchen.;) Loved this post.;)
xo
Zuzana
Melissa said…
Oh how I have missed reading your blog.

It's good to be back.

P.S. I can't cook, but still loved Julia.
Anonymous said…
What a wonderful idea! A project like that just makes you smile with pride every time you look at it, doesn't it? Good work!
kath001 said…
I LOVE that! So impressed by your just-do-it-now spirit. I tend to get stuck in the planning too much also.

It makes me a little crazy when someone puts pans away in the wrong place...so I could see this being a peace keeper if I could think of a place to put it.
Wow! That is fabulous! Way to follow through! laurie
jan said…
Good for you for getting the project accomplished! I had a grid that I hung pots and such on, back in the day (too long ago!) The problem for me is that I really didn't cook much (still don't) so things just got dusty. I hate washing dishes and washing pans that I hadn't even used was worse!
you saw it and did it, I see it and talk about it but do not get around to doing it, great space saver and think how easy it will be to cook now!! I, like you, love to cook:) I do not have the wall or I would try it!! I loved that movie too, sherry and I went, its a neat movie.....tks for sharing your ideals and what you accomplished!!
KathyB. said…
Your peg-board , utilitarian, practical, storage is perfect!The whole point in a kitchen is to be able to cook and bake..and this enables you to find your stuff a bit more quickly. Seems right to me!

I did love the movie and will buy it as soon as it comes out in DVD.
Anonymous said…
We had an apartment size kitchen in our first house so we put up pegboard on every available wall surface. When it came time to sell the house it was sold because the lady loved the pegboard and the display of kitchen "stuff". Congratulations...wouldn't the pegboard look great painted mauve...just kidding. C2
Vickie said…
WOW - C, that looks great! I haven't seen the movie yet, but I love this idea. I wish I had a wall at my farmhouse to do that, but I DON'T. I've thought about it long and hard! Dang!

You did a great job, and it doesn't need painting since it's already white - it looks very modern, utilitarian and sleekly designed (how's that!)Your kitchen should be on one of the design shows on TV!
Leslie said…
I haven't seen the movie yet but look forward to seeing it when it comes out on DVD. That is a great idea and you did a great job. It feels good to get something like that done. I know what you mean about thinking but not doing. Whenever I finally do something that I have been thinking about but putting off, I always say to myself, why did I wait so long?
Great Job on the peg board! What a great idea. ;-)

I really enjoyed reading your post. I want to see that movie, too!

xoxo, Shelly
Anonymous said…
Dee from Tennessee

I am so impressed. I wish wish I had room to do the same thing. My hat's off to you!!
calicodaisy said…
Wow! That's great. I loved the J&J movie, too. Thought it was so whitty and great cinematography.
-- michele
Anonymous said…
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Joy said…
Looks great, congrats. I'm big on organization, so I like the baskets.

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