Olla-Podrida: where I store it

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Come See the Hutch

When I first gave you a glimpse of my hutch (that you can see here), someone asked me if I was ever going to be showing the entire thing.

I had planned to do that long before this, but the light comes streaming in through the windows so brightly that it is quite difficult to photograph. I managed to capture a couple of good ones today, and thought I would share them with you.

This is the Tucker Wall Unit from Pottery Barn. It may not be for everyone, but it is just perfect for me.

All of my fun little goodies are in the hutch, and it pleases me to look at them.

I like to change it up with the seasons, and this year I am giving some thought to Chinese New Year. It really played right into my hands with 2019 being the year of the pig.

I have no idea why I have as many piggy things that I do, I never gave any thought to collecting pigs, just somehow accumulated them. (I didn’t realize until after I wrote this post that I had failed to photograph a number of my pig casserole dishes, but that will have to be for another time.) And I think I’m going to be needing these.

Because I’m showing you the hutch, I thought I would also take this opportunity to show you the chandelier that number two son gave me (and installed) for Christmas. The existing one was pretty awful, and it always bothered me. My son knew that, so he asked me last Christmas if I would like a chandelier for over the dining table. When I responded in the affirmative, he asked me what I had in mind. He knows me well, so I told him this: “You pick it out, but keep in mind, the weirder the better.” This is what he came up with and I love it. Steampunk to the max!

I hope you enjoyed this little tour. By the time you read this post I will have probably changed things up again! :-)

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Thursday, October 11, 2018

Touring the Hutch

Some time ago I mentioned buying a wall unit in which to store all of my dishes for my dining area. I promised a blog post, but had great difficulty photographing it because it is in a very bright room, with a large bay and other windows, and I would always get reflections when I used the same camera that I use for taking pictures of food. Enter the iPhone (I finally caved and got one), and its magnificent camera! I must say, I am duly impressed with how well that thing takes pictures. It didn’t seem to mind the low light, so I was able to take photos from various angles, sans reflections, so here goes.

I had never particularly been happy with this wall behind the table in the dining area upstairs. I knew I wanted something large, that could hold all sorts of dinnerware (you have to know it doesn’t hold everything), and could be attractive yet functional.

Source: Pinterest

One evening I was watching an episode of “Elementary!” and saw Mycroft preparing food in his kitchen. Behind him was a giant, black wall unit that held all of his dishes. I knew at that moment that was exactly what I wanted. The fates were with me because two days later I got a Pottery Barn catalog in the mail, and there was this wall unit.

I ordered it immediately, as apparently did everyone else, because it took over three months to finally arrive. When it did, I was absolutely exuberant! I don’t think I was ever as excited about a piece of furniture as I was this one.

Initially, it was a bit daunting. This thing is big! It is comprised of a base, a hutch, and two towers. Together, it is 10 feet wide. Fortunately I had the wall for it.

In decorating the top of it, something I needed to do because of my vaulted ceiling, I looted the area above the cabinets in the kitchen, ending up having to redo those.

I am happy with the outcome, and particularly pleased with the “Main Street" sign because St. Charles is known for its lovely, historic Main Street.

It makes me happy to see so many dishes in one place. I love being able to set a beautiful table whether for 10, or just one. I enjoy changing it up for the season, and am in the process of changing from neutral fall colors, to vibrant October colors.