If I had to describe this kitchen to someone who hadn’t seen it, I would initially say it’s small. But it’s actually not that small. Then I would say that it doesn’t have a lot of storage. This is actually true. Or maybe I just have too much stuff. You’ll see upper and lower cabinets and a few drawers, which should be enough space for a couple with no children, but we have so many dishes. I count this as a huge blessing. We were so incredibly fortunate to receive many pieces for our kitchen when we got married. I don’t remember if I registered for all of those mixing bowls, but I will say that I’ve used each and every one of them and therefore find it extremely hard to part with any of them. I also have things like waffle makers and quesadilla makers that live in upper cabinets that may not get regular use, but when I need them, I know where they are. I guess I’ve got just enough of my Granny in me to justify hoarding all of these things (and much more) and also just enough of my Aunt Sharon in me to truly appreciate (and use) a pretty dish. I still have unpacked boxes in our guest room labeled “dishes” and “glasses”. One day I’ll need them. Right?! 
The deep windowsills in the kitchen have acted as extra shelves and are holding fruit, dish cloths, spices, and coffee. The corner to the left of the stove is so full of things that don’t always get used on a daily basis, but get used often enough, so I put up with the cluttered look. The upside of this: everything is easily accessible. And the windows are going to get a makeover soon with this beautiful fabric I found at Joann’s. I thought it tied in nicely with the rug from my living room. Sort of a reverse version of it. 
One of the things I’ve really enjoyed about this kitchen is the gas stove. I grew up with one, but I’ve only encountered electric stoves in all of my other homes. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed cooking on it these past seven months. It’s the little things.
Behind the slatted doors is our laundry room. It is quite spacious, and I’ve thought about adding some sort of shelving system to act as a pantry. It’s just one of those things that I’ve thought about but haven’t put into action. It would probably make my life a little easier, but though things are a little cluttered, we are making it work just fine. I wasn’t kidding about those bowls. I had to get a yard sale shelf just to have somewhere to put them. 
We also have access to the back porch from our kitchen. This is super convenient for the dogs. Since we live on a main street, there is no front yard or grass for the dogs to run in, but we do have a really nice porch with a spacious grassy area in back. I love the rug from Target that my sweet mama bought for me not too long ago. I wanted another one to replace the old orange one in font of the sink. Unfortunately, I can’t find it online at Target. I’m hoping it’s still in store. If not, I found several cute options here. 
One thing I absolutely love about this kitchen is the natural light that comes in. The sun pours in every morning making everything feel awake. I just love it. In our last house we didn’t have many windows that allowed for maximum sunlight in common areas like the living room and kitchen. I said then that if we ever moved back to Alabama that I hoped to find a place that had lots of natural light so we could open up the windows and let it in. Mission accomplished.
Though it isn’t big or have as much storage or that big island I had in my last kitchen, it works for us. We make some delicious meals here; we open some pretty tasty take-out containers here; we do a lot of dishes here; I’ve even been known to have a dance party or two here. It’s a great kitchen. It’s already filled with memories, cooking failures and successes, blood (I’m not the greatest with knives), sweat, tears (onions, y’all), and I believe a scar will be the result of a recent burn from the oven. So, even though it’s unlike any kitchen we’ve had before, we love it.
Anyone else have a small kitchen? More importantly, does anyone have any budget-friendly organizational tips? Anyone have any fun small kitchen stories? Or any kitchen stories for that matter? Share them with me in the comments. It seems like so much happens in the kitchen. I guess that’s why they call in the heart of the home.