Thursday, March 11, 2010

What's Up, Up There?


Normally, I would say nothing should be up there on top of our refrigerators. It's a spot where things can easily go wildly wrong. Such a tempting wide open surface. Just asking to be piled up with all the stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else. Crock pot. 6-pack of paper towels. Gigantic, warehouse store cereal boxes. But, I implore you, please don't do that*. If your fridge top is exposed (not built into cabinetry), break the "no stuff" rule with decorative objects, not small electrics or groceries. I broke the rule in order to soften all the straight lines and corners that occur around my fridge top. With a metal rooster (I love his curly wire tail feathers) standing on an upturned crock. Together they sit in front of the wine shelves we fitted into the original cabinet during our kitchen remodel.

This post is for La Dolfina who keeps poultry and wine on top of her fridge too and recently posed this question on her blog:

. . .
This post is my answer. What's yours?

*I understand that in very small kitchens, every inch of available space counts. So if you must use the top of your fridge, get yourself a basket or two, or a vintage wood or metal locker box, and fill those with the random stuff you have to store but don't need to use every day. That way, you've created an attractive display and solved your storage shortage too.
P.S. to Therese: See you at the Rose Bowl!
P.P.S. I'm linking this post to Melissa's "inspired by" party. At The Inspired Room, she talks today about adding fun and whimsy and an authentic sense of our own personalites to our interiors. This little slice of my kitchen highlights exactly those elements of my style. I love color. Chickens make me happy. I appreciate handcrafted, funky, found objects like that painted panel. And I like a clean fridge.

17 comments:

Acanthus and Acorn said...

I agree with you, at least make it pretty!
And...can we talk about what to put on the front with magnets? Yes! That is correct, nothing! :)

Sarah @ The Clueless Homeowners said...

Sadly, I know there's bagels, granola, and maybe a jar of cane sugar syrup that we haven't touched since we bought it for someone for Christmas up there. Maybe my weekend project will be finding a place for all that junk.

the gardener's cottage said...

Hi Tracy,

I have a rather large basket on top of mine. It needed a bit of warmth there and it holds my muffin tins. I'm in complete agreement with you on this one!


~janet

p.s. See you sunday at the Rose Bowl! I'm pretty darn excited!

Content in a Cottage said...

Nothing. Mine is built in. The one in the basement has a big charger full of dried bottle gourds on top. That's my story...Rosemary

Kathysue said...

I totally agree with you and Terri. I have a cabinet so I am lucky all my stash is behind doors. Good reminder to all, great post by you and Terri, Have fun at the Rose Bowl, say Hi to Eddie and Jaithan from Kathysue

TheVirginiaHouse said...

I love this! I actually have a basket up there. Not so happy with it either, on the hunt for something better....
Great post!

Renae Moore said...

I have a built in cabinet over mine so that makes it easy! I too, do not like 'clutter' on top of open ones thought. I prefer to do some type of decor on an angle of course...I like what you did!
xx

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Agreed!

I do love your chicken!

Happy weekend!!
Melissa

My Owl Barn said...

I have a hand woven basket which was gifted to me by my mom, a loaf of bread, a cast iron tea pot bought from china town in SF and few spice jars.

Silvia C said...

I like clean lines and nothing on my counters, desks, etc except for a few chosen objects. Do I keep them like that all the time? Of course not!!! I'm human! But I try. On my fridge: a nice size plant in a pretty pot, which I don't water often enough, poor darling.

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Thanks for visiting, I am loving everyone's five words.

Melanie said...

The chicken is really cute. I have 3 jars with candy in them. They make me happy to look at them:)

Marianne said...

Our fridge is a built in, so no room to put anything on top. And I keep the outside empty too, no cute fridge magnets for me.

Anonymous said...

have a huge birdcage on top of mine right now filled with a sweet lil bunny for the spring.
Happy Weekend to ya!
xoxoxo Susie~

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I love that chicken, On top of my frig is a basket where I keep a simple black box with my recipes. I look forward to seeing more of your S.S. Don't let me miss your post.

My Galveston Cottage said...

Nothing tops mine, especially since some upper cabinets are right there. I'd have to move stuff everytime in order to retrieve....cheers,-s

soodie :: said...

i used to have a cat who loved to jump up and sit on top of the frig -- especially when we had parties -- and look around at everyone.