7.16.25
Some thoughts on kitchens. An album I can't wait to listen to. One I rediscovered. And a cool place you could stay.
I’m still thinking about kitchens (in an attempt to finally finish the remodel of my own):
If you don’t follow me on Pinterest please do! I love checking out what other people are into and it’s my favorite, silent form of creative social media. If you know me, you know there’s a 64% chance I’m on Pinterest at the very moment you’re reading this.
I’ve been trying to remodel the kitchen in my house for the past year. In this time, I’ve confronted maybe my most difficult task when it comes to interior design: color. I love color, but I think it scares me. It’s hard to settle on one (or a group) with so many options. I come up with things in my brain that I try out only to find that they clash entirely. I have my Sanzo Wada color dictionary that I love, but really, I’m someone who loves a white wall. With the exception of my bathroom (which is a color-matched blue from the previous tenants), every wall in my house is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. And I would say that’s my stance on color: I’m simple. I want to bring color in with art, trinkets, things. But on walls? Furniture? Scared.
So far I have painted the wood floors in my kitchen three different colors. I’ve painted my cabinets….four? I’ve lost count. I’ve had red cabinets for the last 10 months, before that they were a sea-foamy green. My most recent decision is to commit to a darker espresso brown and to paint my floors white (for peace), but we will see where things ultimately settle.
But if left alone to my own devices, my kitchen would be like the rest of my house: wood tones and white. And in the kitchen? Slap some stainless steel anywhere and everywhere and I’m in.
As an “aspiring” (more like: wannabe (and more gently said: learning)) interior designer I really do desire to bring in color more often, but as a home cook with ADHD I really crave a simple and functional setup. I fully believe that as much as things in our homes should fit our design taste, they should also fit our lifestyles, and this includes our mental and physical health. For myself, I want things within reach. I want practicality, I want honesty (shoutout to open shelving and mason jars), and I want a lack of chaos on my countertop.
And… although I love the idea of a colorful cabinet or a fun backsplash, I’m just as likely to take all notes possible from Georgia O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú Pantry to have nothing more than what’s necessary, done exactly right.
Only time will tell, but I will keep you all updated.
An album I can’t wait to listen to: Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving
You know when an artist releases an album that marks a major highlight of their career? It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s their best, that’s an entirely subjective declaration, but I mean an album that just cements them and their place in the music industry, do you know what I mean? Like stuff that becomes legendary with time. I’m talking about Lil Wayne’s No Ceilings mixtape, Kanye West’s College Dropout, Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Coldplay’s Parachutes, Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, Sade’s Love Deluxe, (and at least for me) Maggie Roger’s Surrender. Now, I understand what you’re thinking. I just mentioned some seriously iconic albums, but when listening to Olivia Dean’s two most recent singles off of her upcoming album, The Art of Loving, I can’t help but get excited for what I think could be a pivotal album for her career, and one that I think I will have on repeat for months to come.
Dean already has quite a following with 13+ million monthly listeners on Spotify and a hefty US tour this summer (that you should attend if possible). Her first studio album, Messy, which was released in 2023, already had overwhelmingly positive reception as it was shortlisted for a Mercury Prize that year. I loved that album, and I’ve been listening to it again more lately. The opening song “U.F.O.” is still one of the most intoxicating intros to an album of recent memory for me. When I listened to her first single from her upcoming album, “Nice To Each Other”, I knew this was going to be something to look forward to. But when I heard the more recently released “Lady Lady” my excitement grew even more. It’s this beautiful ballet, a nod to the inevitable changes in life, and more specifically in womanhood. She manages to weave in memorable (and meaningful) lyrics, wonderful instrumentation, funk, and that catchy, poppy, rhythm that you keep coming back for. Dean knows her lane. She owns it. She’s got this confident, clear aura that just feels more mature, more sure, and more defined this time around. “Nice To Each Other” has this Maggie Rogers-esque sense of a folky, summer road trip with the windows down while hammering home the point of being present. The little piano outro is just *chef’s kiss* on what’s already done so well. And so far it has been my song of the summer without question.
I know I’ve already made the decision to praise an album that only has 16.67% of itself out in the sun, but needless to say, if these two singles are any sign, it’s one that we’ll be hearing a lot of. The Art of Loving is set to release on September 26th.
An album I remembered while on the train in Osaka: Volcano Choir’s Repave
I won’t say much here, but if you’re familiar with Bon Iver’s frontman Justin Vernon, then you might be familiar with his side project Volcano Choir. Their 2013 album Repave has this really unique, really powerful sound that I feel is always enhancing of that quite moment in a new place. I was on the train in Osaka on my way to an Omakase dinner at Sushi Yamano when this album came back into my mind. Highly recommend it for one of those introspective mental health walks or maybe just a quiet drive somewhere.
A scenic and very well designed stay in the Berkshires: TOURISTS
If you’re looking for a late summer or fall getaway, I’d maybe consider heading to Adams, Massachusetts. TOURISTS is a multi-building hotel and riverside retreat in North Adams. They have options for single room stays or full homes that are big enough to take on up to 11 guests. They have breakfast, all-day snacks, and a neighborhood cocktail bar: The Airport Rooms. They also host chef pop-ups and concerts. It’s a bit of a haul for me from Florida, but if you’re in the Northeast I’d seriously look into booking a stay.
You can watch a tour on YouTube here:
That’s all for this week!
Talk soon.
-Zach
I'm fascinated by your kitchen ideas and the thoughtful way you're trying to figure out what will work for you, both functionally and aesthetically. I am an oldster and have lived in many places, and always get excited about what I want the new place to look like. I usually go with neutral (grey or beige or even soft green) walls and furniture and then there ends up being tons of other color from artwork, etc. I also have thousands of books that I can't live without, so setting up the bookcases is top priority. Paint and furnishing choices depend on the light that comes into each room, as I'm sure you know. Good luck and please post photos when you decide (or are still thinking about it...) Best wishes!