Today while you are waiting for that casserole to
bubble, you could if you were so inclined take
the time to make somewhere mundane,
kind of pretty.
How's about the fridge?
* Take out everything in the fridge and put it on the
counter. Throw out anything past its sell by date or
more than a month old
(including mustards, marmalades etc...)
* Wipe down the insides of the fridge with a mix of
vinegar and tea-tree oil.
* Measure the bases of your salad drawers and using a
pair of pinking shears, cut out flowery/spotty oilcloth
liners, so you can clean the base of your drawers
quickly and easily, and they will always look pretty...
* Choose a tiny, pretty little dish, fill it with baking
powder and put it at the back of your fridge to
absorb bad smells.
* Choose a scrumptious tray (I'm saving a gorgeous
vintage glass one with a lace insert), or depending on
the size of your fridge, a couple of trays and use it in the
fridge to easily pull jam, marmalades, chutneys
and other condiments, in and out...
* Transfer blocks of butter on to butter dishes.
(pretty, not remotely precious pressed glass for me!).
* Pour cordials into glass bottles, display eggs (if you
prefer to keep them in the fridge), grapes, strawberries
and tomatoes etc in bowls, and put cheeses and
cold meat etc into their own lidded clear
containers: all the better to check stocks of...
* Remove as much store bought packaging as possible:
choose waxed paper over clingfilm wherever possible
and tie up with kitchen string.
* Store brocolli in a wide glass filled with water, like
a pretty green bouquet- as it will last longer this way..
* Store carrots standing up in a similar glass.
* Store like with like according to food safety rules.
* Remove all fish and meat from store wrappings,
wipe and wrap in greaseproof paper and store in
ziplock bags or sealed containers.
* Choose a container or tin you adore, fill it with
chocolately treats and hide it at the back, for
cold comfort...
* Add a glass bowl for your cosmetics
* Then pop the odd crocheted doillie atop a jar
or two, pop a single flower bud in a tiny
jam jar, and close the door...
* Glue magnets onto the back of vintage paste
brooches and use to hold your
"HouseKeepers Creed"
in place...
* Then get thee to a food emporium and buy a few
extra special treats in pretty packaging: divine
fresh coffee in brown paper bags, olives, sun dried
tomatoes in oil, retro style tinned fish, or
tiny little petit fours...
Then cook something delicious for dinner, go
to bed, then sneak downstairs in the middle of
the night to eat the leftovers straight out of
the fridge, Nigella Lawson style...
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The Autumn House
Ohh, the tip about the broccoli is WONDERFUL! We always do this now- as well as keeping fresh as a daisy, it looks gorgeous too! Thanks Alison!
How funny that yesterday I bought lovely oranges to place on a white plate in the refrigerator – a tip I read somewhere. Opening the door to that bright orange vignette is such a visual pleasure.
Now I have more fridge beauty to consider. Thanks.
Perfect timing, Alison! I am having mother in law over for dinner in two days time, and I simply have to get this house in near museum like appearance…I've been putting off the kitchen stuff like refrigerator/stove…Today is the day!!! Thanks for the well timed motivation!!!!
Your website is so refreshing!! I always find something pleasant and fun on it. And I was about to chuck all my good routines today, but you inspired me to freshen up the house all over. Not a deep clean, but a freshening, and now I feel much better than I would have later! Thanks Alison!!
Old broach magnets are a good idea! I know I have some old ones with the pin backs broken off. Do you suggest super glue?
As for cooking, my husband does it!
Old broach magnets are a good idea! I know I have some old ones with the pin backs broken off. Do you suggest super glue?
As for cooking, my husband does it!
Thank you once again Alison! I've been in the process of decluttering, cleaning, and reorganizing my kitchen. I just love your ideas for the Fridge! What's great about you is that you make things not only practical, but pretty! I beleive that's what has helped me make so many changes in my home (and life). I not only see functional changes that make things better, but I'm also bringing beauty into the home and having fun. Gracias amiga!
Love, Susana
You always have such fabulous ideas for making our lives pretty! Thank you dear Alison….hope this finds you well dear…my best to you always…xo
You always have such fabulous ideas for making our lives pretty! Thank you dear Alison….hope this finds you well dear…my best to you always…xo
Oh! Now THIS I needed!! I've been planning this clean for weeks!!! It's so grubby in there I've been tempted to unscrew the lightbulb so that I wont see the nasties when I open it. It must be done, and you, as usual, have made it sound heavenly to accomplish! Thanks Alison!
Oh! Now THIS I needed!! I've been planning this clean for weeks!!! It's so grubby in there I've been tempted to unscrew the lightbulb so that I wont see the nasties when I open it. It must be done, and you, as usual, have made it sound heavenly to accomplish! Thanks Alison!
Oh Lauren, I can so relate!! I need to do this too. I did do it once, but it didn't stay that way for long 🙁 I need to get my act together as the housekeeping has kind of gone out the window in the last few weeks. Time to pull my socks up I think!
Oh Lauren, I can so relate!! I need to do this too. I did do it once, but it didn't stay that way for long 🙁 I need to get my act together as the housekeeping has kind of gone out the window in the last few weeks. Time to pull my socks up I think!
A few weeks (maybe longer? who knows anymore!)ago, I did a major kitchen clean and relined shelves, dumped old junk I never use, and did a thorough tending to. At the same time, I went through all of my lovely Brocante Home goodies that I keep in a file in my kitchen. And I came across your Brocante Frig file that I had printed out after falling in love with it! Wouldn't you know, my refrigerator still looks absolutely divine inside after all this time and my kitchen has gone a bit (OK, a LOT) wayward since then? Your ideas just make every little mundane thing seem special and delightful! And you're right, the frig should not be ignored. With the size of my derrierre, I may be admiring the inside of mine a little too much!