With the waning days of summer, our less than hardy New England hearts break just a little more, dreading the onslaught of winter. Along with the warm days, go the abundant locally grown produce in vibrant colors. A friend has been encouraging us to blog about the delight of displaying produce decoratively, as an element of design in your space (until you consume it, of course). We want to know how you take advantage of the natural beauty of your food to add beauty to your space...
Admittedly, we're not fervent cooks but once in a while we go a little overboard, buying large quantities of fruits and vegetables. We display it on a yard sale tray on a table island in the middle of our kitchen. The tray's central location is impossible to miss, reminding us to use the bounty before it dies, but it also brings us great aesthetic joy every time we walk into the kitchen. Now, if only we liked cooking as much as designing...
How do you "display" your produce?
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What a great question.
Before my life and all of my belongings were stolen from me by my ex, I had a lovely footed ceramic bowl that I liked to display citrus fruit and melons in...cantalopes, small watermelons, etc...it looked like a Dutch still-life painting.
It was gorgeous on top of my antique china cabinet with glass doors...
www.thebitterfoodie.blogspot.com
view thebitterfoodie's profile
Right in my kitchen and on tabletops
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidstereo/455602022/in/set-72157600195882099/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidstereo/1362783621/in/set-72157600195882099/
I find Fall produce to be quite attractive, both in color and shape.
view SeanG's profile
p.s. Kyle - I am loving your little kitchen...
view thebitterfoodie's profile
if i left produce out there would be bugs about in no time. unfortunately i have to put everything away
view Kat1's profile
I do love that little kitchen, but with those stools being so high, I'm wondering who has legs skinny enough to fit. :)
view Rick Roberts's profile
I keep the ones that shouldn't go in the fridge in a bowl on top of my fridge: tomatoes, bananas, and avocados. Potatoes, shallots, onions, and garlic in a drawer.
view gquaker's profile
i want to see the rest of kyle's house! the kitchen is great!
view brookeb21's profile
live kitchen!
view nikamarie's profile
I love that hanging light - any info on it?
view sophiapt's profile
Kat1, I have the same issue.
view Seaside's profile
I love the look of fresh fruits and veggies on the counter and wish I could display them in my own kitchen, but, like Seaside and Kat1, anything I leave out seems to attract flies (with, oddly, the exception of bananas).
Kyle, your kitchen (and your veggies) are the antithesis of Dwell's (brilliant) "Fruit Bowl Manifesto":
http://www.dwell.com/info/about/612197.html
view Anna at D16's profile
In the fridge where they won't rot quickly!
view LilyC's profile
We just line up the non-fridge produce (tomatoes, avocados, etc) on a piece of cardboard along the back of the counter. The effect is cheery but sloppy and I've been lusting after one of these racks:
http://www.unicahome.com/p33015/fruit-bowl-no-7-by-ron-gilad.html
though not at that price!
view Liana's profile
I made a similar light fixture last year with a cord light from Ikea and a roll of wood veneer edging (not the self-adhesive kind). I made it free-form since I wanted the effect to be loose and unstructured, and glue-gunned the points where the lines intersected to help it hold the shape (and made sure there was enough clearance for the lightbulb on all sides to avoid any fire concerns).
view briouc's profile
what a great blog topic. :) since my approach towards cooking can be summed up by saying 'use whatever is fresh'. i don't keep produce around long enough to display. Which is a shame because the great shapes and vibrant colors of fresh produce are deserving of appreciation.
view rwallen's profile