Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Frozen

Choosing Kitchen Appliances - 2


I know it's been for ever since I began that series but then all the exciting things of summer got in the way of my writing it. 

Je sais, la série sur les appareils électroménagers a commencé il y a une éternité et n'a pas eu de suite... Nous y voilà!

Among the many decisions that were to be taken when I remodeled my kitchen was choosing the fridge.

Parmi les nombreuses décisions qu'il y a eu à prendre quand j'ai refait la cuisine, le frigo a été source de bien des hésitations.


Actually, I had a fridge, that I had bought when I arrived at the Cottage four years ago. Do you remember when the kitchen looked like that?

En fait, j'avais bien sûr un frigo, acheté en arrivant au Cottage il y a quatre ans. Vous vous souvenez quand la cuisine ressemblait à ça?


I could have kept this fridge and I really considered this option to save money... But it was a huge fridge for a single Petite Blonde and three cats. It didn't seem so when I bought it as all the fridges in the store were even huger (that word does exist?)

J'aurais pu garder ce frigo et j'y ai sérieusement songé pour économiser de l'argent... Mais il a toujours été trop grand pour une Petite Blonde et trois chats. Je ne m'en étais pas rendue compte dans le magasin où tous les frigos étaient énormes.

But if I were to change the fridge, what should I choose? I browsed the Internet for some inspiration.

Mais alors que choisir? J'ai comme d'habitude passé quelques soirées à chercher de l'inspiration sur Internet.


I read blogs, you know, so I was pretty sure all bloggers would tell me to go for a stainless fridge. Well, brace yourself, I was not the biggest fan of having all that grey in my tiny Cottage kitchen.

Bien sûr, je lis des blogs, et je sais que la mode est aux éléments en inox brossé. Ben, moi, je ne suis pas fan de ce grand aplat gris dans une cuisine de cottage.


Of course buying a plain white one, only a smaller version of the one I had, would be cheaper and I, for one, am not bothered by white appliances. I just knew I didn't want it to be turned into a message board.

Acheter un autre frigo blanc plus petit m'a traversé l'esprit, mais j'avais peur qu'il ne devienne un autre endroit où je puisse accumuler des papiers grâce à quelques aimants... Les gens qui me connaissent savent qu'il ne faut pas sous-estimer  ma capacité à mettre le bazar partout en un temps record!


On the other hand, some brands make wonderful vintage looking fridges that would look swell in a Cottage.

D'un autre côté, on trouve des frigos qui ont l'air délicieusement rétro et sur lesquels je ne serais pas tentée de laisser le moindre bout de papier...


The thing with those fridges is that they come in all kinds of colours and then I fell in love with the baby blue one and the oh-so-perfect seaglass one.

Le truc avec ces frigos, c'est qu'ils existent de toutes les couleurs et je suis bien entendu tombée amoureuse du bleu pastel et du super vert d'eau.


The other thing with those fridge is that they cost an arm... at least in France (I understand it's different in some countries)... like a lot more than a teacher's monthly salary....

L'autre truc avec ces frigos, c'est qu'ils coûtent très cher... plus d'un mois de mon salaire...

So falling in love with those fridge was as much a waste of time than falling in love with Jim Parsons is. I might have lost some of my time with both, I must confess...

Du coup, tomber amoureuse d'un de ces superbes frigos est une perte de temps au moins aussi ridicule que de tomber amoureuse de l'acteur Jim Parsons. Je suis peut-être coupable de ces deux bêtises!


Anyway, this is out of topic... But I had to find other ideas... I found countless ways to transform a fridge on Pinterest. I really didn't see the point in transforming mine in a giant shopping list as I thought my hernia might dislike the shoving of the fridge in the car each time I was going to the supermarket...

Revenons à nos moutons... Il me fallait d'autres idées... J'ai trouvé des tonnes de façon de transformer un frigo sur Internet. Le déguiser en liste de courses géante en était une... Mais ma hernie a utilisé son véto rien qu'à imaginer qu'il fallait charger le frigo dans la voiture à chaque visite au supermarché!


The thing I liked best was when fridges were disguised as cabinets... But I was terrified at the idea that my mediocre painting skills might ruin a fridge, as these don't come cheap....

Les images que je préférais étaient celles où le frigo était caché dans un placard, soit grâce à l'artifice de la peinture soit car des panneaux étaient rajoutés sur le frigo. Mais j'ai eu peur de démolir un frigo en parfait état de marche avec mes capacités de bricoleuse toute débutante!


So I finally decided to ask the kitchen designer to build a cupboard to hide my fridge...

J'ai donc finalement demandé au cuisiniste de me créer un placard pour intégrer mon frigo.


In a small kitchen where you don't have that many cabinets, I must say this solution helps a lot tying the room together.

Dans une petite cuisine, je trouve personnellement que le frigo intégré donne de l'unité à l'ensemble de la pièce.


Now, if you think choosing the fridge was hard, it was nothing compared to choosing the oven and the cooking range!

Et si vous avez trouvé que le choix du frigo a été bien compliqué, croyez-moi, ce n'était rien comparé au choix du four et de la plaque de cuisson!

See you soon,

A bientôt,


PS1: All sources for the inspiration pictures can be found here.

La source de toutes les photos d'inspiration est ici.

PS2: I finally watched the film "Frozen" which I bought with a coupon given to me by colleagues at the end of the school year... I'm afraid if I look like Elsa, I'm much more like clumsy Anna!

PS3: My friend's wedding was amazing. I did wear a dress, some shoes that were not the ones I had chosen and it's all because of you... I'll tell you everything in a few days.

PS4: I'm partying!

 Ivy and Elephants        


35 comments:

  1. Voilà une affaire rondement menée.
    Perso, je n'aime pas les frigos encastrés, quand il faut les changer, on ne retrouve jamais les mêmes dimensions..
    J'adore les Smeg, je déteste leur prix, dommage.
    Bisous. Babette

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  2. You did a very thorough research on what to do about the fridge. Such a perfect choice to make it look the same as the cupboards. Perfect solution! Can't wait to hear about your time at the wedding : ) Have a lovely week and enjoy the last of summer. Patty

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  3. That was the perfect solution to your refrigerator dilemma! I love what you've done for that kitchen, Magali. And BTW, the SMEG, is it? Costs both an arm and a leg here in the U.S. I've looked into it. :-)

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  4. Dear Magali,
    "frozen" is exactly what I feel like for summer has gone, I am afraid. You had a great time at that wedding? What about the umbrella? I think, you found the best solution for your fridge, but the seaglass Smeg would have been very nice, too. But they are almost everywhere at the moment...
    Looking forward to see the oven
    Yours Sarah

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  5. I can't stand stainless steel anymore. Give me white, give me a pretty colour - anything but stainless or black!!!!!!!!!! I love that turquoise fridge that looks painted with wood trim added - oh so inspiring!!!

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  6. That an interesting kitchen cabinet! I have never known that I can find a fridge inside! Inspiring...

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  7. That looks great Magali and your kitchen is darling!

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  8. I love that the choice you made! xoxo Built ins or a "vintage" fridge are my favorites for a cottage kitchen. Originally, I wanted a built-in, but then I realized there wasn't enough space for a cabinet in my kitchen. I was happy to get the SMEG since I ended up saving on cabinets due to the space. Italy is so close, one would think it would be affordable!

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  9. I really think you made the right choice with your fridge Magali. Any of the 'bear' refrigerators would be out of place in your cute cottage kitchen.

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  10. I love those vintage fridges, too! But I agree about the cost. Too much! And I can't believe your back doesn't want to lug a fridge-shaped shopping list around. It'll build your muscles. I think disguising yours with a custom cabinet was perfect!

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  11. I love how they built your little frig into the cabinet. I live in the land of giant stainless steel frigs so that is what I have. I really would love to do something unique with the frig but we will be selling this house in the next ten years so we are not doing anything that buyers would find odd. Hopefully my next house will be more like your cottage and I can do what I want.
    Traci

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    Replies
    1. I think it's safe to keep the stainless fridge if you have one. Right now, they are all the rage in France.

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  12. Our fridge is also built-in, hidden by cabinet doors matching the kitchen. I admit it ties the kitchen together, but (the fridge is 30 years old!) we need to replace it and are faced with changed measurements :-( ...Oh how il love the seaglass Smeg!! But here in Belgium, too, they cost an arm ànd a leg. Also on my wish list : an AGA cooker ! They now come in all those pretty colours, matching the Smeg if you would lik that. With a wish list like mine, one needs to win the lottery I'm afraid... But I agree that you made the best choice, there has to be come cash left in order to fill that fridge :-) Grtz, Marcy

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    Replies
    1. Oh, yes! The AGA cooker and its pretty colours... Not in my budget, but I still love dreaming about it!

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  13. Love the size of your fridge and the way you disguised it. It looks great. I posted about the sneak peek I showed in my blog tour post and you are mentioned if you want to go see...:) Have a wonderful evening. Are you back to work yet?

    Blessings, Vicky

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  14. I think it's PERFECT!! Love the idea you chose~~~Blessings~~~Roxie

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  15. Tout à fait d'accord avec vous : pas d'inox pour les appareils ménagers ou les plans de travail, ce n'est pas suffisamment convivial pour une cuisine de cottage... ou de petite maison de brique du nord !
    Je comprends que vous ayez failli craquer pour le frigo vert d'eau, wow si chic et si doux à la fois - dans les années 60, la petite épicière à côté de chez ma grand-mère en avait un, une porte, jaune délavé... elle y rangeait notamment le jambon enveloppé dans un immense torchon et le quart de meule de gruyère - mais, sur la photo du net, le bleu pastel est surdimensionné donc aucun regret : trop cher et trop imposant !
    oh, j'ai honte, mon frigo est un panneau d'affichage... et j'avoue que j'adore la cachette en palplanche publiée sur le net : auriez-vous, à nouveau, fait le bon choix en dissimulant le frigo ???
    bonne journée ! monique59

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    Replies
    1. Ma grand-mère a toujours un de ces vieux frigos bien ventrus en blanc avec la superbe poignée et il fonctionne très bien! Mais effectivement, je pense que ce genre de frigo aurait "mangé" l'espace dans ma petite cuisine!
      Merci de prendre le temps de laisser de gentils commentaires!


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  16. Great choice - it looks terrific. Your kitchen is going to be stunning - love it.
    Sounds like you had a grand time at the wedding - looking forward to the photo's.
    Have a Happy Weekend.
    Mary

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  17. I love how it is so hidden from view and yet right there where it is needed. Bravo~Great Job!
    Connie :)

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  18. I think it's just perfect! As cute as Jim Parsons. lol!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  19. Your fridge in cabinet solution looks fantastic!! I love it. I still haven't figured out what to do with my own fridge -- similar situation. Small kitchen, not a lot of options, and a little bit afraid to do something permanent to a fridge and ruin it! I love what you've done. ~Angela~

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  20. The disguised fridge looks great. Your kitchen has undergone an amazing transformation!

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  21. I enjoyed seeing all of your ideas about the fridge and got the giggles over the message board fridge and getting a hernia! I love the vintage style ones, but not the price tags! I think your solution is very nice and perfect for your sweet cottage. Your new kitchen is very charming. xo Karen

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  22. Je suis restée scotchée devant le frigo avec habillage mouluré (panneau Pâtisserie à Paris) qui n'irait pas du tout chez moi mais pour un intérieur shabby je le trouve si beau...

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  23. I think you thought this through with the same consideration you gave to your adorable cottage kitchen and came up with the perfect idea! I love it. Great solution.

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  24. I love your fridge cabinet! A perfect choice Magali! Looking forward to hearing all about the wedding! Wondering how many proposals you came home with????

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  25. Fridges disguised as cabinets are my favorite. But, the SMEG colors are amazing!

    Love your end result.

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  26. I STILL haven't watched Frozen!! But I love your solution to your fridge dilemma. :)

    -andi

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  27. Very clever solution for your fridge! And you really did make me laugh out loud about the shopping list fridge! I haven't seen Frozen yet, but it's on my DVR. Maybe one rainy day...Looking forward to seeing what shoes you wore!

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  28. You made the right choice for your refrigerator, Magali. I love the looks of SMEG, but there's no way I'm spending that kind of money. Right now we're looking at a smaller cottage than what we had planned and I'll be using smaller appliances. It's funny, because the fridge I have picked out looks like yours before you remodeled the kitchen. It's an LG and I like it because it has a smooth front and won't make a statement. ~ Nancy

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  29. Love the fridge disguised as a painted and distressed old cupboard, it's very tempting but agreed it's a pricey one to mess up!

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  30. I think you made the perfect choice, and white looks so much better in small kitchens, although I do have a stainless steel oven, but then it was a gift !

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