Hey, check out the kitchen above…I hope you like it because that’s our new kitchen! After a frantic search that lasted three weeks (ugh) my friend Nick e-mailed me a link to an apartment in Atwater Village on Wednesday morning. The funny thing about that is each morning I would wake up and the first thing I would type into Craigslist would be: “Atwater Village.” It’s absolutely my favorite neighborhood in L.A.: cozy, charming, scenic and home to both Proof Bakery and Canele, two of my favorite places here. Nothing worthwhile turned up and the few that did turn up I would make myself go see, only to be disappointed because the places–while well-situated–were really dirty/dusty/musky inside. Craig wasn’t having that.
This place, though, positively gleamed in the pictures. I rushed over there as soon as I could and the really nice landlord, Roy, told me that he’d only put the apartments (there are 4 of them in one building, a fourplex) online that morning and already he’d had 12 e-mails about them. I knew it was a good thing the moment I stepped inside.
Everything had been totally redone, most notably the kitchen. Check it out in the picture above: there’s a giant sink, a dishwasher, and TWO ovens (though, admittedly, they’re small ovens; I think the one below might be a broiler. Also: not sure my roasting pan will fit. Yikes.) But back to the positive: butcher block counters. White tile behind the sink. Also, room for a little breakfast table by the window.
I immediately called Craig and told him to rush over. Craig did and after a quick inspection he agreed: this was the place.
So we serenaded Roy, bought him flowers, promised him our first born child if he would give us the place. And within 24 hours, after reviewing our applications (to which we attached wads of cash and gift certificates to Ruby Tuesday’s), he told us the place was ours.
I can’t tell you how relieved/happy I am. Searching for an apartment under a time-crunch totally SUCKS. I saw so many bad places, so many sad kitchens, you have no idea.
So we’re in good moods this weekend and getting ready for the big move on July 1st which is just a week from Monday. But get ready for lots of pictures of food on butcher block counters: that’s what you’ll be seeing for the next two years!
Two ovens, butcher block counters, AND a goose neck faucet with a Farm sink deep enough to fill pots – you’re golden!! Grab a pick of the range. The light coming in from the side seems nice – let’s get a 360′.
DOUBLE OVENS DOUBLE OVENS DOUBLE OVENS!!!!
I love those counters!
Congratulations!! The kitchen looks like a happy place to be!
Congratulations! The kitchen is lovely:)
Looks great ! Look forward to seeing it a working kitchen.
It’s beautiful! Look at that sink! Congrats!
Butcher block counters! :D Also you’ll love the tall cabinets
Welcome to the neighborhood!
If you start with the right location, you will find your place. Congrats! Looks great.
Looks great!
I’m also in the middle of packing and moving soon and would love to hear any tips or funny stories about the moving process and how best to pack up a kitchen!
Alternately, if you decide to just set fire to everything rather than bother to move it, I totally want to see pics.
Hi Adam – I’ve been reading your blog for years now and love your approach to cooking, eating, and dining out! I live in Atwater, too! Welcome to the neighborhood! Canele and Proof are great, but you must try the Village Bakery on Los Feliz Blvd- excellent breakfast/brunch/lunch spot. A little more “down home” than Proof, but amazing, amazing food!
So where is the cooktop?
I love my double ovens when I am cooking for a group.
wait! I think I see the corner of the cook-top in the lower right hand corner of the picture. If that is a gas cook-op then you are truly golden.
Pick the side of the sink you’d prefer to use for meat, poultry and fish prep and have a stainless steel “slip cover” made for it. Remember, as nice as wood LOOKS, it’s porous and you absolutely CANNOT sanitize it! Just a cutting board is not enough to keep all the nasty stuff off the counter. Other than that, awesome kitchen! Happy cooking!
Starbucks has the best boxes for moving. After packing them, hire two day laborers and just point to where you want them moved.
Congrats on the new place! The kitchen looks awesome! A true find. I’m looking for an apartment in the neighborhood now as well so I can relate to how depressing the craigslist posts have been lately. Send the good moving luck my way!
BEST!! I love a white kitchen. And butcher block countertops. Shut. Up. So good.