From show house to your house: If you're a renter, don't be afraid to make small changes in your kitchen. Removable wallpaper on cabinets, temporary tile on backsplashes and a few fun accessories can make all the difference in a drab and ordinary kitchen.
Baking bread. Is there anything more comforting than the aroma of baked goods wafting from the oven? If baking from scratch has you flummoxed, don't let that stop you from savoring this pleasure. Try brushing ready-to-bake pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkling it with rosemary and flaky sea salt for a semihomemade take on focaccia that will make your house smell amazing.
Country. Large, rectangular tiles instantly create a down-home feel, especially in the kitchen. This look makes me want to grab some flour and start baking a pie!
5. Bring back the breakfast bar. It's a beautiful thing to have everyone at the formal dining table leisurely eating breakfast, but if it's not possible, set up a few dining options at the breakfast bar — with at least one portable food alternative for the family member who needs to eat on the go. Make breakfast even more efficient by grinding coffee beans, setting the coffee machine on timer and slicing fruit the night before and by having an organized pantry for the family member who's fishing for something that's not on the table.
I have one chopping board for each food type. Collect some wooden chopping boards and hang them as a display. They look fabulous, it gets them off the work surfaces, and they'll always be on hand.
Tip: If you have limited space, hang cutting boards on the wall and turn them into functional art. Bonus: They're an arm's length away when you need them.