My Ugly Kitchen Holds the Best Memories

Where the chaos of mismatched dishes and happiness come together

Step into my ugly kitchen, a quirky blend of vintage charm, outdated with 1950s “Murray” steel baby blue cabinets that close shut with magnets worn-out by this point. The drawers are so hard to open that I have to spray oil at least once every six months to lubricate.

It’s large and spacious, but there’s barely any counter space.

It has a farm-like feel with wooden walls and an ice-cold pantry I can use as a fridge if I wanted to.

When my boyfriend and I decided to leave New York City and move to the suburbs, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, especially with a 4-month-old baby at the time.

Leaving our modern, aesthetic-like studio apartment with the Hudson River view to die for meant trading it for a way larger space, cheaper rent, and a yard with a driveway — a bittersweet decision but also a win-win-win.

I can’t complain.

Having lived in New York City my entire life, leaving meant saying farewell to the familiarity of knowing how to get around, having family close by, and enjoying the best sandwiches at my local bodega down the block.

With that said, most would agree that whether you’re a cook or not, the kitchen is the most useful and important room in a home when renting or buying, besides the primary bedroom. It’s the heart of the home.

As a Puerto Rican woman with a Dominican man, saying we spend a lot of time in the kitchen is an understatement.

Little did I know, this “ugly” kitchen of mine was going to grow on me and hold the best of the best memories with my little family and me.

I honestly prayed for these days: making my hot cup of coffee before everyone gets up, preparing food for my loved ones, leaving it spotless for the next meal of the day, raising my baby, and just being together.

Our kitchen may not be the prettiest, but we eat, laugh, hug, kiss, and slow dance in it anyway.

We watch our son sprint across the cold floor tiles, chasing him just to put on his socks. We observe him climbing into his new little table, enjoying the sight of him eating so independently now.

They grow up so fast.

Not paying my outdated kitchen any mind and savoring those good times is what happiness is all about.

Thank you for reading.

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