My Cozy Cookbook Display Became an Instant Conversation Starter
I live in a small rental apartment, where space is a hot commodity and I’m not entirely bold enough to take on certain renter-friendly projects (like removable backsplash). However, that doesn’t stop me from making my space feel cozy and inviting. So whenever I spot inspiration that doubles as storage and a desired aesthetic, I jump on it.
My kitchen is great — the appliances are modern, the cabinets are white, and I have a big sink — so I feel really grateful. However, its modernity can make it feel somewhat sterile and bland. But when I saw what Megan Burmeister did in the modern kitchen of their eclectic Amsterdam home, I knew that I was onto something with a previous project I’d completed.
“A glimpse of our ugly but charming little rental kitchen. I added books and a table lamp to make it more cozy and stacked some of my Falcon enamel tins on top to give it a French country kitchen feeling,” Megan shared at the time of the house tour. “The silver lamp is a Vintage Robert Sonneman that I thrifted for €8.”
To me, this project — even before seeing Megan’s take — seemed like a no-brainer! I could display a bundle of dusty cookbooks (I kept them on a pile under a dresser) in an awkward, unused corner in a way that was also aesthetically pleasing, and maybe having them right in front of me would encourage me to crack them open once in a while. I also have a chargeable lamp from Amazon that could add some moodiness to the area. And I could do this all without reaching for my tool bag.
Moving the cookbooks to this area with a chic lamp has had far more benefits than just looking good (if I say so myself!). Whenever I host cooking nights with friends, we choose recipes from the cookbooks — there’s something special about holding a recipe in your hands. It’s also allowed me to connect with people. So often, friends will come over and share that they also own that book and tell me about their favorite recipe. Plus, the lamp has saved me from bumping into the table on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Megan’s cookbook storage method made me feel like I was doing something right in my space — and if you’ve already done this, I hope you feel the same way, too. This isn’t the only great part about Megan’s home, either. To see more, visit the full home tour.
