One of my favorite rooms in the Dollhouse is the Butler’s Pantry. A few weeks back I shared in a post that I was thinking about purchasing a toaster oven since the oven that’s here in the Dollhouse kitchen takes absolutely forever to pre-heat. I’m used to my double oven back in Georgia which heats up super fast. I ended up buying the toaster oven (that’s also an air fryer) I mentioned in that previous post since it has such great reviews. (Toaster Oven/Air Fryer) is available here: Toaster Oven/Air Fryer.)
I had planned to place it in the kitchen but the cabinets in the my kitchen are pretty low, so I wasn’t sure if it would have enough clearance above. Then I remembered the Butler’s pantry and I love how it looks here.
The cabinets in this room are higher, but I still pull it out a little when I use it to give the front vents on the very top a bit more clearance. I’ve used it many times and it’s working great in this room.
I am shocked by how fast it cooks/bakes! For example, the homemade pot pies I love from Dorothy Lane Market are supposed to bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees.
The first time I made one in the oven, it was fully baked in 30-35 minutes. Since then, I bake them for 35 minutes at 350 degrees and they come out great. I haven’t used it as an air fryer yet, so far I’ve just been baking in it. Really like it so far, though! (Toaster Oven/Air Fryer) is available here: Toaster Oven/Air Fryer.)
I added another new item to this room a few days ago, do you see it? As you know, I have a mini-obsession with lamps. That’s the one thing I’ve missed so much in this house—having cozy lamplight in every single room. A few days ago I searched online for a small lamp for my kitchen.
Since the cabinets in the kitchen do not have undercabinet lighting, except for two, small, old, fluorescent-looking lights that flash like crazy when turned on, I decided to add a small lamp until I can have undercabinet lighting installed underneath all the cabinets.
It’s so nice to walk into the kitchen in the evening and find it softly lit.
I liked this lamp so much here in the kitchen, I added one to the Butler’s Pantry, too.
Here’s how it looks on with the curtains pulled closed.
…and with the curtains open. It’s especially nice at night…very cozy!
It’s the perfect size to fit underneath kitchen or pantry cabinets.
Here’s a better view with it turned off, love that cute gingham shade! The shade is described as being cream/sage-green gingham in color, but it looks like a neutral taupe/brown and cream to my eyes. If you could use a cute lamp in a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, entry, or Butler’s Pantry, you’ll find this lamp available here: Small Lamp with Gingham Shade.
I’ll close this post with a bit of Halloween fun. A few days ago, my oldest grandson came over, and as he walked in the front door, I told him that I had an invasion! His eyes widened and he said, “Is it ants?” Ha! They had ants in their kitchen last summer, so that was the first thing that popped into his mind. I replied, “No, they are much bigger!” His eyes got a bit wider and he asked, “Is it spiders?” I replied, “No, much, much bigger!” The look on his face made me burst out laughing, the best way I can describe it is a combination of dread, disgust, and maybe a touch of fear. I said, “Come look!” and I motioned for him to follow me. He hesitated a moment, then followed. The look on his face when he came around the corner was so funny!
You may remember when I decorated with mice a few years back in the Georgia house.
He totally played along and acted appropriately horrified. We had a good giggle and he promised to not tell his younger brother so he could be surprised when he next came over. The mice I used are from Michaels, many years ago. I found some similar ones online here: Staircase Mice and here: Staircase Mice.
Happy Weekend!
Cute! I had a trompe l’oil artist paint a mouse & mouse hole on the bottom inside of my front door. It looked incredibly real.
Love your butler’s pantry & lamp. I have always had a small lamp on the kitchen counter, even though I have under cabinet lighting — it’s a warm and cozy look that I love.
Happy weekend in your Dollhouse!
Oh my gosh, I love that Marilyn! That would make me smile every time I saw it!
I so agree, love how a glowing lamp looks in the kitchen at night. I need to put this one on a timer so it will automatically come on in the evening.
Hi Susan, Couldn’t help noticing the butter container on your counter. Do you keep your butter out on the counter? I do. My friend thinks that butter should never be stored outside of the refrigerator. We respectfully agree to disagree!
I do. When I was growing up, the butter was always kept in the refrigerator, probably because we didn’t have air conditioning. But when I was in college, I was at a friend’s home and they had the butter out full time on the counter. It was so nice not having to try and spread hard butter on toast. After that, I’ve always kept mine out, too. It lasts just fine and I love having soft butter available to spread. I wonder if your friend grew up in the south without A/C?
I love having soft, spreadable butter too. And as you said, it lasts perfectly on the counter. I’ve heard of people using “butter bells” containing water to keep the butter fresh on the counter, but I have never had an issue keeping my butter in a regular butter dish.
Have a nice weekend,
Kathy
My sister did that for a while, used something that kept the butter cooler using water. She loved anything related to the kitchen and was always trying new things. Like you, I find it works great on the counter.
I have a Butler’s Pantry, and I love it, however, that entire area of my house needs a renovation – kitchen, butler’s pantry and laundry room. $$$$ And your stairs are very cute, Susan.
Thanks, Lisa! I would love to renovate the kitchen here, the layout in one area is really awkward and it definitely showing its age. I’m slowly updating the 20+year old appliances so that is helping.
More goodies! Love the lamps. The mice are so cute and whimsical. I kind of wish I had gotten the air fryer combo with two doors. Pantry jealous here. When I was a little girl, my grandmother had a Victorian two story house and a pantry. The mystery room. She was born in the 1800’s and drank green tea (and grew kale-not new.)
Just how many rooms are in the dollhouse ? I am still thinking that house having four bathrooms ! Is your son’s house the same size ?Thanks for sharing the good news and purchases every week.
Wow, I think I would have really liked your grandmother, Myrna! I haven’t counted them, I’m not sure. I’m just glad they added on the room over the garage in 1951. 🙂 Yeah, I try to keep it upbeat as much as possible. I want the blog to be an escape, a fun few minutes in the day!
Love everything you ARE DOING. I even buy some of the items. Since u mentioned ants I had a really bad case and I did everything and nothing was working. Then my SS class mentioned Terro Ant Killer and it worked. Just had another bout this year and I used it and it works.
Oh, I will tell them about that if they come back again. My son has a pretty harrowing tell…he went to grab a big one with a tissue and it squirted him directly in the eye. His eye hurt for a long time. He searched online and found out that some ants can do that when they feel threatened. So crazy!
That is very interesting to me. I picked up a cat dish without realizing there were tiny brown ants until they were on my hands biting me! Stinging really. My hands itched forever. I also noticed there were larger ants among the tiny ones. That’s crazy they can also squirt!
Ouch!!! Yes, if you pick one up with a tissue, don’t turn your hand over and look at it. Some ant’s here in the south have a defense mechanism where they can squirt something out from their stomach area…a type of acid. It went straight into my son’s eye and that’s how we learned about it.
I use Terro too. Great product inside and outside. I’ve used spray and their gel.
Hi Susan
Your new kitchen lamps are perfect! I also love your Blanton’s display. We lived in Lexington for 18 years before moving back to Cincinnati and we enjoyed learning all about bourbon and the horse industry.
Terri Solomon
That’s kinda what happened to my son when they moved here. He met a lot of new friends, mostly in law school, who were all into collecting old and rare bourbons. I think that’s when I first learned about Blanton’s. Of course, I fell in love with the bottle design, and that started me down the road of trying to collect all the horses. It takes a long time to collect them all, but over the course of the 14 years that my son/DIL have been here, I have finally managed to collect all the cute stoppers with the help of my son and his friends. Now I just need to find a bottle of Blanton’s to place in the center. Ha! It’s amazing how the bourbon shortage happened a few years back. I called a local store here a few days ago to see if they had it in stock so I could add it to the display. They said that they are always out and only get a few bottles allocated to them every so often. Apparently, you have to line up outside the store on Thursdays on the off chance they have gotten some in. So I guess the shortage is still going.
Oh, and this is where I purchased the display (along with the glasses) in case you’re interested:
https://bit.ly/3YxrAcy
He makes them from real bourbon barrels.
I had been waiting for the cute gingham shade lamp to come back into stock. A few weeks ago I checked and they were available! I was so happy. Just perfect on a desk or dresser.
It’s so adorable! Mary, sounds like you and I have the same taste in lamps. You wouldn’t’ believe what I had to go through to get the two I have. For some reason, I’m jinxed when making some purchases. I first purchased it online as a pickup item. When I got to the Target in South Dayton area, the lamp shade was completely mangled. It was caved in on two sides. They actually brought it out to me in that condition, and when I pointed out the caved in sides, they refunded me.
Next, I ordered it online and chose delivery. When it arrived, the dark brown plastic ring that holds the shade onto the lamp, was broken and part of it was laying inside the box. They had just thrown the lamp in with a little bubble wrap.
By that point, I realized I wanted two of them, one for the kitchen and one for the Butler’s Pantry, so I ordered again in two separate orders. This time, the lamps were better packaged with brown stretching paper packing all around the base. The shade was still completely unprotected though. Somehow, they both arrived in one piece this time. lol
Mary, did you buy your lamp in the store or online? Also, what color did
you order—did you order it with the sage green and cream gingham shade? I could have sworn when I first ordered, the ad said that the lamp was available in two colors, the other color being a brown and cream gingham. I ordered the sage-green and cream gingham but both lamps that I received look more like a light brown and cream gingham. I like that color, too, but it doesn’t look very green/sagey to me.
I also have a couple of little lamps on my kitchen counter, but the long cord hanging out the back was really bugging me! So, I purchased a plug replacement at Home Depot for $3 and you cut the cord to be closer to the backsplash (it’s an angle plug so it sits really close to the backsplash) and voila! No more long cord.
That long cord is annoying! I was going to use a twist tie. Oh, I should check out the plug replacement, thanks for mentioning that Elena! Do I just search for “plug replacement” on the HD website?
Type “electric cord angle plug replacement” and it will come up; the angle plug won’t stick out, so it’s better than the regular one. They come in white and brown. Good luck!
Thanks, Elena!
Cords are either too long or too short. Notice the ones that are too short say “Do not use an extention cord”
Love your kitchen lamps! I have two on my kitchen countertops & love the cozy vibe they give off, especially now that it is getting darker earlier outside.
Yes! I love that, too! I was wondering last night if I should place a second one on the kitchen counter at the other end. I love that glow at night! Thanks, Sharon!
Sister?
More mice: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CG4RLWL7/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=A2TLVKD3GJMF09&psc=1
ADORE those lamps – they’re perfect. Now all you need is the same gingham pumpkin plushie to go with them. I’d send you mine but my daughter made it for me so I can’t – if I’d have purchased it, it’d be on its way already. Love those lamps. GREAT choice. So cottage-y and timeless.
And your mice and your grandson? TOO CUTE – let us know how the little brother did too. It’s a great story.
Lamps are perfect….I would just watch how hot the bottom of your cabinet in the kitchen gets from the bulb not being far away. Perfect lighting and the mice are the cutest thing ever….but alas, I have no stairs but I could put a couple on a baseboard!
Thanks, Toni! I’ve been wanting to buy some for the baseboards. I gave my DIL a couple of those last year since my baseboards were too short in the GA house. I wonder if I can use them here, I need to check.
Good point! Don’t worry, I’m using EcoSmart LED bulbs in these two lamps. The ones I’m using give off the light of what would be the equivalent to a 60 watt bulb. Since they are LED, they are not very hot at all. I can actually place my hand on them while they are on and they are barely warm. That’s one thing I really like about the soft white LED bulbs from EcoSmart, they look like incandescent bulbs, yet they don’t destroy fabric/silk shades like the old incandescent bulbs used to do to the lamps I use a lot.
I have butler pantry envy! That’s the beauty of an older home. I have under cabinet lighting was talked into it by the electrician but I seldom use them. I made 2 mice and a mouse hole with my cricut and put them on the end of the kitchen bar near the floor. First thing you see when you come in from the garage. Every one comments I leave mine up all year. Love your lamps! I have a thing for lamps. Did you have any damage from the hurricane?
Love the mice on the stairs. What a cute story with your grandson. You’ll have to update when the second grandson comes visiting. I like the lamps. It seems you could find the same material on the shade for your chairs. I’m not liking my Black and Decker air fryer/oven although I do like that brand for my stand alone air fryer. I will have to check out Emeril’s.
Hi Susan, our oven was taking forever to heat up, and my clever hubby (who can fix anything) determined it was a problem with the igniter. He ordered a new one, replaced it, and now we are again preheating quickly.
I bet that’s the problem with the oven in this house. Thanks for that information, Joyce! I never would have thought of that. I doubt I’ll try to repair it since it looks pretty rough, both inside and out. It’s around 20 years old, so I hope to replace it sometime next year, if not sooner.
on your recommendation i ordered the toaster oven and have had a few chances to use it. i am very happy with it! i’m so glad there are good researchers out there! also i really like the weather station as well! i am sure the guys in the family will be getting them for christmas!!