welcome to forever kitchensa mini-series that focuses on home cooks who find a kitchen where they can cook..
name: Joan Tanner
position: Santa Barbara, California
How often do you cook in this kitchen? 55 years (from 1965)
How many people do you regularly eat together in your kitchen? One
Joanne Tanner's Forever Kitchen is modest in size. It works through a system of organized chaos. And it's filled with a mini-collection of treasures – vintage Japanese pottery, Le Creuset pots and pans given to her on her wedding day more than 60 years ago, potted plants (she (I used a seashell-shaped teapot for watering), a stack of plastic tabs from sandwich bread bags, and random sticky notes (“GET GIN!''). Joan is a prolific artist (she has a large sculptural installation studio on the premises), and nothing is safe from her conformity, curiosity, and collector's mindset.
The wooden ceiling (original to the 1920s house) and white walls are the perfect backdrop for her (pre-coronavirus) creative approach to living, cooking, and gathering. We were curious about what it was like to live and cook in the same space for so long, so we caught up with Joanne to learn more about how she's changed over time and her interesting style. , talked about her oval island and more.
When you first moved in, did you know this would be your forever kitchen?
I really thought [my late husband] Jim was wrong to want to live here. We thought we wouldn't stay in California. In fact, I love Chicago and the Midwest, where I grew up and where my daughter and grandson currently live. I thought I would end up going back there.
If so, how much has this space changed over the years?
The kitchen has had some life. The cabinetry is original, the pine counters are the same, and there are redwood shelves and dry cupboards (with slats to keep air circulating). There was also a walk-in closet, but it has been removed. And we also drew pictures.
What's the most luxurious thing or splurge you've made in your kitchen??
We will create a beautiful wood grain ceiling.
Did you have a lot of fun here in the past?
The first 10 to 15 years I was here, I hosted Thanksgiving for 30 people. I remember one day early in the year I was sitting at the stove making gravy as usual. I had a little flour and broth mixture to start the roux and was scraping up all the burnt bits. When I carefully and slowly poured the stock and flour mixture into it, it was 80 degrees hot! Keep in mind, I'm from the Midwest, so this felt like a foreign place. Californians were all telling emotional stories and I thought, “We can't keep doing this anymore,” he said.
Please tell us about raising your daughter here..
We were always doing screwball stuff with our daughter Laura. When she was little she was everywhere in this kitchen and I don't remember panicking about it, but I was pretty orderly. I put things on the floor for her to play with. When she got a little older, this table was where she would sit and do projects. The door was right outside so we could always be outside.
And what about your grandchildren who are now young adults?
I'm very interested in being an intrusive grandma. When her granddaughter visits with her girlfriend, we have a lot of fun. When she visited pre-coronavirus, she made charming little drinks and snacks and we stayed up late.
What is your go-to meal to make here?
I'm an expert in making things from chicken. What I want to do is learn how to make an olive oil cake.
We love your oval island. Is this the place to prepare?
Surprisingly, that's not the case. Even if there is a company, the island will not be used. I cook everything on the stove.
What do you wish you could change about your kitchen?
I hate how my wallpapered calendar cabinet looks faded. I really like the way they age, but they curl.
Everyone also wants to eat in the dining corner, so we want to be able to find really interesting drop-leaf things. I'm always looking for a place to sit and read a book while drinking coffee. Here it is, but maybe it's better. I'm starting to think about how to change my house so that I can travel with my electric tricycle.
At night, you can use the lighting here. Need new lighting. A small lamp and a fake candle from Costco will help.
Want to share some of your favorite items in your kitchen?
I love my plants. He has one cactus that I think he bought in 1965 or he bought in the early 70's. I love this little terrarium with very attractive glass pieces. Inside that little jar are all the glass shards I picked up on the property. My rule is, if you see something shiny walking around, grab it.
This pot was given to me by my grandmother who is from Michigan. It's a pot of earthen beans. You can also use the edge of the pot to sharpen your knife. It has a wire handle on the top so you can hang it inside your fireplace. I've never had it repaired before because I don't want to repair it. Put something in it and serve it.
This granary is one of my favorites. I don't know where it came from.
We love that basket too! Thanks for sharing your story, Joanne!
This post originally appeared on The Kitchen.Check it out: This amazing grandma has been cooking in her 'eternal kitchen' for 55 years
