A new start

[Catrin]

Music....music...instruments if you play...music. It is good for the soul, for sure.

While others like cast iron cookware, I swear by my stainless steel Belgique cookware. It isn't extremely expensive (though still over $100 for a set) as far as stainless steel goes, but I love it.

+1 on the comfy places to sit and read, listen to music... What about bike storage/place to clean/work on it? I am still working on this myself as my bike lives in the living room.

[Trek420]

Bruno! how're ya doin?

Misc essential: books, books, books, and a rocking chair to read them in.

pictures and framed art. Scrapbooks. file cabinet and lots of file folders.

Kitchen: I now loooove French press coffee makers. Wooden bowl/s with curved chopping knives (for nuts and stuff), along with nice knives you'll need a sharpening steel or two.

I think as long as there's books, art, counter space to chop and dice food .... I'm good. Oh, and laundry baskets.

Have fun. Do a shopping trip with friends, find a local consignment, antique store, go flea market shopping for cast iron.

I think we need a tradition of "break up showers" These days when people marry/move in together it's later in life, many or most of us have the essentials and the process goes something like this: "Your Rubber Soul album is in better shape than my Rubber Soul album, I'll donate mine, my tupperware collection is better, we'll keep mine ..... what are we gonna do with two rocking chairs? ..."

[withm]

2-qt Le Crueset French Oven. I use mine 3-4 times a week. It's perfect for one person.

[tulip]

Wahine, I'm on the same journey. I live in my very own (!) 900 SF house. The kitchen things I have are few but essential.

one larger Le Creuset enamled cast iron pot with lid. I use this for baking bread, making soup, boiling water for pasta.One medium saucepan with lid. Mine's a hand-me-down, but it works fine. One small cast iron skillet. I would like to have a smaller saucepan with a lid--its on the list.

Appliances that I find really useful are: rice cooker (mine's smaller and was only $20 or so) because I do love rice. Toaster. Slow cooker (a smaller one)---I use this mainly for cooking lasagne that I then freeze in serving sizes and heat up.

Glasses--wine tastes better in decent wine glasses. It really does. Coffee cups that I LIKE, not a bunch of mugs that I find ugly! I have a teapot fetish, so I have alot of teapots. I drink tea, not coffee.

I also have 4 dinner plates, 4 small plates, 6 bowls. And I never have enough dishtowels, somehow. Two mixing bowls. I do not have an electric mixer--I get along fine with a hand mixer.

I have lots of cabinet space, and so put everything in cabinets, including the toaster, when I'm not using it. Keep the clutter off the counter!

I did buy myself a sofa that I like, so that I can read comfortably and take a nap. I do not have a TV. My stereo is my iphone run through an old boombox for speakers. Works great.

I've found that having fewer things frees up my space and makes me happier.

Best wishes to you.

[limewave]

What I couldn't live without when I had my own DIVINE apartment (I still miss that place):

1) A really good skillet. I made a lot of stir-fry and one pan meals out of convenience.

2) Single-serving tupperware (to divvy up the stir-fry)

3) 4-cup coffee maker.

4) Toaster Oven

5) Heavy bag & boxing gloves (There was no one to vent to about a bad day when I got home, so I'd hit the heavy bag) It was great therapy.

[mhami]

I'm going to second the electric blanket.

[GLC1968]

I agree that a convection toaster oven is a must have. That, my blender (a good blender is awesome and will stand in for a mixer in many cases), my coffee maker (with thermal carafe), quality knives and my wine glasses are the essentials.

I do use the microwave a lot, but I could do without it. I also have a nice stainless kettle that boils water in no time flat, but again, it's a nice to have. Same for the slow cooker - I have one, use it occastionally...but most of my slow cooking items are easily made on the stove on the weekends.

I have never owned a rice cooker and I can't believe that others consider it an essential - very interesting!

Another item to consider - if you already have an ipod, get a docking station with speakers. It's wonderful to have music as background noise when cooking, cleaning or reading.

[ny biker]

I think we need a tradition of "break up showers" These days when people marry/move in together it's later in life, many or most of us have the essentials and the process goes something like this: "Your Rubber Soul album is in better shape than my Rubber Soul album, I'll donate mine, my tupperware collection is better, we'll keep mine ..... what are we gonna do with two rocking chairs? ..."

Personally I've always thought there should be college graduation showers. That's when I established a home on my own. It took years for me to obtain decent glasses, dishes, silverware, towels, sheets, etc.