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This has been a dream of mine since I started food blogging 12 years ago! I can’t believe it’s been that long. I began blogging from a small studio apartment in Seattle where I had just moved after getting married and relocating from India. With some free time on my hands, I started experimenting in the kitchen and quickly fell in love with the joy of cooking, and the way food brings people together.
My blog grew and became my business as we bought our first house in 2015. I continued to blog from there, now working out of a much larger kitchen. Even though I had more space, the dream was always to have a dedicated kitchen studio just for work- a place where the cameras and lights could stay set up and wouldn’t need to take down after every shoot. A space where I could work quietly, even when we had family staying for an extended period.
And I am so thrilled to share that it has finally come true! We bought a new house in 2024, and it came with a detached studio unit which that we renovated to create Cook With Manali’s kitchen studio. It’s warm, cozy, bright- basically everything I love!
Before & After
The DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit) on our property was 425 sq ft and included a closet, a small kitchen, and a bathroom. To convert it into my kitchen studio, we removed the closet and took down part of a wall. We didn’t touch the existing kitchen in the space, it remained intact. We just built a new one for my work.
The planning began right after we moved in. I worked with a wonderful designer who understood the vision I had for my kitchen studio. We started the permit process last year in September and the permit finally came in January 2025 (it took so long)! And so, the actual construction work started in the beginning of this year.
I wanted color. I have always loved vibrant spaces and I wanted this kitchen to feel warm, and inviting. So, we went with teal cabinets with gold pulls, a farmhouse sink with a gold faucet, floating shelves, and a wooden wall shelf to display some of my traditional Indian serveware. And not to forget the colorful backsplash tiles!
We also built plenty of storage for my prop collection. When you have been blogging for as long as I have, you tend to accumulate a lot of props. Even though, I discarded a lot when we moved, I still had a lot of stuff that needed to be stored. So, we added closets on the wall for props and created enough space for a small pantry as well.
The Work Desk
For the work area, instead of choosing a traditional office desk, we went with a built-in quartz work desk that includes plenty of storage cabinets for my camera, lenses, mics, laptop ,chargers, and more. This gives me plenty of space to work quietly. The best part honestly about this studio is that it’s still within my home, yet every time I step in, I feels like I’m in a completely different place. Like a creative space that is just my own!
I am excited to start creating content in this space- to make new memories, shoot beautiful photos and videos and most importantly, to keep learning and having fun. This journey has brough me immense joy, and I’ve learned so much over the years. And yet, there are times when it feels like I know so little, because the truth is we never really stop learning. Here’s to more creativity, more growth, and more joy in this new space.
Thank for you being a part of my blogging journey!
Congratulations, Manali. It’s a beautiful space!
Thanks Gayatri!
I am thrilled for you, Manali! And I’m thrilled for me! And why is that? It’s because now that you’ve moved onto your own professional kitchen and filming studio, you will continue to do, with greater ease, what I’ve been loving, ever since discovering you! After spending two magnificent months in India three years ago, I mourned the loss of the food I’d savored, but when searching via google for someone who might bring me back, via their recipes, I found you! So, congratulations on the big step — upstairs — into your new digs! And thank you for all you bring to your always-hungry-for-India’s inspired cooking!
Thank you so much for your kind words and support Perii! I hope to continue sharing more Indian recipes here 🙂
Congratulations! Your studio is absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks Claude!
Congratulations Manali!
It looks amazing! I’m happy for you, your enthusiasm makes me feel better.
Thanks to your recipes, I’ve made great Indian dinners in my Italian kitchen.
Keep going!
Thanks Annalisa!
Looks great!
Don’t know how you managed to get the blue oven. Matches the cabinets!
The quartz work desk adds a nice, tranquil edge to the happy kitchen. Nice work guys.
Keep the unique vegetarian and vegan recipes coming!
Thanks so much Mark! that is a customized range, it just takes some time to manufacture and ship but there are many color options to choose from. We chose the cabinets first and then went with this color for the range 🙂
Congratulations! Your kitchen looks beautiful! And thank you for the vegetarian recipes. They are delicious, and great for our health, and the planet. My family and I really love them.
Thanks Magda!
This is so beautiful Manali. Congratulations!
Looking forward to seeing you create many more wonderful recipes here.
Thanks so much Ritu!
Congratulations on your new kitchen video home! It looks amazing.
Thank you Edwyna!
Beautiful space, I love the colors and how you have decorated it, congratulations!
Thank you Jane!
Stunning! Warm, cozy, and inviting. I’d never want to leave that space. Beautiful job, Manali. You are my favorite food blogger.
Thanks very much Lori!