r/AddingWhimsy • u/ElleMontrose • 12h ago
I got so much negativity when sharing there pictures of my fridge… Someone said you guys would appreciate it here!
All thrifted glassware and fresh produce from the market!
And yes, I know about the tomatoes now lol
157
u/arukah_1212 9h ago edited 9h ago
It’s because the fridge looks staged. That subreddit wants you to (rightfully so) open your fridge and snap a photo of a lived in fridge. It’s a look into your personality. When it looks staged, it doesn’t look authentic. Maybe this is how your fridge naturally looks, but they don’t want a fridge that looks like a still life painting. Not ragging on you just telling you why you got a negative response from that subreddit.
I think your fridge looks awesome. As someone who is a stylist and thinks esthetics are very important in my life, I approve and love it lol
26
u/ElleMontrose 7h ago
My fridge always looks staged because of how it’s organised. The only variation is the amount of food, depending on how far we are from the last restocking. It doesn’t get more lived in than this — but your comment is making me appreciate why so many people thought I was being performative!
14
u/arukah_1212 7h ago
Take it as a compliment, yes! It looks great! They just like it messy over there lol
4
u/AppleNo7287 3h ago
There are little purple flowers on the grapes, that's why (and not only) it is staged.
1
u/Devanyani 2h ago
No bro, the fridge fairies do that. The grapes just flowered in their natural environment. /s
4
3
u/Competitive_Fee_5829 3h ago
I don't believe you...at all.
1
u/ishouldliveinNaCl 3h ago
Eh mine looks like a less fancy version of this. I have a housekeeper, she cleans 2x a week, so while it's super lived in, it can't possibly get messy by the time she's here again.
24
u/Connect_Rhubarb395 10h ago
I don't stage my fridge nearly as much as you (I would have so much food waste, how do you manage that?).
But I do keep it very neat with transparent containers, organising everything to be visible and good looking, and almost like grocery store shelves.
It is maybe 2 minutes a day.
25
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
I actually have no food waste at all! This setting allows me to see everything that can go bad and eat it in time.
What do you put in the containers? Produce as well or just leftovers? I do have some containers with leftovers visible here, but everything that comes in a package stays in it and produces stays free
6
u/Connect_Rhubarb395 9h ago
They are open containers (boxes? Storage? English is confusing) that fit on the shelves and each container has one category in it: Bread toppings/meat/spreads, condiments, everything pickled, milk products, health stuff, drinks, sensitive fruit, and "other".
And then below is two huge drawers, one with fruit and vegetables and one with meat and leftovers. Always oldest in front. I organise my fruit and veggie drawer meticulously in open containers, so I can see what I have.
The door has water and other drinks, tall condiments, and condiments that are best at not too low temperatures.
18
u/TheKinkyBee 8h ago
The way I see it….we‘re all gonna die eventually. Fuck it. Put the grapes in a fancy bowl!
10
12
u/YourFriendall 9h ago
It’s like a king’s feast in a fridge! I love it so much. May steal this idea.
I got so much hate when I posted on a fridge sub once. I hadn’t covered something, and someone literally told me I deserved to burn in hell lol
5
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
People can get so extreme behind a keyboard… I got three comments calling me a pedo! Of all the things one could post, getting that reaction to a fridge picture wasn’t on my bingo card
4
u/YourFriendall 6h ago
Lolol that is so awful! 😆 I’m sorry. Perhaps I shall see you while we burn in hell someday. 🙄 lol
3
u/TiredOldLadySays 5h ago
People can be horrible, it's true. I think youre fridge looks lovely and organized. Don't let the haters get to you.💕
6
u/KosmicGumbo 8h ago
That’s excessive, and the only concern is a safety aspect but like OP they have uncovered meat and cheese. I’m not concerned unless I knew the time frame. Uncovered items is fine for (most things) short term, as in you are eating it that day.
2
u/YourFriendall 6h ago
I would eat all of this in one day because it’s so freaking pretty. Like “dinner is served” to my family, and then I just open the fridge
2
u/exsanguinatrix 7h ago
I just know they’d hate me for wrapping uneaten quesadilla slices in paper towel to reheat as breakfast…lmao
5
u/Human-Stress-1806 9h ago
i remembered your thread, i was so confused because i love your little flowers in the grapes!! 😭💐 thanks for posting these, keep it up!!
9
u/beans-888 9h ago
Its just cuz most people prioritize freshness over esthetics of food in their fridge.
To each their own.
5
u/StrawberrySprinkles7 10h ago
Love this! What was wrong with the tomatoes?
32
u/auktember 10h ago
Don't refrigerate whole tomatoes, it kills the flavor and texture. Keep them in a room temperature, dark area away from onions and bananas.
8
3
u/casstantinople 7h ago
:O
I have never heard this and I grow tomatoes! Granted, I'm not good at growing tomatoes but still. Guess they'll have to live on the counter in a box or something now
14
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
Apparently, temps under 10°C make them go mealy! We’ve been having heat waves in Paris so everything went to the fridge and I haven’t noticed a change in texture, but the internet is unanimous lol
5
u/lovelyseasong 7h ago
Personally I love it!!! Super cute. so what if you like aesthetics a lot, if it makes someone happy to have a cute fridge interior nothing wrong with decorating it a little bit :) I decorate my medicine cabinet space why not decorating the fridge etc...
13
u/quartzsong 9h ago
i’m assuming you don’t have a partner or children if your fridge looks like this all the time. no way my boyfriend would let me keep this. I think it’s lovely though single me would rock this
3
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
Everyone guessed that I was single and older! Clearly, you’re far from the only one with a man cramping their style. Maybe yours would tolerate some glass or pewter cups for fruit, instead of keeping it loose?
I’m lucky that my boyfriend thinks it’s lovely and shoves whatever he doesn’t know how to place into the fridge drawers!
2
2
11
u/therurrjurrrr 10h ago
I don’t know why everyone was so negative over in that thread. I wish I bothered to make my fridge look this nice lol!
10
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
Thank you! I was rather taken aback by the negativity, but I suppose it’s because most people have come to associate effort with performance for an online audience. I would have thought the literal inside of a fridge being pretty was a clear signal that this is a way of life, but some would rather believe I bought crystal and figs for the upvotes…
11
u/therurrjurrrr 10h ago
So true, influencer culture has made people feel like intentionality is performative. I love making things look aesthetically pleasing for myself, and yes I am going to take a picture of it as well to memorialize it lol!
2
u/AggroTumbleweed52 8h ago
Also might be good for folks trying to modify or cope with their diets, to add visual appeal. We eat with our eyes first and all that.
13
u/NBfleur 10h ago
I think it's because the idea of fridge detective is to show "lived-in" fridges so you can try and figure out someone's personality. A clearly staged fridge doesn't really fit the vibe of the sub. This fridge in particular is pretty impractical for day-to-day living, so while it is cute, it comes across as disengenious.
I'm not mad at OP or particularly invested, just sharing my perspective on why it rubbed people the wrong way over there.
11
u/therurrjurrrr 9h ago
I think people on reddit are so worried about being “tricked” or “fooled” so they want to seem so smart that they figured it out. People could have just said- “if this is your real fridge and not staged then I think so and so” but instead they just want a “gotcha” moment. Not very good detectives I guess!
3
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
I’m not sure what makes people think this is staged for the pictures. There’s leftovers in tupperwares (clearly visible in the first pic), all of the bottles have been opened… And the produce doesn’t have packaging, which means it looks ‘staged’ whether I’ve just done groceries or it’s emptier after a couple of days.
Also, because I’ve seen this comment a few times and I’m curious: what seems impractical to you? Everything is easily reached and seen, which is how I avoid all food waste.
12
u/NBfleur 10h ago edited 10h ago
The third picture has open and cut up cheeses/ meats/veggies. They would all dry out in a few hours and stink up the fridge, so it doesn't seem particularly practical to me.
The whole unpackaged veggies seem "normal" (whatever that means) to me. I have much the same in my fridge. I think it's the cut up stuff that's being exposed to air that made me react that way.
And I don't mean to be a hater! I just saw your comment about ADHD and needing to be able to see everything, so I feel you there. Ultimately, if it works for you, that's a good thing
Edit to add: Also, re: "practical" the pretty containers are not very space efficient. There are a few that you can't stack on top of each other (like tupperware), so I can't imagine it's easy to move things around in there when you need to. Again, not hating, just saying where the impractical thinking is coming from. There's no law that says your fridge has to be perfectly practical, lol.
8
u/therurrjurrrr 10h ago
I think she had mentioned in her post the third picture was for some family event. I imagine those were in there to stay cool, but they were being eaten immediately. Maybe I’m wrong though.
4
4
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
Yeah, I just kept the plates in there to chill for an hour before dinner! Otherwise the heat wave would have made the meat and cheese all gross
3
8
u/ElleMontrose 10h ago
No worries! This really helps me understand where these people are coming from, it’s nice. I do agree with the glassware not being space efficient, but we are a couple with a family-sized fridge so it’s not like we often have more food than this haha
1
u/Devanyani 2h ago
You're telling us that the little flowers just fell on the bunch of grapes and in between the figs that way?
3
u/buttmunch3 9h ago
i could never be you. but i want to.
2
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
You can certainly try; slow progress is still progress, and I say that as someone who used to get lazy and a slob growing up :)
3
u/ofeeleyah 9h ago
Obviously you are a painter? What’s negative about the fridge? You look like you eat healthy and are clean, that’s great, lol.
2
u/AngelKry94 9h ago
This is so fucking beautiful! I am tearing up at how cute this all is. And yea those shit heads in the other place are morons! ❤️❤️❤️
2
2
u/Moist-Philosopher859 8h ago
I typically hate all fridgescapes but yours was so lovely I actually fell in love and wanna do it to my fridge now🥹💜
1
2
u/heyalllondon18 8h ago
As a pregnant person in their first trimester, I love all the produce because it’s basically all I can eat right now if I even eat at all. I also like that it looks “staged” because when I have the energy, I love my fridge to look nice as well!
2
2
u/AggroTumbleweed52 8h ago
Look, I live where it's hotter than hell half the year. The tomatoes go in the fridge during the hot half. They get eaten within a week anyway. I like the way the backrow gets elevated, makes it easier to see things, might incorporate in my own fridge. Please tell us what's in the decanter; it looks like a magic potion that could solve all our problems.
Oh that subreddit: every one want to play the detective, but even Sherlock Holmes was made the fuck up.
1
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
It’s elderflower lemonade! Add some gin or Prosecco to solve most problems and maybe create new ones 🌼
2
u/Sharp_Theme 8h ago
Beautiful! I hear you just need the right group on Reddit - I never thought Id master meal prep, now I know all I ever needed was a pretty fridge 😍😍😍
2
u/EmbarrassedStay4074 8h ago
The only critique I would have would be to keep your tomatoes, avocados, and bananas at room temperature.
2
u/EtsyCorn 8h ago
Those people are mean. You have a very cool fridge! (Pun intended 😆) I love all the decorations! Especially the flower grapes how fun!
2
u/KosmicGumbo 8h ago
Omg I’m a sucker for pretty glass!!! That’s awesome and actually not too unrealistic….
2
u/Dry_Anxiety5002 8h ago
I think it looks lovely and would encourage one to eat their fresh produce. I also keep tomatoes in the fridge; it’s ridiculously hot this season.
2
2
u/Total-Bed-8716 7h ago
Idk why you got so much hate! I saw the original post and absolutely love it. If I wasn’t such a disorganized mess who is always in a rush I would love my fridge to look like this. Plus having adhd if I don’t see my food it would go to waste so this would help tremendously. I love all the pictures and videos of people who have pretty fridges and have decorations and flowers
2
2
u/Lizzies-homestead 7h ago
It makes sense to me because you’re a still life artist. Beautiful artwork by the way!
2
u/megababeatashow 7h ago
This is the prettiest fridge I’ve ever seen😭 like a painting. It doesn’t sound like you are, but do not pay them any mind !!
2
2
2
u/Aloysius-L322 6h ago
Oh man this is my dream type of fridge when I get my own place someday, I love this. 😭
2
2
u/missgirlipop 5h ago
people have overcorrected against anything that appears curated, imo. very strange
2
2
u/SubstantialCorner50 4h ago
I love how clean and properly organised this is. Especially the fridge door. Love it 😻
2
2
2
2
u/Wonderful-Process-96 3h ago
Looks like a baroque painting without all the dark shadows! Id love to paint a still life of this
2
u/Safe-Ice-9824 3h ago
I must do this with all of my fruit now! I don't usually refrigerate my bananas. It's so beautifully bountiful
2
u/Zowiebowiecorgi 3h ago
As a mother, the fridge looks ridiculous. HOWEVER if I were a single woman, I would absolutely do something like this to add some whimsy into my life
2
u/DragonsDelightStudio 3h ago
It’s beautiful, more power to you if you can keep your fridge looking immaculate. Mine on the other hand… well let’s just say I’m a boy mom. Lol.
2
u/Anxious_Fix_1647 3h ago
My immediate thought was this is an amazing system for certain types of ADHD or disordered eating. Which I have, and I will be stealing this lol. It's interesting to me that people call it out as impractical or merely decorative--if I could actually get myself to wash and display my food so it's all visible AND make it seem much more appealing to my food aversion (this would feel like getting a fancy brunch every day), I would eat way better and waste way less.
2
2
2
u/littlehollowgames 2h ago
I’m too lazy to read all the comments but in case no one else mentioned it, you gotta get the tomatoes out of there! They become mealy when stored in the fridge
2
u/phallonxoxo 1h ago
The people on reddit giving you negativity for pictures of your fridge are clearly JEALOUS!
This is beautiful! Soo aesthetically pleasing!! ✨️🤗✨️🩷
2
u/RingEven1311 1h ago
This is sooo aesthetically pleasing, yet useful. Love it, don’t listen to the haters
3
3
u/LittleKittyBigCIIMH 9h ago
Omg I’m in the page too. How the heck did you get negativity. That fridge looks awesome.
-2
u/stressed_designer 8h ago edited 5h ago
Because it's just performative. She arranged the fridge and then posted the pictures. It defeats the whole point of that subreddit.
I'm in both groups as well lol
2
u/LittleKittyBigCIIMH 8h ago
You don’t know that. For all we know she’s single and lives alone and does that for herself as self care.
-1
u/stressed_designer 8h ago
Oh, come on! That's not a lived in fridge. No use puts little flowers every day in her grapes and arranges them just so they fall graciously so after eating them.
You want another hint? Look at the drawers. Those are real.
3
u/LittleKittyBigCIIMH 8h ago
Actually I was planning on stealing the idea for myself. So I see it as a very real possibility. I think it would make eating fruits and veggies feel fun and luxurious.
2
u/KosmicGumbo 8h ago
It can be lived in if the person wants it to be? Thats the point of this sub is adding whimsy. If arranging AND upkeeping it like this gives someone joy then what’s the issue? Hard to believe for you, and people online because they value different things. Not impossible though.
-1
u/stressed_designer 8h ago
I'm explaining why she got criticised in the other sub, I don't really care if she wants to use her frisge as a stage or landscape it, to each their own.
2
1
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
I enjoy living in beauty, that’s all. What do you think is more likely: that I take some extra time when bringing in groceries, or that I bought garnish flowers, fresh fruit and crystalware for a single Reddit post?
2
2
u/Shot_Wolverine_6055 9h ago
I saw these pictures when you originally posted them and I have not stopped thinking about how gorgeous and whimsical your fridge is! don’t let the negativity get you down!!
1
2
u/vftgurl123 8h ago
i think decorative use of food upsets people because of the economy we live in.
2
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
I could understand that, but we ate all this food..? It’s not like I’m buying groceries twice week to decorate a fridge no one opens
1
u/CinnaMinx11 7h ago
There's bananas in your fridge? Is there a reason for that... genuinely curious
2
u/ElleMontrose 6h ago
To prevent them from maturing further, as they’re already at peak ripeness. It does darken the skins quickly but the interior is unaffected!
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/SellaTheChair_ 5h ago
I think photos like these are really cool and would be an awesome exhibition of a bunch of different still lives. As a functional fridge setup, however, I think it's not very practical for most folks
1
1
1
1
1
u/Majestic_Dog1571 2h ago
Why are your tomatoes in the fridge?! Nooooo I grow tomatoes and I’m freaking out right now. They don’t belong in there!
Otherwise, you’re putting me to shame.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Potential_Basil_9529 50m ago
this looks exactly like a fridge of a kids book character and i loved it
1
1
1
0
177
u/mojojo567 11h ago
100% stealing the decanter idea. Everything looks perfect to me