O Kitchen, I Love You!

Our kitchen remodel is done! We have a few minor painting touch-ups and oddities to finish, but it's finally done! And we love it which makes it even sweeter. If you've ever done a major remodel without a "designer" (...do I actually know anyone who pays for a designer or interior decorator???...), you know how badly you hope the decisions you are making work well together in the end. I now have justification for the many hours watching HGTV and poring over decorating magazines and books...it was relatively easy to make our selections and they look awesome together!

So, here are the before kitchen pictures





Here is the before half bathroom off the kitchen


Here is our new kitchen...more cabinet and counter space, deeper sink, recessed lighting over the sink, microwave above the stove, tile on the floors in the entryway, bathroom and kitchen. We kept the same appliances since they were all new within the past 5 years...the white is growing on me, but only because I don't have a choice in that one! The wall color is "Dry Leaf" by Valspar. It looks a little more yellow in these pictures than in person. The curtains are store bought...eek! But given our schedule and trying to make the BEST things priority, sewing curtains was not an option. Besides, that's why I work at the library for $7.50/hour for "fun" money.


Same "lots of stuff" on the fridge, but that's real life! My house will never be showroom quality for pictures, thank goodness, because I'd be a psycho woman about perfection and my boys would have to wear straight jackets.

Because we added more cabinets, we were able to move the large pantry to our living room for storing school books and stuff creating our "school area." I love having a place to work everyday and still have the dining room table free for meals. I spend so much time in the kitchen anyhow, it works really well to have the boys set up here so I can keep an eye on things. We use the wipe board everyday for a variety of classes and hang special things on the cork board (like Elijah's spelling test...100%...third one in a row!!!)

Here is the half bath. We moved the mirror and light fixture higher on the wall and added the pedestal sink and new toilet. The wall color is "Fairmont Suite Gold" from Valspar. It's the same as in our dining room...the original room we bought the paint for. But because I love my husband and he hates having half used gallons of paint sitting around, I chose this color for the bathroom, too. And I love the color, so it wasn't a hard decision and we're both happy!

My first window mistreatment following instructions from The Nester. I love it and it took me maybe 10 minutes to complete! ACH...why, oh, why did I spent "fun money" on kitchen curtains when I could have done this for peanuts??!!! My kitchen curtains, while I still love them, are so totally not fun now! I had the curtain rod from before the remodel and the black toile fabric on hand. I bought the ring clips on clearance for $2.97 and the ribbon for $1.99. A couple folds, clips and safety pins later and voila! It's a beautiful window! I gaze at it when I am in there...

Here is my dining room...just a bonus picture because it was clean and crumb free. The pedestal table is from my Grandpa and Grandma Given's house. I won it at their estate auction. I was determined to hold my hand up there until it was mine and that mean lady bidding against me finally quit! Before this table came to live with my grandparents, it belonged to my great-grandmother on my grandma's side. COOL! The chairs are from an antique/primitive shop near my house that I visit way too often. The benches are from Craig's list which I also visit way too often.

I'm starting to work on hanging things back up and in the process changing things up a bit, too! I've gotten some great decorating ideas from some blog friends across the country. I'll be sure to post those things in the future. Until then, it's chili feasting time and waiting for daddy to arrive home...