Kitchen Remodel Before and After

I can't believe that it'll be two years in January that we sold our last home and moved here.

It'll be two years that we purchased our town home in April and there is still always something to do.

We've done all the major remodeling, we still have those small tedious projects to do, I guess we're waiting for a good snow storm the kind that you can't go anywhere and you're stuck at home. Hopefully then we can finish those small, time consuming projects.

But our kitchen although not completely done, is for the most part finished.

When we first walked in to this home, the first thing you see to your left is the kitchen, it was not impressive.

UGH, the last homeowners removed the original cabinets which were oak, you know the 1980's oak cabinets so not so pretty but workable, they could of been repainted and all we would have to do is replace the appliances, flooring, lights and new counter tops. But no, they had to do their version of a remodel and it looked like this

 

They put in the type of cabinets you may see in a Doctor's office. I did not like them at all. Then add the high gloss blue paint for a back splash.

The only working appliance was the refrigerator and I had to get out hot bleach water to clean it down so it could be used while we remodeled our home.

At least the floors matched the blue and white color scheme but it was not for me.

Light fixture was hanging lopsided and too modern for my taste.

It all needed to be warmed up.

The window had to be replaced, and I've always wanted a greenhouse window and our contractor got a good deal on a new one.

So we tore everything out, EVERYTHING,

New cabinets with a creamy finish and bronze rubbed edges. Bronze hardware from Ebay and new lighting which was added by an electrician, there was no light over the sink.

 Need to get a stainless steal trashcan but why are they so expensive???

 

 

 

 Removed the bi-fold doors that were very awkward at the pantry and I sewed a curtain instead.

We also added this section to the kitchen, there weren't any cabinets on this side so I needed more hiding space for my collection of pots and pans and other fun cook ware.

And we can't forget the overhead lighting. Saw this at Lowe's and I had to have it, it's my bling for the kitchen. 

The only thing left to do is a back splash and I am having a very hard time choosing, or more like committing to something.

Tile is so permanent and not cheap and I found some at Lowe's that I really like, it's just making the decision.

I also like wainscoting as well.

I found several ideas on the Internet like these

I like that this homeowner used a tin tile for behind the stove to change it up a bit.

 

It gives the kitchen a cottage charm and I like how that looks so as you see I can't decide,

Tile or Wainscoting??

 



To Let Go or Not To Let Go

We have now been in our "new" home for ten weeks, and we're still settling in. Some things are holding things up, we have a contractor who does a great job, but, it's taking him a long time to get things finished up.

We still have boxes packed that are shoved in the basement bathroom.

And this is where the "to let go or not to let go" comes in.

I am missing some things, things that I do use and would like to be able to use again but they are way in the back of the bathroom

Do you want to dig in here for a box that is in the back?

I certainly don't and DH gives me the look when I even mention it so it's not going to happen anytime soon.

(thank goodness for this extra space to store all my "junk")

But now, there are some things that I really don't miss, but not sure that when I see them, I may realize I did miss them, 

here's the problem,

it's deciding where the heck to put it all when I unpack it.

For years I've collected teapots and tea cups.

Some are China, with beautiful prints that I definitely want to keep, 

but the others are interesting.

They're teapots, not your average style, they're of scenes, like a garden cart or a store front.

They're really fun but I have no place for them, at least not where I'd like to put them.

It's funny, this house is a little bigger than our last place, yet I had a bigger dining room and living room.

I even had space above my kitchen cabinets to display my collections.

Here, I have no space above my cupboards, my dining and living room are combined and they're cozy.

So, do I let them go or keep them?

Do I put a shelf up in another room and add my collections 

or just let them go?

I guess when I open up those boxes,

I'm hoping as soon as I see them, I will know what I really 

want to do!

Things I "Love"

This time of year when I find myself cooking and baking more I realize how much I enjoy kitchen "toys".

My DH bought me an Emeril Stainless Steel pots and pan set which I've waited for many years

(sorry for the picture quality)

Then for one of our anniversary's he bought me this wonderful thing that I've always wanted

(Exact color too)

I use it all the time. I have friends and family that own one and they told me they hardly use it because it's too heavy to move around or it doesn't scrap up at the bottom of the bowl, but I got it anyways and I LOVE it.

I have the perfect place on the counter for it so I don't have to move it around to use it.

Today I plan to make Gluten Free Cherry Walnut Oatmeal cookies and I'm using this baby for it.

DH also bought me a Knife set that we purchased at Kohl's, it's the Food Network brand of stainless steel knives, I couldn't find a picture of it, but oh my, I didn't realize how dull my other knives were until I pulled these babies out.

On the first try I sliced a nail off!

Don't worry, no bleeding involved, thank goodness.

They slice like butter, it's amazing!

And last but NOT least my parents bought me this wonderful time saver

I use this Cuisinart all the time, I'd cry if it ever broke down.

So yes, I get excited about kitchen gadgets like I do about shoes and clothes, so I have to stay out of those stores.

What are your favorite Kitchen gadgets?

(I know I said in a previous post I won't be posting as much because of time, well, looks like I have some to spare)

Gluten Free Blackberry Cake

Over the weekend, after the Hurricane scare was over,

which was after the earthquake scare was over as well around here.

(tornado a mile from our house in May, so scary, then the earthquake that made my sofa literally bounce, now the hurricane, we finally got our emergency back packs ready for the "just in case we have to run" situation!)

I was ready to make a new recipe, gluten free. I received an email

with this delicious looking cake and I had to try it.

It is absolutely delicious and moist and if you served it to your non-gluten free friends, they'd never know the difference.

The recipe is from

Bella Gluten Free

and it is so easy to make and so delicious, the only thing is that the recipe doesn't call for any salt so I added a 1/2 teaspoon and it came out delicious.

Great with coffee or tea.

Next time I will make it with blueberries, because I LOVE blueberries!

On another subject, I added a curtain to my kitchen window which I left bare because the views from there are just beautiful and I didn't want anything to cover that up, plus we only get the morning sun there so I wanted to keep from putting anything up that blocked any natural light.

Going through my moms linens a week ago and we came across these pretty lacy table top runners and I took one to turn into a valance

It lets all the light in and the color goes perfectly, it's a cream color. I didn't even bother making holes in our walls I just hung the rod over on top of our cabinets and added cafe rings.

Can you see the pretty lace detail? Mom had a bunch of these in different sizes so I think I may be picking out some more when I see them again in New York.

Hope your day is as beautiful as mine!



My Humble Oasis

I'm not sure what the exact fascination is with viewing into other peoples homes. Is it curiosity? Looking for ideas? Seeing how the other lives? Or just plain nosey..lol..? Whatever it is, it's certainly something I enjoy. I've joined other blog sites and so many of them post pictures of their homes and it's like looking at a magazine online. It's so much fun for me. Get to see how they decorate and how they live in their homes. The pride they take in their homes shows in the pictures. So I thought, why not? I'll post some pictures of my home that my dh and I share together along with our "children", my kitties.

We bought this home in 2000. Our first home, it was so exciting. It's a simple home. One story ranch style. It needed quite a bit of updating since everything was original and just didn't fit us. On the inside, we put in a new kitchen, after seven years of living here. Then we added the french doors between the dining room and family room. We finally fixed up our bedroom two years after all the other renovations. But we knew when we bought the home that it would take time to fix it up and make it ours. That it did, it took alot of time. But after living in the home for awhile you get a feel of what you really want to do with it. The most exciting renovation was the kitchen. My hubby let me pick out everything!!! This room is my domain. I love to bake and cook. So he told me as long as we can keep in our budget, I could pick whatever I'd like. HOW EXCITING!!!

My next joy is our bedroom. I did not like our bedroom, but like all projects, that is usually the last to get fixed. And we finally did it, last year. Now, I just love going in there, and when the sun shines through the sheer curtains, it takes on a romantic flair. It looks like I'm in the clouds.

So after all the hard work, time, energy, tears and sweat, we got the humble oasis we wanted.