Putting It All Together...

Can I get a drum roll....FINALLY????

Thankfully, after many weeks of work (and a whole lot of waiting), the kitchen remodel is just about wrapped up! 

I spent yesterday finishing paint touch-ups, scrubbing the floor, and "putting it together".  The morning started out gray and dreary and I really didn't want to pick up the paint brush and get started.  But, as the day progressed, the sun broke through the clouds and I found my energy and spirits building.  By late afternoon, sunlight was flooding through the windows and highlighting my progress ~ just what I needed to keep me motivated and going! 

I know there are boxes still hiding out there in the garage, so some modifications will undoubtedly have to be made, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say we're about 90% done.   So, I'm just going to throw some pictures in here and give you a look-see....

You notice that there is no hardware on the cabinets yet.  That is intentional.  We're still waiting on some of the doors to be replaced due to finish problems...and I'm not sure what kind of handles/knobs I want ~ if any.  So, we're living with it this way for awhile.

I'm so happy about the way the beadboard turned out on the backsplash ~ Eddie did such a great job installing it.  I had a vision in my head of how it would look and it surpassed my expectations for brightening the area under the cabinets.  (Well, the white beadboard combined with the pair of brushed nickel accent lamps I picked up at a local shop ~ $15 for the pair.)

A couple of my favorite touches...

This colorful Mexican ceramic pot holding our utensils, found at El Mercado on one of our many trips to San Antonio ~

And this hand-stitched apron from Biale Vineyards that was a present from a friend who took a trip to Napa Valley and remembered me.  Aren't the colors just perfect???  And to think, it has been hiding in a gift box for the last two years!

The dining area adjoins the kitchen and it got some finishing touches, also.  Jesus, our guardian angel carved from pinon wood, found his new spot overlooking the table.  Bought on our first trip together to Santa Fe, he brings happiness and protection to our home.

I absolutely love the way the afternoon light comes through this double window....and the windows in the living room beyond (through the doorway there)...

Sam and Savanna came over this evening and we all sat down at the table together and enjoyed a home-cooked meal.  What a wonderful feeling ~ to just sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor and a delicious meal with family! 

We have accomplished so much in this room.  My spirits are lifted to see it all coming together!!!  And after the week I had, I needed this to happen so badly yesterday.  (That's a whole 'nother story and I'll be sharing that soon.)  As I get ready to retire this evening, I look back over the weekend and count it as a blessing!

So, how about you?  What was your blessing this weekend?  C'mon, I know something good happened to bring you a bit of joy this weekend!  Maybe it was nothing as major as finishing a big project like this, but a little moment that made you smile.  I'd love to hear about it!

Linking up with Metamorphosis Monday over at "Between Naps on the Porch" ~ lots of inspirational stuff over there, so check it out!!!

Rest well, friends.

Jane

No More Washing Dishes in the Bathroom Sink!!!

I am glad we are one step closer to wrapping up the kitchen renovation! 

Here's a little reminder of where we started ~ or should I say "what we started out with???

Countertops went in on Friday and I couldn't be happier with our choice of quartz.  I originally longed for dark countertops, but the space here is small and the cabinets were already dark enough.  So, we opted for this ~

The color is absolutely neutral and fits the space beautifully.

I'm still in lust with this beautiful shade of green that Mom helped me pick for the dining area.  The room is still a work in progress, but check out the cute little shabby chic corner hutch ~ a housewarming gift from Mom. 

(Okay, she bought it on a whim and didn't like the way it looked in her sunroom.  And she was right ~ it's just not her style at all.  It works SO much BETTER at my house!) 

Light and simple cafe curtains with black eyelet trim were a bargain at JC Penney's online outlet and I'm pleased with the result.  A little retro, very cozy ~ I just love them!  And I was able to use this painted chest that couldn't seem to find a home anywhere else in the house.  Lord knows we needed the extra storage in here!

Then on Saturday, Eddie got the faucet hooked up and we now have running water in the kitchen!  I can't even begin to tell you how MAJOR this is.  After weeks of stumbling to the bathroom in the mornings to get water for coffee, I will gladly readjust!   (And see that last little remnant of orange paint over his shoulder on the window?  Say adios, baby!  Your days are numbered...)

Finally, on Sunday evening, we had our first homecooked meal in the "new" kitchen.  What a wonderful sight to see pots simmering on the stove.  What a wonderful aroma filled the house after so many weeks of take-out!  Can I get a big AMEN?!?!?!

Decoratively speaking, we still have some work to do.  The beadboard needs to be installed and painted above the backsplash.  There is still a bit of trim that needs additional painting.  We're still debating on the "light fixture vs. fan/light" in the dining room.  Accessories and small appliances still need to find a permanent place....and the list goes on. 

But, let me just take a moment to REVEL in how far we have come!  It feels so good to have a functioning kitchen again.  And what we've gotten done looks even better than we dreamed ~ so we are encouraged.  And motivated to get it all pulled together! 

I'm linking up with Metamorphasis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch, so check it out!





Hanging in there and washing dishes in the kitchen tonight, Friends!

Jane

A Little Trouble Getting Motivated....Remodel Burn-Out???

I'm having a little trouble getting motivated today.  So much to do.....and it just hasn't happened.....

The cabinets have been installed in the kitchen.  Hallelujah!!!

I just love the dark cherry tone of the finish....very classy.  Did I mention that dark cabinets are very forgiving, covering a multitude of cleaning sins???  (At least this is what I'm hoping!)

However, the quartz countertops are still at least a month away from being here....

In the meantime, this is what we're working with....

the (increasingly messy) food storage and prep area ~

the (totally cluttered) microwave/cooking area ~

and after three weeks, it's getting a little ~no, a lot ~ old.

I'm trying really hard to get inspired to carry on.....by looking at the paint color that we've decided on.  This is Morning Sand (Valspar Signature Ultra Premium) and I think it is going to just be perfect!  With the dark cabinets and the pop of crisp white trim, it will really be the ultimate soothing background.

And just yesterday, I picked up a pair of little brushed nickel lamps at a thrift store.  These will really brighten up the corners of the countertops. 

With Mom along to encourage me, I finally pulled the trigger on lighting fixtures.  A new hanging fixture for the dining area and a matching pendant to go over the sink ~ so I can see better to wash the dishes!

Looking at these items, I'm somewhat inspired to get in there and get busy again....somewhat.  It's been a long haul these last 8 weeks and maybe it's natural to suffer a little "remodel burnout"....don't you think? 

Ah, well, I've goofed off today and plan to just enjoy the rest of the evening curled up with my prince, watching movies.  Tomorrow is soon enough to head back out to Lowes for a gallon of Morning Sand.....

Tired and lazy hugs to you,

Jane

What a WILD Weekend!!!

It snowed here yesterday....spitting, blowing snow borne along by a stiff north wind....on March 20th, no less.  It just didn't seem right.  And we had so much to do.....

As I have shared before, check it out here, we are in the throes of a kitchen remodel.  There was simply no other choice, my friends.  The old kitchen was rotten, to the core, and there was no way we could actually store and prepare food in there.  So, we reluctantly ripped out the old and are forging ahead with the new. 

After the tearout, we made yet another trip to Lowes to get the materials we needed.  Insulation, because there was none.....

and drywall, also because there was none.....

and we were ready to get down to business!

The insulation was easy enough.  I was even able to help with that, although there are no photos of me actually doing it because I am usually the one with the camera....

Then, came the drywall.  Not as easy as Ed told me it was going to be.  We had such a confined space to work in and it just took a lot longer than we anticipated, but....

we finally got it all up.  And taped and mudded....

It may not look pretty, but it's ready for cabinets to be hung tomorrow.  Our contractor stopped by and said it looks great and ready to go!

This process hasn't been easy...or very neat.  With all the sanding and cutting, we have a fine layer of white dust coating just about everything in my house!  And this was with the doors to the kitchen closed while we worked....

But, Eddie, the prince that he is, ran over to 7-Eleven and got me a cup of fortification!  Oh, I needed this...and he knew it!

So, now I'm enjoying a short break before I tackle the major dust removal in the house.  (And, LOOK, my ever-loving, picked up the camera and documented me sitting on my ample rear while there is work waiting to be done!)

Hopefully, by the end of the day, we will be at a place where we can just pile up on the sofa, watch a movie, resting up a bit for tomorrow.

More on our progress later, friends.

Still plugging....

Jane

So NOT Missing the Orange....

Well, we officially said goodbye to the pumpkin orange kitchen today.  Adios.   Sayonara.   Arrivederci, baby!!!

We shifted all the boxes and kitchen paraphernalia one more, hopefully the last, time.  We set up the microwave and mini-kitchen on the dining room table.   This will be it for the next few weeks, I'm afraid.

The Husband disconnected our new stove and slid it into the center of the room.  He disconnected the water supply and drain in the sink and pulled the fridge out beside the stove.  We were ready for the work crew to begin by 9:00 am. 

Phil and his crew (his grown daughter and one other helper) arrived and went to work.  They had the entire place ripped out in two hours!  It was alot less of a wreck than I anticipated. 

As for me, I stayed tucked away in the back bedroom at my desk, with Pepper and Scout laying under the desk at my feet.  I did crawl over the doggy gate and wander down the hall a couple of times to check on the progress while the pups waited patiently, probably wondering what all the commotion was about.

Immediate plans call for us to rip out the existing drywall tomorrow.  On Friday, an electrician will come in and work on some wiring for us.  On Saturday, Jane learns to drywall!  (This should be somewhere on the scale between "interesting" and "hilarious", to say the least.)

New cabinets go in on Tuesday.  It will be at least another month before our quartz countertops are ready, but at least we will have shelves and drawers.  The Husband thinks he might even be able to rig a temporary countertop and put the old sink back in for a few weeks.  Kinda yuck, but probably kinda necessary.  We are already so tired of carryout....

I can hardly wait to see the transformation.  Having never remodeled a kitchen before, it's a little hard for me to picture how everything will come together.  But, we've seen how it will look on the computer, so I'm trusting that everything will work out okay. 

So, off to the kitchen to raid the fridge, wrap a slice of cheese in a tortilla, slap it in the microwave for 20 seconds and call it a quesadilla!

Not missin' the ORANGE....

Jane