More Kitchen!

We are this close to being finished with the kitchen!! Check out the before and after {HERE}

We just need to paint, put in the backsplash, and do the floor.

So on this day, we dropped off the 2 older kids at the sitter's and it was our day to get it done.

But, here's the thing...Ron doesn't actually like my painting, so I usually don't do too much painting. lol. Fine by me!

He still has to do the ceiling and wall where we redid the pantry.

And I got to play with the drill... I always love working with the drill... but not as much as a jack-hammer...haha!

See the difference!?  It's already so much more open and "airy!" I love it!

we didn't finish because we got distracted by getting ready for the pool....with the jack-hammer! But hopefully soon we'll get the backsplash and get that up...

In other news... we finally bought the backsplash!  I'm not sure Ron much favored the one I picked out, but at this point, I don't think he much cares. haha!

Here we are at our favorite store these days...

Then after so long, this happens...

But sweet Caroline was doing just fine!  Look at that happy girl. She is such a happy baby, always smiling and laughing and talking

Then it's on to the floor! 

We have been searching for the perfect tile...and I found it! But then I didn't....

Let me get a little closer for you... do you see that?!  It says "SOLD OUT!"  Boo! 

And the actual manufacturer doesn't make it anymore.

Ugh. AND...do you see the price they had it at!? Seriously. I mean, c'mon!

oh well.  We'll just keep on looking I guess.

And my next problem... what to do with this space.  It's not big enough for a eat-in-nook...and we don't need a table and chairs since we have one in the dining room. It's really not even wide enough for a table over a window bench. Do you see how the table is pushed all the way to the windows?? There definitely wouldn't be any room if it was out to let people sit at it. 

So...what do I do!?

Kitchen Reno - Almost There!

So. Let's talk about how long it actually takes to remodel a kitchen. For whatever reason, I had envisioned about a week.

One. Week.

Yea. Right.  What was I thinking!?

It has taken FOUR weeks, from day of demolishing to the day that I could actually use all aspects of my kitchen. 

FOUR weeks. Not one. Just one delay after another. You'll see that we STILL aren't finished, but the rest is just aesthetics.  We need to paint, put up the backsplash, and do the floors. But I have a functioning kitchen now though. I can cook, clean, and organize in my kitchen!  Before I show you the new, let me show you the old.

This was the most frustrating place in the whole kitchen... there was NO workspace beside my stove & oven and I couldn't really use the cabinets above the fridge because then went back so far.

The other horrible thing about this kitchen was that I barely had ANY counter space. That high bar was too high, I couldn't find any stools that would fit that bar and even if I did, the kitchen nook was too small to accommodate both stools and table with chairs.

Then, there was the side counter. Oh. My. Gosh. That was the worst idea. All it was was a big ole drop off counter for everyone and it made me mad every day as soon as I got home because I would see how cluttered it was. I hated that counter!

Then, there was the wasted floor space on that wall that was between the kitchen and the living room...see it? With all the bags and shoes?

Let's talk about this pantry.

When I first moved in, I thought it was so wonderful! I thought "WOW! I will have a real pantry!" Little did I realize what another area of wasted space it was.  Because it was in a corner. So I never really got to use the back of the pantry because then I couldn't get what I wanted out of it.

If you didn't see what it looked like during the DEMO, you can see it {HERE}.

Now here is the NEW version. (minus the paint, backsplash, and floors)

I changed the color of the cabinets from the oak-y color to antique white.  But more importantly, LOOK at all that counter space!  

We moved the fridge from the back wall, to the side wall and took out that wasted counter.  We also took out the old corner pantry and got these pull out cabinet pantries.

We dropped the high bar and added about 6 inches (or was it 12 inches? I don't remember...so many numbers to remember!) and made it all one size and then put more cabinets under the counter on the bar side. MORE storage! (yes, we're using chairs at the bar right now.. I don't have barstools yet lol)

My drawers are pull out drawers so I can actually SEE what is in them and get out the pots and pans and lids that I need without having to climb INTO my cabinet.

I mean, seriously. I am in love with all that counter space!

These are the backsplash options so far...

Here's the pull out pantry...I have two of those and then the two top ones are just shelves.

I have my little "grab it from the fridge and put it down" spot, which is also my coffee and toast spot! ha!

And that area that was the drop off spot for bags and shoes? It's a counter and cabinet area now. 

Valentine's Weekend and Kitchen Update

Ron and I are not big Valentine's Day people. I don't want him spending money on jacked-up prices on flowers and I definitely don't need a box of chocolates, that I don't even like most of.

BUT we do have a "tradition" that he started doing a few years ago. He makes me chocolate covered strawberries dipped in different toppings.. like toasted coconut, sprinkles, and all kinds of yummy stuff. But I really didn't think I'd get any this year. It was his first full week of full-time daddy duty while I was at work, he was trying to get the kitchen ready for the cabinet installation.  I mean THIS is pretty much what our entire kitchen was....

And we had a little bitty work area that we made in the front living room...

But when I came home from work, I was happily surprised!!  He DID make them! Served on a paper plate...in the midst of a complete disaster of a house, but that just made it even better! I was so excited and I felt so loved.

Then, that night, Autumn had this burning desire to make s'mores...I don't know why. But it sounded like a good idea, so why not? 

On actual Valentine's Day, Ron had to work. So we sent him a little picture to say hi!

We went to see him at work, but 5 minutes into it, they got a call and he had to leave. Of course.

That night my friend brought over some yummy goodies and some Sangria. I mean, seriously, how sweet is she?!

The next day, we went over to my parents' house for a family lunch. My cousins were there too! I took the opportunity to do a little science fun with them. We made a worm hotel. Autumn, of course loved it! Her boys did too... K more than H I think.

Just can't seem to let go of this "teacher" role I play. ha!

My cousin with Caroline. Two pretty ladies!

Then my dad took them for a ride around in his lawn mower cart.

My cousin getting in more of her baby fix.

We got to update our 4 Generations of Women picture.  And this time, with my Lisha! My Cousin is my mom's brother's (who died before Lisha was born) daughter. So It's my grandma, my mom, me and my cousin, and then my girls.

Then we got one with everyone in it! Love this picture!

 Where's Ron you ask??

Right here...

He was at home getting ready for the cabinet installation.

I would love to help out doing this kitchen renovation, but my job is mainly to keep the girls away from it all.

While Ron keeps on working.

This week, the cabinets have gone in. I do a post on that soon!