The New Decorating/Design Book, Part 2

Two weeks ago, I wrote about one of the decorating books I got for Christmas.  It's called "THE GREAT AMERICAN HOUSE, Tradition For The Way We Live Now," by Gil Schafer, III.

  

Beginning the Kitchen Reveal

I'm so excited to finally reveal the first part of our new kitchen!  Those of you who regularly read my blog have seen pictures of this cabinet in various stages of construction, but this is the first time I've shown the finished product.  We waited so long to be able to have our kitchen re-modeled, and then the actual work itself took four months; our contractor was working another job during the week, so he could only work at our house on weekends.  The cabinet and tile man and the granite guys were able to work during the week, so eventually, it all came together.  I've been doing the happy dance for weeks now.  :)

Kitchen Update for Met Monday

Hi everyone -- hope you all enjoyed this beautiful weekend weather!  I'm joining Susan this week at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

More progress was made on our kitchen re-model this week, so I thought I'd share some pictures with you.  Our contractors were able to put in four good days of work this week with some nice results by the end of the weekend.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, all the backsplash tile was put up.  Our 40-year old outlets were replaced with fresh, white outlets.  We gained an extra outlet in the process, which will certainly come in handy.  In addition, two new switches were added for new under cabinet lighting on either side of the work area.  All switches and outlets received new, white covers.  It all looks so fresh and clean.  :)  Also, our new under cabinet lights were installed.

Our new stove was delivered on Tuesday, and was put into place today.  It will have to be pulled out again next weekend in order for Tim to do a few more things, but in the meantime, I can try out my new stove, and we can have some home-cooked meals this week.  Tim did lots of painting yesterday and today.  All the cabinet faces and sides have at least one coat of paint, the soffit was painted, and the molding and trim work on that side of the kitchen have been painted.  Good news -- we love the new cabinet color.  I definitely think Sherwin Williams Dover White is a winner!

Here are the latest pictures.  Things are still in a bit of a mess, and the lighting wasn't the best, but you can get an idea of what things will look like.

It's Been One of Those Weeks

Hi everyone!  I'm having one of those kind of weeks.  Can anyone out there relate?

First of all, I won't be doing a Mother's Day tablescape since our dining room and kitchen table are piled high with -- clutter.  The dining room table is in some semblance of order.  At least things are neatly stacked on it, and the boxes lining the walls in the room are neatly stacked.  However, the kitchen table is filled with a hodgepodge of this and that; and our little buddy, R2D2, otherwise known as the shop vac, is still in the kitchen floor.  Other than that, why, everything looks just great.  Can you tell I'm slightly frustrated?

Kitchen Remodel -- An Update

We're right in the middle of the messy part of the kitchen renovation now.  Yes, folks, the shop vac is temporarily residing in the kitchen, next to the table.  Our very own, personal R2D2.  WARNING:  Please excuse the mess in these pictures.  /:)

Beginning a Kitchen Remodel

Hi everyone!  I hope all of you had a great weekend and hopefully enjoyed celebrating a bit o' the Irish.  I have a partial metamorphosis to share with you today.  We're having our kitchen remodeled; that's right, we're dragging it bringing it into the 21st century.  This is so exciting for me because I've waited 16 years to do this.

Our house was built in 1972, and we're the third owners.  The first owners had it custom built and lived here 22 years.  The second owners lived here two years before they relocated to Atlanta.  And as of this summer, we will have lived here for 16 years.

Thankfully, the second owners did some re-modeling and updating to the house while they were here.  When we viewed the house, they told us that most of the house still had its original 1970's decor when they moved in.  The kitchen had orange Formica counter tops, yellow, tile backsplash, and avocado green appliances.  A Brady Bunch kitchen for sure.

The young couple who sold us the house updated most of the kitchen as soon as they purchased the house.  They took down the original wallpaper and replaced it with a pattern that I really liked for many years.  They replaced the orange counter top with white Formica, which has remained in pretty good condition.  They replaced the yellow backsplash.  They also replaced all the appliances with shiny, new white ones, and a white porcelain sink.  What they didn't replace was the linoleum floor and the cabinets (the most expensive part of the re-model).

Have a look at our 40 year old cabinets.  I'm trying not to cringe when I see them in photos.

Kay's Kitchen

Hi everyone!  I want to share some pictures of my mom's friend Kay's new kitchen.  Kay and my mom are both retired now, but they worked together for over twenty years.  They and their other girlfriends from the office still get together every year to celebrate birthdays and Christmas.

Kay was kind enough to welcome me into her home and let me take some pics of her sparkling, new kitchen.  It really looks like something from a magazine or HGTV.

Kay lives in a 1960's era house, and she is gradually re-doing it, room by room.  I plan to visit her again and take pictures of the rest of her home for another post.  But for now, here is Kay's pretty, white kitchen.

Kay explained that there were no cabinets or counter tops on this wall prior to the re-model.  The space was open and intended to be used as an eating area.  Kay had the contractor add these cabinets with an open shelf for her microwave oven.  All the cabinets are new, custom cabinets.  She had some of the left-over granite made into a cutting board for the counter top.

She requested that the contractor design this curved area for the counter top so that she could put a stool there for eating.  I love this idea!  You can see her hardwood floors in the above picture.

Kay went with a stainless sink and refrigerator in her new kitchen.  I think stainless looks great in an all- white kitchen. 

 

I really LOVE her shiny subway tiles!

Kay had the existing cabinets above her sink replaced with these floating shelves.  She said now she doesn't bump her head on the cabinet doors, and she can display her white dishes.

I love the way her lights throw shadows on the wall above her plates here.  Isn't her green plant cute on the end of the shelf?  Kay said she liked the contrast of the rustic clay pot with the pristine white shelves, back splash and dishes.

I didn't think to write this down, but I believe she said the name/color of her granite is "White Cashmere".  I love the magnetic strip for storing and displaying her knives.

This is such a cute, French art poster.  Kay's son and daughter-in-law are both veterinarians, and they gave her this poster print.  I think it's charming and perfect for the style of her kitchen.

Contemporary track lighting was installed overhead, with brushed nickle mount and trim to blend with her cabinet hardware and faucet.

I used our small point and shoot camera, but I was really pleased with the quality of these pictures.  I think the main reason for that is the combination of track lighting and good natural daylight in her kitchen.  The photos were taken in mid-afternoon.

Kay gets natural light from her window and door, which look onto her back yard.

Kay had a local sheet metal company make the metal back splash for her stove.  She explained that she still has to get her hood and vent fan.  Once that's installed, this piece will look more in proportion to her stove.

Another cute art print from her son and daughter-in-law :)

Kay found this small silver tray at a thrift shop and used it to keep some of  her cooking condiments (and a small silver-framed photo) next to the stove.

A few last photos of the kitchen...

I couldn't resist taking a few pics of Kay's living room -- or I should say, one wall of her living room.  She had a contractor build a new mantel and bookshelves for her fireplace.  He matched the dental molding on the bookcases to that of the mantel.  So classy!!  In my opinion, bookcases or built-in shelves are one of the most wonderful additions we can make to our homes.  Books really make a house a home, and bookshelves are great for displaying other keepsakes and objets d'art, as well. 

I really love the glass doors and doorknobs on these bookcases.  Her flat, tile hearth and white, painted brick fireplace are like the one we had in our 1920's home in Greensboro many years ago.  We didn't have the bookcases on either side, though.  I would have loved those!

Kay found this great bench/ottoman at a thrift shop.  When she looked under the seat, she saw that it carried the label of a fine furniture store in our town that had gone out of business some years ago.

She found the fabric on clearance and had the bench re-upholstered.  It looks great in front of her fireplace, and she said it provides extra seating for visitors and family.  I love the black-painted legs.

Thanks so much, Kay, for inviting us into your home, and sharing your beautiful kitchen and smart design ideas!  I had a great time!

I'll show pictures of the rest of Kay's home in another post.  Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed the tour.

**Addendum to this post:  I know this kitchen looks so new and clean and immaculate; we could easily wonder if it ever gets used for, you know, actual cooking.  The answer to that question is -- yes.  Kay is giving a dinner party for 13 of her neighbors this coming Saturday evening.  I e-mailed her to ask about the menu.  She wrote: " I plan to serve chicken pie, Honey Baked Ham, lima beans, garden salad with homemade dressing, and sweet potato souffle.  Dessert will include orange crush pound cake and Scotch chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream.  Most everyone is elderly and I know they prefer comfort food.  I will have little spring bouquets on each table."  What lucky neighbors you have, Kay. :)

I'm joining the folks at Potpourri Friday, hosted by Honey at 2805 and the Home Sweet Home party, hosted by Sherry at The Charm of Home.  Won't you please join us? 

Denise