Decision Made

I watch too many Home Improvement shows,  but when a saw an accent wall that was just putting up 1x3's as spacers and painting them and the wall the same, I told Mike I needed one of those in our eating area. 

Measure and level

The installers left me a piece of the cabinet so it made perfect since to me to use that to get the same color for the trim, the new accent wall and the doors in the kitchen. All of it was white so - everything that was white is now cool grey.

 It made perfect since to me to then turn the walls into the lighter color. I chose Tundra White. I envy the people who's job it is to name paint colors. Every time I look for paint and read the names  I want that job.

Eating Area looses the Green

Rollin with the Flow

A couple trips to the tile store and we decided on the back splash tile. We brought home some with color and all different sizes. We decided on white, I thought I was done with white, but the tile works. Got the bigger size 4x16 so less pieces to cut and more area gets covered.

Tile went up easy

So essentially the kitchen is done. I already had a red toaster and coffee pot, so it made since to get a red microwave. The curtains and the rugs are all red too.

I love my new kitchen. I even think my cooking has improved - everything tastes better.

New Kitchen

 A sweet young Sales Lady came out - spent about 2 hours with us listening to everything I needed ( I loved that she always said needed and not wanted) and kept the price under my set target $$. I had six weeks to wait and damn if I wasn't getting a new kitchen. The base cabinets were in great shape so all we needed were new doors, new drawers, and new soffit. I knew exactly what I needed - something simple and something NOT white. We decided on cool grey.

I was keeping the counter tops and Mike and I were planning on doing the backsplash and the painting ourselves.

All we had to do was clean everything out like we were going to move. 

 I'm thinking what a great time to sort things as I cleaned. A box for me, a box for saving special pieces for family, and the rest to Goodwill. It wasn't as difficult as I thought. Goodwill got the most of it and I was ok with that. I hope someone gets what they can use from us. Our living room was now also temporary kitchen storage.

It was happening. 

Two men came, who I found out were brothers, when I asked them if they worked much with each other because they worked so well together. That made them laugh.

Old doors and soffits coming down

End of Day 1

For 2 days they would come promptly at 7:30 and usually cleaned up and left by 2:00.

They played some funky rock station, but I didn't seem to mind. They answered all my questions and didn't care when I got in their way getting to my frig.

Day 2 had laminate going on the face of the cabinets and new doors and my simpler soffits installed.

Dan laminating cabinet face

New Soffit and Doors

They left on Day 2 with the promise of finishing by noon on day 3. My homework was to decide where I wanted my knobs and handles placed on the doors. 

I knew that I didn't want knobs on my bottom cabinets. I can't tell you how many times I would catch my pants leg or pocket on a knob just walking by it.

Don installing my handles

They kept their word and all work was done and kitchen was cleaned up by 11;30 on Day 3.

Just one hiccup in the whole thing. I had a door on my garbage can cabinet and I wanted a full pullout with the door attached. It came in wrong. I can wait.

Left side of kitchen before/after.

before

after

Right side of kitchen before/after

before

after

Now on to painting and backsplash. I promised myself to take my time with my choices. Mike and I were doing the work so no hurry on deciding.

Living Room Shades

 So what turned out as a trip to Home Depot for new shades for the living room has ended with me/us getting a new kitchen.

The shades in the living room needed some updating.

I told Mike I was going over to HD to check out getting some new ones. He said he would tag along. He usually doesn't care what I do to the house, what colors I choose or when I am ready for a change, so I was a little surprised that he showed some interest.

He picked out what he liked I told him the color I preferred and then I left him to take it from there and order something, while I took a look at the kitchens. I have been wanting a kitchen makeover ever since my cabinet facing started peeling off.

While Mike was wrapping up the order for new shades I was making an appointment for someone to come out and talk about a new kitchen.

Out with the old.

And in with the new.

I  love the color.

love that I can have them 1/2 way up and still have some light shine thru.

Nice work Mike...