Now We're Cookin'

I'm happy to say our kitchen remodel is finally complete! When we started it over Memorial Day weekend, we didn't realize just how involved the project would be, even on a low budget. But we're pleased with the results. The white cabinets and lighter walls really open up the space, and the new countertops and faucet feel more luxurious. We're still planning to upgrade the fridge at some point, and perhaps the flooring and lighting too. But my husband and I have agreed to not worry about those things for some time. We're just going to enjoy this new room!

Here's a look at the kitchen BEFORE:

And here's the kitchen AFTER:

Photos by me. 

Sunshine Day

Whew, what a weekend! We worked pretty much nonstop on our kitchen renovation. I'm loving how the room is turning out, but DIY projects sure are a lot of work! I've learned that prep work is tedious, renovations aren't as breezily montage-like in real life as they are on television and power tools are a lot of fun. We'll still have to add more coats of paint to the cabinet doors and drawers this week, and then order our new countertops, but I hope to have some before and after photos to share soon.

I did take a break yesterday from all the manual labor. It was an absolutely gorgeous day: temps in the high eighties, full sunshine, a nice breeze. So I lounged on the deck, and then my husband and I ate dinner outside in the evening. It was a perfect end to a very full weekend.

Photos by me. 

Fresh Start

While today kicks off a long holiday weekend, I won't be doing much relaxing the next few days. Instead, my husband and I are going to start a kitchen renovation project. We're finally going to paint the dark walls and old cabinets, and then order new countertops and a nice faucet. My parents, sister and brother-in-law are all coming over to help, and I'm hoping it's a fun project with some pizza and beer breaks thrown in. I can't wait to lighten and freshen up the kitchen. If our new space can look even a bit like these inspirational images, I'll be very happy. 

Happy weekend!

Photos from here, here, here and here. 

Kitchen Prep

When my husband and I bought our house, we considered the kitchen a space we'd live with for awhile but eventually spruce up. We like the layout but the cabinets, countertops and appliances are a bit dated, and the lighting is pretty terrible. We're hoping to repaint the walls, paint the cabinets and get new countertops this spring. In addition to researching how to tackle some of these projects, I'm also scouring the web and magazines for visual inspiration. I like these kitchens by Candice Olson, featured on hgtv.com. I like how they're a mix of modern and glamorous. I could definitely spend some time in these spaces!

Photos from here. 

Decked Out

When it comes to decorating our home, my husband and I have always been quite thrifty. We had to be with our first apartment when we were both in grad school, and it felt natural to take the same approach when we bought our first house nearly three years ago. Over the years, we've come to pride ourselves in finding creative, inexpensive ways to furnish and decorate.

I really like the idea of giving new life to an old piece of furniture. And that's what we did with our deck table and chairs. My parents had given us a Homecrest patio set they got back when I was in middle school. The chairs were in pretty rough shape and they reflected my mom and dad's love of earth tones and neutrals. So we ordered new "slings" for the chairs, and the update has made all the difference. Now the chairs look crisp and contemporary and invite us to enjoy dinner and drinks on the deck.

Before:

After:

Photos by me.