Kitchen Reveal

This is the original kitchen. So very seventies and really, not the best layout or use of space.

Then we gutted it, installed new windows, removed the fourth window and framed for the door in its place.

All the mess was well worth it. This is my most favorite kitchen ever! I love the quartz countertops and the size of the island. I love the backsplash. There is so much storage space and prep space in this kitchen. I love it!!

Junk Drawer?

I shared my Kitchen Organization post on Facebook and my brother-in-law commented, asking to see the junk drawer. Well, since learning about (and embracing) the KonMari method, I no longer have a junk drawer.

The closest thing I've got is this drawer. I didn't use dividers here. It didn't feel necessary.

And one more smaller drawer.

They definitely aren't junk drawers, just drawers with miscellaneous stuff. So, what do you think, Uncle D?

Kitchen Organization

Organization is my thing. Working in a brand new kitchen gave me a blank canvas.

I found these customizable dividers at The Container Store. They were simple to use and I love the organization!

I think the spice drawer is my favorite. I used "chalkboard" labels and "chalk" pens. Now I don't have to dig through a spice cabinet, trying to find what I'm looking for.

My napkins, all folded KonMari style, so pretty!

These pull-out trays are awesome in the pantry. It's so much easier to find what I'm looking for!

My bags of backup herbs and spices are stored in this basket.

The kitchen is so close to completion. LK needs to finish the trim and the backsplash. We are so very close!

Messy Work

For our kitchen island, we wanted the countertop to extend to accommodate seating. There are two options to support the countertop—install supports that extend down (that I will certainly bang my knees on because that's what I do) or install flat steel (no knee banging). We chose flat steel.

It is a very messy and extremely loud job. After one support, I pouted until I got found that I needed some safety gear.

Routing wood is a very messy business. Truly. I have never seen such a mess! Thank goodness for the ShopVac!

More kitchen updates to come!

New Door

The kitchen is still in process, but nearing completion. Lots of other project are getting done . . . like a new front door! I forgot to take a picture of the original door, so this is the best I've got. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a cute girl in the picture.

This is the new door. So pretty! It's staying white. I checked the direction for Feng Shui color choices. The choices include a shade of dark blue or white. We're going to stick with white. It makes Princess happy (she didn't want blue) and it makes the Lizard King's life easier.

I really do love the door!

New House Project: Kitchen, Part 2

I thought I'd start off showing you the temporary kitchen. To keep the dust, cold and mess out of the temporary kitchen and the rest of the house, the Lizard King put up this plastic sheeting. Of course, he added his silly touch to it.

The Pseudo Kitchen, angle 1

The Pseudo Kitchen, angle 2

 The bowl from the light fixture broke on LK's head. Ouch!

And this is where I did dishes. Downstairs. In the garage. In the cold.

New things happening in the kitchen (as of December 8th). There is more, but I've got to take those pictures.

I have a sink with running water!

For the first time in 7 weeks, I was able to do dishes in the kitchen sink.

Another update coming soon.

Winter Tree

In all this construction, we promised Princess that we would still put up the tree. Hanukkah starts Sunday evening, so we had to get going!

The wall behind the tree isn't fully painted (mudding still has to happen to a wall repair), but the tree is up. The Lizard King put up the lights, Princess put up all the ornaments. Our tree topper has fizzled after 15 years. We're hoping it's just bulbs, so LK is going to try that to see if that's the issue. Although, it would be odd for all the bulbs to go at once, right? Still, I love that tree topper and it seems to be a bit of a challenge to find a light-up snowflake tree topper that we like.

I still can't believe how big Princess has gotten!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

New House Project: Kitchen, Part 1

The seventies called. They want their kitchen back.

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. I'm no longer working at my last job and I am starting my own business! But more on that later. I found The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo, and embraced it. Through these changes and others, we made the decision to downsize. The Lizard King has wanted to buy a fixer for us to remodel for a very long time. I finally agreed. First room to rehab is the kitchen. It's not complete yet, but as of this moment, here it is!

Before

Demo Day

Drywall 

Mud (drywall compound)

Cabinet Installation Begins

The other half of the cabinets will be installed later today. I can't wait to see it!