Kitchen Remodel: The Before AND After Pictures!

I know what you're probably saying.... "Finally!!" Here they are. Part of the reason I haven't posted is it still isn't 100% complete... but will it truly ever be?!? So here you have it and we couldn't be happier or more satisfied!

** To see the entire process click on the hyper line "kitchen remodel" at the end of this post**

The before view from when you walk in the front door:

And my most favorite after view when you walk in the front door:

Before from the stairwell:

After from the stairwell:

View of one side of entry before and after:

View of other angle of entry (Where piano was):

After: The piano is now upstairs and I am going to take my time finding the best look for the entry, right now, we are just enjoying the extra space.

Dining room view before:

Dining room after: (Shutters will soon frame out these three windows and eventually we will find a cool chandelier we love to hang above the table.) Notice the ceiling was dropped to be even with the rest of the space.

View from master bed room doorway before:

And same view after:

The old breakfast nook before:

The new sitting nook: (One of my favorite new aspects.) My $100 new Craigslist chair will soon be re-covered in fabulous new fabric. Shutters will be installed for the nine remaining windows in the area in the next few weeks.

View from the living room (back to TV) before:

The same view after:

A few more of my favorite views:

In the distance is the canvas painting the four of us made the week before Christmas.

Our new pantry... two floor to ceiling sets of these... so far I love it more because I can finally see everything that was in my pantry.

The appliance garage below, was another of one of my must haves items. I love how all items are plugged in and ready to be used but in two seconds can be closed up.

This is another part of my very favorite items incorporated in our new area... my gallery wall, where I can easily display the photographs I take. Two more items, we are beyond thrilled that we choose is the beverage refrigerator. Initially, we had purchased a 60 bottle wine refrigerator and last minute came to our senses that we aren't the type of family that would ever have more than a dozen bottles just sitting there. So we found a refrigerator that holds thirty bottles and has two shelves for cans, which fits our lifestyle perfectly. The other splurge was an ice maker. Everyone we talked to that had one couldn't live without now and we knew it would make MeMe Diane very happy, as she is a ice fanatic.

With the new warm grays on the walls, it makes our three year old couch feel new and really pop. Again, I can't wait for the shutters in this space. 

So what's still to do:

1) Get shutters installed for all windows in the space

2) Cover the sitting area chair

3)  Paint the red Pottery Barn buffet that used to be in dining room (see picture 9 of the before dining room) a dark Teal and place under wall mounted TV in living room.

4) Find amazing mirror for entry

5) Fill the glass cabinets with neat items (over time)

6) The hidden slide out cutting board still needs to be mounted over the trash can

7) Find the coolest chandelier above the dining room table







Kitchen Remodel: Week 7 FINAL WEEK!

Alleluia... at 7:34 AM and 46 full days later, we had a six hundred pound island maple counter (no joke) and cabinet doors.

That same day, we had Bruce hanging our lights!

It was time to bring out the champagne....

Can you believe just forty six nights ago, we were doing this?

Now with the Perkins and the Boerckels. in town from Austin, we toasted the island.

 Even in very impromptu and last minute get togethers, on the very first night, the island served the purpose I always had for it, in my head. It's the hub of the house.

 Big enough to not have to hear any part of the conversation these three might have been having...

 But small enough for the six of us to be in the same conversation when need be.

 Wow... I remember when it was just the six of us, slightly over five, years ago!!!

Blake and I were so thrilled to get to celebrate such a great night with you all.

Kitchen Remodel: Week 6 Wrap Up

This was the week after Thanksgiving and the name of the game this week, was waiting. We waited nearly all week for the tile to come in from California and of course with the holidays, it was even slower than they thought. In the mean time, Carter watched Bruce the electrician hard at work.

The good news this week, was Hank arrived with the inserts for most of the cabinets. We love all the pull outs!

Storage, storage and more storage. Hank kept saying this was the coolest island he had EVER built simply because of how much stuff was in it.

Our new pantry is taking form.

Finally towards the end of thew week the tile arrived and was layed. The tone of the gray was perfect.

The tile arriving just a week late did slow us down simply because it was better to get tile in, grouted and sealed before we had the eight new appliances delivered and installed.

This was the first and only week I was very frustrated with the whole process. In hind-sight, it wasn't too bad, but in the moment six weeks in without a kitchen and now SMACK in the middle of the holidays, I was SO READY to be D.O.N.E.

Week 5 Wrap Up

Day 18-20 of Week Five: Due to the back splash hold up, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty low key at the house. Bruce, our electrician, spent a ton of time here finishing up lighting and electrical work in the island and all the glass front cabinets. I had my own painter come Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the evenings to paint the main game room wall and super high stairwell. Although, he was referred by a good friend, I once again learned my lesson on not using Sandra's people. I payed 30% more than her guys quote and had to deal with him painting during prime time at home from 5-8 PM.

After living with my mom and step dad for the first three weeks, we moved home a couple of nights before Thanksgiving weekend and then headed to Dallas. After returning home from Dallas, we opted to try and stick out the last week without appliances at home, since we were plain just sick of living out of a suit case for the past FOUR weeks.

Sandra had told me, very seriously, the night before we began, that I love her and this process now. That it has been so exciting picking all these things out. She told me, I will love her and the process for a while and then I will get to a point that I will hate her and this remodel. She told me that was normal but that she 110% guarantees I will love her even more than ever the moment we are done.Day 21 - Thursday at 5PM we had a completely and totally and different home when we walked in and saw the paint completed. See, paint colors had been a relatively easy decision back about three weeks ago. But when it came time to put them on the wall, I started second and third guessing the colors.... one too dark??? Another way too light??!?!

As a result, I spent a few visits at Sherwin Williams having my new B.F.F., Saul, remix a custom version or two or three..... Thank goodness, the last minute second guess worked out perfectly. I trusted my designer Sandra on the darker color for certain areas, which I am madly in love with and trusted my own gut on the very lightest one, opting to go a slightly darker version for the main living room.

It is true, paint, makes the entire house look different. Pictures don't do the colors justice but one of the most exciting results was how the new warm gray walls, make the beige couch pop. It looks like a new piece of furniture.

Day 22 - By Friday, the back splash, had not made it to the Lone Start State. But the great news was Friday afternoon at 5 PM we had eight shiny appliances and they are amazing. It was a rainy and dreary day but the installers made our day by being on time and happy to be there. I can't begin to describe how close we are.

The new touch faucet... a last minute switch out.

Blake had this one filled with in about 10 minutes of it being plugged in.

So as every single week has been before, Week 5 ended on a super high note. Knock on wood, our very original completion date was this coming Friday, December 10... so cross your fingers, our carpenter has a lot of work left to do.... but he says that's the plan?!?!

I had just