Before and After: Kitchen

The kitchen has easily been the most expensive renovation in the house, but it desperately needed an upgrade.

BEFORE:

This is the view looking into the kitchen before the opening was shifted and expanded, to create a more open floorplan.

AFTER:

BEFORE:

These cabinets are the cheapest available at the big box store, and the countertops were installed haphazardly by a previous homeowner. This whole area wasn't functioning well.

AFTER:

With the opening shifted over, a row of cabinets could fit along the north wall.  This allowed us to put in a beverage fridge.  The new counter depth refrigerator is in a more functional location and the new tall pantry utilizes the space efficiently. The exterior door will be replaced in the future.

BEFORE:

The dishwasher broke 4 months after we moved in, and was replaced before we began renovating the kitchen.  The range is the same, and will be replaced eventually.  The floorplan for this section didn't change, because it functions fine.  Notice the "lava" tile.

AFTER:

I like the free standing hood, and extra tall cabinets.  We did install a single-basin extra-deep sink, and it might be the best little decision we made with this renovation.  After a lot of searching, we found the exact same flooring in the living room to install in the kitchen and office.

BEFORE:

The lonely large refrigerator.  This was such an awkward location.

AFTER:

The wall is gone, the large refrigerator turned into a view of the living room.  With the new opening, we got to utilize the large sq footage of the kitchen, and install a large island.

OVERALL:
This was a complex renovation, but was totally worth it.  It completely changed how we work and function in the house.

Before and After: Living Room

The next couple of months I will be working on Before and After series on the work done on the house do far, since many rooms are nearly completed.  I am starting with the living room; the first room you see when you walk into the house.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This is what you see when you walk in the door.  Wide curtains make the small window look bigger, especially in person.  The walls were painted Behr Wheat Bread, and the coffered ceiling was painted bright white.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

The small archway and built-in bookcases between the living room and kitchen were removed, and a large 10 foot opening went in its place.  This created a more open floorplan, and brighter living spaces.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

An overhead light was added to the dining nook.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

These views aren't identical, but pretty gives you an idea of the changes.  Curtains  have been added to the window alcove.

Most of the major renovations have been completed in the living room.  I am most happy that we opened up the living room to the kitchen, and painted the coffered ceiling.  Both changes make the room look much bigger, and modern.  The room no longer feels isolated, dark, and dated.  The house was built in the 50s, but the multiple renovations really only expanded the house.  It seems that affordable cosmetic touches were completed in the late 90s/early 2000s.  The house needed to be modernized with an open floor plan, new electrical considerations, and crisp, neutral paint colors.

MORE ROOMS TO BE ADDED

It's been awhile!

I have updated the house tour, check it out here.  here's a peek of some things around the house.

I also updated out AFI top 100 list.  We watched several more in the last couple of months.

Visitors are coming!

I have been keeping some things a secret around here because my parents are coming into town, to surprise them.  I am willing to share some things we worked on for our guests.

I guest room got a little redo:

I also worked on my office/Packer room;

Very excited for my parents to come visit.  Updates after they leave on the great things we did.

2015 Resolutions

Happy New Year!

A review of 2014 resolutions

2014 Resolutions:

Finances:-Start a Roth IRA -Increase savings again-Get life insurance

Relationship:-Go on a vacation-Continue watching AFI's Top 100-Try 2-3 new recipes/restaurants per month 

Home:-Renovate Kitchen-Hem curtains-Clean up backyard

I left my job in July, so some things were more difficult with tighter finances.  This is also why we will have some changes to our 2015 resolutions.
We did continue to watch AFI movies, but slowed down considerably.  We hope to watch more this year, than 2014.
We did renovate the kitchen.  We are about 90% complete.  We need some assistance with some things, and will get help the end of January with that.  Nick did work on the backyard, but more is needed to finish it.

2015 Resolutions:

Finances:
-Increase savings account
-Start and maintain reasonable budget

Relationship:
-Continue watching AFI's Top 100
-Try at least 1 new recipes/restaurants per month

Home:
-Finish kitchen renovation
-Paint living room
-Clean up backyard

This year is about limiting spending, and maintaining a budget.  Should be a fun year.

X-mas List

Someone has asked us for our Xmas lists, so Nick and I spent a lot of time creating this list.

Lisa:

Packers Keychain

Blugolds Shirt 3X

Silver Packers Alex and Ani Bracelet (currently out of stock)

Sarah Style

White Cuisinart Immersion Blender

1.00ct Emerald Ring: Size 10

Nick:

Tabletopics: Sports Edition

Variety Incense Sticks

Incense Burner

30 for 30 Season 1

30 for 30: Season 2; Vol. 1

Medium Grill Cover (59 inch)

Both:

Amazon Gift Card

Home Depot Gift Card

Backsplash Tile

We finally finished the backsplash!

Close up, it looks a little funky.  The walls are not perfect, but from far away you can't notice.

We are almost done with the kitchen.

Pantry Doors

While I was reviewing options for the kitchen renovation, I knew the pantry had to stay, but I hated the bi-fold doors.  They never closed all the way, and sometimes got off the track.  I found this tutorial from 2 Little Superheroes that turned bi-fold doors into french doors.  I was in love instantly.  I would be able to reuse the old doors, and get to use the back of the doors to hang aprons, and potholders.  Win-Win!

Here is what it looked like before; with doors removed:

Here it is now:

I originally painted the doors Fedora by Behr, but the color was too greenish brown, and not nearly dark enough.  I repainted it Black Suede by Behr. The color is so much better, and from a distance looks like the black-brown color of the cabinets.

I put the hinges about equidistant  from each other, but if I would do this again, I would put the hinges farther apart from each other.  It's a minor issue, and a lesson learned.

We are nearly done with the kitchen.  More pictures next week.  We have purchased the pendant light for above the island, but those won't be installed until I have help, because of some unusual electrical work in the house.