Kitchen Lighting

Last summer, I laid out the plan for the kitchen lighting.  After months of researching costs, and options, I finally found the best option.  A track lighting system, by Hampton Bay from Home Depot.  It wasn't my first choice, but it was the best in our price range.  I just had to wait for a sale.  A couple weeks ago, the 12 light heads went on sale, and we save $85. 
This weekend, I installed the long perimeter lights.  The shorter island lights will have to be installed when the island is in place. 

These are two 12 foot suspended tracks connected together, with 10 lights attached.  The other light (seen in the last photo) will be the power supply to the island. 

The kitchen is a lot brighter now.  I can't wait until all the lights are up. 

In the coming weeks, I will be removing trim, and painting the walls. 

New TV

Before the Superbowl we bought a new TV for Nick's office.  He had a small LCD, and we always knew we would upgrade it eventually. 

This is a 50in Sharp.  It's on an extending swivel wall mount so it can be adjusted for perfect viewing depending on where you are in the room.

I went to look at some granite this week.  Fell in love with so many slabs.  I know most won't work in our kitchen, but they were beautiful. 

Pinning and Pining: February 2014, Valentine's Edition

This month is a simple Pinning and Pining. 

Pinning:

Pinterest

I love Salmon, and this Honey Salmon sounds great.  This will definitely be part of the Valentines menu.

Pining:

NHL

I have gotten back into hockey after too many years away.  Go Avs!  Nick and I will really enjoy this mutual gift to each other. 

Busy Sewing

I've been busy for the past couple weekends sewing.  I had a bunch of little projects that needed to be completed.  Yes, I completed projects!

First project was finishing alterations on a bridesmaid dress for a wedding in March. 
Before:

After:

Don't mind the change in the color of the dress, the before picture is much more representative of the true color of the dress.  I wanted to get rid of the spaghetti straps.  I feel more comfortable with wider straps, and I feel they are more proportional with my body.  I used the waist bow to create the straps.  Yellow is the secondary color for the wedding party, hence the yellow shoes, and yellow flower on the waist.

The second project was working on some baby blankets for a friend.

A simple hand-tied, extra long blanket.  I threw this one together because I had extra cotton batting, and extra fabric left from the first blanket.  All I needed to get was yarn.   I think every new mom needs as many blankets as they can get.

This is a machine quilted blanket.  This was my first time machine quilting, and sewing a binding on a quilt.  I am not good with either, yet.  Lots of mistakes; pinching, puckering, poor seams, etc.  I looks alright in photos, but not as much in real life.  

Both of these will be good blankets for ruining.  The patterns will hide stains, and not perfectly executed.  They are both 100% cotton, so they are washable if accidents happen.

So that's what I've been working on.  Hopefully, I will get started with some projects for this kitchen reno. 

PS.  I love the Olympics, so the next couple of weeks will be fun!

Kitchen Inspiration

For a year, I have been planning this kitchen renovation.  The first question, 'what color cabinets?'.  Nick was against white, and I was against birch, maple, or oak.  We were left with dark chocolate cabinets, black, or any other color of the rainbow.  I thought about blue for, oh......, about 30 seconds.  Even executed perfectly, it would really limit resale, and I feared I would hate it in a couple years.  Nick and I are both naturally drawn to rich, dark stains on woods.  Ok, cabinet color was easy.  Everything else should be too, huh?
'Which layout do we want?' 'What wall color?' 'Which countertop, laminate or stone?' 'Oh no, pulls?' 'What type of flooring?' 'What lighting can we do?'  'Do we want a backsplash?' 'What backsplash?' 'Can we pull off open shelving?'  These questions danced through my head.  I need inspiration.

Both are Jeff King and Company

Unknown Source

Kitchen Cousins on HGTV

Unknown Source

Live Creating Yourself

Houzz

These are my inspiration for our kitchen.  All have simple dark cabinets, light colored counters, stainless appliances, and silver pulls.  I can't wait to get done with this!

Happy Superbowl Sunday!