Remember that half the joy of achievement is in the anticipation.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Surprise!

Yes! It's really me and we've been busy. Here's the big surprise!
After over a year in "arrested development", some progress has been made on my kitchen. The walls, ceiling, & cabinets were painted. Plus the ceiling was repaired! Yahoo!!! No more holes, no more Corona cardboard taped over the holes. I don't know if you can imagine how happy, that in itself, makes me. The walls are Behr "Wickerware" and the cabinets & ceiling are super white. All done in semi gloss to make cleaning much easier on me. The bifold doors at the end of the kitchen (that lead to my laundry room. I'll share that another day) are colonia red in high gloss. We are not finished yet though. Not by a long shot. I still need to hang a wood applique of some kind above the doors where the microwave is, but I'll decide if I really need it after the molding is up. Yes, we still need to install the molding around the top of the cabinets and after that I'll decide if I want to take the molding all the way around the room. These will be painted in a super white high gloss. While I love the look of crown molding, I'm concerned that it may be "to much" in such a small space. As you can see this is a typical 1950s galley style kitchen. I like to think it's functional, yet cozy...c'mon roll with me on this one. Hubby was great about installing all the new pulls for the cabinets and drawers...and YES! Those are my restored hinges you see. It's so gratifying, satisfying and electrifying (LOL) to see them back up in all their glory. All that hard work was definitely worth it. Since they are a polished chrome I chose polished chrome pulls for the drawers and cabinets. Hubby's contribution to the whole project? He picked out the cabinet pulls.
So, we stop for now. Down the road we will update the counters and the flooring. I'd also like to add a bead board backsplash and we still have bead board to hang on the side of the base cabinet. I'm also thinking about adding "feet" to the cabinets to give them more of a "furniture" kind of look. The cabinet where my glassware is currently, is another one of my dilemmas. Do I leave the doors off (of course we'd remove the hooks inside the cabinet) or do I install glass fronts and then rehang the doors. Your thoughts? Ah, plus I still need to decide what to do to cover the windows. There are faux wood blinds behind those sheers. I'm thinking perhaps hanging a valence and cafe panels...sigh* Your thoughts?
Right now my computer armoire is here in the kitchen, but that is another "just for now" thing. My goal is to convert a closet into our computer space and then add a small table and two chairs to the kitchen area.
Pfew! So much done, but still so much that remains on the "to do" list. Right now I'm going through my "art" and accessories to see what I want to keep, what I want to make over and what I'll be parting with. I also need to have my crate labels framed. Those will go on the wall where the computer armoir is currently.
It's good to be back! Thanks to all who left comments for me.


BEFORE:




Then cabinet, counters and shelves were added and microwave was mounted above the stove...Recessed lights installed but holes and cuts from old lighting and fans were covered by the Corona boxes.

I'll call this our "DURING" We've still so much left to do, but I wanted to show you what had been accomplished so far.



I'm so happy with the way the new hardware looks with my restored hinges.


I will be removing that paper towel holder & buying a new coffee pot. I love mine, but it's beginning to sputter. I'm just going to buy the same brand in the newer, prettier style.

So once the molding is up, I'll be working on the decorating. The really fun part of this whole process! I cannot wait. I think we may be getting the molding up within the next few weeks or so.

27 comments:

Kim's Treasures said...

Oh how wonderful! It looks so nice! I love the hardware!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hi Rochelle,
So glad that you are back :) Very nice remodel. We have the same type of kitchens and I did a post awhile back about my makeover..and there is only so much we can do :)
I just have a valance over my kitchen window that faces west. We don't have any neighbors across the street, so that makes a difference to. I think we have some of the same hardware too :) Mines in a amber/brown/copper color and matches the counter top. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest and your new posts.
Warmly, Deb

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

I am so sorry that I KEEP misspelling your name...I know it's Rechelle...duh...you can spell my name wrong if you want too.
Deb :)

Connie said...

You did a fantastic job, sweetpea! I love the red door! I want a white house with black trim and a red door. I have the red door but when we repaint it'll be white with black.....
Smooches,
Connie

Traci @ The Bakery said...

Rechelle,

That looks AMAZING....I love how bright and airy it looks!!!

Michele said...

Rechelle...it turned out awesome! I really love the red door.

I'm so glad you're back.

Take care
Hugz,
Michele

Cottage said...

I love the way you opened up the cabinets. I like the shelves look, so crisp and sleek.
Y'all did a great job; LOVE the recessed lights!

Joanne Kennedy said...

I love how you kept the vintage feel to it even though everything is new. Great job!

Hugs,
Joanne

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Hello Rechelle!

I LOVE what you have done to your kitchen! It is darling and you have worked hard! I love the RED touches you have added! I keep telling myself I am going to add some red to my home because it is so cheery! I must, I must!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Dawn said...

Everything looks so nice! I wish I had the energy and money to redo my kitchen. I don't like my kitchen floor AT ALL! I would like new cabinets and contertops.

I love the drawer pulls. They look great.

I'm glad you're back. I've missed you.

take care,
Dawn

Anna Marie said...

Well my goodness, someone has been a busy little bee. Now, you know how I am with "red" accents so you must already know that I LOVE your red doors and your red lightswitch cover and the red and white bread box. Two thumbs up for your hubby on the hardware as well. Great job! I love how "happy" your kitchen looks now.

Christie said...

Hey! Rechelle! I am so glad your back! Your kitchen is so charming! I really love it. I have been thinking of painting my cabinets white for a while now. I still can't decide, it's kinda scary, because we see the cabinets from the living area, it's really one space...plus I am still working on the hubby...talking him into it and all. You make me want to go for it! Your's sure looks so pretty. Y'all have done a wonderful job so far! Hope you have a great day!
xoxo,
Queenie!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Love your remodel. The red doors make the whole room just pop !

Thanks for visiting me !

Cottagecheap said...

Thank for visiting my blog....hope you enjoy the soup!

I am so glad I found your kitchen blog. My 'new house' (close in October) has the ugliest green cabinets and is small and I love your 'open shelves' and it is what I am picturing in the new place. I can't wait to see your 'final after' pictures.

Chez

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

It looks AWESOME! I know you are so proud of yourself for stripping those hinges! I love the hardware! Your kitchen really, really looks awesome!

Katie said...

Rechelle - welcome back! What a great transformation! I love it! Now I'm not into red, being a pink gal but I have to say that door is great and the red accessories perk it right up too!

Susie Homemaker said...

Hi there...thanks so much for visiting and your kind words. I just want to say one thing....LOVE THE RED DOORS!!! I think every room has to have at least one thing red in it! So nice to have new and fresh...keep showing us...

Warm Regards,
Susie

Carrie said...

How wonderful that you were able to get so much work done!

One Shabby Old House said...

Pat yourself on the back because your kitchen turned out very nice.

I see Betty Crocker is hanging out on your shelf! You're in good company.
Becky

Anne Fannie said...

Hello Rechelle, Glad to see your back. Your kitchen is coming along nicely. I love the red doors!
Love, Ann

Dena said...

Oh how exciting to have it all coming together! I love those red shutters at the end of your kitchen and the hardware is perfect :)

Hugs,
Dena

Anonymous said...

Oh, I LOVE what you've done!! It's so bright and cheerful! We bit the bullet a few years back and got an "over the stove" vented microwave which freed up a huge amount of counterspace - yours looks fantastic! Love the open cabinet with the scalloped bottom! And like you, I'm wanting to put beadboard up as a backsplash in our kitchen (to cover the 80's ceramic tile)... Your kitchen turned out great!...Donna

Cottage Rose said...

How pretty your kitchen looks. You did a amazing job on it.
Have a great week.

Hugs;
Alaura

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Rechelle!
Your kitchen is really looking fabulous! Isn't it amazing what new hardware can do for cabinets? I love the red doors!!
Hugs,Sherry

Heather said...

WOW!!!!!! What a difference! I love the wall color and the punch of red with the shuttered door!! And your can lights are great! I love can lights. I love how you put your microwave above the stove and the open shelving is fantastic! I really like the open shelving concept when you have such pretty things to display as you do. The hardware is great. Your kitchen is looking amazing! Great job!!
-Heather:)

Anonymous said...

Kitchen looks AMAZING!!! Love those red doors too!!!

Anonymous said...

Your kitchen redo looks wonderful!!! We did the same thing - painted the cabinets white and added crown molding and new drawer pulls. What a difference! I like your cherry red doors, too!