I Have to Start Somewhere...

I have never been known for my writing skills.  I am a math person.  I like when things add up and there is always an answer.  So blogging scares me.  But I know when I read other home decorating blogs that I barely read what is written.  I love the pictures!  My plan is to use the blog to document my projects.  And if anyone is interested great.  If not, then its my own personal diary of home decorating.

Do you ever obsess about something, think about it when you have nothing else on your mind, or when you should have something else on your mind but you are procrastinating?  I think about my house and what I want to do next.  I'm always planning 10 projects at one time and sometimes it takes many years to even start them.  My kitchen is one of those projects.  Before....

                             

I always felt embarrassed by this kitchen (and why is my kitchen a mess in the before shots??).  The rest of the house (you will see it eventually) has been a labor of love and when we purchased the house it was easy to make the rooms beautiful.  I am always tweeking things and making changes, but overall am happy with the home. 

 

I think the cabinets are from the 1950's.  I have done some research and it was a popular style during that time.  They are solid maple and were still in really good condition.  I am obsessed with reusing and redoing what I already have.  I love to make something old new again. And this kitchen couldn't be a better example.   Two more "before" shots...

 

The kitchen is far from done, but here are some shots of "almost there...

Can you believe that is just molding added to the same cabinet doors??  I have decided that the ceiling will also be the aqua blue color.  Our house is old and I can't get a nice clean paint line where the ceiling and wall meet.

I am hanging a old schoolhouse style light over the window and adding bamboo shades to the windows. Hopefully sooner than later.

 

A chair rail still needs to be added to this wall and the pictures will be hung on the wall to the left.  That is bead board wallpaper.  It was so easy to work with and looks like the real thing.  I bought my at Lowe's.  I noticed that Menards also has it, but the Lowe's paper looks more authentic to me. The back porch door will be painted black and will be on the left side. It remains open most of the time.

 

Still one cabinet to finish.  It needs to be secured to the wall (I bought a fridge that was too tall - my husband loves me enough to rip the cabinet off the wall and shove it further up to make room.

 

Wow, my kitchen table needs a sanding and fresh coat of paint.  It takes a beating.

 

There is still lots of work to do, but it is coming along.  I love it.  I couldn't be happier and can't wait to finish it.  And I have spent under $300 so far, but estimate at least 50 hours of work.