I've been busy

So I haven't posted in...well...months. But in my defense a lot has been going on! First of all, with summer here there's been a slew of visitors hopping in and out of our area, so we've been making time to visit with all of them. Second of all, Eisley turned 1 and we had to combine her party with Jake's since their b-days are only 4 days apart, and third WE REMODELED OUR KITCHEN.

I posted some pics on facebook, but there's no direct before and after transition there. I like to show the remodeling being done. But here, I wanted to show side by side how the transformation when from beginning to end. Trust me, a lot went in to getting them this way. Thank you homebuyers credit for making it possible!

Before

After

WAY before. Like before we moved in.

After

World's worst kitchen layout. Oh, I mean...Before....

After!

I wish I had a better camera. Or a video. Or something to truly convey how DRAMATIC it is. It's so much warmer and cleaner and sleeker and a million more -ers that I can't even list. It's the first kitchen I've ever had where I look FORWARD to loading the dishwasher. The first time I've don't really mind cooking dinner. The first time I've been able to decorate a space like this in my own taste. Not to mention, the first time I can say that I selected ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in this space. The floor, the cabinets, the appliances, the countertops, the sink, the hardware, even down to the dishtowel hanging on the stove, it was ALL me. And to see it come together like I envisioned it in my head is even more rewarding.

I've told several people that the reason I do commercial design for a living is because homeowners are so picky and indecisive. Now I can add myself to that list of annoying home owners. I had the HARDEST time making final decisions and trust me, this went through several re-designs. But I'm so happy with it. Some of my favorite features include:

-raised upper cabinets to allow for 22" above the countertop instead of the standard 18". It makes it feel so much bigger.

-silent-close drawers. They're amazing. Except now I slam the drawers at my mom's house and expect them to do the same; they do not.

- A fridge with an ice-maker. Maybe this is old hat to some people, but I'm an ice FANATIC and have never had an ice-maker before. Makes me want to weep with joy daily.

-The tile floor. Again, old news to some people, but after having a double-layered carpeted kitchen, I feel like I could kiss that tile every day.

-The dishwasher. Didn't have one, now we do. Enough said.

-The chandelier. We changed it from a big 2x4 fluorescent and the difference is phenomenal. It encourages me that we might actually get rid of the ship-wheel light fixture we have downstairs. One day...

Anyway, that's a look at how it really went down. 3 weeks of a different contractor in your house every day can get tiring, but at least I didn't have to do it all myself, and the end result makes it well worth it. And now we're down to the two bathrooms that need to be remodeled! Let me just give you a hint: toothpaste green plastic tile and pink wallpaper. This'll be one for the books, ladies and gentlemen. Trust me. :)