We are still here...

Wow has it really been that long since I posted. Sorry for disappearing. my bad. We have had a really crazy month around here. Like many of you we had the holidays filled with family, food, and travel. Loads of work outside the home. We also just needed some plain ole' down time. I know internet you know of no "downtime". hang in there.

We thought that the work was done but it's all the finish work that is taking up our time! I still wanted to post some sneak peak photos, the actual before and afters will have to wait.

{Sneak Peek}

The little birdy door knob is from Anthropologie. Which I so love. I used a copper back plate that I had from another room. Our new window sill that my husband's dad made is one of my favorite parts of the new kitchen. I have never had a place to set flowers or green tomatoes to ripen in the sun. This be used very often.

This is the little gnome and a packet of 'before' photos that we left under the
counter top for future home owners to find.

**edit: As you can see we decided on Hardware set #3!

Hardware help...

Still no update on the counter top situation. They know how it happened but have not called me yet to tell me as to what they plan on doing to fix it. We shall see. So we will move on for now...before I go crazy and make husband sell the house and get a maintenance free condo. Oh how a the idea of a brand new place with all new floors, and paint makes me feel happy. As you can see I am so over this kitchen remodel...

We ordered the wallpaper...its not at all what I talked about here, sorry guys & ladies. I had a change of heart after the floors didn't pan out. I went with a light and airy birdy theme, and I love it. Really I do. This paper makes me smile and I think it's what has kept me going on the project, along w/beers, and a martini here & there. It's from Artworks Living by Patton Wall coverings - we ordered ours through Sherwin Williams and got 45% discount right off the top, it took less than 4 days to ship to :) So pretty. We also decided on lights from Rejuvenation! We ordered the Rose City light fixture for above the island, and the Lombard fixture to go above the sink in the polished nickel finish. They are being installed right now as I type!

So here is our kitchen mock up with the hardware ideas:

So which hardware set do you like most?

Set #1 _________________Set #2__________________ Set #3

~Mix & Match if you like~

Set #1 is a drawer pull by Hickory Hardware, and kelly green knob by Anthropologie

Set #2 is a drawer pull by Hickory Hardware, and aqua blue knob by Anthropologie

Set # 3 is the same drawer pull as set #1, and a Nickel finish knob by Hickory Hardware

I also liked these but am still unsure how they would look:

a)b)c)d)

e)f)g)

All from Anthropologie cause I am creative like that...no I just love them all & I can't help it. I am sure that after this kitchen remodel you will be seeing some of these pop up around the house :)

So which is your favorite?

a) Granita Knob teal
b) Bubbled Glass Knob pink
c) Bubbled Glass Knob clear
d) Medaglione Knob blue
e) Frit Flower Knob
f) Medaglione Knob black
g) Nouveau Knob green

I love them all.
Leave a comment with your lovely hardware idea & your email...
if we pick yours I will send you a cute lill gift!

Speaking of favorites check out Nicole's kitchen remodel (loving her hardware right now)...her blog Making it Lovely shows her great taste in everything. Nicole has many more lovely things in her shop Pink Loves Brown. Check her out!

Kitchen Lighting

Choosing a light fixture for this kitchen has not proven easy. We can not decide on a light, or finish! Nothing at the "big box stores" seem to even be close to what I want so we won't even bring those choices to the blog table.

I have been liking several of the lights over at Rejuvenation. We need one light for the middle of the room above the island, and one that matches that is smaller to go above the sink. But which ones??? All of these would work in both locations- that doesn't make it any easier on us! The hardware in the room (sink faucet, knobs, pulls) will be polished nickel, but the oil rubbed bronze fits our home as well.

Option #1 Rose City (oil rubbed bronze, and polished nickel)

Option #2 (tiny but mighty) Russell

Option #3 The Jefferson

These are all great lights...

Dining Room Reveal

Sorry I have been gone for sooo long, and sorry that I have been fluttering around on subjects. I will do better - I mean it.

We have been pulled in many different directions the past month or so, but I am back and ready to show off the new changes we have and will be making!


First and foremost...the Dining Room Reveal is ready! We where able to get new dining room furniture by pure chance! (thanx mo!) It was a little touch and go getting it - We almost lost all of it because the house it is from was being foreclosed on when we showed up to move it. After a little detective work, and fast thinking we got it all. I would share pictures of us getting the furniture but I flash to a moment when I am sitting in front of court saying, " No judge I had no idea that the house was not in the possession of the person who let me in. I swear, really." So I bring you the pictures of it all moved in to the newly painted revamped dining room. The set is very traditional, but high quality. It includes: a china cabinet, table with 2 leaves, 6 chairs, and a server. I will add my own spice to the room to overcome the traditional set, in time. And no we did not break into some rich person's house and take all this great stuff. It was all very formally written out that we could come steal these goods, in a legal sorta way.


edit** please excuse some of the fuzzy shots...I need a new camera. Oh and the "glass" doors on the cabinet and server are not glass at all. They are just mia until casahusband attaches the wood ones back on. *hint hint casahusband.

Before

*Just in case you missed the mess you can catch it here


After


*Note: The only thing missing is the crown molding - we are waiting for a cow to jump over the moon before we hang em'.























The light we chose has speckled colored glass, and the metal finish is similar to the copper window fixtures.

Yes, I said copper. I scrubbed, and put some major elbow grease into these babies and I love them. They are my favorite part of the room.










Oh and we can't forget to the crumbling wall...


Before



After


With lots of sanding and paint we made this wall look as if had never fallen apart. Magic & spackle I tell ya.

The only one in the fam that didn't pitch in to make this room a hit was Beamish. But it's okay cause he chipped in by excavating some holes in the front yard for me.

Thanx buddy.

The great debate of the lighting fixture. Over the weekend Rob and I shopped for a new dining room light with no luck. We want something that is classic but still has a little eclectic flair. So many lights to choose from...I love them all.



The dining room is "in progress" currently but here is a sneak peak of what we are thinking about:

We are keeping our current table but staining it a dark brown because of this "oops". I love this table so I am willing to work with it. The chairs are going to be sanded and painted white, with a glossy finish. I love the eclectic look of a few different chairs all painted the same color. I want an old hutch that is worn in with time, but for now I think we will use the simple Ikea expedit bookshelf until I find the perfect one.

So let us know your thoughts about the lighting...I am really hoping for some good ideas to move this project forward.

Oh and our old light is for sale HERE on Craigslist St.Louis.

First we had gray/blue, then a green, then we came to an agreed upon color. The wall color we choose is Olympic™ D13-4 Stony Creek in egg shell. It's very earthy and warm, but has a very classy feel to it. It will look just great with the white woodwork and dark stained table with a brand new light...now to finding a light. Any suggestions?