Kitchen floor plan

I finally got around to whipping up a floor plan for the kitchen. 

DW-dishwasher

F-fridge

Stairs lead to the basement and back door.

I really think this lay out takes advantage of the space best, especially getting rid of that stupid peninsula and moving the stove!

Present lay out, sorry for the horrible pics!

Real estate re-do:kitchen

Did you have a great weekend?

We sure did, although Monday morning came way too early! Stanley was off this weekend so we took our two older boys to see the new Lego movie on Saturday. It was Stanley's first time going to a movie with the boys. The movie was really good and we had a blast.

We've been talking a lot lately about replacing our area rug in the living room. It has red lipstick and nail polish on one side, courtesy of our three year old, which is hidden under the couch but means that we can't rotate the rug. Our front door opens right into our living room and the foot traffic on that side has almost worn a path in the rug. I've known for a while now that it needs to be replaced but lets be honest, 9x12+ rugs are expensive! The one we have now was a carpet remnant that we had bound, it's about a 10x13.5 and only cost around $200. I think we'll be doing the remnant thing again just in a darker color. I'd love to get something vintage but there is no way we can afford $1000+ for a rug in such a high traffic area. Anyway, like I said we've been toying with the idea for a while but what happened yesterday solidified that idea. Right as we got to church we noticed that Isaac had something black smeared all over one knee of his khakis (I don't know how we put him in the car and didn't notice it). Neither of us had any idea where it came from but it looked like kohl eyeliner to me. When we got home I checked the bathroom and all of my makeup was in the drawer, which he can't get in to. We also found black stuff on the hardwood floor and the rug in the living room, small dots of it all over. I cleaned for almost an hour last night and there's no getting it all off, so I'm going to look at some remnants tonight. I'll keep you updated!

Ok, back to our mid mod gem of a house:

              This kitchen could be soooooo good! It has a lot of space and a great layout!


There is an awkward open space in between the wall and lower cabinets below (there is one above too to the left of the door) but there is a simple fix.

Since the lower cabinets would be painted, just add some open storage for cookbooks etc. and paint it too, like this:

                                                                           image 

I would rip out the drop ceiling and fluorescent lights along with all of the upper cabinets and the island. The lower cabinets look like they are in good condition so I would just paint them. Add hardwood floors, new countertop and subway tile, new appliances and hardware and a built in banquette and you've got a brand new space!

Next time: Master bedroom!

Happy Monday :)

Thank you and a real estate re-do

Thanks for the support peeps, you're the best!

I had a hard time writing that last post because I seriously LOVE blogging (and reading

blogs). It's kind of an internal struggle for me and I just came to the point where I

 was spending too much time invested in my blog/others blogs/pinterest etc. instead of in

 my family and myself. It really made me stop and think about what am I teaching my boys

 by doing that. Not anything good, that's for sure!

Kati from so happy home made a great point too:

 "Doesn't it feel like so many blogs/bloggers are pushing you to buy something new, or to

constantly produce new looks/vignettes/trends, etc.? It's hard to keep up with the pace being set on social media et al."

It's so true!!

So, thank you my dear readers for your emails and comments and general awesomeness!

 Obviously it's been a while since I've done a proper post because I can hardly figure this all out anymore, sorry the text is all screwy! Ok, moving on.  :)

I love real estate. If we weren't so busy on Sundays I would go to open houses every 

week. I'm that crazy lady who likes to drive slowly by awesome houses at night just to 

sneak a peek through the lighted windows!! When we lived downtown Stanley and I would 

go on evening walks in the summer. His goal was to get out of the house for a while and get 

some exercise, mine was to snoop. Our new neighborhood is less than spectacular in the 

awesome house department but I still look online. It's a habit I've gotten in to after buying 

(twice) and selling our house(s). When I look through the listings I can't help but 

think about what I would do if it were my house. A friend once told me that she never saw the

 potential in our current house like I did, so I understand that it's a hard thing. 

I saw this vintage gem a few weeks ago and automatically the wheels were turning, so 

whether or not this is helpful for anyone it sure is fun!


This is a great split level house, 4 bedroom, two bath, great neighborhood, huge yard, 

a little over 2300 sq ft., AC, SS and a heated attached garage-listed at $199,000. This would

 be a great family home!

So, if I had a $320,00(ish) budget this is what I would do:

New exterior paint and a little landscaping would do wonders for this house! I would also probably remove the iron railing at the bottom of the landing. It's not really needed and removing it would really open up the front entrance.

Easy, beautiful and timeless!



Let's go inside now.....

You can see that there is some mid mod tile in the entryway and as long as it isn't an awful color I'd keep it. Paint out that paneling, throw down a rug and a basket for shoes and you're done!

Upstairs there is an open concept living and dining room. Since the carpet looks to be pretty old I'd rip it up and install hardwoods in the living, dining, hallway, bedrooms and kitchen (which is off to the left of the dining room). I would paint the entire upstairs a creamy white, all windows would have bamboo roman shades and I'd add some built ins in the living room most likely with closed doors on the bottom and shelves on top.

Last but not least, the dining room.

Come back next week to see the rest of this house, next up is the kitchen.

Have a great weekend!

Round these parts...

Thanks for the breaky break peeps, I needed it for sure. 

The creative juices were dammed up behind a lot of stress and I didn't feel like posting crap truth be told. After giving up taking a break from working out (going to the Dr. 10 weeks into a VIGOROUS exercise program/diet change and finding out that you haven't lost any weight will do that to you) I'm back in the game. Vanity aside, I function better, as a wife and especially as a Mom when I get a work out in. Stress relieved (for the most part), heart and body and Mommy healthier and happier. 

5:30 am comes way too early though!

I don't have an amazing comeback post unfortunately (just some random stuff), but I need to post something because looking at those pictures of my baby all wired up every time I come to check my blog roll is KILLING me!

Told you, they make me super sad to look at.

Onward and upward!

Last week I cooked up two of my favorite pizza's for the hubs and I. 

Thai Peanut Chicken and Caramelized Onion, Pear and Blue Cheese.

They are sooooooo good!!!! 

Too good not to share.......

I made mine on whole wheat naan this time around but you can use whatever crust you like.

The Thai Peanut has peanut sauce, duh, grilled chicken, dry roasted peanuts, cilantro and mandarin oranges. You can also add red bell pepper, which is good but gives me major heartburn so, no bueno.

For the other, caramelize some sweet onions in a pan. Layer those with some sliced pears, more grilled chicken (I had a bunch left from the other pizza but this is just as good without it) and blue cheese, drizzle with a good quality olive oil. I like to add pine nuts too but didn't have any on hand.

I topped both with mozzarella cheese but you can use whatever you like, provolone would be good too. I also use sliced cheese instead of grated, I don't like a ton of cheese and the slices melt thin and perfect.

Cook and enjoy!

I've made some changes in the dining room over the past few weeks.

New light fixture (old one is going in the stairwell by our back door).

Brass and acrylic beauty....$20 on Craigslist.

Also here is my new free dining set.

^ Buzz Lightyear's down for the count

Vintage parsons beauty my uncle gave us and vintage brass Chromcraft  Breuer style chairs, new upholstery soon, from an old church friend (thanks Sandy!!!) 

LOVE!!!!

I've been working on getting the living room painted this week, one wall at a time. Anyone else  do that? I usually clear the room and just knock it out but I can't do that when I'm home with all three boys. So, I've been blocking one side of the room off with furniture and painting. It's been chaos but it's slowly getting done.

I also painted the bookshelf in question, the white is the wall color (Swiss Coffee by Behr) and the black is high gloss oil based Rustoleum.

 Nice non styling huh? 

I especially like the sunglasses that a certain one year old threw up there. 

Art is changing, shelves will be properly styled but it's progress none the less. 

(See my wicker mini peacock chair? It was fifty cents at a garage sale :)

I'm still, still, STILL not done with our bedroom.

Headboard needs nail head trim, art needs some tweaking and nightstands need some love but I still love the color-Billiard Table in high gloss by Behr.

I really, really love the way our crappy shutter closet doors look painted! 

I think if I had the chance to swap them out for solid panel doors I wouldn't.

Remember the ottoman I made? I'm working on making two for a friend of mine and I'm going to take some pictures and show you the whole process......soon. I also need to make another one for myself, sold that one. :)

Hope you are having a great week!

It's good to be back.

PS- I just watched Atonement this week. 

Have you seen it?

How have I not until now?!??

Absolutely amazing and I totally did the ugly cry at the end. 

Watch it!!!

If you can't stand the ugliness, get out of the kitchen

We had high hopes of getting new appliances and doing some upgrades in the kitchen with our tax return this year but it's looking like that won't happen. Hooray for medical bills and upcoming root canals/crowns! :(
 Regardless, I'm revisiting our kitchen/dining plans today because I've had new epiphanies and it's fun to day dream right!? I especially need those day dreams as I'm potty training our toddler this week. Pray for me!

  (FYI- this is the longest post ever so if you can hang in until the end kudos to you!)

Here is our hideous, disgusting, 80's kitchen. I can't believe that I'm showing you pictures it's so embarrassing. By the way, aren't soffits the best!?  I'm pretty sure that there is nothing in the one below, except the electrical for that awful track light, either way it will be coming down! 

NORTH WALL

A view into our beautiful dining room. Yep, you read that right...... not breakfast nook, DINING ROOM! That stupid peninsula is an absolute waste of space and will be ripped out...dishwasher will go flush against the wall and we'll add an L shaped banquette under the window and down the far wall. After we rip out that faux rock of course.

EAST WALL

SOUTH WALL

Yet another wonderful soffit, not sure what's in there.

See how far the fridge sticks out into the dining area? Counter depth fridge for sure when we get new appliances and then we'll build it in on the right side.

Isn't it lovely?!? 

(Some of those pictures are from the real estate listing...can you guess which ones? Yikes!)

Enough of that hideousness....here's the plan.

NORTH WALL

SOUTH WALL

EAST WALL

So, here's the specifics:

Brass hardware, probably something similar to these ones on the far right, from Lee Valley Tools...

                                                                           Source: leevalley.com via Katie on Pinterest

Black and white checkerboard flooring, set on a diagonal, probably will be linoleum.

                              Source: habituallychic.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

I know you're all going to tell me to do tile or continue the hardwoods into the kitchen and believe me wood would be my first choice (that's what she said..sorry I can't help myself :) . However, not only do we not have the funds to add more hardwoods, we would have to refinish the entire first floor which means $$$$$$$. The floors are in AWFUL shape in the living room and the hallway....it's seriously a minefield of drywall screws IN the floor. I guess it was too squeaky in some spots for the previous owners...WHO DOES THAT!??!?!? Also, if we sunk all that money for wood or tile into this house we'd never get it back out if/when we sell in the future.

  Anyway, my in laws have a great checkerboard lino in their laundry room and I'll probably do the same. 

See....it's pretty!

Ok, bottom cabinets will most likely be darker but not as dark as my moodboards. Farrow and Balls Down Pipe is a favorite of mine and look how pretty it is with brass hardware!

                                                      Source: littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                             Source: littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

I think I want something with a little more green in it though, like this.

                                                        Source: danielleoakeyinteriors.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

I'm definitely planning on painting the window sashes black. It's such a beautiful detail!

                                                                Source: makingmacy.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                                      Source: houseofturquoise.com via Katie on Pinteres

t

                                                             Source: Uploaded by user via Katie on Pinterest

                                                                              Source: papernstitchblog.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                 
Counter tops will most likely be laminate, yeah, yeah I know it's not ideal. Like I said though we have to think long term and keep the budget VERY small. I love the look of wood counter tops but they are pretty high maintenance. At least there are some decent looking laminates these days.  

                                                                              Source: lowes.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                                        Source: lowes.com via Katie on Pinterest

Banquette will be built in and look similar to these.

                                                                  Source: georgianadesign.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                        Source: chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                                    Source: bhg.com via Katie on Pinterest

                                                               Source: indulgy.com via Katie on Pinterest

So, there you have it. Any amazing ideas or advice you have would be wonderful. 

Anyone have wood counter tops and love/hate them?

Got any great resources for brass hardware or awesome paint colors I should know about?

Talk amongst yourselves while I potty train my two year old........


(All images except laundry room are from my Pinterest)