i’ve been totally excited to do some official before/after updates as we go about working on our little housey here… but for the life of me, i never, ever thought i’d start with the kitchen!!
we worked a whole lot on this house from before we even moved in last november, right up to the holidays, and after, until we grew just plain weary and thought possibly our family members were waaay sick of working for us for free, haha. but despite all the tweaks we made to the kitchen… well, there was something still just a little… meh!
until!! until steven returned home from florida… and while we were still there with my mom, he surprised me by painting the cabinets! best surprise ever? obviously! except for the fact that when we got home he was exhausted instead of well rested. haha.
oh, BUT! the cabinets! it really did the trick to give us a kitchen we finally felt happy with. i mean, there are still things to do… like fixing the leaky faucet. and another cosmetic project or two. we’d still love to add some cute beadboard to the island! naturally, though, in true husband/wife/house project form… the actual doing part is another project for steven. 🙂
there are a bunch of things that we probably won’t do, either, unless we decide to live here for a couple of decades. haha. [in which case, let’s go ahead and find a spot in the yard for my future chicken coop? ;)] biggest of all being that we maybe wish they hadn’t attacked every possible inch with that specific granite. but. it’s there, it’s fine, it is what it is! i have not figured out what to do with the one chandelier, either. i’m just not sure what i’d ideally like there! so, for now… there it is. the pot rack, though! we have always liked the pot rack! it’s a nice place to hang flowers and herbs and makes me feel like i have a little cucina in the italian countryside. 😉
anyway, when maddalena asked her daddy why he painted the cabinets, steven told her we just wanted our kitchen to match hers, and she’s been so proud of that notion!!
[maddalena’s kitchen // you are my hiding place print was a sweet housewarming gift! // world market jozy table & chair pads // still love my worn out anthro horse markings tea towel // sur la table utensil crock – similar pretty one, also so cute! // my fav tea kettle – i researched that for so long! // cabinet pulls & knobs // m’s little paintings on the fridge make me so happy… also best ever jura coffee maker, latest model // wedding gift julisca serving bowl with my rose plant in it 🙂 // old antique shop ball jars! // baby boy has discovered the best ever melissa & doug magnets]
what we’ve done…
-had the walls painted!! they’re benjamin moore’s shaker beige in sherwin williams super paint. the color changes so much with the lighting! it has subtle green undertones, which i love because it’s not too warm, not too cool.
-switched out the black outlets. my dad did tons of rewiring in this house. thank goodness for him!!
-replaced cabinet knobs and pulls
-replaced microwave with matching stainless!
-painted the cabinets… go stevey! 🙂 they match our trim in sherwin williams medici ivory
-got rid of under-cabinet lighting. it wasn’t really installed, just added under the cabinets and plugged into outlets.
-took the cups off the chandelier thing, since we don’t really know what we want there, anyway
-removed the exterior-mounted blinds from the windows
-removed the exterior-mounted blinds from the windows
still on the list…
-fix the faucet where it drips at the handle
-the faucet also is installed backwards with hot being forward, cold being backward… so…
-maybe we just need to get a new faucet?
-i would also lo-o-o-ove a new disposal one day [okay, gross, who am i?? i would LOVE pink louboutins is what i would love!]
-i would also lo-o-o-ove a new disposal one day [okay, gross, who am i?? i would LOVE pink louboutins is what i would love!]
-beadboard the island!
-figure out some other lighting instead of that chandelier
-i don’t know if there’s anything else on steven’s list for the kitchen, but he said he’s tired of me talking about to-do lists, so i just assumed not. ha. [although, to-do lists are my passion, sooo we may need counseling… ;)]
aaand! let us never forget… the before and after!
[photos taken from the house’s listing // my iphone]
amen, amen, amen!
Beauuutiful kitchen! I am dying for a kitchen with an island! P.s. our Dyson vacuum came yesterday!!!! Cannot wait to use it tonight 😉 it's the little things right?!
i love having an island! i kinda thought it might get in the way, but it's really so great!! and ah yay!! i hope you enjoy your vac!! my brother has been testing mine out and he loves it. 😉 YES to the little things!
That white paint on the cabinets! Oh it made all the difference. What a fun surprise to come home from vacation and find! Love the idea of hanging herbs and flowers from the pot rack too. So Italian countryside!
if only, right?! a girl can sip her wine and pretend!! and yes, paint is suuuch a miracle worker!
Gah it looks so much better!! You guys have the magic touch! Way to go both of you! I know that it's no joke but the kitchen is suuuuch a great place to update! It's like a slap I the face of happiness every time you walk by.
haha i love that! a slap in the face of happiness is one slap i will gladly take!!
Wow! The white cabinets change it so much. It is lovely. And good call on the beadboard island! That will look AWESOME! 🙂 I love the pot rack too and for what it's worth, I don't think the granite is bad at all 🙂
oh, you are always so sweet. 🙂 the granite doesn't jump way out at me so much with the cabinets painted… which is surprising, because i was scared that it would jump out more. however! it's just kinda bleh to look at. but it works just fine and i'm thankful!