Kitchen Remodel: Inspiration

Image via Sycamore Street Press

Hello All!

Since this past weekend was a 3 day weekend, Adam and I decided we were ready to dive head first into our kitchen remodel. We know this will be no easy task, but we are really trying to get our house in tip-top shape before my nephews birthday party in July. Plus this is something we've been talking about since the day we bought our house. We've already made a lot of progress, but it will be about a month (hopefully!!) before I'm ready to show pictures of the new look.

Here are a couple of before pictures from our home listing:

Some people may really like the kitchen in its former state, but I'm not one of them. Here are a few things that really bug me about this kitchen:

1) I despise those ugly brown walls. Not only because it is an ugly color, but it also really darkens the whole room. It is hard to tell in these pictures because of the flash, but just trust me. It is true.

2) Those cabinets. I'm just not a fan of the color wood they chose and the only thing that makes them worse is the matching door pulls. 

3) The light fixtures. They just do not match the time period of the house. They are way too modern for what I'm going for. 

4) The floor. Since we have giant messy dogs, this light grey floor just does not work for us. Plus, you can't tell in the picture, but most of the tiles are either cracked or loose. This is on our list of projects, but I don't think it will be finished until probably next year sometime (if not a little longer).

So there is plenty more that really bugs me about this kitchen, but I won't go on and on about it. I'm sure you get the point. 

Here are some amazing pros to this kitchen:

1) The giant windows. They let tons of light in, but you can't tell because the walls darken it so much

2) Tons of cabinet and counter space

3) A great layout that makes it easy to enjoy cooking.

So that's enough about the current state. Let's move on to the big plans I have for this room!

Since our home is almost 100 years old, I really want to keep an industrial feel without getting too modern. I want an update, but not something that will feel weird in such an old home. Here are a few pictures of what inspires me:

Image via Elements of Style

I absolutely love this kitchen. It is sleek and modern, but not TOO modern. It is rustic and a little industrial and I love it.

Image via Nordic Design

I love the light fixture in this picture. It is fun and interesting and will add much more light than our current fixtures. 

Image via Remodelista

I love the use of plants in this room. It really brings new life and color to the whole space. 

So to wrap this up, here are my goals for our new space:

1) I want to brighten the space

2) I want to incorporate wood and iron elements

3) I want lots of plants!

Check back in several weeks and I should have a progress report for you. Between now and then, expect lots of DIY posts for kitchen projects!

xo-Nancy

New Year, New Blog

Hello All!

This year one of my goals for 2014 is to do more of what I love and to worry less. In honor of this goal, I’ve decided to start this blog. I really enjoy doing crafts and projects, but sometimes I just need to talk about what is on my mind at the current time. I am hoping that this will be the perfect place to achieve both parts of my goal this year. It will give me an outlet to share my crafts and DIY projects (which is the “what I love” part of my goal), which will hopefully inspire me to do more of these projects, but at the same time it will give me a place to speak my mind which I am hoping will alleviate some of my worrying that I tend to do.

Picture: The Husband and I before our NYE party taken with my Polaroid 600

Since I’m already talking about goals, here are a few of my goals that I have set for myself this year:

1)      I know I’ve already told you what this goal is, but since it is an important one, I don’t mind repeating it: Do more of what makes me happy and less time worrying.

2)      Spend more time with those I love, and less time with those who don’t love me back.

3)      Do more travelling for fun.

4)      Take more pictures to remember all of it.

 

I know these are all very vague goals, but I’ve never been one to stick to concrete rules and resolutions for the new year. I could sit here and say that I’m going to lose 40 pounds, drink only water, and become a neat and organized person, but in all reality, I know that I wouldn’t keep a single one of those resolutions and I would slip right back into the same routine that I currently have. Instead, I’d rather set abstract goals that are fun, yet attainable. I am very excited for this year and I hope you will keep reading to follow me on my adventures to come.

Cheers to 2014, and let’s make it a great year!

xo - Nancy