Pure Craziness in the Kitchen...is Over! Sort Of!

I love my house.

I hate my house.

I love my house.

I hate my house.

I LOVE MY HOUSE! 

It is really nothing against the house.
I remember when we were looking for houses
and the Realtor pulled up in front of this house.
I declared  - out loud even -
"I want a house like this one."

Of course when I said that I assumed I would not have to wait years and years to upgrade some of the uglies. The biggest ugly was the kitchen and you could see it as soon as you walked up to the front door. It needed a #makeover! We wanted to do something to it, but as it would happen property values at that time were nose diving all over, so we knew we needed to be WISE!



This kitchen was completed, including appliances for under $12,000.
The nly thing I woud do differently was get a different kitchen faucet -
and I hope to add a Delta Faucet with Touch20 Technology one to this kitchen soon

The OLD kitchen...lovely, eh?

 

It was really hard to say good-bye to this tile! NOT!

 

So what's the problem?...this house is older, our other two homes were newer. This house is mid-1950's construction. Much of the charm had been remodeled away in the '70's. I am not quite sure how many different additions this house has...still! I thought the first project we would tackle was going to be the kitchen - you know the heart of the home - well, 5 years late, we finally got around to it. Windows, hardwood floors, decks, grass, and unfortunately 2 hot water heaters and a sewer line came first.

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Will I ever get to the point? Yes, the kitchen is done...almost. I still need to patch some walls and trim the window...and find my window treatments - I have no idea where they went. I hope to add some bun or other decorative furniture feet, and I keep going back and forth about glazing the cabinets - I was totally sold on it but now am rethinking it. Hopefully I will call it done-done by the end of the year...we {he - as in hubby} move slow up here!

NEW Kitchen!

When we set out to do this I got estimates for a complete gut and remodel. I was appalled at the price and it was not even "the whole enchilada." The contractor liked my ideas, but he even told me it was easier and cheaper to "just move." Back to the drawing board!

Nice Paint job, eh? An armoire used to hide that bad paint job!

Ultimately, I came to my senses. I wanted my kitchen to go with the rest of the house, but I am happy...We are not and will not be doing a full remodel. We are updating and renovating what needs to be done. I do not want people to walk into my house and say "WOW! Nice kitchen," and be thinking the rest of the house looks like crap." My ultimate goal from the beginning was to make everything cohesive...so here we are today.

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Here is what we did and how we saved money:

*Kept the boxes for the cabinets and the existing layout {it was fine, it worked} and hired the most awesome-est cabinet maker ever to install new wood doors and rebuild our drawers {they were just boxes} ad put them on rollers.

*All new appliances. Including a new microwave that I did not need. I have a one year old microwave for sale of for free...anyone...anyone??? 

*New granite counter tops and a new tile backsplash {hubby hates my selection...oh well!}.

*The cabinet maker built a magnificent pantry - I was using a Pier 1 armoire I bought at a garage sale.

*New sink and faucet...no I did not get my farm house sink for multiple reasons. Possibly to be explained later.

*I did not paint the cabinets myself...almost but I had read so much about lacquering that we decided that was the best option for us. Which leaves me at the to glaze or not to glaze decision.

*New knobs and pulls

*Added under counter and can lighting.

*Finally had the outlets upgraded so we will not electrocute ourselves.

 

I did not do or "get" all of the fancy schmancy upgrades or additions I wanted...BUT the whole thing cost me less than what cabinets alone would have cost and I did not just throw it all out...I repurposed! The change is amazing! I am glad I waited...this is the kitchen we are supposed to have. If I would have done my kitchen 5 years ago when I was still fighting with this old house, it would have been a mess....I had to learn to love my house and embrace it's character first!

Did you notice the lack of accessories...
I stink at accessorizing the kitchen...
anyone have any suggestions?
And what about the glaze...
I am taking votes from my fabulously stylish friends here...to glaze or not to glaze?

I also added a few accessories...
like bun feet to make the cabinets feel like furniture 
and pretty painted flour sack towels

I leave you with this...
not what you want to see in a new kitchen!

Or an old one!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre