bethzylla: (FFD2012)
bethzylla ([personal profile] bethzylla) wrote2014-09-06 07:51 pm
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The kitchen is DONE!

As promised, some before and after photos.

Just a forewarning...my hubby took the 'before' shots and I took the 'after' shots.  I tried to get them all positioned as close to the same as possible, but it's not perfect.  Whoops!

The kitchen had beige wood paneling, beige wood-like trim, and cabinets that were maybe white once upon a time (long, long ago.)
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We sanded, primed, and painted the cabinet doors, replaced all the grungy paint-coated hinges with shiny new chrome ones, and added cobalt glass pulls all around.
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We primed and painted the walls, trim, and pantry door.  The door got a new brushed nickel handle.  The deviled egg plate was a lucky find at an estate sale.
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Also, we have a small two-shelf shoe rack (which you can't see here) and that's why there appears to be a huge pile of shoes.  I promise, they're slightly more organized than all that!

This archway leads to what was probably intended as a dining room with attached study.  I use those rooms as my sewing area.  The curtain is necessary to disguise the constant state of disorganization beyond.
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Luckily, JoAnn's came through with cheapie broadcloth in almost the exact same color as the walls!
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Somehow we missed getting 'before' shots for the next two walls.  Everything was...beige!  (Shocking, I know.)  These walls have faux brick paneling which we painted a semi-gloss gray.  Since they take the brunt of food preparation splatters, it made sense to make it as easy-maintenance as possible.  We put up new shelves and window curtains too.
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We also replaced all the ivory and almond electrical outlets, switches, and covers with white ones.  Inside one switch, I found a nest of hatched gecko eggs:
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After my hubby and I enjoyed the cool factor of finding something so fragile, I thoroughly vaccuumed it out.  No need to leave potential fire hazards lying around!

I'm really happy with how all this came out!  It looks so much cleaner and brighter in there.  And I just love cobalt glass!  I'm on the lookout for that stuff everywhere now.  I wish we'd had the money to replace the countertops too, but we're just not willing to do that unless our landlord agrees to pay for it.  I've lived with a cobbled-together countertop for this long.  A little longer is no big deal.

Next up for me is a vacation with Ben and his parents!  They drove down from Indiana and we'll be flying out to Hawaii on Monday to visit Ben's sister.  I'm so excited!  We get to stay for 10 days.  Woo-hoo!!!

When we get back, I need to clean up my sewing space (currently the only messy place in this house) and get going on a mourning outfit for the DFWCG's Mourning Tea in October.  Right now, I honestly have no idea what I want to make.  I don't think I'll feel up to entering a new era (and the full set of undergarments it would entail) so that means sticking to 18th Century, Regency, 1870-1890, or fantasy.  I'm guess I'm kinda leaning toward 18th century, but we'll see what happens.

[identity profile] ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
Nice! Good for you.

Seriously, though. Gecko eggs? Creepy!

[identity profile] kaesha-nikovana.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

It's warm enough down here that the geckos run free in the wild. They prefer cool, dark, most spaces so I guess it's not too surprising that we'd find them in the wall space.

[identity profile] starlightmasque.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
That is a huge improvement! Nice work! It looks great!

Ten days in Hawaii--- aaaaahhhhh loooovely! Which Island? Have you been before? You are going to have a wonderful time!

[identity profile] kaesha-nikovana.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm really loving it. Although I haven't spent much time in it yet...we've mostly been eating at restaurants with Ben's parents the last several days.

We're going to Maui. I've never been before, but I've always wanted to. It's lucky for us that Ben's sister moved out there. It was just the nudge we all needed to schedule this vacation! Any tips on places we should definitely visit while we're there?

[identity profile] jenthompson.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
That looks fantastic! I love the color you picked for your walls. That made a HUGE difference!

I hope you have a wonderful time in Hawaii! I'm so jealous!

[identity profile] kaesha-nikovana.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I just can't get over how much a new coat of paint can change things!

I haven't been on a 'real' vacation in many, many years. Ben and I never even went on a honeymoon, so this is sort of making up for all that. ;)

[identity profile] padawansguide.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Great job, congrats!

And omg, gecko eggs?!

[identity profile] kaesha-nikovana.livejournal.com 2014-09-07 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I was pretty shocked when I took off that cover plate. I've never seen their eggs (even hatched ones) before!

[identity profile] jaelie.livejournal.com 2014-09-09 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! What a transformation! Great job. :)

[identity profile] jaelie.livejournal.com 2014-09-09 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
And those gecko egg shells were interesting. I love love love geckos. Not only are they soooo cute, but they eat cockroaches and other pesty bugs, too. ;)

[identity profile] kaesha-nikovana.livejournal.com 2014-09-23 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I'm with you on the gecko love. Anything that eats cockroaches is welcome here!