It’s all in the details

It’s all in the details….my sanity, that is.

If there’s one thing I’ve found to be true throughout this process it’s that details keep me going.  When progress stops, contractors fail, and all hope seems lost, I can easily lose myself in revisiting the details that will *someday* fill the kitchen…the nursery…the house.

Somehow, that calms my nerves, eases the tension, and leaves me ready to face the next day.

Give me a pencil and a sheet of graph paper, and I’m set.

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Here’s a look at where we are now.  Beachboy has about 4 feet to go until all three spaces have flooring.  Alas, work won’t resume again until Monday.  This weekend brings with it out of town guests.  That leaves us just a few fleeting weekends to go.  8 weeks until we’re “due.”  I’m hoping for a late baby.  How often do you hear a momma say THAT?

 

 

The Plan: Laundry, Mud, Craft Room

Who knew a laundry room could be so exciting!?

I think it’s fair to say that I’m as excited about the new laundry/mud/craft room as I am about the kitchen.  For nearly 5 years, the laundry has been a chore: storing it on the kitchen floor (YUCK), folding it in the bedroom, hanging it to dry on the breakfast room chairs….chaos, in short.  When BeachBoy suggested working a true home management room into the plan, I was all ears!

The most underutilized room in our house is the room we’ve been planning to turn into a library.  However, with a little craftiness, we have devised a plan that will let us have a library AND a work room. Can I get a WOOHOO, ya’ll?!

The room measures 14’9″ x 7’6″.  Awkward, to say the least.  But, I’m willing to make it work.

Here’s a sneak peek.

View #1: Looking into the room from the office-to-be.   From far to near on the right wall, there will be: washer/dryer, cabinet, sink, cabinet, freezer, broom cabinet.  On the opposite wall, the counter will stretch between the cabinets, allowing me a space for crafting and sewing! (Pinch me; I must be dreaming!!!) Walking into the room, the space on your left will have a shoe drop and coat hooks.  We’ll start using the exterior door in this room as our main entry point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View #2 Looking through the exterior wall from the back yard.  You’ll notice that the cabinet over the washer/dryer is the wrong size.  That will be a combination of cabinetry and open shelves.  A hanging rack will be incorporated on that wall, as well.  The window over the sink will be a leaded or stained glass window to the master bedroom (which is composed of all interior walls, as you may remember) The office/kitchen is through the doorway on the right side of the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View #3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View #4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, for the fun part!

Picture this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I keep our home very neutral, so the project room seemed like the perfect place to bring a little playfulness into our home.  I was smitten when I found this reproduction tile online.  (Let’s see what happens when I request a quote though!)

I’m thinking of going with an aged brass for the hardware (gasp!) and a fun color for the cabinets.  I have decided, however, not to decide on the cabinet color until everything is in the space.  It’s a very small room, and I want to keep the option of leaving them white if need be.  There’s no need to make the room feel even smaller, right!?

 

BeachBoy doesn’t want the space closed off with a door, but I have concerns since guests will walk past the room when we entertain (to get to the back yard).  I’m thinking a fun pocket door might be just the compromise we need.  Perhaps frosted or reeded glass?  Maybe a cute etched phrase?  We’ll see! (I have just the magazine clipping in mind….now, where is my inspiration folder?)

 

So, what do you think?

 

 

Ikea Cabinets Have Arrived

It took a full 12 hours, but we bought, loaded, and unloaded the cabinets.  The house now looks like an Ikea warehouse.

Let the building begin!

 

 

Kitchen Dreams

I have the kitchen on my brain, and I just can’t shake it.  For a few years now, I’ve been dreaming of this range:

I visit it online often.  So, imagine my dismay when I realized today that the ivory version now comes with chrome accents instead of brass. It threw my whole plan for a loop.  To make matters worse, the lovely clock is now an ugly digital version.  Really, what WERE they thinking?

Apparently, the hammered black version still comes with brass accents, but it’s not my first true love.  Nevertheless, I built a little dream board around it tonight.  Someday soon, I hope to have a real kitchen to go with my collection of pictures.

 

The Hope of Progress

What an exciting weekend it was at our little cottage! 

On Saturday, we met with a contractor in order to obtain estimates for the many to-do’s on our list. For once, it looks as if our dollars will stretch farther than we had anticipated.  What a lovely feeling that is!  As a result, we’re now considering a kitchen remodel. 

I’ve been playing around with Ikea’s wonderful kitchen design program.  We are considering using their cabinets as a starting place for the kitchen and having a few custom sizes made to match, in order to best utilize our space. 

 Here is an overview of one of the plans I’m considering.

Also on the project list?

• Finishing work in the main bathroom
• Remodling the petite master bath (I have my eyes set on honed marble.)
• New walls, floors, and a raised ceiling in the library (bookshelves, too!)
• Adding a set of interior french doors between the master bedroom and the library
• Closing off an existing doorway between the master bedroom and kitchen
• Refinishing all of the hardwood floors

Here are a few inspiration pictures.

AJC- Heinz Properties

Doors between the master bedroom and library

 

Kitchen Sink Cabinetry. I’d also like to mimic this detail on the shelving in the library. I hope to find some old windows to incorportate into the bookcases, as well.

Ikea Fans (brickmanhouse)

Ikea Cabinetry

GardenWeb

Blogspot

Full wall of tile around the kitchen window

Newlyweddiaries

Hutch-styled cabinetry in the kitchen

This weekend, I found a great table on Craigslist.  It’s actually a coffee table, but the size is just right for a kitchen island.  I’ll be taking it off of the low base and putting it on a new one, turning it into an island.  What a steal this will be!

Craigslist Find: This $85 coffee table is about to become my new kitchen island.