kitchen update

As promised. . . here is a ‘right now’ tour of our kitchen. To refresh your memory. . . here are a couple of pictures of what we started with:

Okay. . . I would like to point out in the picture above that there is a doorway on the left. For the last couple of years we have been living with that door shut and a rolling cart in front of it so there is counter next to the stove. As can be seen in this picture:

You can barley see it in the picture above. . .  but I want to point it out anyways. Look to the left of the dishwasher where our Realtor is standing. . . can you tell that the cabinet he is standing in front of is taller than the rest. That cabinet used to be about a foot taller than the others and made it really awkward AND made our kitchen feel smaller because your eye stopped at the end of that cabinet.  Here is a picture of just that cabinet:

Not getting a picture of this before he ripped it from the wall was a major oversight. . . . but I am making such a big deal about it because Jonathan re-made this cabinet into what you will see in the picture below. It is now even with the other cabinets which adds more usable counter space.  It was a LOT of work and dramatically changes the feel of our kitchen. It’s amazing how removing 12 inches of cabinetry can make a room feel so much bigger.

Still no cabinet doors so bear with all the distracting inside the cabinet mayhem. If you don’t know why I haven’t painted the cabinet doors yet. . .check out this post. I am also cooking a feast for my brother and sister while taking these pictures. . .just thought I would say the pots and pans on the stove are in use- I don’t keep them there :)

And now. . . .

Behold the remade cabinet that is the same height as all the other cabinets. And then give my husband a round of applause. Thank you.

Notice a major change here? THERE IS NO MORE DOOR!!! Skilled craftsman that he is . . Jonathan removed the door & framed in the wall. Because he is awesome.

This seems like a good place to mention the plan for this side of the kitchen. The side of the kitchen with the sink will be maintaining the same layout long term (although there will be the addition of more upper cabinetry, nothing is leaving this space). This is not the same story as the side of the kitchen with the stove and fridge. Pretty much everything is going and new cabinetry is coming in. It will be awesome. Mostly because I will have a PANTRY!!!! But also because we will bring a more unified/built in look to this side of the kitchen- which currently if we are being honest is really just a hodge podge of random cabinets and the cart. More details to come much later when we can afford to buy said cabinets. . . but I thought it was worth mentioning . . .especially since the importance of the wall Jonathan built lies in the cabinets to come.

Oh. . .and did you notice I painted a chalkboard wall? Oh yes I did.

There is also a fun plan for seating under the windows. I am very excited about it.

So there you have it. Very incomplete. . .but a lot of progress.

Still to come (as we save save save) are:

new counter tops & back splash

additional cabinets

refinished floors

enclosing the door behind the dishwasher (long story. . . I will post about it sometime)

window seating

oh. . . and PAINTING THE CABINET DOORS and re-installing them

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Today I am thankful to get to see my brother  & sister.