What I Did on my Summer Vacation: Kitchen Remodel (part 2)

I love my finished kitchen! I did all the painting and changed the cabinet hardware, but then the professionals took over and put in new stainless steel appliances, a new countertop, subway tiled backsplash, and a new sink. 

I love the color scheme my designer suggested; it feels like a completely new kitchen. Check it out - the After pictures are first!

Gray walls with white tiled backsplash and dark countertops gives it a more modern look. My traveling souvenirs can be easily seen above the cupboards. I'm so glad Maytag has a magnetic stainless refrigerator!

Before - 

Definitely more of a country feel with navy and cream colors. It looks so dark and busy.

 

Picture Perfect

I really didn't know what I was looking for. But I found it. And I love it; it's absolutely perfect!

When I decided to remodel my kitchen, I also decided to take down everything I had on the walls - my wonderful printer box filled with little objects (I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I had planned on putting it in another room - that plan has changed, so it's now in "storage" in the basement), a spoon rack, and a collage picture frame. They were all fine, but I was ready for a new look. I needed something special for the one full wall in the kitchen/dining area.

A friend and I went to several art galleries and browsed through the art work. I knew I wanted a landscape print, but wasn't certain of anything else (meadow, forest, countryside,?). Several pieces at the Lake Effect Gallery caught my eye; they were all by the same artist - Lois Rodgers. I was drawn to one piece in particular - it reminded me of the desert in the land of Israel, with little tufts of grass in the sand and a small tree (acacia?). I looked at several other prints but kept returning to this one. It reminded me of my trips to Israel and conveyed such a peaceful, serene mood. When I saw the title of the piece, I realized the artist hadn't painted the Israeli desert, but that was all right - I could see the desert in the painting. The piece gradually drew me in and I began to think of it as "my" painting and knew it was the right one.

I picked up the finished art work today and was able to meet the artist! How sweet of her to come to the gallery to talk with me; she was so nice. I love the fact that she is a former elementary art teacher.  

Melanie and Lois Rodgers (artist)

I love this piece for several reasons and can see so much symbolism in it:

- the landscape reminds me of the desert in Israel, my trips there, and all I learned about God in that land

- the tree bent by the sand and wind is still standing, reminding me that if I have deep roots I can withstand the winds of this life

- the tree's strength reminds me to find my strength in God

- the little tufts of grass remind me that God will provide me with just enough (my daily bread)

- the piece is actually a sand dune - I love that fact that you can't see what's on the other side from this vantage point. It reminds me of the hope I have in Christ, for eternity.

- I love the stillness and calm the painting gives. I hear the words: "Be still and know that I am God" when I look at it.

- I also love that my friend was with me when I found it, so it reminds me of friendship.

I have not taken any art classes and really know very little about art. I never understood what people were talking about when they discussed art. But this piece spoke to me (and still does, even though it's only been in my home for ten hours). I think it's so cool that I have these thoughts and feelings which are probably very different than what Lois was thinking/feeling when she was painting it. Maybe that's part of the definition of art.

And it's perfect in my kitchen.  

     

What I Did on my Summer Vacation: Kitchen Remodel (part 1)

It all started with the appliances. I've now lived in my house for twenty years (can that be possible???) and the appliances were not new when I moved in. The refrigerator had been making occasional little noises for quite a while, so I knew it was time to buy new ones. That was all I was going to do - spend my income tax refund and get new kitchen appliances: fridge, stove, dishwasher, and microwave.

My parents bought me this microwave back in 1988 when I was teaching in McBain, MI! It is one of my favorite gifts from them. It has been well used!

Then I started thinking. Maybe I should paint the kitchen walls as long as I was getting new appliances; update the look a little bit. And as long as I was updating, how about new countertops...and a new sink...and a new backsplash... Two months later, it's almost done - just waiting on some artwork and curtains to finish everything off. I ended up doubling my budget and then totally forgetting about a budget at all. But I love the finished room. And I don't plan on moving anytime soon, so I'll get to enjoy it.

For someone who doesn't do well with making decisions, I've come a long way - with a big thank you to some good friends who went shopping with me and gave me advice as well as a wonderful interior design consultant, Debbie Rooks, who told me what to get and where to get it! 

The kitchen remodel basically took on two different parts: what I did and what the experts did. This is what I did:

1. Paint the kitchen as well as the mudroom and hallway. Not a fun job!

Toby was definitely curious about the paint

2. Change the hardware on all the cupboards: 254 screws unscrewed and then 254 new screws put on. It seems like such a little thing, but it makes a huge difference in the finished kitchen. (Of course the holes didn't fit exactly with the new hinges.)

I did all the handles first and then started on the hinges

3. I decided this would be a good time to clean out and rearrange all the cupboards. Oh my - I found things in the back of cupboards I didn't even know I had! (The local mission resale store got several boxes of "collectables.") I reorganized everything and applied a few Pinterest ideas as well. 

 (in progress)

I bought new canisters, containers for boxes/mixes, and turntables for baking things. Every cupboard is now organized; we'll see how long it lasts!

This is what it looked like when my part was done; the painting, hardware change, and cupboard reorganization took about 2 weeks. Next post - the experts come.

The Mouse in my House

There’s a mouse in my house. Oh, what will I do?

There’s a mouse in my house. Has this ever happened to you?

It was really a mouse peeking in my living room;

dark brown and furry – he looked quite well-groomed.

But it was such a surprise when I turned to see

a very real mouse looking straight at me!

Now he left the room and went down the hall.

I’ll just ignore him and stay on the couch, after all.

Oh no, he came back – and scurried all around,

at least he’s still scurrying down on the ground!

Ignoring him won’t work; I’ll quick take a shower instead.

“This is not the way my morning should start,” I said as I fled.

I dressed in a hurry and took a peek out the door.

I couldn’t see mousie anywhere on the floor.

But just as I crossed the kitchen to leave

the mouse ran under the stove; yes – I shrieked!

I went through the day with my kids at school

with mouse thoughts constantly invading my thought-pool.

I bought several traps after asking advice,

the man at the hardware store said the old-fashioned ones worked nice.

Four traps all set, peanut butter the bait,

Now all I have to do is just wait.

I went out for supper, prayed the mouse would be caught,

but when I came back, nothing was in the traps I had bought.

I sat for a while, wondering where he might be,

then decided to spend the night elsewhere, so he wouldn’t find me!

The next day showed evidence my mouse friend was clever,

The seeds near the trap were gone, but no traps had been touched whatsoever.

I bought more remedies, including poison, for this endeaver;

anything to get this mouse out of my house forever.

This time the seeds were put on the trap,

nestled in peanut butter, underneath the flap.

As night approached I cautiously went to bed

with dreams of “dead-mouse” filling my head.

The next morning I awoke and went to see

the traps I had set, what would there be?

As I stood in the kitchen I was filled with relief

at the sight of the mouse, dead beyond belief!

But I also felt a little sorry for him,

whose life had ended so tragically grim.

After saying goodbye and disposing of the mouse,

I can thankfully say: There’s no longer a mouse in my house!