Hi Kitchen, Let me Introduce you to 2010!

Yay - I have finally have a modern-day kitchen - woo! Here is some before and after. Note: I realize that my "old" kitchen was a 90's kitchen, not trying to be dramatic. However, I feel the 'before' kitchen SCREAMED 90's and that the new one is much better for the new millennium. Just sayin'. Here goes....

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

What we did:

• Had granite installed.
• Had a new sink and faucet installed.
• Bought and installed new hardware for all drawers and cabinets.
• Bought stainless steel appliances to replace white appliances (had them installed; had plumber fix gas line).

What we didn't do:

• Replace backsplash. If I replaced it i'd want white subway tile. But it's already white tile so it's hard to justify changing it for a different shape!

What's left to do:

• Rip out all lighting. Have two pendants installed over island. Have one pendant installed over sink. Have pot lights put in kitchen and under-cabinet lighting installed.
• Have ceiling painted white.
• Have crown installed.

The last project isn't just the kitchen - it's that WHOLE room. It's going to be the last big project we do and I think it's going to make a big impact!!

What do you think?!

Range is In!

The plumber was able to come on Friday - only $125 to recess the gas line! (which was set off by the 15% off on the range due to the dent in the side that no one will see!). I'll get better pics once the microwave is in... and without smudge marks! :)

Two more to go! The D/W and microwave are being delivered on Thursday but here is the range so far!

Nightstands I Think I Want...

I like the Pottery Barn nightstands below... I've had my eye on them for a while. They were cheaper before (I had a wedding offer... I'll have to find it on this blog from like last year! At least I know this won't go out of style - clearly!) It's normally $400... today it's $350. But I need two... so $700 before tax. I think my favorite part is the size: 28" wide, 18" deep and 27" high. I also think it will complement my headboard well! Thoughts??! Should I buy? Or should I wait and try to find them at the outlets? Or should I ask Michelle for the discount her friend used to get?

Green Guest Room Gets Wall Art

I finally got some good pics of a new project – wall art! For our wedding we had guests sign a piece of canvas that my sister had written a big M on! Then, 2 years later, my lazy butt had it put on wooden backers at a framers. Now, it hangs proudly in our guest room – I love looking at it. It’s about 3’x5’ – and I personally think it looks better in person!

close up!

farther away!

what do you think?!

Chop 'Em Down... Chop 'Em Down...

Before (note the for sale sign during March 2009)

After (and exactly 1 year later; March 2010)

Close up

Close up of the two!

I'm pretty happy! Stacy says, "it looks like your house got its eyebrows waxed." I totally agree, and I think it's like a haircut, it takes some getting used to! Devon agrees, we definitely need to remove that bush "the gum drop" in the front by itself looking all random.

My only complaint? I asked for 6' tall. It's on the quote. These seem 5' to me... I know that may seem picky, but that's like 15% shorter... I'm going to measure tonight when Austin gets home...

What do you think?

Appliances - ordered!

Thursday night me and Austin made the trek out to Brandsmart. We got quotes on the Maytag Range, microwave and dishwasher that I had been eying. Friday after work I headed over to Lowe's and handed him the prices. He honored all of the prices, gave me a good price on install and no tax on the microwave and dishwasher. They should come in in two weeks (boo) - I was SO READY to have it installed asap! :) Here's pics of our selections - can't wait to get them in. And I need to remember to do the rebate - we get $100 back from the state of GA on the dishwasher - woo!

Dining Room Project: Complete!

Here’s some pics!!

BEFORE

After - the final "Dining Room Project" was the 10 frame gallery on the back wall.

Another shot

The frames include black and white pictures of some of our favorite artists (Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Aerosmith, Ramones) and lyrics from some of our favorite songs (You're My Best Friend, So Happy Together, Banana Pancakes and Here Comes the Sun).

Some close ups....

Still on a bit of a hiatus

There's so much we have here ready to do but time has not been on our side! At the earliest we'll do some next weekend as this weekend we will be with family and at Austin's grandmother's visitation/funeral... then Austin flies out Sunday to Thursday for work so... it's definitely going to be slow going as we like to do it all together. (especially when it comes to hanging things... I can't do it without him!!).

So... more good things are to come but it will be a while!!

I know, I know... where have I been??

This always happens. I get the buzz. I do a bunch of shit. Then NOTHING. I think the problem is that we've lost momentum. I'll see if I can get Austin to hang some shelves tonight in the half bath. Just for the blog... :)

LOVE my New Euros!

Yay for West Elm, and for Devon for getting these pillows, introducing me, and getting me a GREAT deal. I LOVE them!!

Do you like it better like this?! One brown pillow only....



OR like this, with the little pillow, too?!

I think the little pillow may not be little enough. :(

Merry Christmas to Me!!! And Austin of course... :) hehe

I'm loving it. I made about 22 meals yesterday and stocked it up. I think it's going to be SO GREAT! Now I just want the other 3 in stainless.... hmmm. :)

A New Housekeeper!

Taize just came over for a walk through, to give a quote, etc. LOVE her. She is adorable and so sweet. Reuben loved her, too. And she even hugged me when she left - love fellow huggers!

She will start next week - WOO! And, I think she's going to do a great job - she is very into details and was pointing out lots of things that weren't cleaned properly (by her standards). She's too cute - so happy to have her - YAY. Thanks for the great rec mom - she says you're SO sweet!

In other news, my fridge is not coming today and i've been all over them and still haven't heard about tomorrow. GRRRR.

Hall Closet... Slowly but Surely

The wine rack is in.

The hooks are put together.

The umbrella stand is put together.

Now we need to hang the two shelves and hang the hooks... then I need to find some accents (galvanized buckets; cubes, etc.)

Maybe tonight? I don't know. My day sucked.

Hall Closet Items...

It's coming together! In the meantime, check out what i'm going to go pick up today at Ikea!

Three of these hook sets - love them! Only $10 each!



Two of these shelves - only $6 each!



Four of these brackets - only $4 each!

One umbrella stand $15

All of these items, as well as a galvanized bucket from Ace Hardware (for shoes) and a few baskets for the shelves will be it! Well, this will be in there, too.

Silver wine rack

I think the black/silver stuff will look good with this wine rack! I, personally, didn't want to have the wine rack in there, but Austin really wanted it in there and he pretty much lets me do what I want when it comes to home decor so I said no problem! :)

New Euros for the Master - woo!

I copied my sister and got these West Elm pillows! Mine are like the light brown one in the front/right in a 24"x24" size - Euros!

Another shot... LOVE!

A close up on the color we chose!


I’ve been meaning to replace the swirl Euros in my bedroom – and she got these and I LOVE THEM! I actually like the other side better – it’s burlapish. But I also like the corduroy side – it’s super soft and like Chenille I think – love! So on to the amazing sale…the pillow covers were $28 each – so $56. However, they were on sale for $25 so $50. And, I had design dollars, basically a $25 gift certificate, so $25 for TWO West Elm Euro pillows! So I try to order online but need to use my West Elm credit card to be able to use the design dollars. I can’t find the card anywhere. So I call, and they’re on a “phone sale” so they’re $20 each – so $40 with $25 off so $15. However, free shipping didn’t apply on this item, so add $8 to $23. I ended up getting them with tax included for $25 – WOO! I can’t wait to see them!

In other news:

• We wanted to put together the other ladder shelf for Austin’s office but we couldn’t find the hardware. Found it! Putting it together today.
• We cleaned out the hall closet (which was how we found the hardware0 - it's now TOTALLY EMPTY. I also worked with Austin and we put together the final plans for it. I’ll post tomorrow – LOVE IT! I’m going to hit up Ikea tomorrow to get everything.
• I’m working on the dining room project today – WOO!

Thanks again, Dev, for telling me about this great find - you rock!!

One Stainless Appliance Down.... 3 to go!

This is mine. Or at least it will be on Thursday when it's delivered, and officially next month when Amex sends me the bill and we pay it. Whatever. It's mine. I mean ours. Of course. hehe

Yes, we went for the Samsung french door stainless fridge - hello 26 cubic feet of food storage. This model is the RF268ABRS... here's a back story of why I ended up with this slightly out of no where.

• Austin found it on sale for $1,400 at Best Buy, Sears and Lowe's through Slickdeals (originally $2,200) for Black Friday.
• Me, mom and Dev were sitting around on Black Friday chillin'. I mentioned it. Mom told me to go buy it at that amazing price and Devon said she would go with. We left.
• Best Buy: there is a sign on it - it's not $1,400. THAT was an error. The white one is $1,400... stainless is $1,700. But Sears has it at $1,400. I prove it. He calls to price match and they say no price matching on Black Friday. We leave.
• Sears: it's $1,700. We show him the ad. He says it's white. We are like um, no, it's stainless. He says the model # (RF268ABRS) is for stainless... so even though the picture is stainless the white is what's $1,400. We leave. Pissed off.
• Lowe's: it's $2,400. Wah??? The guy says he'll price match the $1,700, but that the model they have is better than the one's at Best Buy/Sears - it has two icemakers (as opposed to just the one in the door). I don't need two icemakers. I tell him this. He says I do, and makes a good point. So he says this one is $2,400 ($200 more than the other one). However, he'll give me the $1,700 price. At this point, i'm like well... $1,700 is still a $500 savings... but now it's a $700 savings and I get an extra icemaker for free. Shipping is free. Installation is free.
• I buy it - $1,825 out the door for a $2,400 fridge (would have been $2,568 with tax) - so a cost savings of $743.
• WOW. I'm happy. I love it. I love that it will really fill the fridge space our house has. I love the ice/water in the door. I love the digital screen. I love the french doors. I'm just LOVING it.
• When does it arrive? Thursday - the first day available which so happened to be my work from home day. LOVELY.

I'm still on a total rug cloud... swoon... but seriously - a fridge?! I'm PUMPED. Now it's time to begin researching the stove, dishwasher and microwave. No, I won't be buying Samsung. But I will get the other three in the same suite/brand!

I'll post pics once it's in. I. Can't. Wait.

Rugs... And Lots of 'Em Thanks to Devon + PB

So… my rug was delivered today around 1:30 p.m. I was SO excited. My sister was even over and couldn’t wait to see it, too. The guy takes it out of the fedex truck and I’m like oh shiz… it’s THIN. He takes it in, leaves and I roll it out and it’s WAY too thin, not at all what I had in mind. More like an outdoor rug. Total FAIL. My sister’s like come on, we’re going to the Pottery Barn Outlet now! So we hop in her SUV and ride up to the outlets.

I find one I LOVE for the pool table area and I’m still looking and looking and then they come over and say an additional 30% off all rugs. Then, a guy says if you go to the food court you can get a 20% one item at Pottery Barn… um, that’s it! We start pulling out so many rugs. I ended up with FOUR rugs:

1. Pool table area: 8x10 Natural Stripes Rug; Originally $549; on sale for $200, with 30% off… $140!


2. Dining room: 8x10 Chanille Rug; Originally $400; on sale for $250, with 30% off AND $20 off… $140!


3. Living room: 5x8 Links Rug; Originally $429; on sale for $130, with 30% off…$91!


4. Entryway: 3x5 Links Rug; Originally $179; on sale for $34, with 30% off….$24!

So, yes, I got FOUR Pottery Barn rugs for $395, with 7% tax a grand total of: $422.65. And, I had a leftover wedding gift card for $58.14… make that grand total: $364.51.

The other rug (the one that I ordered but was thin – blah) was $350 ($374.50 with tax). So yes, I got FOUR rugs for $10 less than the one I didn’t even like and isn’t nearly as nice/high quality as the Pottery Barn ones. I feel SO lucky today – yesss. So, here’s pics… I hope you like as much as we do!!

Ah... who doesn't love a fabulous sale?!! Clearly i'm still on a shopping high!


The seating area/pool table area rug and the new side tables!

The new dining room rug!

The new den rug (same as entry way rug - just a larger size!)

Entry way rug (smaller version of livign room rug)