Tale of a Kitchen Make-Over...Part Two!

 
Remember a few weeks ago when I promised to show you photos of my sister Wendy's kitchen makeover?
Well, I drove three and a half hours for the reveal (and to be served the most elegant lunch in her new kitchen), only to realize I forgot my camera! Lucky for both of us, she has a good friend with a great camera and photography skills who snapped a few so I/we could share.



You might remember the before photo I showed you:



 

Well, here is one of the after shots:





Isn't is so fresh and pretty? My sister has an unfailing eye for putting together what the rest of us might think won't work. I always liken her style to that of an artist's; because don't they always have the most fantastic spaces? Sometimes more daring, but always edited with a knowing vision.


She and her hard-working (and handy!) husband did this make-over on a conservative budget and stretched their dollars as well as Wendy's design muscles.
It involved mostly paint, new counter-tops, HARD labour, one new appliance (an over-the-range micro-wave), and a new faucet.


And a whole LOT of style!!!


Small details can mean so much:





The new kitchen faucet is from ATG Stores.com  (which I love for its one stop shopping when doing home renovation!) for her review, and you can read about it here. She is still on the hunt for her dream sink but was happy to find that a thorough buffing to her current sink was all that was needed to make it shine again. Another savings!!!


Head on over to Wendy's blog and check out all of the other photos and details of this make-over. Be sure to say hi and check out all of her other renovations at  The House She Calls Home


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Source URL: https://threemoonsevolving.blogspot.com/search/label/kitchens
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The Tale of a Kitchen Make-Over...Part One!

(My sister's kitchen before its new makeover. Stay tuned to the big reveal next week!)


Are you living with a kitchen you'd love to make over? Do you mentally make lists of the things you'd like to change if given the money, time or DIY skills? Would it involve major changes or as my sister likes to call it, "a lipstick makeover"?


Because that is just what she did recently.


Hours and hours of painting, new countertops, sink, faucet, lighting, hardware and she is now the proud owner of a refreshed, beautiful kitchen - one to be proud of. I am heading her way this weekend with Sophie as my backseat passenger and we are going to be received for lunch in her new kitchen.


And I can't wait!


What can I say? I love it when anyone does any form of home improvement project! It is so fun to share in their excitement and see something transformed into something more beautiful. My sister and her husband have laboured over their makeover for many, many weeks. I will share photos with you as soon as I get the green light from her!


What would I do if I could create a new kitchen for myself?

Although I love my current kitchen, I would definitely change everything up if I were to rebuild (which we will at some point). In the meantime, this kitchen has some of the elements that I love. Because I, too, make lists of what I'd love in a new kitchen! Don't you?
Source URL: https://threemoonsevolving.blogspot.com/search/label/kitchens
Visit Future Design Interior for daily updated images of art collection

Moving Backwards...

(My new blue chairs, embellished with number decals from the fabulous Leen, the Graphics Queen!!)


I have had a style epiphany of sorts. It seems that at a time in my life when I should be seeking out quality and making furniture investments, I am doing a bit of a backslide. I read many blogs where they are purchasing "quality pieces for their home" and mulling over each buying decision with as much thought as they plan their retirements. Cheaper make-do furnishings are being given away or sold to make room for newer, more permanent, quality additions.


So. what is wrong with me?


Even if I could spend the kind of money to purchase "better," I am not sure that I would. With two teen-age sons, university costs are looming and, technically, I am not "there" just yet. It seems silly to wander furniture stores when real-life expenses like that are almost upon us.


But that's not the point.


This picture (I bought it from from Kiki and Polly.com) depicts me in this time of my life:







Need/Want, need/want, need want...


Sure, as someone who sees many things I like, I have pangs to actually go out and get them. But I have matured in some ways and realize that just because I want something doesn't mean I need it...or deserve it.


And then there is the simple fact that I am pretty fickle when it comes to style. I can easily become lured in by a beautiful object, fabric or piece of furniture and it can set me to daydreaming about change. Luckily, budget and good old common sense can keep it in check for the most part, but I LIKE CHANGE!


So, even if I could spend $300 (or more) on a chair for my dining table, well, I need six!
And then what happens when I get tired of that look and want or need change?


I think IKEA is the place for people like me. Sure, there is a snobbery to some that IKEA is for college students or those on a tight budget...those who don't crave quality.


But I say this: sometimes quality is (dare I say it?) boring. Maybe not at first, when its shapely form or plush fabric seduces you from across a room. But let's face it. The shine comes off everything after a while and becomes vegetable lasagna.  And I haven't been disappointed by an IKEA piece, yet!


So what have I done?


I have embraced my inner college student and stored my perfectly fine but perfectly boring (read, unstylish) dining chairs and bought these $20 cuties from IKEA, in the softest shade of blue!



Seriously fun and sturdy, they can be easily cast aside and put to use elsewhere in my home when I fall for the charms of something else.


Something better? More quality, perhaps?


We'll see.


For now, I will go back to my flower and the want/need approach to decorating. Some things are worth the wait, for sure, and some things are just good, cheap fun!
Source URL: https://threemoonsevolving.blogspot.com/search/label/kitchens
Visit Future Design Interior for daily updated images of art collection