Well guys, I think it’s time to address our kitchen. Here it is when we bought the house last year (wear your sunglasses):

Kitchen Before. Yikes!

Kitchen Before. Looking into eating nook

Kitchen Before. Eating Nook.

The last picture gives you an idea of the terribly bright green color they had going on with that orange-y oak trim and pinkish linoleum flooring. Oh, we can’t forget the mismatched outlet covers and missing ceiling fixture. That very picture window is the window we peeked into when we first came to look at this house. I know the kitchen is hideous but oh, the potential and the kitchen is huge!

Here is what we’ve done so far…:

Kitchen in Progress

(Sorry, no updated picture of the eating nook. One day I’ll get one,)

Here is what we did:

Painted: Benjamin Moore’s Saybrook Sage Color matched in Olympic Premium no VOC paint (It matches perfectly with the green tiles in the back splash. It’s a nice muddy sage color. We have lived with it for a year and with our new plans in mind it may have to change)

Tile Back Splash: from Home Depot but I have no idea what brand they are or if they are sold anymore, sorry.

Floor Tiles: Lowes or Home Depot and again I have no idea what the brand is but they were cheap.

Counter Tops: Lowes Slate Sequoia

Hardware: changed to something less brassy and more simple and modern.  This is the closet I can find to what we have but we bought a multi pack.

We also painted all the trim white, cut the scallop trim over the window so it’s a simple straight line and changed out the outlet covers.

I wanted to paint the kitchen cabinets white in the worst way but the husband is against it.

Here are out plans to make further updates to the kitchen:

One: we are going to stain or glaze the kitchen cabinets a dark chocolate brown or espresso. I’m hoping this happens sooner, rather than later. We are lucky to have nice cabinets but I’m not a fan of oak. We are looking into Rustoleum

Two: Re-paint the walls Oatlands Subtle Taupe (Valspar). We have this color in our hallway off the kitchen and it’s my favorite color. The color swatch on the computer comes out a little pinkish but it’s a beautiful taupe/gray and nice and light/bright. I think with the dark cabinets and counter tops that the sage green might make it too cave like. This should freshen it up.

Three: The back peninsula that you see in the first pic is going to get a coating of magnetic/chalk board paint. I think this is a fun way for the little one to hang out in the kitchen with us. My best friend gave me the idea awhile ago and I’ve been keeping the idea stored in the back of my mind for about a year.

Four: Adding two Billie bookcases (IKEA) to the left side of the eating nook. You can’t really see it in any of the picks but this wall needs something. Right now we have an antique sideboard that Josh and I restored and it’s just not working for me. To the bar it shall go. The Billies will add extra storage underneath the solid doors and decoration behind the glass doors on top.

Five: A new light fixture to replace the ceiling fan (seen in the last kitchen photo). The ceiling fan itself is never used because it blows the flame on the stove around too much and after a year I learned that we simply just don’t use it. I’m not firmly set on this IKEA fixture but something simple, classic, and modern should do.

Six: We want to find or make dark stained windows and place mirrors behind them and hang them on the right side wall of the eating nook. Originally, I wanted to put Billies on that wall but we have heat baseboards in the way. Boo!

Seven: Hang potted herbs, like the picture above, in front of the sink window. I’d also like to add a roman shade to that window but I haven’t found the right fabric yet.

Eight: Add a new table and chairs to the eating nook (these are from Target but I’m not set on this set). Right now we have a four seat pub height table and chairs. I like it but I think a normal height is more family friendly. We can move the pub table/chairs to the bar.

Nine: Ikea Stockholm Curtains. We already have these hanging in the kitchen nook and love them. They are staying.

So that’s my plan for updating the kitchen this year. I don’t know if Josh is completely on board yet but I’m pretty persuasive .