Kitchen transformation

I finally got around to painting the kitchen this weekend. The weather on Saturday was craptastic, and Andre had to work all day which was also craptastic, so I decided to paint. I was using Benjamin Moore's low VOC paint 'Aura', so there was definitely a learning curve, but I am very pleased with the results. The colour that I chose with the help of their consultant works fabulously with the drapes that I had chosen, and compliments the counter, back splash and the main floor paint colour. The kitchen finally feels fresh, and bright now. A good thing in such a small kitchen.

To remind you all of what the kitchen looked like the first time we saw it:

It was blah and well...green, until I ripped off all that wallpaper:
Oh the wonderful orange paint that we found underneath. Along with about 25 nail holes that had to be refilled.

This is what the kitchen looks like at this exact moment in time:

I still have to paint all the baseboards and paint the trim around the window that has only been primed, but I'm just so happy with the kitchen I had to share. You can tell by all the added storage solutions that I am very short on cupboard space, and well prep space for that matter. Until we can afford a very necessary kitchen reno this will have to do. Until then my dreams consist of glossy subway tile back splashes, and neutral countertops...

Stay tuned for a paint review and comparison. Hopefully it won't be another two weeks in the making!!

Awesome

I was reading through a blog that I follow and I came across this video of a unique entrance that a couple did at their wedding.

I thought some of you might enjoy it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

(I tried to make the video show up in my blog, but it's not co-operating with me, so you'll have to deal with a link instead!)

Bye Bye Wallpaper!

For anyone that saw my house in all it's 70's/80's tackiness will know that quite a few rooms had wallpaper. The front hall, dining room, bathroom, kitchen and office all had wallpaper. After today the only room that is left with wallpaper is the office.

I had the day off today. After Andre left for work I was left wondering what to do with myself. I was very tempted to spend the day sitting around reading, but decided that I would tackle the kitchen. Sadly this room has been sitting half done for about 7 months. For some reason the fact that this room was incomplete didn't bother me as much as the others. That and I was completely undecided about colour to paint the room.

So after I kissed my honey good bye I got dressed, threw my hair in a ponytail and got to tackling the one remaining wall with wallpaper.

To refresh your memory, this is what the kitchen looked like when we saw the house for the first time:

(listing photos)

Unfortunately you can't see in much detail the wonderful green wallpaper and border that fully compliments the green trim, the green counter top, the green back splash, and the green knobs.

And this is what the kitchen looked like today after I finished taking down the wallpaper:

I know you all are so jealous of the now bright peach on the walls. (And complete lack of storage.)

The little bits of colour on either side of the window is the actual colour that I have chosen for the kitchen. I was at a total loss choosing the colour that would not only have to work with the green, but the new drapes on the window, and the colour that we have painted the entire main floor. After a fruitless trip to Home Depot I ended up at a local Benjamin Moore dealer. I needed help.

After about 15 minutes maximum, the wonderful consultant had helped me narrow down some colours and then I finally decided on "Desert Tan". I also chose their new Aura paint (I'm so not telling Andre that one gallon cost $70!). I had been thinking about trying a new low VOC paint, and not only does Aura fit the bill, but it's also a 3-in-1 paint, meaning it primes, can go over oil or latex paint, and it is scrubbable, which is much needed in a kitchen. The bonus is that apparently it dries super quickly, so it's ready for the next coat in only an hour!

So here are some close-ups of the new paint choice for the kitchen:

What do you think?

Unfortunately my work weeks are pretty busy, so I will not have any after shots for you all until I have a weekend free to paint. Hopefully that will be this Sunday, since Andre and I will be at my grandparents cottage for their annual summer BBQ all day Saturday.

The perfect summer day

I think that day is today. There is not a cloud in the sky. Only blue as far as the eye can see. Some people would say the day is cold because it's (only) 25 degrees, but I think it's perfect.
Just a pair of light pants and a t-shirt and you're ready to go. This is my kind of day! Too bad I'm stuck at work until 7 tonight!

Bargain Shopping!

My mother and I have a routine every Sunday for the most part. We go to Tim Horton's for breakfast, sometimes after church, sometimes instead of church (shhh don't tell!) and then do a little shopping to pick up some odds and ends that were in the sale flyers. Then I usually make sure to put everything away before Andre gets home from work that night!

So this Sunday my mother had to go and pick up a ring that she had repaired, and I had to get my wedding rings that I had re dipped. We arrived at the mall just before it opened, and the only store that was open was Bowrings. My mother and I love this store. It has everything. Gifty picture frames, candle holders, furniture, dishes, you name it, they probably have it.

I have been searching for something to put on the one wall in the dining room. I couldn't decide on whether I wanted a hutch, buffet, or console table. All I knew is that I needed something on that wall.

Then I spotted it. A beautiful console table, on sale (!). It was a floor model and had been loved, and was covered in other sale merchandise. It had a few little nicks and scratches, but it was so great. So I asked the saleswoman if it was on sale (knowing full well it was). She said that one had a few scratches, but she could order a new one for me if I wished. I told her I wanted this one, and the $399 table was mine for $150.

I'm so lucky Andre doesn't really bat an eye at my furniture buying. He got home from work and took it surprisingly well when I told him I went out and just bought a table from the dining room. I think he was hoping I had bought a piece of art for the wall instead.

So here are some pictures of the new table!

The table in it's new home in the dining room.

The table with the one side pulled out. Both sides fold out which will come in handy at family dinners.

Here is a picture of the entire dining room.

(before I unwrapped the table)

You can see from this picture what I mean about needing something for that one wall. It is so bare. The dining room table looked so bare in that room all alone. At least now it has some company. We have some family photos that we have picked out for the narrow wall on the opposite side of the doorway, we just need to buy some frames, since I want all the frames to be black. Now I just have to find something to put above the table. Something with green and neutral tones to flow with the living room.

Any suggestions?