Kitchen Reno Week 6

One of my most anticipated projects on this kitchen reno started this week - the floor. The old flooring  is a really gross yellow/gold vinyl flooring that wasn't just in the kitchen, but extended all the way up to the front door. It was in a bad shape. When my mom and I first got in and started cleaning we were hoping that the floor just needed a good scrub and then would be good to go for a while even if it wasn't pretty. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It wasn't coming clean no matter how much scrubbing was involved. Let's just say, I haven't walked barefooted downstairs since I bought this house...because of the floor.

I had originally wanted ceramic tile in my entry way and kitchen. That is the tile that I knew and thought I wanted. My mom has it in her house and has lasted a really long time. But as I looked around I was presented with some different options. I chose Congoleum Duraceramic in Warm Pewter. It is a tile that is glued down, but can be grouted so it has the appearance of a ceramic tile. I had actually picked a similar tile at another store before I decided that I was going to redo the kitchen.

So far, just the kitchen has been done, but getting rid of that yucky floor is already giving the kitchen a clean look even if it is covered in construction dust.

It hasn't been grouted yet. That will hopefully be done next week along with the rest of the entry way and hallway.

The other exciting thing that happened this week is that my countertops were templated! I cannot wait until that comes. I went in with an open mind as far as countertops go, but was pretty certain I would end up with a solid surface countertop. I really didn't want granite because I know there is some maintenance to it, but would have considered it. But in deepest dreams included quartz. Well, there was nothing I liked in either solid surface or granite, but I found a quartz I loved! In a few weeks Cambria Quartz in Minera will be covering the cabinets. More exciting things to come!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

I got to see this cutie last weekend. I can't believe she is 11 months old already! My brother put a swing up for her and she LOVED it! She is going to be a little daredevil.

Luna has the tendency to be overly friendly when people come over. So she gets put "in jail." I put a gate up at the bottom of the stairs, so she can still see, but not touch our visitors.

Someone got a bath this week!! I don't know who feels better about that - me or her. She was a little stinky, especially after staying at a kennel that also has horses. She is a pretty girl!

Pizza Palooza is this weekend in Sylvania, OH. Nine area pizza places are competing to be the best! But to be honest, the pizza I had was only okay. I stick to my favorite Marco's pizza.

Kitchen Reno Week 5

I haven't been keeping up with my kitchen reno updates very well. There was a little delay over the July 4th holiday  and now things are moving forward again.

I did the painting, and I am pretty proud of my work. I used the same color paint that is in the living room. Since my wall space was going to be so much more limited, I really didn't want to add another color to the downstairs. The color is an almost perfect match to the cabinets. It is incredible.

The biggest change is that the cabinets are finally in!! The empty space is finally starting to look like a kitchen. This idea that I have had in my head for months is finally coming to reality.

I am starting to envision using the kitchen and thinking about where things should go.

I have a blank spot. My walls shrunk by half an inch so the cabinets had to be rearranged slightly and one new cabinet had to be ordered.

Now the flooring is going in and the countertops will be templates this week. The end is starting to come into sight!

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Saturday morning at the farmer's market. I love this place. As the summer goes on, the tables fill up with lots of good, local produce.

My mom and I are spending the long holiday weekend in Pennsylvania. On Thursday night, we had a nice bonfire and made s'mores. So good!!

When I was a little girl, my family would come to Pennsylvania for 4th of July. Back in those good ol' days, there was a big parade followed by a carnival. The parade went away for a few years, but it is coming back. Lots of tractors and fire trucks, but lots of fun memories.

I love fireworks! We had a great spot to see a fantastic display. I hope I get to see more throughout the summer.

Kitchen Reno Week 2

This week was nothing but drywall. I have had people at my house for 6 days working on it. The original drywalled flaked on the job and didn't show up on Monday. But thankfully, my contractor was able to get another guy come in in the evening to work on it. They worked this weekend.

Some new insulation went in because the stuff that was in there wasn't that great and wouldn't do anything to keep my house warm.

It has been so humid here this past week that it is taking longer for the mud to dry. In addition to the air conditioning being on, I put a fan on to circulate the air.

Needless to say, the kitchen is coming together. With the 4th of July coming up next week, I don't know what will get done this week. But I am excited with the progress so far.

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

My mom lives on the corner of of a busy street and her neighborhood. Saturday night, there was an accident right  at the intersection. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but there was quite a bit of excitement in a normally quiet neighborhood.

I have been craving hot tea when I am not in a place to have it. This week, I was at my mom's so I was able to make myself some really yummy tea. It is a beautiful red color.

The drywall process began this week. A post will be coming soon!

Luna loves chewing on water bottles. She takes the top and wrapper off and chews on the bottle. I caught her sleeping with a bottle in her bed.

Linen Closet Organization

My downstairs is a major work in progress. To offset the utter chaos, I am trying to organize my upstairs. My first project to conquer was the linen closet.

I had a little inspiration - found on Pinterest, of course. This post by First Home Love Life was a great starting point in thinking of how to best organize my closet.

Because of limited space in my last apartment, I wasn't able to organize the way I would have liked. My sheets were in a zippered bin under my bed. My towels were shoved on the shelves. Things were constantly toppling over. Now I have extra room to be able to organize.

I have room for my sheets and towels. My washcloths are in a basket, so they aren't just thrown where they fit at that particular moment.

I have a little bit of an obsession with Bath and Body Works soap. I always have a stock pile of it. I also have a lot of lotion and body spray that I like to rotate depending on the season. All of it is put away.

One of the best things about having an organized closet is being able to see everything. I know exactly what is in there and where to look for things. I know it will all be a work in progress, but at least some progress has been made.