Bitchin' Kitchin!

So I started this kitchen redux about 2 months ago. I have shopped, arranged for installs and DIY'd it to death yo! If you forget where I started a couple years back...let me introduce you to my green machine....and the tulip light. My fave :)



Awwww yeah. You are loving it, I can tell. Well I didn't. The rangehood was white, that spray paint experiment should go in the "Why I don't drink wine..." pile. So I decided to try again. Meet my painted countertops that lasted a whole year :) They would probably last someone else a lot longer but we cook tons and I have sons trying their hand at the culinary arts as well. No bueno.

I know, I know. Better right? But still not quite there. So I decided to bite the bullet, make a list and budget and get crackin!

Welcome to Casa Stout now babies!

The list breaks down like this:

Remove kitchen drapery/rods & paint / make drape- CHECK ($20)

Replace diningroom drapes with the ones from TV room - CHECK

Replace pendant light - BOUGHT and READY to GO ($25)
Film on Door Window for privacy - DONE ($5)

Replace vent cover - DONE ($7)

Replace counters - DOUBLE DONE ($2400)

Replace sink with undermount and install Touch2O tapset - DONE-OLA (included with counters)

Backsplash behind stove - DIY'D & DONE ($75)

Install OTR Microwave - DONE ($250)

This was all done in concert with a number of other projects. Replacing all the knobs, locks etc in the house from classy brassy to stainless. rehanging draperies and patching and painting. Changing out all the towel bars and TP holders in the house. Rearranging the livingroom (AGAIN). replacing all the broken musty vent covers in the house. Cleaning, more cleaning and oh, did I mention I have cleaned?

Here's a pic of the sink:

OMG. Isn't that tap gorgeous? Remember when I won that at the Canadian Design Bloggers event last year? I have a lot of patience darling. A lot of patience.

The backsplash is peel-n-stick stainless tile from Home Depot called Aspect. I decided on one row to keep it simple and staggered long and short grain finishes for interest. 

A new Debbie Travis Aurora pendant light in a crackled glass is slated to go in and replace the giant tulip that hangs over my head on the peninsula.

The counters are a Formica180FX product in a finish called Soapstone Sequoia. I went with a straight edge to mimic slabs of actual stone. The slabs are one piece each so no seams for grossness to wander into. Our installers were great and they spent more time installing the taps than anything else. They were cursing my name I am sure as they drove away. Which is why I tip.

This is it so far. FINAL budget for my version of a dream kitchen = $2782.00

Momma is a happy girl.

It shoulda read “LIVE 2 EAT”

I do a lot of grocery shopping. I take my Mom weekly along for company and try to stick to some sort of a budget. I have made lists, meal planned, done a “Big Cook”…..see, my issue is I am a bit of a foodie. I live with a man who works with trained chefs all day and my kids eat a snack by tilting back the fridge into their gaping mouths. (Growing boys, ya dig?)

About a year ago my nieces and I were out treasure hunting through some local thrift shops and I can across this sign…I mean where was I ever going to get another sign that espoused the amazingness of “savoury piscatorial tidbits”??? It hung over my stove for a while but with the impending countertop reno and backsplash reno in full swing this week, it had to come down.

You will be seeing and hearing about that reno soon. Promise. Pinky swear!

I was thinking “self…how can you personalize this sign?”. I thought about those Live, Love, Laugh deals. I have some word art already in the home but I wanted this to really reflect my family.

So this is what I came up with. Love it. Some floating shelves for oils and spices and vinegars underneath….you’ll see it hanging with pride when I put up the renovated kitchen

 

International Women's Day

True Dat Madeleine! I am surrounded by and have been surrounded by amazing women my whole life. Cheers to you and to them :)

If you think I'm sexy.....

Lots of these homemade memes out there, just throwing mine into the mix to remind my Prince Charming that he is my world.....and the fact that he has been working like a dog to get all my crazy little projects done around the house has not gone un-noticed. Nor did the roses delivered to my office :)

Look out Mr. S.....someone is getting smooches tonight. I will be asking you to rewire a light first though.

Dr. Dharma (Not Berman) - In the Kitchen

So.....remember that list? Yeah, that one. The one that was a mile long and wrapped up at about $2500 for the kitchen cosmetic redux? I have dragged My husband and I cheerily have wandered into a kitchen design centre, done a bit of online sleuthing and brought home countertop samples. Our quote will take place this Friday complete with installation measurements to be taken and the addition of a new undermount sink to be spec'd out.

Has anyone had more options put before them in their life than when they are shopping for countertops? Corian, Silestone, marble OH MY! Originally I said to myself "Self, you deserve stone." then that same chic said loudly "Not at $60-80 a square foot you do not!" So on this teensy budget what is a girl to do? This girl went to Pinterest and typed in laminate counters and found..... wait for it......

FORMICA 180FX

When did formica get sexy? It's like when that kid Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter movies got sexy. You're all "Wha????". Trouble is there is only one supplier of this product in my 200 km vicinity. I tracked down their 1-800 number and found a local supplier/ installer. Price for this magic? $26 a liner foot. Hello....lover!

WARNING to this local company - I will be reviewing your business, this product and your installer. Send the best looking one you got. LOL

For an extra cost they can even install an undermount sink (with a stone ring to make it last), further install the delta Touch H2O tapset I won last year and do a slab finish to further trick the eyeballs. I have chosen this stainless 18 gauge deeper sink by Wilsonart.

For the counters I originally thought the Calacatta marble knock off but the hubs is convinced it would make our kitchen look like a public restroom off the I-95...lol. So after bringing all our samples home we've settled on this:

Soapstone Sequoia

Backsplash.... I just want a strip to meet the wall where the counter slabs end. I do not want coving or any part of the counters on the wall. I think that will give the Formica away as quick as you can look at it. So off to Home Depot to check out options. I first liked the Fasade panels, they looked easy to install and a dude at the check out swore by them. I have a coworker who has used them and she is a happy camper. But then I saw the peel n' stick stainless Aspect tiles. They come in individual tiles sold in a pack or longer sheets by the foot. I say GROOVY! Check out the finished look, like I said I don't plan on these many tiles....but it is awesome :)

Now to find out Friday how much all this "extra" means in extra dollars....I'll keep you posted.

It's time to get serious!

Obs I am not talking about blogging. I've been more absent than a 16 year old stoner in English Lit lately....but I am getting serious about a total refresh of the Mermaid Cave. Our home is now going on 11 years old and you can tell precisely by looking at the finishes done last by the builder when the owner ran out of $$$. So I have made a list, checked it 467,893 times and I am starting with a $5000 budget.

WOW! $5000 you say! Doesn't that sound like a lot of money? Nope. Try refreshing and fixing over 8 years of living-in-ness by a family of men in a total of 10 rooms (not counting what Mister has planned to overhaul the basement) on a measly $5000. It will be a challenge for sure and I had best wring out my shopping Keds and get cracking at Craigslist/ Kijiji and the Habitat store soon.

First up - the kitchen. You may remember I painted our counters. YES? Well, although they turned out pretty great, they have not stood up to my chef's expectations. Yes, I married a cook. Hate me.

Here is a listing of what is planned for the hub O ma home!!

KITCHEN


Remove drapery/rod over kitchen sink, paint Touch up paint/ mud
Replace with drapes from TVroom
Replace pendant light

Swap fridge door left to right
Apply film to Door Window & Pad doorknob
NEW garbage/ recycling containers
Replace vent cover
Install Screen door
Replace counters
Backsplash behind stove
Install OTR Microwave
Replace kitchen sink
Install tapset
Swap Kitchen Table & Chairs with Mom
Recover kitchen and bar chairs
SELL Kitchen Table & Leaf
Donate water cooler

TOTAL = $2,560.00 EST

Considering over 1/2 of my budget is already spent in the kitchen, you know I am going to be swapping, bartering, buying second hand and thrifting garage sales like a maniac this spring. I know some people spend $5000 on a sofa but I don't have that kind of scratch and I would be tearing anything more of a budget out of my husband's cold dead fingers :)   Wish me luck, here is that before shot.....stay tuned yo!!  

Are you ever done?

No seriously. For decor-addicts….that is the question on deck. Are you ever done? Is there ever a corner of your house you are not squinting at and thinking….. I can do better or do you catch yourself wondering if that new rug you bought for the kitchen wouldn’t look better over there…
Enter one of my favourite rooms to blog about, sweat over and redecorate again and again and again.The master bedroom. We have blown out walls, built closets, bought new and used furniture. I’ve painted and rehab’d pieces and have changed the drapes I think 4 times now. That being said, I think I’m done. No really. I think I may have finished.
Now, don’t get all excited and send me flowers just yet. I still have some linens to pick out for the bed and of course some accessories but you know, I think I AM DONE. Don’t tell my husband. I like him to live on the edge!!!!
So how did I get there finally? Believe it or not it was a stencil that pushed me over the cliff. I ordered an all over trellis stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils about 3 weeks ago. The shipping was quick and the product was great. I watched a few videos online at their site for tips and gathered my supplies. They say this is a ‘Beginner’ stencil and that’s pretty fair and accurate. It is easy to match the pattern and it goes up quickly. I used the trim paint to make sure it matched in the room.

Two words to the wise though….level + measure. A lot.
…and VOILA!

The other side of the room is jealous but I have some lovely accessorizing to do there etc. So he won’t be mad long



This room has had aqua, teal and now chocolate accents. It has been tie-dyed, floral, silky and strange. In the end it has turned out very neutral and I think very grown up. The colour story in this room is left to the wall colour (Cricket by Behr) and it does a nice job of keeping the room sophisticated. Like I said some linens and some art & accessories but ladies and germs….. I’m done.