First line of attack: KITCHEN!

The kitchen is a HUGE eysore. From the flat panel, dated cabinets to the eww brick backsplash. Before we moved last summer, we did a few basics: the new floor that is throughout the main level and a new light fixture. The appliances are newer, but no built-in dishwasher. That's the dishwasher on the left (with the vase of roses my amazing husband got for me as a welcome home gift!); a portable one that I hook up to the faucet when it's ready.


So we are very very excited to transform this kitchen on a very minimal budget (we'll see how long the excitement lasts!). First thing to go is that space-hogging, unattractive peninsula. We got right to it, even though we're not quite ready to do the rest of the space, because we bought a new table that would not fit otherwise.

Jake made it look easy!

WOW! What a difference already! We'll fill in the floor there, adapt the dishwasher to be a built-in, and add a pantry on the end. Because the cabinet boxes are in good shape and I like the arrangement (mostly), we're going to paint the fronts and frames, add some molding for visual interest, new hardware, and new sink and countertops. Check back over the next couple of months to see how this progresses!

And this is why we are so happy to be back:

The view from our backyard: our new pool (thanks to some wonderful friends!), the kids' fort, Jake's shed, the trees and acreage. It's like we can breathe again. :)