A New Kitchen for Joy...

Hey, wanna see my new kitchen...at least it's mine for a while, but we will talk about that another time! Here is my OLD kitchen table area...

And here is my NEW kitchen table area.  I repainted the front wall from Red to Benjamin Moore's HC-43 Tyler Taupe to match the rest of the walls.  We tore out the old light-colored wood floor that was really beat up and added a new laminate floor that is very close to what is in the rest of my house.

This is the black cabinet you can see on the left side on the "before" picture.  I love black but was going for a lighter, brighter, cleaner look so I had it painted Benjamin Moore HC 26 Monroe Bisque to match the kitchen cabinets with (as you can see) a RED interior.  (Need my "fix" of red!  HA!)

But, as you can see in the "after" picture I removed the TV from the corner and another small stand from the opposite corner.  Well, I wanted the TV on this cabinet and it was a bit too tall, so my wonderful contractor, Mike, came to my rescue: he raised it several inches and then he didn't like the way it looked so he added the beautiful trim molding to it.  What a guy! He is a sweet Christian man with a darling family who does so much for everyone.  He even took my old appliances to Habitat For Humanity for me!  Am I lucky or what! 

So since I cleared out the corners I still needed a little "display space" and wouldn't you know it but my good friend, Arlene (see my May post-her new kitchen) had this BEAUTIFUL Pennsylvania Bench she wanted to sell!  Again, how lucky can I be.  It is 96 inches long (front window is 100 inches) and it is a lovely old blue with a wood top.  Oh my heart, so perfect for the space!

OK, back to the old kitchen...don't get me wrong, I did like it but after several years of a LOT OF RED decided I needed to "neutralize."  So here's the "stove area...

and here's the "sink" at the end...

But here is the "NEW" look...so clean, simple and "today" looking.

And here is a shot of the area above the stove and microwave.  There are lights up there and I cleared several  things off.  Much neater now...all the main items are white.

Here is another situation Mike corrected.  When the appliances were delivered I noticed that the side of the Stainless Refrigerator was an ugly gray!  UGH!  Looked terrible and that is what you could see from the great room!  MORE UGH!  So Mike suggested he build a "wall" at the side and (this was a bonus!) that he would pull the cabinet that was above the Frig. forward so I could reach it!  I never could and always had to get a ladder to get into that cabinet.  Well, now only about 4 inches of the "ugly" gray is showing (just enough for a small memo pad) and I am so happy!  I thought Stainless Refrigerators were stainless all over..what do I know...I have to get out more!  HA!    

And now, instead of "getting out more" I am home reading how to work all these lovely appliances.  When I first ran the dishwasher I kept leaning down to hear if it was running and today I couldn't figure out how to use the timer on the stove (I was baking for the first time) and so I used the timer on the Micro.  Well, I was in the other end of the house and didn't hear it go off with it's lovely little chime so I burned the brownies...Anyone for Rock-hard-chocolate bars???

So there you are; what I have been busy with for the past 3 weeks.

Before I go I want to thank all of you for leaving a comment, Readers, and Followers!

You really make my day!

{{HUGS}}

   

SUN ROOM RE-MAKE

Hi all My Pretties who are so patient with me for not posting often enough!  But I am finally here with some stuff I think you will like.  You know I gave you a "Sneak Peek" at part of a room in my last post...well, so much for sneak peeks... THAT ROOM STILL ISN'T DONE! Will it ever be you ask?   Yes, but I have been having so much fun with the newly remodeled and decorated SUN ROOM that I still can't seem to get to that guest room/office! I guess I need to have "overnight company" and that will get it done in a flash!  LOL
But I digress...about three weeks ago my favorite contractor, Mike Bates was available so we made the decision to re-do the Sun room as 15 years with those same colors, carpet and "dumping ground" had taken its toll...

Here is Mike figuring out what to do first...that carpet is really nasty and there could be "water" issues as it is built right on the patio!

So he brought in these underlayments with a rubber grid on the bottom which holds the "new floor" up off of the concrete.  I told you this guy is smart!

Well, no decent "remodel" can not affect the rest of the house!  Here is a pic of my "great Room" with all the Sun Room furniture and "stuff" crammed into it. 

 Can you say: "Hoarder"  HA!

OK, here is the first picture of the new "Pine floor" which I dearly love!  

This is looking out the sliding door on the WEST (HOT) side of the porch.  And, before you ask if I got a dog...which I would LOVE to have...no, but that one is quiet, doesn't bark, require food or walks...and he makes me happy.  

He is just happy looking out the door!

This is a lovely antique pine table I bought from Arlene; my friend whose kitchen I featured in my last post.  Just a great spot to sit with the morning paper and a cup 'o coffee.

The chair is from a consignment shop; I reupholstered the seat with part of an old pillow.

Do you like it?

Here's a shot looking toward the west and there's that dog again...he probably wants to go out!

This is the opposite corner...oops! I didn't think those pillows would take up so much room!

But it still is just a "cozy" corner!

I had to give you a "close-up" of this Poinsettia plant!  It was a gift about 2 weeks before last Christmas and it is STILL alive!  Can you believe it?  

I can KILL SILK PLANTS!

So here are some of my favorite Benjamin Moore Historic Colors that I considered when I needed to make a decision for new colors.  Now I think most of you  know I am a Certified Color Consultant and actually can go into a client's home and choose a color "in the blink of an eye."  HA!  Not so for myself!  I think I can start a "Paint Sample Store" with all the samples I bought before I made the big decision!  I don't what it is...when it is for myself, who knows but it ain't easy, folks!

But I got the job done and used HC-34, Wilmington Tan on the three window walls and HC-35, Powell Buff on the new Ship-lap paneling which now covers the ugly stucco, even if it was RED!

I was going for a simpler, lighter, less cluttered look and I even removed some furniture and love all the space I now have!       

This is looking toward the east side and I now have the TV in the red "jelly cupboard" 

and love having it "hidden."

Here's a close up of the unframed canvas of the little girl and the dog which I have had for years and have had it hung in several rooms of past homes.

I love it and hope you have enjoyed it and my reveal of the 

NEWLY REMODELED SUN ROOM!

Please leave me a comment and I will be sure to visit you, too!

PASSING DOWN THE "DECORATING" GENE

Well a GREAT BIG HI to all my wonderful followers, commenters, and readers!.  I was gone for a 24 day vacation to visit my kids and grand kids in the Midwest and each time I come back it takes longer to "get my act together."  But I have had some thoughts on something one of my girls said to me one day...Mom, "I don't think I got the DECORATING GENE from you."  Well, as I looked around I could see that wasn't the truth at all!  Each time I walk into her home I am overwhelmed with what she has done.  So I thought I would take some pics for you to decide... 

This is her entry hall and the cabinet was MY Grandfather's "Radio Cabinet" and then my father's "tool cabinet" and then I had it in MY entry for years painted and antiqued whatever color I needed at the time.  The mirror and the lamp were from Tuesday Morning and the pitcher from Salvation Army.

She knows how to shop!

A corner of her living room.  We laugh about this sofa table.  I originally purchased it in Minnesota, had it shipped to California and recently mentioned to her that I didn't use it any more.  She said she would like to have it so I SHIPPED IT TO HER VIA UPS.  It took the guys in the UPS shop about an hour to wrap it and I swear they used a whole roll of tape but it got there safe and sound.

So a shout-out to UPS...and to Kathy...she got the chair at Goodwill!

Kathy's husband was in the Air Force when they married and they lived in Fayetteville, N.C.

Would you believe her gave her this "real" jelly cupboard for their first anniversary, mice teeth marks and all. But it is a fabulous piece and every time I visit she has changed the display...sometimes her Noah's Ark and Salt-Glaze Stoneware, right now white ironstone.

Don't you love it especially the way it LEANS!

When I visit I am so lucky to have my own room and bath and when I walked in this spring I just gasped as she had painted it a gorgeous Colonial Blue. This is the little area where I played around on my computer before I went to bed.  The nightstand used to be in our kitchen holding a "radio" when she was growing up...I had gotten it at a garage sale!

This is the dresser she had when growing up, the lamp was from Tuesday Morning and the basket and flowers from her "stash" of decorating stuff.  It looked great!

When they had their first house in CA. Kathy's husband brought back a Brass Bed just like this from Japan.  Over the years they replaced it with a lovely wooden one but the guest room bed was plain.  So one day in Goodwill she spies this headboard for $10.00.  

So now, after some sanding and a coat of black paint, it is fabulous in the guest room!

Who says she didn't get the DECORATING gene???

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This is a picture from my other daughter's home.  She, too, loves to decorate and change things around.  And she is not afraid to tackle anything!  Look closely; this is a fake mantle we found at a huge flea market the last time I visited.  She placed it against the wall and decided it "looked too flat."  So, never to be out-done, she got out her "blue tape, paint brushes and paint."  Away she painted the inside black, then figured out what to do with the surround.  She taped it off and painted the "stone" with a color two shades lighter than the wall.  

How do you like that!  If you don't look "that" close, you would swear all is "real" and now with the electric logs and andirons...well, who knew... 

Karen's home is Cottage-y with a touch of Contemporary.  Lots of white furnishings and no clutter for her!  It is charming (I always go home with "de-cluttering" in mind!  LOL)  Anyway she and her fiance love to go "Antiquing" on Saturday mornings and have found some wonderful dealers.

This T.V. Cabinet is an old armoire that has been painted white with oil base paint and I wish you could see the beautiful finish!  

This wonderful cabinet used to be "built-in" in someones farmhouse and now it is in Karen's kitchen to hold a million cookbooks (she loves to cook!) and tons of other things.  I am showing you her "summer" look; it will change again in the fall, etc.  Always beautifully done!

I haven't been able to talk her out of her "Bowl" rack so far!  After all I shipped a sofa table to her sister by UPS, etc., etc. but so far no luck!  LOL  But she does display it probably better than I would anyway!

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I have been trying to lighten up my house for summer so have been adding white/cream where I cam.  A few items in the bookcases and mostly on the mantle.  I brought in some white pieces: a milk glass hen-on-nest, a white pitcher, a cream urn holding cream silk roses and a lattice edge milk glass plate.  Then I covered the 4 books, (two on each side) with off-white paper and that brought the whole thing to life.  Actually they aren't "books" but rather those raggedy grey fabric boxes that Michael's used to sell.  

So here is my "summer" dining room table:  I just got the huge milk can from Decor Steals or Antique Farmhouse, anyway I added a "Cow-handled" pitcher and a small white "Cow" pitcher from Ross.  

The hand-made quilt I got at a flea market for $100...a real steal at the time.

(It's big enough for a bed!)

I wanted to tell you the story about this "Picture."  When my living/dining room" was painted several years ago I found this "poster" tucked behind the hutch when we moved it.  I had bought it right after "Sept.  11,   with the idea at the time to frame it!  I never got around to it until recently and now I love it.  But I needed something else to go with it so I found this beautiful sculpture on Amazon.

I really love Americana...as you can see...read further... 

Here are two darling bears made by LANA TESTA of A PRIMITIVE PLACE...MAGAZINE.

I love them and keep them out all summer!

AND A HAPPY, SAFE, AND SANE 4TH OF JULY TO YOU ALL!

Well, just a little TEASER for my next post.  I have been working on this room for several months and can hardly believe it is just about done!  Talk about "Bargains" you will love 'em!

Can't wait to show you...

And Hey, can you take a minute and leave me a comment...

I love to read your thoughts on my ramblings...

{{HUGS}}

FUN WITH WHITE PLATES AT HOME DEC. AND ARLENE'S NEW KITCHEN

Hello my lovelies! Did I ever tell you we have a "Friendship Group" here at Sun City by the name of "Home Dec" We meet in member's homes and sometimes have a speaker and sometimes just do an activity or take a field trip.  Well this month I decided we should have some "Fun with White Plates." So each member was asked to bring a colorful placemat, napkin, and small luncheon-size plate and cup or colorful glassware.  Well, here are the results of that meeting:  

Everyone set out their contributions and made place settings that were lovely.  But then, the fun began.  We all switched the plates, napkins and glassware and made more place settings!

Then we did it again...

And again!  It was so much fun to see What You Can Do with a White Plate!

Now I have to say we had 26 women milling around 4 tables so we had to be careful not to trip each other!

Two real sweethearts...

Here is a picture of two of my dear friends; Carolynn is on the left and Mary Ellen is on the right.

Sadly, Mary Ellen has just been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer so we all said a prayer and did a healing of hands for her.  She is so sweet and can use all the prayers you can give.

Some other friends were snacking in the kitchen, no doubt hearing all about Arlene's NEW KITCHEN, (Arlene is the one in the yellow tee) which is right below...

This is a "Before" shot but after new appliances were installed.  How we all thought our kitchens were just fine 16 years ago!

And this is the beautiful "After" shot.  The cabinets were painted a lovely cream color as she has the same color Corian countertops.  The painter then "Antiqued" them just a tiny bit...you have to be careful with antiquing...it can make cream or white look dirty.  Arlene's cabinets are gorgeous!

And here's another "awful" "before" shot...UGH!

Can you believe the difference!!!  Her entire home is lovely...certainly not Primitive but a wonderful mix of Colonial with a tiny bit of Oriental.  A beautiful, very comfortable home!  Arlene is an accomplished artist and has small bits of her work displayed in her home.  I wish you could see it all someday...maybe I will ask her for a "tour" for you...how about that!

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Well, my pretties, that is it for today...I am getting on a plane at 8:30 tomorrow morning to head out to Minneapolis to see one of my beautiful Grand daughters graduate (with Honors, I might add) from 

The University of Minnesota!

I am so happy for her and a proud Grandma!

Then, I will stay in Minnesota for about another week and will travel down to Ankeny, Iowa where my other daughter and family live.  There I will be treated to a marvelous "Dance Recital" in

which my 16 year old Grand daughter will perform.

It gets better than ever every year and it is so much fun.

Then back to reality on June 10, but I have to say I will be happy to see friends (including Mr. S. O.) and sleep in my own bed!

Isn't it fun to go away, but it is always nice to come home!

Keep well and thank you to all for all the sweet comments and to my followers, both old and new!