Moving into a smaller house...
Moving (after 40 years in one house) into a smaller house, then living in the middle of a huge kitchen renovation, just weeks before the holidays, had about worn – me – out!
It was January 2019, only five months ago we made the HUGE decision to move from a subdivision, buy and renovate a small house on 9 acres and start a hobby farm for our grandkids…
Wall removed between kitchen and formal living room.
Cabinets and island go in
Vintage Cupboard Inspiration
We used the old wall cabinets that had been in the kitchen originally. They were sanded down, reconfigured and had new doors built.
The inspiration for the inset door style and the cabinet hardware, came from an old vintage cupboard I had.
Tommy (our construction crew chief) and his brother, took one look at my old cabinet (first picture below) and said “no problem…we can do that”!
Music to my ears!
They turned out just as I imagined!
Even though I needed a “long winters nap,” the “budget wise” decision was for ME to do all the painting of the walls, woodwork, and cabinets…ugh. Whose idea had that been anyway, lol!
The Pantry Door
After a day trip with my bestie (Sandi). We found the perfect old storm door to use as the pantry door.
John, our friend and general contractor, couldn’t get his head wrapped around using this “old” door in his brand new kitchen, lol!
First decorative purchase
My sweet friend Elaine, and I went on an IKEA shopping trip for cabinet and drawer pulls.
Finding ones that I loved, that were priced right, only took 10 minutes! Long black, metal bars for the large drawers, and matching smaller ones for the others.
After picking up a few other goodies along the way, I spotted this wall system. They used rods that looked like towel bars, to hang various metal containers, hooks and a dish drainer.
Hmmmm…I bet I could hang that dish drainer and fill it with all kinds of cute stuff.
Pounding in the first nail
What is more nerve racking than pounding in a nail or screw into a new wall, ?!!!
You can’t believe how long it took me to decorate two bars, lol!
Some old white platters, my mom’s ironstone cream and sugar set…the JoAnna Gaines metal measuring spoon set (that my granddaughter, Lucy) picked out for me, a few hand towels and some greenery…and done!
I switch it around for the holidays, but I still like the original simple design the best!
Kitchen Complete!
The kitchen was done! What a wonderful feeling to have all that hard work and mess behind us!
The end results were just as I could see in my minds eye when I visualized the wall down. The island with room for four stools for the grandkids, shiplap walls, two ovens, a big island, white cupboards and a big window to stand in front of and dream of all the other projects I looked forward to in the spring!
It was months before I had everything painted and cleaned up.
The Sign
Ever since the Modern Farmhouse style was created by JoAnna Gaines from the tv series “Fixer Upper” simple one word signs have been all the rage.
Of course she had the REAL vintage signs in her kitchen! They were quickly mass produced with every phrase imaginable.
Years ago I owned an antiques and gift shop called “The Pink Cupboard”
Attending auctions, estate sales, and barn sales, I saw the REAL vintage signs, cupboards and accessories, lol!
So I was kind of a sign snob… if it wasn’t real, I wasn’t interested.
Until I fell for one...hook line and sinker! Just like everyone else!
It was on the floor, behind a basket of hand lotions…not one but 6 signs, all exactly alike. The sign snob was in love with a mass produced…black and white, metal sign that costs under $25.00, hahahaha!
That was my second purchase for my new kitchen, and I still love it so much. (Even though it is a pain in the rear to keep clean!)
I put it over my stove, under the hood. Still L. O. V. E. it!
This is a view of the sink area. Not the perfect working triangle…but I wanted my island clear, and this is the compromise I made. Plus it saved thousands by not moving the sink from the original placement.
p.s. note the dish rack with drying dishes, the unfolded dish towels, and the coffee maker mess? Just keeping it real guys…lol!
Here’s a picture of my kitchen last summer.
What about the farm animals?
I’m sorry I failed to address how we chose our first animals on the farm, lol! I had to wrap up this kitchen reno first, hahaha. and I promised myself the posts would be shorter, lol!
So hopefully you will join us next time for the on going story of how a retired couple…with zero experience in farming and gardening, started a farm from scratch. Starting with a kitchen renovation, then on to choosing what animals to learn about and raise.
Fondly, Sandy
Sandy, you have got to submit your story to Country Living or Magnolia or some magazine. it is so gorgeous.
Lisa you are so sweet to say that! Fondly, Sandy