Kitchen Re-model

 After returning from a month of glorious beach days in Florida, I knew it was time to re do the kitchen. When we built the house, we put in square granite tiles our self, due to  not knowing a place to get solid surface granite..promising one day, after we moved here permanently we would replace it. BUT why OH why did I insist on Galaxy black granite and black sink.. Sooo hard to keep clean, and finally I decided it had to go.. because I could no longer stand to be in the kitchen.. We had not even got unpacked, before I was all about checking into the granite place we heard about 20 miles away.. A quick stop to see the place and I was sold..The next day they came to measure and we went back out to pick out the slab we wanted.. We chose to take out the old our self..we put it in..we could take it out.. BUT what a job/mess that turned out to be. Taking the 6" back splash off... the sheet rock came off in huge hunks,and it was NOT pretty.. Don had to cut out the old sheet rock and replace with new..then I had to re-texture, prime and paint. Also we  were removing a glass top cook top range, to install a double oven below the counter, and a built-n cook top. Many unexpected things happened.. We needed a base cabinet to install the double ovens, and of course the brand we had were no longer being made.. and had NO time to get one custom made..Off to Lowes/ Home depot to see what we could find.  lucked into a suitable base. We also had NOT put the marble floor tile under our appliances when we built the house, so that caused issues trying to get dishwasher out when we  had to replace it due to recalls..so this time  I insisted that we fix that issue. SO more time was spent on that..and then we had to remove all the lower cabinets and raise them UP to  height to get appliances out later. ....and level it all. After many trips to town and  odd ball stops and starts, it was GRANITE day. and they were so amazing, and it turned out great...EVEN tho we had to use plastic to close of doors into the kitchen to keep the granite dust at bay, it turned out superb..After the installers left we had to install the double ovens. Of course the cabinet opening was 1/4 shy of fitting the ovens.. Don came to the rescue and got that fixed.. we maneuvered the ovens in place, and time to hook up the new  sink, and the faucet leaked.. after I spent  an hour shining the faucet to look like new.. Off to town for a new  faucet.. OH NO.. another decision. shiny silver,  brushed nickel?? Oh wait..there is a third choice, burnished bronze..  after an our looking at the new style faucets that seem HUGE, we went with burnished bronze.. Back home, installed, and DONE>. ready to learn the new induction cook top ( yes,  we did have to spend $300 on all new magnetic cook ware. I was intimidated, but ready. I had always had gas before moving here, and never  got used to the smooth top glass.. I always boiled stuff over, due to the burners staying hot so long, no quick control. I was always lifting a pot off a burner and holding it in the air, till the burner cooled some. Hear me scream....ahhhhhh!!! Well its been a week, and I love love the induction, and hope to always have it. The new double ovens, with the smaller oven on top, is perfect for the two of us. The kitchen is so much lighter and brighter.. HAPPY it's done, even, with so many problems that popped up... we kept saying.."what will happen next"?   Finally it's all done for now.. we didn't replace all the appliances, phasing out the bisque color, for all black eventually. But for now, it feels good to be able to cook with out holding a pot in the air off a TOO hot burner, and I am ready to bake thru the Holidays.  So here are a few before pictures and after. ! If   you have ever considered induction cooking.. I say YES YES YES !

A punch of PINK for the MAster bedroom !

 I have seen  so many hot pink and fuchsia painted pieces of furniture on  Pinterest this spring, it got me wanting some.. I ran across an old mirror(free) that I decided was the starting piece BUT first I had to repaint my master bedroom the Tiffany box blue, like I did the vanity area last spring.. I was OVER the caramel glaze, the more  I saw this blue in the  vanity area. I knew I wanted  MORE..and yes.. there  has been a More More more  going on of that color.. I did the upstairs hallway and some in the kitchen and laundry. It is crazy how much I LOVE this color.. I always find my happy place....and this color started out in our eating area/ gathering room as I call it.. ...so here we go..I just added a  chunky  resin  piece to the center of the mirror to give it some  life.then i tried my hand at some homemade chalk paint in the fuchsia pink..I love the mirro, but really have plans to make it taller, I dont want to hang it on the wall, I like a mirror just leaning against the wall, so I am looking for some  legs to get it the height I want, or will have Don build me some...But I LOVED seeing this color in vanity with the blue..SO off to buy yet another gallon of the blue.. and got to work... THEN  it looked good with the  bedding I had..but still wanted some more  fuchsia i the room..  Something  fun for summer.. Found the  comforter and sheet set on like.then  wanted some blue sheets to mix and match..these were the perfect color from Target. We  have put some  posts under our bed to raise it up higher so I can see the lake with out lifting my head off the pillow....well that means I have to add an additional bed skirt to cover the gap below the other bed skirt...SO  I bought a  white sheet and made me one.. I just velcro it to the bed frame, so I can remove it for cleaning..LOVE velcro. BUT mostly LOVE  my taller bed view.It may be a tad tall for some, having such tall mattresses these days.. The white throw pillow is the softest thing.. Its made from  Himalayan  sheep, sheered at the perfect time..and NO , it doesn't smell like a sheep tee hee
 ... so soft.  And  for fall or whenever I am in the mood I can switchback to the other bedding.  I did just buy some sheets to make a comforter cover for my down comforter so I can  add it in with the bedding if I choose to mix it up some more.. Because I am thinking I will love all these colors together in the dead of  winter...when it is so grey and blah out..Plus we are gone a for 5 weeks now, enjoying some beach time.. and will be gone for the month ins Jan, to enjoy some beach time. it will be nice to come home to some happy colors, we won't miss the beach so much,, I say..Do NOT be afraid of change, or color... My husband is always on board with the projects...he loves the beach colors we see when we are traveling..and loves living with them at home.. I am one lucky gal !  I will be redoing this post once I am home from the beach and redo the mirror,and a few other things..more pix for sure on this ongoing project. I also love the  concrete bust and I placed some resin wings behind her, and of course she needed to wear the antique tiara I found on ebay, the Channel perfume bottle and Tiffany box, makes her so chic.. I love the look of the art behind her, but my favorite is the lighted birdcage Don installed on corbels, there is another one on the other side of the room, and they are on dimmers..great mood lighting, and safer than candles !

garden signs

I made a couple garden signs. One was for Bernie in Colorado, and the other was for my Sister here at the lake.. Brenda is called Bee or Beezer, so I did some little  bumble bees to hers. May DAy surprises this spring.. so finally putting them on my blog. I guess I should do one for me sometime.. Bernie's is painted on a piece of wood fence, and I painted on the back and front so if it is seen thru the wire garden fence, we would see some color..and not plain wood. For Brenda's I had an old hand saw, and used ribbon and tulle to hang it . They were both tickled "pink" at their surprise !

Pink Bike

Finally the rusty old bike is painted pale pink..and polka dotted.. Robin over at Candy Creek has been telling me for years to paint that old thing.  I wish my paint was more pink, but  I may run across a brighter pink in spray paint. This color is called ballet slipper, and it is not my favorite pink..and I am normally one that loves any color pink.  But for now it beats that rust that covered it before ! I got this bike at a junk store for $36 when we were building the lake house, hauled it to Colorado were we were living and used it there till we moved. So Robin , when you get here in July.. you will be happy to see it NOT rusty !  Oh we are going to have some new adventures in junkin' !

Magnolia blossoms for Mom

Many years ago we planted a 3 foot tall magnolia tree in my Moms yard.. And now it is so tall, Mom has been gone for 3 years now... and when I went by her old place I saw the tree in full bloom. I sure wish that tree was in my yard now. I am sure the blooms are extra sweet because of you Mom !

My Mermaid

I have wanted a Mermaid for our lake house.. so finally saw one at a cement yard ornament place.. we drove past  it and spotted it hanging on a building in the lot.. it looked like it was going to be huge..so a month later I went back to check it out.. It was only 3ft. tall.. and oh so afordable.. It is cement so kinda heavy.. brought it home, primed it, and painted it.. added some glitter sparkle.. all mermaids shimmer... then the bling of diamonds..from all the treasures they find in the deep blue sea..She is hanging by the back door entry.. since it is the door visitors get to first from the road.. our front of the house faces the water.! Stop by and say Hi to the mermaid !

Beachy SIgn

We see this style of signs in Florida.. there is a really fun one at LuLu's Homeport, in Gulf Shores Alabama.. at the bestest eating place in Florida. LuLu is Jimmy Buffets Crazy Sista !! We usually drive 2 hours to get there just for a nice time. LOVE  IT.  SO we decided to add names and places of friends we want to go see.. We definitely must see Debbie in New Jersey, and Ashley in Canada..  and so far we still need to go see the Mermaids at Weekiwatchee. Other than those 3 destinations, we have been to all the other spots !  We have our condo rented for September at Navarre already..  Of course there is the sign All Roads Lead to Sonic..being such Sonic drive-in fans.. and Sonic was started in Oklahoma. Notice the signs pointing to the Shower on the deck...and to the swimming hole.. oh come on spring.. we need to jump in the lake !