Here goes nothing! This is going to be a long post! But it was a big project! And it took a long time, a lot of money, and an exorbitant amount mental strength to get here! I learned a lot about myself in this process and I clung to a simple sign that I had in the bay window in the kitchen that says "Choose Joy." Then I realized that it wasn't so much about choosing joy as it was finding joy in this journey. And then I stumbled upon my new favorite Bible verse:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of various kinds" -James 1:2
I have found that this Bible verse has shaped my life in so many ways in the last 8 months, and not just while I lived through a renovation, but in everything I do. Oh, and Covid. Life changing!!
I am so excited to show you our kitchen renovation! From start to finish....
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| We got bored one evening and decided to start the demo on our own! |
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| Amazing how just drywall removal will open up a space! |
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| When I got home from work and saw this I was shocked. But the "demo" wasn't complete yet...and I didn't realize what was yet to come. |
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| This crazy clutter was short lived but it about sent me over the edge |
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| When I walked in and found that the ceiling was ripped out, I about threw in the towel. I wanted it all put back. I changed my mind. This is not what I bargained for or even expected. |
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| Welp, there's my kitchen. |
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| Once the original cabinets and countertops were out I could kind of breathe again. I found myself again and I obtained my motivation again. I chose to find joy in the process. This was a turning point. |
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| A glimpse into how our lives were for a very, very long time. Paper plates and cups, renovation mess, pizza boxes, watching TV from the dining chair because we our couch was covered... luckily we ate at Josh's parents quite often so the fast food wasn't daily! |
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| While our awesome carpenter was working on the kitchen or basement, Josh and I were also working! We were putting hardwood flooring in all the downstairs bedrooms, hanging shiplap in the basement, or painting (that was allllll me)... |
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| Check out this incredible set of lockers that our carpenter built us! His name is Milo and over the course of the project he became like family. |
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| Four lockers for four kids...each complete with electrical outlet and USB outlet for charging electronics. They aren't spoiled. |
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| Putting the flooring in our room was quite the task. It took Josh and I a long time of nights and weekends to make it happen, but we no longer have icky carpet in our room! |
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| WHOA!! We have walls!!! And a ceiling!! |
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| Here come the cabinets!!! |
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| Cabinets set and lighting in!! |
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| I got the lockers painted...love how they turned out! |
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| Crown molding in place and ovens set |
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| Close-up of island color and drawer pulls |
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| Sooooooo close! Yet, still so so much yet to do. |
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| We took a week "off" in June and went to Texas to visit my family (see that post here!) and while we were gone, our existing and new hardwood floors were finished to a new color! They sent me pictures along the way. |
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| When we got home I decided to makeover the inside of our front door. It was white (you can see it a couple of pictures up) but the walls are all white now so I felt like that corner needed a pop. I decided to go with gray. |
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Oh, hello! We have countertops now!!!!! (If you want to know the fiasco behind this, including "losing" the slab of granite we designed our kitchen around, then finding it, then breaking it on installation, I will share. But just know this: it all turned out perfectly in the end!) |
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| And now a backsplash!! |
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| Just about complete! |
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| Coffee and wine bar |
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