Do you remember when our kitchen looked like this?
This was the scene from about 2005 until 2012.
I know, I'm cringing too.
See how this cabinet blocks the entry to our pantry(which is hidden off the kitchen, underneath our stairs)?
We always had to turn sideways and duck our heads to get into the pantry to get what we needed.
After the fire in 2012, the kitchen got a face lift in the form of new trim and wall color. And I loved the bright, new look. That whole experience was a big lesson in contentment for me.
But there have still been so many challenges with the kitchen that no layer of paint could ever hide.
I kept holding out hope that one day, we would come across some discarded cabinetry either at a Re-Store or on Craigslist.
They're remodeling their kitchen even as I write this. And we "inherited" all the old cabinetry.
I am in heaven.
The master plan for this summer is to close off that six-panel doorway you see on the left(below). By making that one long wall with no doorway, we'll be able to install the rest of the lower cabinetry the way we want, with continuous counter space. I'm planning to do open shelving on the upper parts of this wall.
If you know me at all, you'll know that this makes my heart want to burst.
I've been waiting ten years for this!
We'll be re-working the layout of the bathroom which hides behind that paneled door so that we can create a new entry into it from the laundry room, which is out the door on the right--------->
And the transformation has already begun. Last week we brought the cabinets home and stored them in my sewing room. Which is not ideal because its the first room you see when you walk in the door. But we didn't have any other options.
On Mother's Day, hubby did a ton of odd jobs around the house that we'd been talking about, including starting to install some of the cabinets! It was the.best.gift. he could've given me!
I now have functional storage all around the stove. My spices no longer need to be hidden in the pantry around the corner.
The cabinet above the vent became storage for less-used baking pieces.
And we now have easy access into the pantry! We've talked about installing a tall pantry cabinet to fill this space and then cutting the back of it out to make a "secret room" for the girls. We'll see.
And in case you're wondering, the cabinets will not stay this color. The wheels are turning in my head while I decide exactly what to do. Originally the plan was to paint everything white.
But my Pinterest boards have given tons of inspiration and I may go with a two-tone plan. We'll see. The counter tops will be the only thing we have to invest our money in(other than paint) once the layout is in place.
Until track season is over and we're on summer vacation we won't have time to do any of the other major cosmetic work here in the kitchen so I'm relieved to have the time to figure out what I want.
Until then, if you drop by anytime between now and then, this is what you'll see as soon as you walk in.
Bear with me. I'm busy dreaming up my perfect kitchen!
In all honesty, I would've had a terrible attitude about this mess had Eric not installed the cabinets around the stove. But just that little bit of added function was enough to change my outlook.
I'm choosing to see the beauty that lies ahead instead of the mess that I'm walking around today.
Happy Friday!
