I am eagerly waiting for summer to arrive so our family can enjoy this little cottage by the beach. While we are still busy finishing up some loose ends, here's a little taste of what we have been up to over the winter.
The Kitchen has had the most work done to it and has been the primary focus. We have put most of our money into the kitchen and I know it will be worth every penny.
Here was the plan:
1. Rip out the existing cabinets and have Lowe's install new cabinetry and granite countertops
2. Paint the walls ourselves
3. Replace the linoleum floors with pergo flooring ourselves
4. Install ceramic backsplash ourselves
5. Replace all the appliances with new stainless appliances
6. Replace existing light fixtures
Do you remember the "before"?
It ain't too pretty, is it?
Outdated cabinetry with a formica countertop, linoleum floor and appliances that have seriously seen better days.
I chose heirloom antique white cabinets with an antique glaze. Because we are going with a "little bit of vintage" look, the antique bronze hardware was no brainer.
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The hubs and I decided to tackle the backsplash ourselves.
Maybe I see a little house flipping in our future... I honestly think that would be so much fun!
Not too shabby for a couple of amateures, huh?
There is a great sunroom for dining off of the kitchen. We are planning to take the existing slider out to open the space up more.
Some other news...
Under the carpet in the living room we found hardwood floors...I can not tell you the excitement there. Hardwoods are essential for beach living.
We had all the floors in the living room, hallway and bedrooms sanded and refinished.
Just look at the shine!
The hubs ripped out the existing shoe moulding and installed this gorgeous baseboard moulding. It's amazing what a little white paint can do to a room...
I can almost smell the salty beach air!
Here's the before:
This is how the walls looked before we started. When my husband asked, "So- what do you think, do you want to buy this house?" My first thought was, not so much. After he promised we could paint the walls, I agreed. And then we realized how much work this little house was going to be.
Our tutorial on how to paint knotty pine proves that with a little bit of patience and the right materials you can do it too.
I realize sometimes you just don't have the resources to gut your kitchen. I've been there and have had to use my imagination and lots of paint, many a time. If that was the case here, I would have added some box mouldings to the cabinets, painted them and added new hardware. Sometimes you can fake a good thing and add lots of personality in the process.
I even contemplated slathering that beast of a fridge in chalkboard paint. The kids would have loved it!
The light above the kitchen sink still needs to be installed and a couple of other things, but we are really excited about the final product.
What do you think?
Are you looking for ideas to add to your decor? Are you stuck in a rut and need some fresh ideas? Let me HUNT for you! Email me at HousebyHolly@yahoo.com for a consult.
From my HOUSE to your HOUSE, HAPPY HUNTING!
Holly
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Linking to:
Thrifty Decor Chick
Savvy Southern Style
