Kitchen Renovation in progress

This is the result of several long weekends at my Mom's house. She has needed a kitchen re-do for many years and we finally decided to just START! The cabinets were made by my Dad in the early 50s and were built to last. However, through the years, styles have changed and things were looking a little depressing, don't you think?

. Since the cabinets have such sentimental value to the family, we decided also because of a low budget, to add trim to the doors and paint them all. This took some persuading, but finally she agreed to let us start the process. My DH cut strips of 1/4" MDF and put on each door to resemble a shaker style. Then they were all painted. We live about 2-1/2 hrs away, so every time we've been to see her recently, we brought home doors or drawers to work on. Finally we have them all complete on this side of the. room.Our task this last weekend was to take out the countertop which had been covered with red lineoleum and metal trim. Very fashionable in 1954!!! and replace it with a stock formica countertop and add a new sink. It was a task, but went very well.

We then added a backsplash of beadboard which will travel all the way around the room.

Several layers of wallpaper need to be removed so we can paint the top third a pretty robin's egg blue-green color. The wallpaper is my sister's job. My two brothers will be removing cabinets on the other side of the room to make way for turning the fridge and building a banquette for dining. Also a new laminate floor is waiting to be laid down over the old gray floor tiles. So, several more trips to go before it's all done, but I thought I'd show you a glimpse of the project. It's amazing what just painting the cabinets has done to make the room a happier place to be.

There is always SOMETHING that can be done to give a room a new look and it doesn't always have to cost a lot. We purchased the drawer and door pulls in oil rubbed bronze at Walmart and they look very smart! Hope to show you more photos soon. Everyone have great weekend. We are having all our kids and grandchildren here on Saturday to send off our youngest son and daughter in love to Louisiana. I dread it, but they must go where the job takes them at this point. I just wish they didn't have to take the little 2 yr. old with them!!!!! ha. Blessings my friends, Linda

Guest room favorites

Hi friends, Sorry I've been away for a few days. A lot has been going in my life. I am currently taking an online course for Medical Transcription. It is requiring a lot of time and energies. So much to learn. My "playing" is limited it seems. I really think I will enjoy it once I really get it down. My "learner" is a bit out of practice, ha. I took these pics the other day, when I was playing with my camera. Oh, and I also DROPPED my camera from a step ladder I was trying to go up! Haven't taken it in yet, but it seems to be working, I am just not able to "see" if I am focusing. Not sure what can be done, but needless to say, I am very upset with myself! This picture is of an old dresser we have in the guest room, I refinished it many years ago and bought it at a garage sale for $25.00. The lady told me it came to the state on a covered wagon. It is really pretty. The mirror was missing, and I never replaced it, so I have just hung prints and mottos inside the frame. I rather like it this way. I really love the old "cottage" prints with the thatched roofs.

This little wall cabinet sits on top of a chest, I purchased it at Hobby Lobby, but it has a very old look. It is sitting on top of a chest of drawers, also from a garage sale. I faux finished the top to look like marble as the veneer on top was ruined. This is a great way to salvage a piece like this.

This mirror came from Hobby Lobby and is hanging in the guest bathroom. I love the black color. We put black and white checkerboard tiles in this room. I like the way it turned out. We put a sink top on an old buffet to use it this room. Sorry no picture of it. Maybe later.

Looks like summer is nearly over and time for all our granddaughters to head back to school, I didn't have the quality time I usually have with them this summer because of my schooling. They are all growing up so fast, and our youngest son and daughter-in-love are in the process of moving 3 states away!! I am really bummed about that! But these days they must go where the job takes them. Hope you are all having a good week and enjoying the remaining days of summer. I send you all blessings, Linda

Sunshine in the Morning

Happy Friday everyone! I have been pretty busy doing other things beside creating, so I am just going to show you more pictures of our home. This is the master bedroom and it is so pretty in the morning! Even better in the winter, when the sun comes in at a lower angle. We have a king-sized mattress on a queen-size bed, Yes you can do that. We just put the bed on a hollywood frame and fastened the headboard and footboard to that. And I don't think it looks bad at all. The walls are two colors of scarlet red, one brighter and one darker. The brighter color went on first and the other color (with glaze added) was rolled on and ragged off. Old baby diapers work great for this! I finally found a comforter I liked and have it on now, but alot of the time I use a beautiful king-sized hand crocheted spread that my mother (bless her) made for me. It is a treasure. The curtain panels are Waverly and I bought them way before we even started on the house because I loved the colors and I love flowers. They have a vintage look I think. I decided to combine them with bamboo shades from Target.
Our three daughter-in-laws hold a prime place on the wall on my side of the bed.

This is on around the room to the right. A cozy reading spot. The wicker chair is very old, but in great shape. I found the needlepoint cat at a flea market and made it into a pillow.

I'm looking for the perfect mirror to go here. Probably round. The dresser had an attached mirror, but I took it off because I thought it looked too country.
The tall glass and brass box hold favorite pieces of jewelry, so I can see them all the time. I used the base from a silverplate chafing dish to elevate a silver tray to hold various pretty things. All of this sits on another silver tray.

The other side of the bed. I made the memory box after our 25th wedding anniverysary reception. On the wall, a favorite Sandy Lynam Clough print.

Okay, this area needs work. Ha. There's a little dust inside. Mostly it holds books, pictures and the small TV. I have thought about painting or papering the inside to make it pop more.
Well that's it. Hope you all have a great weekend. Summer is fleeting by! It is hot here this week, we have been spoiled by all the previous cool July! Hope to have three of our granddaughters here next week before they start school.
Blessings to you all,

Linda