Lovey Land

Kitchen Quandry

2010-02-21T22:28:00.002-05:00

Our kitchen... It is a work in progress for sure! Our kitchen is mostly original, except for the early 1960's range, 1980's fridge, and the lineoleum floor from some mysterious time. We did put in a garbage disposal and hung some curtains that weren't ruffled, but we just used the curtains we had in our old house and didn't really like them much anyway. I have moved the 80's fridge to a different location but its original place is something rather odd to look at and is not very functional yet. I have no experience re-decorating a kitchen, but Hubby and I are going to have a go at it. Here is what we are working with:

Super ugly light fixture

Nasty floor

Counter top (This same design is at our cabin, the house I grew up in, one of my best-friend's homes, and my grandmother's house, in addition to our house!)

Original hardware

Towel bar and paper towel holder (I find this to be charming and fun)

Original tile (I actually like this)

Vent/Fan on the wall above the range

Early 1960's range (we have the owner's manual to it as well, and two burners no longer work)

[IMG]http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j58/goodgalpal/Old%20Kitchen/IMG_1030.jpg[/IMG]

General messy overview

Kitchen Ideas:
We're going to paint, so we can get rid of that awful yellow. I don't know what posessed my elder family members to select that horrible combo of colors. It is funny (odd type of funny) that our downstairs bathroom has all yellow tile with the blue walls and ceiling. Ick! SO we will paint the kitchen ceiling white, and the walls the same blue as the tile. We'll put in our stainless steel gas range, stainless fridge, buy a stainless dishwasher, and do something with the cupboards. I don't know if we should paint them black, or white. I also don't know what to do with that corner where the microwave is. All I know is that it is ackward and not very functional. Thank goodness we rarely use the microwave....

We could go cutesy, or more sleek

Flooring

Maybe get some Marmoleum? http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/utility/showArticle/?objectID=72

Lighting

Window treatments

Do you like the blue circle sheers or the plain? Are the valances "too much"? Thoughts and suggestions PLEASE!!!!

"Island"- a vintage table with a funky table cloth that I got recently. I can't decide if I want the workspace or my freedom to walk around more.

We already have this fridge but it is in our basement and we are desperate for help to get it up to our kitchen...

Dishwasher desire- We are going for a Whirlpool because it matches our fridge, and because they are American based, as well has the only company we have found that offer the flatware basket on the inside door so there is more space for dirty dishes...

I'd love to know what suggestions or ideas you have to help us out. We're looking to keep the character/integrity of the house, but update things a bit and make it more suited to our needs both now and for the future.

Phantom baby

2010-01-30T10:41:00.002-05:00

Hi All,

Just so you all know, you will probably see me posting about phantom baby or talk of baby related topics. We're not trying for a child (quite the opposite really). Hubby and I are really just excited at the prospect of having one in the future. So we feel mentally ready but the timing just is not right. For now, I am going to be excited for my friends and family members that are pregnant or already have kids.

Anyway, we have a room devoted to be a future nursery, and have a few things collected for "someday". My parents have done some cleaning in the basement of the house I grew up in and have given me some of my own childhood toys and such. I loooooooooove that they did this! I am majorly sentimental and nostalgic so having these items makes me really happy. If I can use them for phantom-baby then that also suits my lust for all things eco. Reusing prevents having to buy something new so it saves money and the planet at the same time! Yea! Don't get me wrong, I like new things too, but traveling down memory lane sure is fun!

My childhood mobile

This was my grandfather's flower that he had with him in his room at the nursing home where he lived, my mom gave it to me when he passed away. I will keep it for phantom-baby's room and as a reminder of him.

Here is the cradle that my paternal grandfather left me when he died. The majority of my family has slept in this cradle. My great-grandfather built it and my grandfather (first born) slept in it. I slept there as well. Forgive the mess, it is currently in our spare room with things that we don't know where else to put!

In this photo below you will see a small lamp that Hubby's mom got him and it is one of the few things we have from her (she is no longer living). We also have this rocking chair that belonged to the same grandfather that had the yellow flower above. The rocking chair was bought when I was in utero, as I was the first grandchild. My grandparents got it at Ethan Allen and had it at their house to rock me in. I am lucky to have it now. In addition, there are some throw blankets that my great-grandmother (my mom's maternal grandma) made. Wow, lots of cool things!!!

...and here are some ideas I saw online that I like and might use someday:

I made this "idea board" but it is nothing fancy. This is my first attempt.

Oh yeah- and the room will NOT be PINK like it is now!!! We live in the house my great-grandfather (my mom's maternal grandfather) built and it has been in the family ever since. The room really needs to be painted because some of the paint is peeling off and it is in rough shape, plus I hate pink as a wall color. So Hubby and I will be repainting. We hope to have the room done (at least painted) by the end of this summer. It is really tough to find time because I am in nursing school and study pretty much constantly, and he is working a minimum of 11 hours a day plus has a 2 hour commute. He was recently told he has to work Saturdays too (without pay), so time is quite minimal.
Peeling paint...

I don't know if we should paint the room all one color like it is now including the ceiling because of the odd shape, or if we should try to create a ceiling line and do a different color there. I am totally open to ideas if anyone wants to suggest something. Here it is as of right now...

From the back wall of the room facing the hallway. The hall is outside of the wooden door you see.

From the wooden door opening, entrance to the room. Looking at the back wall of the room.

That is about it! Wow, that is a pretty big post! I look forward to the comments and suggestions.

Making meals

2010-01-11T14:46:00.003-05:00

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine today regarding cooking. She asked me what foods I know how to make. Well I came up with tons of things, but somehow those things just seem so boring and usual and are "go to" meals. I'm kind of getting sick of those sorts of things, yet I don't really have time to experiment with foods lately. I probably won't have that time for about 2 years! I would just like to say, if you try to think of EVERYTHING you know how to cook it is really a massive list. I don't even know if it is possible to write it all out....

My kitchen appears on the bigger side, but it really has a poor layout and the storage is a problem. I tend to like to have quite a lot of supplies and variety, so my kitchen doesn't work well for that. I am kind of obsessed right now with figuring out what to do with the kitchen so that we have a plan and can figure out what projects to do, if we can change the layout or not, and seeking storage solutions. Eventually I will take some before and after photos and post them up here. There probably won't be any re-do for a long time though, so don't hold your breath!

Another thing with the kitchen that I kind of struggle with is the fact that it has a lot of character. 1950's vintage character. I love the 50's, and I love the retro vibe it has so I don't want to destroy it. However, I would like to update it as far as more modern function while still maintaining the character. That is easier said than done. I have limitations with placement of appliances, and storage locations. I'd consider a very small island or table in the center, but our kitchen feels kind of small for that. I don't want a drastic change either, but I would like to freshen the kitchen and make it more user friendly. Our current stove/oven only has two electric burners that work so making meals and entertaining sometimes proves to be more difficult than I'd like. Luckily we do have a new gas range in our garage but we have to do the switcharoo pretty soon or I will go crazy.

Now I am inspired so off to the kitchen I go- I'll be doing a little planning and organizing.

Brrrrrrrrrrr!

2010-01-10T18:13:00.006-05:00

Well it has been very cold this winter so far, and my husband (Charles) and I have been feeling the drafts come in our home. We live in a house that was built in 1951 by my great grandfather. The home has been in my family the entire time.

Charles has been thinking that we need new front and back doors, and he is right! We probably won't be getting any new doors soon, but it did get us thinking about what we want. So far we are liking the craftsman style pretty well.

What do you think? I welcome all opinions.

Here is what we have right now (that is our dog, Buster):

We probably won't be doing outdoor updates soon but we love to have a plan and know what we want. I don't yet know the prices of those doors either, so we shall see!

My first ever blog post!

2010-01-10T17:56:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to start a blog. I don't know how often I'll be writing, or what the topics will cover, but I felt this would be a good way for my far-away-friends to feel more involved in my life. Not only that, but due to my very busy schedule, a lot of people feel like we are more distant now and I don't like that! This blog will serve as a way for me to feel connected with all my friends and family, both old and new!