I made something pretty..

Against all odds, I have finished my kitchen! I know, I know, I don't believe it either!
Are you reading this, Sh!tty contractor who demolished my home, took all my money, and disappeared presumably back into the pit you crawled out of??
Seven months covered in drywall dust, seven months of asthma attacks, seven months of stepping on nails, all of us crammed into less than 1000 square feet of actual livable space. Countless fast food dinners (not to mention the related extra pounds we're all carrying now), hair and clothes perpetually paint splattered, calloused fingers and broken nails, band aids band aids band aids. Nowhere to eat. No place to sit. Holidays I couldn't host. Friends and family who couldn't visit.

But FINALLY I've not only gained a home that I'm happy and comfortable in, I've learned how to do things I never thought I could. I have loads of confidence that I can figure anything out. I can do it. Do it wrong! Take it all down and do it again :) A lot of things were trial and error, and others I learned by watching videos on YouTube (a wannabe plumber's dream! Anyone need their toilet replaced? Install a new sink? I'm your girl thanks to youtube!)
I have 3 girls, and I am acutely aware that I model what being a woman is. It's not even necessarily work ethic that I'm getting at (altough that's important too), but it's taking on any challenge. Breaking them down into pieces and figuring them out. Facing your fears. Being independant. It's ok to rely on other people - even *gasp* a man, but to know that you don't have to is powerful. You are strong and you are smart and you are capable, and you can take it on. I want my girls (and my son) to believe that because they grew up with a woman who lived it. So that's the woman I'm trying to be :)

Who knew that putting my house back together would change my life so much?

So here's the kitchen. I'll show pics of the other rooms in other posts:

The house was built in 1975, and the space I renovated was originally split into two rooms - a dining room and a very small kitchen. There was no cupboard space. My pots and pans were always stacked on and in the stove.


A year or two ago in an attempt to update the kitchen, I painted the orangey wood a creamy white and redid the backsplash, and had someone (poorly) lay new tile. It held me over until the big reno, but didn't address the space problem.

Tore the walls down and pulled out the floors (thank you, contractor, that was just about the extent of your services), and then as a family we put it back together like this:

Highlights:
- granite countertops
- island with porcelain apron sink and bar seating (the kid's FAVOURITE part :)
- marble tile backsplash
- new ceiling height cabinets with LOADS of storage space
- corner pantry (more storage!)
- 18" porcelain tile floor
- chimney style hood range with stainless steel backsplash 
- new dishes in my china cabinet (or rather..DISHES in my china cabinet. I've never had any nice china!)
- I reused my dining room table, but updated it with new chairs and a bench
- the super cool main light I pulled out of my store when I closed it

I changed my mind on the backsplash that first went in so out it came:
I started the project which was tedious, but going well. Then I had to take Max to hockey so enlisted Q and Andrew to work on it while I was gone.


When I got home two hours later, not only was the tile gone, but all the drywall as well. What could I do? Ok then, let's learn how to hang drywall!


As you can imagine, this was all very labour intensive and time consuming. The kids may or may not have been told to fend for themselves.
Quinn is at least partially raised by cats, let's be honest. So it wasn't a surprise when I found her curled up asleep on one chair just like Mickey who was curled up on the one next to her.

And there you have it, folks :)

Comments

[JQ]

Wow! Totally fab. I have worried, in my own adventures, that my boys might marry the wrong kind of woman and end up expecting a whole lot more roof-walking and hammer-swinging and masonry services than she's interested in offering. Oh well.

[Sara]

Yes, I thought about you a lot while doing this, Jenn :)

[Mickey]

Looks beautiful Sara! I watch a show called Reno It from Calgary and your reno looks every bit as modern and lovely as the ones on the show!

[Mike]

It's unrecognizable compared to what it used to be. Awesome job, Sara.

[Sara]

Thanks Mickey and Mikey :)

[Mum]

Looks great Sara. We'll be over tonight to check it out ourselves.