the heart of the home...my REAL farmhouse kitchen..part one

 While we're finishing phase 2 of the pantry

I thought I would give you a bit of history of my kitchen...

This is  peek at what my farmhouse kitchen 

(be WARNED-not for the faint of heart) 

looked like

 15 years ago 

when we first walked in the door 

to take a look at our new home...

• yes, that is the same pantry that I showed you last week
• yes, it was dirty, mouse-infested, and scary
• yes, those pantry cabinets were the only cabinets in the kitchen

• yes, that was the kitchen sink (back in the corner-behind the wall)
• yes, it was in the pantry
• yes, that is a chimney and the washing-machine hook-up

• yes, the  *kitchen*  was empty except for the...
• yes, that is a  built-in china cabinet 
• yes, that doorway lead to the bathroom,
• yes, there were 4 doorways
• yes, the floor was that gross,
• yes, I was in love with this house,
• yes, I had a vision of what this house  could be

and

yes, we bought the house!

without one minute of hesitation...

If you're like me,

 you like to see

 before and afters

and all of the details.

This is a rough floor plan of what we started with.

my favorite carpenters

hard at work

ripping out the old

and 

putting in the new

You should know:

this is how we like to buy 'em.

I like my houses old 

and 

I like 'em original.

I want to work beside  My Mr.

and beside my children

to make the  house into our home.

At a price we can afford.

Here's a peek...at where we ended up.

This photo is a couple of years old-

in the height of my *shabby chic* days.

Come back for part two to see  a few more details

and

to see my new farmhouse style.

White Wednesday @ Faded  Charm 

Vintage Friday @ Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday @ Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
PRIMP Your Stuff @ (PRIMP)

project love...

2012 started  with a bang.

It's  a new year 

and 

 a new project.

The Christmas hoopla was over

and

I 

was

ready.

Ready for a project.

Did I tell you about my Christmas gift from my Mr.?

I asked for  project time.

Have I told you?

I am a project girl.

I am happiest 

when I am smack dab in the middle 

of a project...

planning, painting, and doing.

When I have a paintbrush in my hand I have a smile on my face.

Do a project with me and you will have my undying love.

My current project?

My pantry.

I'm not sure this was  necessarily 

the most important project 

to tackle

but  

the winds of inspiration are not always logical.

And we must follow the inspiration.

We have spent the week

tearing out, re-installing

and paint, paint, painting.

this is what my pantry looked like most of the time

 the L-configuration was not working for me...

I'm too short so I couldn't reach anything in the corner

the paint was crackled and not in a good way

more overflow

do you wonder what is under that countertop?

that will be  phase 2

phase one is the main wall

 STEP 1: we MY MR. tore out the base cabinets/shelves

which led to this

this has been my kitchen for the week
at  about day 3
 I start to wonder 
"what have I done"
and
" I think I have issues"

STEP 2: this dresser was in the barn

I found it thrifting with a damaged top

I LOVE the drawers

 We My Mr. removed the base and the top 

made a new base 

and 

installed it.

Now, it looks like a built-in

STEP 3:  wood countertop

(a scrap piece that was in the  barn, too)

STEP 4: sand off years of globbed-on old paint, 
put  beadboard in the back of the shelves, 
build new shelves for the base

STEP 5: paint

this is my first time using this new paint

it's a hybrid oil

it's water base and it's oil base

don't ask me how that works

it was easy to apply like water-base...

we will see if it has the durability of oil

STEP 6:hardware

the part I imagined and could NOT wait for

STEP 7: put it all back together

I am in the battle of  beauty vs. function 

Iwant it all to be cute

I know this battle well.

For now, I will let the countertop be cute and functional

and what happens behind closed doors...

well, stays  behind closed doors.

cost of project
dresser: $24
countertop: free
paint- $28
hardware-$40
baseboard moulding-$6.00
total:$98.00


all of this for under $100.00!

plus glass canisters from Wal-Mart

*****

tip:  this was the right size jar for balance 

but 

that is  a lot of rice

I put in an empty tupperware in the jar first 

and then poured in rice around it

ok...I lied...I couldn't help it...

I still (partially) decorated the inside of the shelves

I still have a lots of details to finish.

I need to complete phase 2

to see if everything will have a place.

I still have some purtify-ing to do.

But I am  pleased as punch with the results so far.

Merry Christmas to me.

on to phase 2...

savvy city farmer thriftin' thursday


ivy and elephants 

primp your stuff

be happy...

 I don't know what makes me cry the most...

(happy cry)

Baby G is a ....GIRL!

(our grandbaby boy to girl ratio is a bit lopsided 8:1)

 or

seeing this pin on pinterest by mrs g

with the caption

"mom, I want a chandlier in the nursery"

(that's my girl!)

 or 

these pins by big sister

of projects to make 

(that's my girl, too)

for the  spring arrival 

of  baby  G

We are beyond excited!

And so very thankful...

(all photos pinterest except ultrasound)

and it's a wrap...twenty-eleven

It's pretty  hard to wrap up

a whole  year in one post.

I'll try, though.

Here's an overview:

I've included:

 my favorite posts,

your favorite posts,

the most viewed post,

and the most commented-on post.

And 

just for fun 

  a few pictures that I love.

 I've included links 

so you can go back 

if  you want to spend the whole afternoon here.

It was a great year

Thank you so much for being a part.

You encourage me more than you  know.

january

We started January with the pictures 

of my Miss Mrs G's vintage-style wedding.

Seems like forever-ago and yet just like yesterday, KWIM?

I do miss my little girl.

going to the chapel

 here comes the bride

it's a family affaire

i do, me too

good eats

and

happily ever after

*

*

*

a cabinet makeover 

as I pursued my *new* farmhouse style

february

 if the  shoe fits...it's craft day

meet the grandkids

james

our prayers our answered

march

love never quits

my most commented on post

and the one I read over and over...when the going gets tough

when i come clean

and you cheer me on

this is still a work in progress

but 

more about that next week

focusing on white

april

baby steps

another cabinet makeover

why we love white

my most viewed post

may

white wednesday #100

hawthorne in bloom

I create

june

I heart  peonies

Miss Gracie's and Friends 

Annual

vintage barn sale 

at my  place

july

we said goodbye to green

the story of my home

and

here

*

*

*

 a trip to my favorite vacation spot

portland, oregon

which  means Monticello

and

Kathleen

We had a great time 

hunting for treasures and yacking-it-up.

This came home with me and is still in the barn...

Guess what I will be doing January 2012?

yep, clearing a spot for it.

august

let the fun begin

back door  friends

family vacation to Lagoon

september

real blogging

30 day photo challenge

october

my girl's bedroom reveal

and here

november

the book that the Lord is using to  change

 my perspective and my heart

on giving thanks

shabby house Christmas

where I sell treasures

the banners sold like hotcakes

december

our painting is completed

christmas projects

my favorite Christmas shots

I am so thankful 

for the Lord's protection and provision 

this year.

He has protected my family.

My sons have not been  injured seriously 

in their very dangerous jobs.

He has provided abundantly.

We  made it through the lean winter of the recession.

We have a new grandson.

We have a new grandbaby on the way.

My youngest girl is growing up more every day.

Relationships are healing

and

Hearts are healing.

Grace has been given freely.

It has been fun to go back and see what I have written.

This blog is about my passions.

I hope they do show through;

my faith,

 my family, 

and 

my love of vintage.

Thanks again for coming along with me.

Happy New Year!

common ground
vintage post of the year

Charm of Home