Kitchen Remodel Part 1

Ok, so you've waited LONG enough for me to post about our kitchen remodel.  I will be showing you bits and pieces in a series.  I tend to be a "have to have it all together before I can show the world" kind of girl.   I've realized that it will never get posted if I wait for that moment.  It is still a work in progress, since the weather is cold, snowy and not conducive for some of the finishing work (plus the fact that we don't have an area outside the kitchen itself to cut, paint or sand).  We are about 95% done and as soon as the weather breaks, we will continue on in this journey. 

Without further ado...here are some before pics 

(Be forewarned this may not be for the weak of heart...it was U.G.L.Y)

 

As you can see the original pine cupboards were covered by many layers of paint, along with chips and drawer fronts falling apart (see the lovely screws to right of knob)  

The counters were a LOVERLY pink speckled laminate (circa 1950's) which would be fine if you were going with a retro look.  

We weren't! 

Nope..Nada.. Ain't gonna happen..

I "ignored" the countertop color for years and tried to work around them.  Fortunately, in the 80's, the country mauve & blue colors were "in" but that design element faded.  I was still left with (sigh) those dreaded pink counters!  By October of 2008, I had enough and decided that the paint had to be removed from the cupboards.  This was step one in a long process.  

The tool of choice: Back to Nature Multi Strip.

Here is the work in progress.

This was a labor intensive project but well worth the effort. 

The pine wood underneath the multiple layers of paint had a glorious patina.  

This was like uncovering buried treasure! 

I'm hoping that by posting this project, you will be encouraged to take a leap of faith and tackle a project in your own home.  

(I have received so much inspiration from the blogs that I read!)

~ judi :)

Cottage Elements Giveaway

Lani over at Cottage Elements is having a giveaway!  It's a Junkload of JunkMarketStyle's own Sue Whitney's publications.  Follow directions below to win a set of  Sue Whitney's books two and three, with magazine and DVD! 

Here's how to enter: 

1. Go to the JUNKMARKET site and become a member.
2. Leave a Comment on the Cottage Elements Blog with your user name.  If you are already a member on JMS, great!  Just leave your user name.
3. Become a follower or already be a follower of the Cottage Elements blog for an extra chance to win. 
4. And for an even greater chance to win, mention it on your blog, tweet it, facebook it or grab the blogger button below and post it on your blog.  It's really that simple! 

http://cottageelements.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-new-giveaway.html

Musical Revamp

A Christmas gift for my bff and her family included this little ditty.  I found it in the markdown aisle at my local HomeGoods store and could see its potential.  A bit of my favorite black paint, kraft paper, Modge podge,  sheet music of 2 of her fav songs and Gorilla wood glue (great stuff!).  


Before:

• Take the frame apart carefully (as seen in above photo)
• Paint the frame and letter in desired color (I chose Pittsburg Paint black satin)
• Brush Modge Podge on frame backing
• Crumple piece of kraft paper and placed in bucket of water-then squeeze out excess water
  
• Carefully uncrumple paper, spread out on frame backing and apply another coat of Modge Podge.
• Take emphemera (sheet music in this case) crumple and follow same steps as kraft paper
• Place music as desired overtop kraft paper on frame back - apply another coat of Modge Podge
• Glue letter on top of sheet music and frame together
• Add desired ribbon (I chose 2 -black grosgrain and burlap) stapled to back. 
  

After:

Thank you to my 12th's hubby for taking the AFTER pics

(cuz I forgot in the craziness of the holidays!)

In Memory of Michael

I am taking a break from my regular postings in honor and memory of my oldest brother, Michael, who on December 26, 2009 started a new life in heaven.  My family has had a difficult week but also one of sweet memories.    

Michael

May 26, 1947 - December 26, 2009

My oldest brother, Michael, was a juvenile diabetic that spent his last seven years battling illness, surgeries, rehab and hospitalizations.  His last year was the most difficult as he suffered another stroke that left him unable to swallow and eventually led to a trachea and feeding tube.   He was not able to be home with family the last two Christmases and this was very hard for him.  My husband, children & I spent about an hour with him on the afternoon of Christmas Day singing him Christmas carols, his favorite being Silent Night.   He was sedated but knew we were there, he mouthed Merry Christmas when we said it to him with our goodbyes.  It was a very sweet memory that we will treasure.  

The following is my tribute to him that I read at his funeral December 30, 2009.

"My big brother was one of the stongest, most courageous fighters that I know.  His illness never stopped him from loving life and loving us.  His strong will to live gave him the ability to endure 7 years of illness, surgeries, rehab (aka PhysTherapy which in his humor he called Pain & Torture) and hospitalizations.

We tend to wonder why someone has to endure such trials in their lives.   But we are each given the ability to put our faith to the test and God knows just how much we can handle.  Isaiah 55: 8-9 tells us:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 I remember Michael asking, "why" early on during one of his hospitalizations when he was faced with one of his amputations.  I shared a verse with him from Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans not to harm you but give you a hope and a future.

Michael's illness and struggling may not have been our ways but it may have been God's way of getting his attention.  It wasn't too long after this that he may a profession of faith.  And based upon that trust/hope that he put in Christ- we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Michael IS in heaven face to face with the Lord- whole and no longer suffering.

Christmas was Michael's favorite time of year & I believe that God gave Michael a Christmas gift by taking him home to be with Him.

Michael's witty humor, love for his family, teasing, gourmet cooking and so many other things* will be missed but he will remain FOREVER in our hearts."

* service to the community. Christmas holidays, fighting over the calamari, love of music, the stubborness that kept him going, the twinkle in his eye, his smile (even when in pain), pet nicknames, and when he would pick up the phone to check on his family when they were going through difficulties (despite his own issues).