Our kitchen, then and now

<p>Hey all! I’ve mentioned a few times lately that this time of year makes me nostalgic about our house. We moved in (after having it built) almost exactly nine years ago and my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/no-5.html">blogging anniversary</a> was in May, so it’s been fun to see our house transform in real life and on the blog throughout the years. :) </p> <p>One of my favorite transformations in our house is in our kitchen. Years ago I did a few projects that really made a big difference in there, and none of them were hard or expensive. Of course more has changed since then -- it looks SO different to me now! </p> <p>I thought it would be fun to go back in time and then take a look at how it looks now too. I LOVE before and afters, oh yes!! </p> <p>I hand picked everything in this room (well, every room) when we built – I stressed about every aspect of the room, and years later I still like the basics. The problem was it was just SO dark and heavy feeling: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z-PcQsF2RyMaeZESeTQ-MR_NGSeFWqmC6Hdd0PpTfoVyb_Wp6ZGJ_PyfQR6f5Orgl0lOyTxDO5GLlaJgq-jJonMXlJhuBvWS9VP-kSuF0PAopGTKEshYkaEsYskknDSrBAcdZDSYgx8/s1600-h/046_thumb13.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWD9QrzoUZeCUD51h4GuvGQv7ctrDByDteHbGTF5PI33gF9MaKQ97OnFllQY1o950JCgLhuR9ihNImOgH1lnWRTi_aRA2InQ-W5LI0uOkNeKjk_T-LR3DgAROE0t_0HP39FoOA15RXeIY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it was bad – my tastes just changed. I needed to brighten things up in there! The biggest culprit when it came to the dark feeling was the black tiled backsplash. </p> <p>I tried taking it off, but that was a MESS. So I went to plan B and just <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/beadboard-backsplash.html">covered it all with beadboard</a>. ;) </p> <p>I think it was maybe $60 or something like that? I just glued it on top and it made SUCH a huge difference in there!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmQzDw8PGAu-uspe0mLfje80mbX9PpGSHtsZrW-7cDWKeyBGNFHc2B7512LvXeH2unfV2nU47YAAv6J2UF0Ocb2ugzPjgwBcUuOzHDaWBGiaqCPQ7K6JYQkfIdskFkYpCcFX9XTujJ4Y/s1600-h/IMG_55553.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="beadboard backsplash" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_6QPyPkADysE4AWUI-nj5ycimXbPzwwA3YFht8ybDDqSzlydKCJt56MwUTdLO-L_PL-M-1XeEiTMyplOfHALha_hyf9u6NotfabEvvhRS9ttfQEWGYCcDkLcaoFiY-cBfXzuAC2HIOQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beadboard backsplash" width="450" /></a></p> <p>The walls are the same color, obviously the cabinets are too – but that white backsplash really makes a big impact!</p> <p>Here’s another shot of the old backsplash on the other side of the room: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ91ukXLzCk6XbKpEepsu8iNscBnRhgreKYHAf6h_vavcWLBmIoPb-C3Jg6wZzAYFMGDKimd5G56F3ewhsVvPL2BHrMCaOT7ob41EvwQ7aZtkNQTeLthf7TFzNrbdBt-KFfDaLTqwYaQ8/s1600-h/Photo_Video_9bcc7f73d1d54ea7a3b85971%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0wG2J4l6itLWLk5ER7Zjm61DikJX27IGfp_vIbmKvpF03gAYXRfFP1vmnVt6yIkCe9jNw0P6J6iJLDhqqiaou9t-UNLFL5DvTimyT3TL2SmDSpyBqEKEggpXRVTsmm14ww607UDqF9w/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>By the way, yes the afters are taken with a better camera and the operator (me)knows a little more about photography now, but still – check it out!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO23q_mGrwEwuSAaIaUv_oNbTsHwbKOFZL-0MFkiaoPVHxQm896foMx343d129onFN_tkMqlHMe4S02PFT1nRNFH03AUoifpel68hL7mxt9GDOmECNCOQhuTzSM049wjdSVnWHm4uiMgY/s1600-h/IMG_55573.jpg"><img alt="bright kitchen, wood cabinets" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sHJRim5lzIKMUXAM7d3Ey7UaXXr9PQIyzAM9nKAZJdXVKYpgu0T4KDET5aSfbc1F8f-86Ue_c99GlrjTJJAg_B2HsoEtaHrdkw0bje_w-lUNvhKxcoddBsvTRAvKG2LWKNu0okdrnik/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bright kitchen, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Years ago when I did the backsplash we also changed out the faucet and sink. Little things when you think about a whole kitchen for sure, but they made a big impact. </p> <p>I love my sink area. It’s nothing fancy, but I have a window and lots of natural light and it makes me happy: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWC-ONt-1_AcnG8Yumt4Y1E9druaUCDhV3Fz0xk2ErECK8O2zSrlFWHbe5EaJ6zIL6fy6UktR0McMVf4d_uI4LTe-j-0wIlFR19oMtiAWTL666t3UtRUWDkYsaZaxP3Qy0fRNdg8OwrQ/s1600-h/IMG_55743.jpg"><img alt="granite looking countertops" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Yj-0trVs6IQlR8EYEPtPWnlBZK3SaC-SFJWlUkvMFRhtFh5hD22MTfHRTNNbzdjKjcY3qaEvzsiiD2EijR1umADt0rO5DJJSc9uosTES1xXYt9BqEZpYhv29aCxJIS6lTFXpO6rFwqo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="granite looking countertops" width="450" /></a></p> <p>You can read about installing the sink (it was a REALLY FUN TIME) and the name of the sink and faucet in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/kitchen-sink.html">this post</a>. </p> <p>Here’s another before shot from about three years ago – and seriously, it feels like it’s been ten since the room looked like this. For real, crazy: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfca1OYC3MTir0DIJO0nwqPCdLULtNphVb_mUIbuVxKIdytYqAd_wfth_3_uQdiVynuZfiodCoq7IzpMu2IJq0JSbNKTecMFmSILmlPy8RWU3YlGprieDX_CDS99P-TGqnvEn72R1iRM/s1600-h/potrack_thumb23.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcQ_2uKlhMau_7fh_kuFa2bOOUGDJJ_39aQuhgV0FSA0oHHoddjaRxKvvpJqEzK6u2UEkpRjhfM2EOA5bzjSJ7oGL8CnYoSsqJmA9i2ZmA5Qe9V_TDYtSH5Y4tQIqQnhjlxcSWjftU3I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Excuse my notes, I was explaining my changes. ;) </p> <p>Now that same view looks like this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7UpwDtZlsEFdym3cCTHB_9DYe4FH-Z_AVrMbyIvjQwNgkpkSIAm1bF0z63Yl479UHjd61TXrALhwGN351f9O4xpAaRJ70HTL9Wz6vpGM9ds8QUOW5ZrZqIe7weqS8V-14n0pCcFfasA/s1600-h/IMG_55503.jpg"><img alt="DIY farmhouse table" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijs7zzwuT6t53TFSvsaL8LPSNL0ENgiKC_JM3tDO0LnMTqtAQYyXFemq3qqNGyLpkXPFPGcd_wY3-Tl8Hk_QLdlJXgu-sMYKrm29YWbgfIPWsr5h4RZSTrAf1AUpC-D8WSpGMgb-Imtl8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY farmhouse table" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Have I mentioned I luuuurve my new table? Maybe. </p> <p>Another little project that made a big impact was the kitchen island. OK, well it wasn’t little – I think it got four redos? Five? Here it is in its builder basic glory: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS_unpUYhUyjAElB0K30jgwzJwqRROEDEfv_ywXP9UsvSux0wIB0TYVwGvfBcw5cWgjKPRMMhMMzexC6l2W3hLd8OrA1vo_XzH6vE9La8uneq0Arz2S6IzbXPqzE7yXMnpaq4e1pe6nI/s1600-h/DSC03572_thumb14.jpg"><img alt="builder basic island" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfGC5PFUDHa0rWSHr-ySJZW9qowvbCkKcIuwJb-Y1dinYnBCUxOYGkllxK8jpKkx22aR6bmosn3a0a79qUiYMZq1ZyRYZtrkL62wEy5jDGFwaC4-Uby_eO5gJud17fPKCAef7CPUPJlM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="builder basic island" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Awww yeah. <em>Everything</em> matched. </p> <p>By the way, so many of you ask me about my granite countertops. They’re actually laminate. ;) I may write a whole blog post just about them because I love them that much. </p> <p>Yes. You heard me. </p> <p>I love laminate. </p> <p>Ours is a granite look – you can find similar counters at the Wilsonart site <a href="http://www.wilsonart.com/dreamkitchens?utm_source=HAVEN+HOME&utm_medium=Blogger+Package&utm_campaign=WILSONART">here</a>. Now they make them in a high definition version too and those look even more like granite than ours do. We got an edge on ours that makes them look more like a solid surface too. </p> <p>But back to the island – as I said, it got a few redos, but after the last one, this is how it ended up and has stayed: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied-GkyJtZDQJEP_Y0ZmSBw64z8btMnXyEC2FPXZYxH1FrBXw_-2AXNokVGKpWEO73wMpLf1vUNQfzJZ7fiH1k8krSUWDEJA-g7z37dcBkSDA6keaURvotZL7BJldcUtW-RpS-CzPkyqE/s1600-h/IMG_1061_thumb114.jpg"><img alt="beadboard kitchen island" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiejpM9ZqRyQeS_QGf-Neyc44reKa6qIwWWb8kmpe8kE_zaQUxOAqC04ju0IeIiyYagXBmQpC7457Ri28RPhYPeTsuHCAGXaSOgMmf19na6y-maoz_HiwE5RcjVK4gFL1TxarjFs30hfM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beadboard kitchen island" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Butcher block on top, beadboard and board and batten on the sides and a lighter color made a huge difference! I love our island and I’ve promised to leave it alone for a while. :) </p> <p>A few months ago I decided to change up a weird little wall we have in the kitchen and I think it adds a bit of fun and whimsy to the room: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfMiwcKDzE1A0jhe-F36qu1BJZygpQbbq5SDwRO0gLNTCaQbjxUt17QKNiMOloXEbXE_z_I4HzUA-3pPUeV0lAclm1GKIVIFRjw-uEvS_vorRTlDaXQnPJ9JgYWdXRKr1E2R-tZPQrAM/s1600-h/IMG_55598.jpg"><img alt="chalkboard in kitchen" border="0" height="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvdO25w6mFVf8-F9kbevKxyi85eriGv3xUFWXpbVlxuFWDcuuUAx1nKqEj9ZTou5JutL26-toueXEmjYGjrg0tApq_dkEjbK51JLHZvCu6cNj6vQuURRrCJFrhPG5VDZHAwQ4_9fWo0Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="chalkboard in kitchen" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I always say most rooms should have something in black – I think it just grounds a space. A chalkboard wall is the perfect way to accomplish that! </p> <p>My most recent change in here is in the nook area – here’s how it looked a few years ago: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWndkkvW8ZlCMi5jHdktxPaxo3Ev7awL0Wu7fj_75O94HlV6QLNV_kju2aVmC9Uxw1Lm6O-cdrLb7onUm2qJgH0ZoVdkCyQI-zG40R88zobdQx-0cOwQSMgbFVJOrHqaug_Abk5cahHYo/s1600-h/DSC004725.jpg"><img alt="bay window kitchen" border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4I0hre3yKb-u6TD1FhHweea9zQcHzzBOab5kJ6r5WWPPsOD0zxqs3cACV6tzxBcHCmEpGFpNDOyWWIz-LBhD7Fvu2ERD8wJ7x1THLmIvHUK_tjwTLlzoSUYLCUwcopQtufj4etTVslg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window kitchen" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Again, I’m not going to dog my “old” look and act like I didn’t love it – I did. But it changed with time like the rest of the room (and we took the big blow up pool off the deck too, gah). </p> <p>Just noticed the high chair too. Sniff. ;)</p> <p>Here it is now with the new <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-kitchen-nook-complete.html">light fixture</a> and the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/ikea-table-turned-farmhouse-table.html">DIY farmhouse table</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtlfpzrToacbSqTbpbOf7UNOIC3MzoAoqCV4ktOm536XC2jO7q-uYLRAkjYH0YzE-8kNkVgEU1OMH63bYrlSX5WhKS8VXEE2hfQ9pJy06ckltoYSWQ_LvaG5Fbs2HiNqMencr_ub2E-A/s1600-h/IMG_55613.jpg"><img alt="bay window kitchen" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaA2lFQ6SGpDdSC0B0F3JsgzGXO5nyl_BSihEdYBn4Uy4C_gy9MuU3nJhYQj4SB5_xlpUsz8HYnDwqLpS5N_dts08i3d6GPQ2XtHONjicyXz0YhI7ooKhiEuRYFzBmwtok6q37WK0Vq0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window kitchen" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Oh yeah, and the chairs I had been drooling over for months (just a less expensive version):</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LCntMJ69H7Wz6Q0HZ7xnOgdzv_ZecMJLUddfEo2mHmenc6Yv4y8NReZhqnmzQpQRwlxpJ9y6J2zvXINHFL9O5WVtauTtgNGLj7L3-P2OyUUHWRv_Syt4k3EkPlvLTRIm0WIHVpM_VF0/s1600-h/IMG_55533.jpg"><img alt="x-back dining chairs" border="0" height="698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZkuyR8bxxiQy50B4IFEEm0OG8_lg6Ef9uudKzIRSaKaqQwrph0DBItk_PAfL19WMGb6sSBiOHIerQr715UXq0tJRGaO6teHfDEwBcoccoHQRahFodreY4czjIeimEOZXVZKMxd4ZeYQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="x-back dining chairs" width="450" /></a> </p> <p>So there it is in a nutshell – years of changes in one compact little blog post. ;) </p> <p>I have been planning BIG changes in here for about two years now, but have wanted to get other projects done first. (Ahem, cough, <em>bathrooms</em>.) I could easily see this kitchen becoming my dream kitchen -- I just need to get a final word on some of the ideas I have (if they are possible), and then I’ll be diving in. I’m still not sure if it will be this year though. </p> <p>Have you been along for the changes in here all these years? Have your tastes changed a lot over the past five years or so? Blogging kind of encourages mine to happen more than the average person I’m sure, but I do love watching the transformation! </p> <p>If you have any questions on anything I didn’t mention, ask in the comments! Have a lovely weekend!</p>

Our kitchen, then and now

Hey all! I’ve mentioned a few times lately that this time of year makes me nostalgic about our house. We moved in (after having it built) al...

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DIY Craftsman Garage Door

<p>So…yet again I’m blogging about project that I procrastinated on for <strike>weeks </strike>months and it only took 30 minutes or so to do. Seriously, this sat in the back of my SUV for forever! And with dark fast approaching last night we got it done in no time at all – after all that waiting. </p> <p>Here’s the thing…we live in a suburban neighborhood. And I LOVE it. Someday would it be nice to live on more land? Maybe. But for now, with a young one, this is great for us. </p> <p>But just like the inside, I try to do little things to the outside to change up the appearance a bit, so it doesn’t look just like everybody else’s house on the street. OK, there are no houses that look just like ours on our street, but you get what I’m laying down. </p> <p>I like a little detail, a little somethin’. And I found it while browsing Home Depot a few <strike>weeks</strike> months ago. Here’s our garage door as it was: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLamdLkDDfWzxN6NOK_NeAQt-aXwUuFbl_7Qao0N3562N0dXeA8TXjt7nccnj0kQNxQCAhyde-TLsKDzjxf8d2TVGKr8MnYZSPeVwLtfRFM6r_6GgZ6rVNkM9r7uJNo3xx0aCF7ftBeM/s1600-h/IMG_5672%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door hardware" border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8BH7f-cPaLZR9gjR3rREaCCG3TYaVxusOxozD7SeoArARbDaMjQoi3U7GQcItmScVoKbNundolaHH3vcRuApXLRD4UyFF2dPdsIdhS5Wg5lpoGs_kbWJgt8lIHAO64XynpT8b8wjPEk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY craftsman door hardware" width="550" /></a></p> <p>Boring. Really, it’s fine – it’s been boring for nine years and I haven’t cared. But over the past year or so I’ve been wanting to spruce it up a bit. I may paint it a different color eventually (I was thinking BLUE! Kidding.) but for now this quick change made me happy. :)</p> <p>Anyhoo, this is what I found for only $10 -- I snatched it up!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXswFCXPtOGENGaGRzzLIPB-9QQr6gkFy-Uzkaa6NSs1ZXywR76IONiIa0pS1lul8cYrWyCzzJduAqI5Cjt54otO9LMxvIuAGXrKQPKPcbGUJ_X7Oy1m8oQxdYRhfeHg5yyOh6aNwfk8/s1600-h/IMG_5676%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY craftsman door hardware" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXJP6NOfROj4XnBjccR9XEqRQVIhpOqTVaSEjmfM0TMHJNCTHYnBxiQYXQKqn8-ax7ZTaoW6Ius7zwto4Sch21paBO9FHiCGVgtU-K6hGzgDNVzQijfDm1lqVK8r_kW2Et-_s9f1HcIg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY craftsman door hardware" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love the look of craftsman/carriage door hardware – LOVE. I’ve been thinking of adding this type of hardware for a long time. It helps that this totally works with the exterior of our house too. It’s very much a cottage-type look and I knew this would look great! You can get a set online for as little as $25 but that’s the lowest I’ve seen a one till now -- $10 was a steal!</p> <p>At first I was going to tape them up to see how I liked them, but the tape wasn’t holding, so I just said WHAT THE HECK and drilled them in. <em>Schnikeys.</em> That was stressful.</p> <p>I mean, <strong>holes</strong> in the garage door people! That stresses. me. out. And while I was installing them my assistant, AKA, the kiddo, kept laughing and calling them mustaches on the garage. </p> <p>?? Mustaches? </p> <p>They are really decent quality – heavy metal and I liked that the screws even came with black ends to match: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtp8JpCFoQLyvUV4F2Z7qNLF01MfJyH0jyWZuBfBtTyoxWs8Yymog01RjbV57-WwueauFRvBZldE-eserobMAq0q2hhEjuGQsRdW0BtZ5VBu0OthWSsiCcXb5LBnYhQWgi0h-8eYYMZOw/s1600-h/IMG_5678%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmyjo6cYjneSVcKrzojUFqZw-BN0APPUUfVONeJG7jelQYebsdyqadB_Y4SCi3dRC1MfVBd1JsQwKu5VX115h4n7DD0n4-LN2JvpNkWd8KzCch30pkaD4JFCU2ckI37pHX2kUOz5-TGo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I added the handles in the middle and was still stressing about drilling and <em>then</em> the Bub said the garage door now had mustaches and a nose. Still don’t get the mustaches. Still not funny while Mama was sweating. </p> <p>I stood back and looked and I REALLY loved it!!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-u_PzJJVNt89qQUZXFYPDginkIW33pEy38W09K1BBXrb4hnbPxgnM6fjLhlo6ekHDvFgxoxncd84op__9fI7YugzNGwNJlb55J-Pvj23u6nmoU8Eg5py5H8cJ0MB02FrZbf-g9fwb9s/s1600-h/IMG_5688%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn8hqi5PcgxdFQE5IyHBP12T0AOkez6J-VMjK_SAdbtcjUziXBKxZ5Qw-SYhKayb2wF_A1gg-VQGNZSLEXMjOLvRVpRpojc9m9KBfVl2WI8EB8sS3pg01kd-e__D4-EAadxNCFqP99Ks/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="550" /></a></p> <p>WHY does our driveway look blue? It’s not blue. </p> <p>Now for a real craftsman/carriage door look we need the windows across the top. I’ve seen that you can do that yourself with paint or purchase some vinyl – when they’re done it really does look like real windows. We’re not that far away from the street though, so I don’t know if it would just look super fake. I may try cutting some black vinyl just to see how it looks. </p> <p>For now I’m quite happy with the little change. It’s not something you’d notice driving by, but you’d notice something was a little different, you know?: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1n4z-4v1hvY0ak5B_EoqAKg5p1jx1rS6cDjSkR-scH-Wtd1129U-zOfh8qLbddRh3Q0U3nnP8dui26ZgpjVO37QingHf3dljV5x5tIhksBzmLI6sF9ClCNjBTO1g82qEME8nNbMsGw4/s1600-h/IMG_5683%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk_66msqZdRYyGYS0kCL36_Ge7tS8vixuPaPkNHnj4cHvzbq83VXcnb6UBRMljJOdLzhLlLMvRBnVaej_qwPQg98PtxqzBWO6nZHvHCcybHdqN0KSK8oTPoBMDy7EBKNqIYOlGn9BCZY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love the new garage door mustaches and nose! I think they’re adorable! </p> <p>I love a simple and inexpensive little change! Have you tried changing up something on your garage door? Added hardware or painted it? Anyone tried those faux windows? Do tell! </p>

DIY Craftsman Garage Door

So…yet again I’m blogging about project that I procrastinated on for weeks months and it only took 30 minutes or so to do. Seriously, this s...

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June Before and After Party!

<p>Hello all and happy summer to you!! First of all, thank you so very much for the lovely comments on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">my last post</a>! We had a fantastic celebration this weekend and kicked off the new chapter right. What’s funny is I think my husband may be almost as busy “retired” as he was teaching – he’s got so many projects and organizations he’ll be working with. It’s already started! </p> <p>It’s time for the June Before and After Party, already! I’ll just tell you now that June means summer (duh) and summer means I turn into a sloth. It’s true. I sleep in, take lots of naps, take lots of time away from the computer…so bear with me. I’ll probably go down to three posts a week, maybe even this week. We’ll see. </p> <p>I was SO stinking impressed with all the links last month! I was seriously in awe and it was hard to stop with the highlights. They are were all awesome, here’s just a few that caught my eye!</p> <p>Rachel’s home was beautiful before but now it’s simply stunning: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNYVkmfdFQD9cuFad_xabALTlujjAG7Eaj45Fvp92PkHmg9IphlIGIq4HJLVgTsCDdwOErwVQ49VhXrKz_TLJiE7oxYSK1s2jzcQZDnuGVHSIWaVKALSCO6vf3meeBlQDxIyNxYMeO9c/s1600-h/AddisonExterior3.jpg"><img alt="painted colonial" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53Jxunx5DAidZXqkPD2Jue81kdoCN23xBPwGjNou5h1x_BucNhGwlghTUsaiHyBncaZGPoVL66WAZIvXF7e0WLaASP7Nt0ZnvhSidV0rgtn4LaappNOXOHHBS8rFnbIhTVq-zpnS3FtQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="painted colonial" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I DIE! I love it! Just lovely. Go <a href="http://www.maisondepax.com/2013/03/curb-appeal.html">here</a> to see more on the transformation and the landscaping! </p> <p>I have seen a lot of paint swatch art but Fabrizia’s was <a href="http://fabtwigs.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-paint-chip-art.html">the coolest so far</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jUY_FE_xfSp39vKfNHlSRUTSbxEAWWyKGLQF8gW2YMJ23dyLQkNs2VMgkuOhreLEVnx0HoHVvtn7x_6Mv2bkuUS8AQf1bC5RtK6nH4yJHQHj7HByyeK2uu2xMR-jR-9B4Apo3K4r1bw/s1600-h/marthaart14.jpg"><img alt="paint chip art" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bd9olhgfc36EnbXCB5i-jKpP7pyZ53Yfc41P1D43A97vU0cnWB10qi1e-3Tc_6USHVnZP1H_1j6kCTZXaa1N7ASMXSm5Eq4dreUHypnOoqa6wJZUdDeP4iVXxRWFLqF6oXZBEcfC24w/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="paint chip art" width="500" /></a> </p> <p>She said it didn’t take long and it makes such an impact! Art is usually so expensive – this is just the opposite!</p> <p>OH my goodness, I was <em>drooling</em> over <a href="http://www.goldenboysandme.com/2013/04/master-bathroom-with-pedestal-tub-white.html">Courtney’s bathroom redo</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3zfOXiwpTxdHDl6yigpHdt23MxbjPaBelhUt4pSG-ae_BTsScnyZI7LhlRi040XwJsljoMEcPE_wkF9urcbm32jAm0spDWr4WIoRlhLsPSZFybtFQxn6TBCJVmdwkxpx-va19sdp5Dg/s1600-h/affrunti2blog5.png"><img alt="white marble bathroom" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uXdv6EpdUrMfEBRqJSH8A1dGt7fbcz1Pn3QI4ew8ql4IykfzCUNfYXHqBjLgHVEhbeQCVU2LjQ2a5qEqGdRwVF8QB3vDH3JCldaZ-_Ms8JL5p81EYK7Q4TjbHOlGzNfxy7tRTVjQK6w/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white marble bathroom" width="550" /></a></p> <p>Just…seriously? Awesome. They DIY’d this too! Totally impressed. </p> <p>Rebecca took a cast off piece of furniture and gave it a FUN color: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bmEpfwuA-5U/UaynJ6ZvgbI/AAAAAAAAdqQ/bdERXWJL6P4/s1600-h/hutch14.jpg"><img alt="yellow cabinet redo" border="0" height="679" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uROZV62Ixjg/UaynM6BLRXI/AAAAAAAAdqY/PbIskrJtXA0/hutch1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="yellow cabinet redo" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I don’t if I’d be brave enough for yellow but <a href="http://www.olderandwisor.com/2013/05/like-sunshine-in-morning-hutch-makeover.html">it is perfect in her home</a>! She <strong>always</strong> rocks it. </p> <p>I love how Brandi took an older sofa (that is perfectly nice and comfy) and made it <a href="http://bet1975.blogspot.com/2013/04/updated-sofa-with-pillows.html">look so different with modern pillows</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xV426XHwi-c/UaynNZLQNhI/AAAAAAAAdqg/tPwKURGIuZw/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img alt="blue yellow modern pillows" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-peefAZ1V5Xw/UaynNz_a4cI/AAAAAAAAdqo/Utr4Nu5fG_g/012_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="blue yellow modern pillows" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I love EVERY single pillow – what a great combo! She mixed patterns perfectly. </p> <p>Cindy is pretty much an awesome mom – she helped her kids <a href="http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-kids-kitchen-before-and-afters.html">paint their kitchen cabinets</a> and it turned out SO GOOD!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9mqWPQQ_GBg/UaynOP-V6ZI/AAAAAAAAdqw/UN0P88fKYPE/s1600-h/248128_985660871122_290481083_n4.jpg"><img alt="two tone gray white cabinets" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5DgA5B5Jbko/UaynOtJriVI/AAAAAAAAdq4/iBe5ef2Y04I/248128_985660871122_290481083_n_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="two tone gray white cabinets" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I am digging the two colors – it is so modern and fresh! Want to come to my house next Cindy??</p> <p>Kammy created a <a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/02/toris-big-girl-room-reveal-before-and.html">beautiful room for her daughter</a> – all the details are just lovely:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-75bz7rzweQk/UaynPBBJrAI/AAAAAAAAdrA/lS6etwQisgE/s1600-h/IMG_05344.jpg"><img alt="stenciled floor" border="0" height="801" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ipuRnZEG_hY/UaynPnpA74I/AAAAAAAAdrI/Y9gm4ZOj0TM/IMG_0534_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="stenciled floor" width="450" /></a></p> <p>That floor is especially amazing, isn’t it? </p> <p>And the last one, but I could have kept going! I loved the kitchen over at <a href="http://createbakecelebrate.blogspot.com/2013/05/celebrate-house-tour-kitchen-dining-nook.html">Create Bake Celebrate</a> – especially this armoire and the stone backsplash:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RVTdLaroZtw/UaynQClbILI/AAAAAAAAdrQ/YZu9sC5uRI8/s1600-h/photo4144.jpg"><img alt="x cabinets in kitchen" border="0" height="374" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sdf43GX_WMA/UaynQsxTB5I/AAAAAAAAdrY/r-gvjGr970E/photo414_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="x cabinets in kitchen" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I have an obsession with anything x’d lately. Love that cabinet!</p> <p>Now it’s time to see what you were up to in May! Like always, please add a link to TDC or this button (copy and paste the code) to your post to be considered for the round up post next month: </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px" align="center"><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7326" height="225" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" title="beforeAndAfterButton_thumb[1]" width="146" /></a></div> <pre style="border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: auto; padding-left: 10px; width: 90%; padding-right: 10px; display: block; white-space: pre-wrap; background: #f0f0f0; height: 45px; color: #777777; font-size: 90%; overflow: auto; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-top: 10px"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/" title="TDC Before and After" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" alt="TDC Before and After" style="border:none;" /></a></div></pre><br /><br /><p>Now it’s time to link up! The party will be open for a week, have fun! I’m off to take a nap! </p><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=280728"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->

June Before and After Party!

Hello all and happy summer to you!! First of all, thank you so very much for the lovely comments on my last post ! We had a fantastic celebr...

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