This Old House...Part VI - The Kitchen

At long last! The next house installment.

I left you hanging, telling you that the masked man showed up here when I was alone.

I just finished telling him I'd burnt all of his belongings.

So this is where we pick up:

"You burnt everything?", he replied.

"Yes, I'm sorry, we didn't know what else to do", I said.

"Well, I had to move out so fast, I just grabbed my clothes and left in the van".

I'm thinking, 'um, ya, well ya grabbed the mask too, thank GOD'.

"I'm living in the van, I have no where to go."

I just kept repeating how sorry I was.

He muttered around, kicking the dirt and left without incident.

I went in the house and collapsed into a bowl of warm jelly.

I was afraid of a lot of things back in 1988.

I was afraid of the dark.

I was afraid of bugs.

I was afraid of barking dogs in the night.

I was afraid of the quiet.

One thing that I wasn't afraid of apparently was hard work.

Here's the kitchen upon possession of the house.

One thing I want to tell you is that I never made a bed until I was married.

I never pulled a weed until I was 23.

I never painted anything...ever.

Do my nails count?

This is definitely a case of 'ignorance is bliss', because I had no fricken' clue how much work this was going to be.

My tastes have changed a lot since we've moved in. I can't tell you how many colors the kitchen has been, or how many times I've painted and refinished the cabinets. It's madness!

Here's a glimpse of what I liked in the 1990's.

I don't have a good picture of the vintage stove and fridge I had. I really do miss those now, but they were impossible to keep clean. I'm realizing now that in times where you are just overwhelmed and tired, you really have no business making decisions.

Is this a Christmas shop? No, it's my kitchen! Can you say 'over decorated'?

Here's what I did in the last six years or so. I got rid of the primitives, sold them all on Ebay. Wish I'd kept a few things now. I'm so impulsive!

See that incredible sink there? Another bad decision. Sold it on Ebay. I kid you not! A guy from New Hampshire bought it for $300. My reasons for getting rid of it? It needed refinishing, and it took up 3/4 of my counter space. Counter space in my kitchen was at such a premium.

I weep over this sink now sometimes. I miss it.

Yep, Aaron was a character even at a young age.

Late one night after watching 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy', I lay in bed dreaming of what to do to the kitchen next.

"Glenco", I whispered, "you asleep?"

I heard a groan.

"I totally know what to do now. We have to rip out the kitchen cabinets" I said, confidently.

He bolted straight up in bed, just like Pa from "Twas the Night Before Christmas", except this was "Twas the Night Before More Kitchen Renovations".

"It never ends, does it Jayme?" he queried.

"No, honey, no it doesn't" I said as I patted him back down in the bed.

He wasn't keen on the idea at ALL. He even seemed a little miffed. I sketched things out, showing him how awesome it would be.

Two days later he showed up in the kitchen with a crowbar, looked me square in the eye and said, "If I take these cabinets off, you'll never get new ones"

"Deal", I replied.

That was a few years ago, and so far all I've done since is paint, tweak, buy new throw rugs and constantly move things around to the point of Aaron asking me 'Where are the plates today Marmie?"

Ahem.

I'm working on it. I know I know...there IS medication for this!

Here is my kitchen today (well, actually this was this past Wednesday, when I'd planned on having this post done on Friday!)

I didn't clean or straighten for these photos. I really wanted you to see it 'just like it was', dishes and all. See, I told you I'm trying to get better about these things!

As you can see, we left the very top cabinets in. A couple of reasons. We would have had to completely redo the ceiling if we'd taken them out, and I really thought I should save a little storage for crock pots, etc.

I like the open shelving concept. I don't find that dust is too big of an issue. I use the things constantly. Once a month or so, I remove everything and wipe it down, it takes less than ten minutes. It really opened the kitchen up.

This is the view of the kitchen when you walk in the back door. My cousin made the island for me, and Glenco tiled it. I can't imagine life without that thing now.

Here is the kitchen when you walk in from the living room. A little brown bag of onions was sitting on the table. I wanted to re-take the picture, but I forced myself to leave it. Again, I remind you of the great healing taking place before your very eyes!

As you see I went for the stainless steel look. I really do love it, but miss my vintage stuff. Depends on the mood I'm in. Sometimes I don't miss it at all and I'm glad I have this.

I'm complicated.

Here's the top of the island right now.

I always have the cookbook that I'm working out of on display.

I love that saying. It's a wallword from Uppercase Living.

This area is still under construction so to speak. I bought that picture for $3 from GoodWill and I've no wallspace to hang it. I don't want to give up my chalkboard. I'm thinking of hanging it right there. What do you think?

This area always seems to be a mess.

I wanted to do something 'camping themed' on top of the shelf there.

It's not going so well.

Here's what you see when you walk out of the bathroom.

I'm torn about the chicken border. I have a love/hate relationship with it.

How long before it's back in style!?

You can see a peek of the awesome cabinet my cousin made for me on the very left of this picture. If you scroll back up you can see it as well.

My mother and father had this hutch built when I was about 12 years old. She kept towels in the bottom and dishes on the top. I'm so glad to have it. It brings back such wonderful memories. I've taken the glass doors off for now, just cause I like everything open right now. I wouldn't doubt if they go back up next year!

The top of my fridge. That is a picture of my beloved aunt's canning green beans. I feel like they are my guardian kitchen angels.

The view on the top of the black cabinet. I have a chicken problem, and it's got to stop. I've never liked 'themed' kitchens, and I hope that I haven't themed mine up to much. I guess you really shouldn't worry, and just do what you makes you happy, don't ya think?

Chickens make me happy.

Coffee makes me VERY happy.

Well, there you have it. My kitchen.

I hope you enjoyed your visit.

Please come back.

I'll put on some coffee.

I'll bake some muffins.