Talk about Changes!

This even surprises me, and I'm the one responsible or it!  This is how the kitchen looked when we moved in May of 2004, and much hadn't changed until recently.  I still can't believe we've been in this house for almost seven years.  Time flies!

What a sad looking kitchen. =(

Excuse the mess on the counter, this was before I started staging my photos, and became so OCD.  OCD is a silent illness, and it totally snuck up on me after I had my first child, now there's no going back.  I was such a minimalist in the early days too.  I guess I knew deep down the more stuff I had the more to clean!

I just took these pictures this morning!  I'm so over being a minimalist, I almost qualify as a hoarder!  (That's very clean and organized!)

Doesn't even look like the same kitchen.  What do you think about an island in the center?  I've been thinking I really want one, not sure if that would be too much?  Handy man is gonna give me a quote on a custom job, that is mobile.  I'm designing, he's building, then I'll be painting.  We work really well together.  One of these days I will build stuff myself,  but I don't have any tools.  Beefcake is a mechanic not a woodworker. 

I'm working on some signs to replace the ones under the cabinet.  I want some thing with a country feel.  I never would have thought in zillion years that I would have a country kitchen.  I wish I could  gut this one and do a total remodel, but this is not the forever home.  We hope to rent this place out and move, so the next house I will get my farm house sink, butcher block counters with subway tile back splash and bead board cabinets!  I know that's a hefty list.  Girls gotta dream!  Really that's just part of the dream for the next kitchen, but that's a post all it's own!

I am considering changing the can light over the sink to a mason jar chandelier.  That is affordable, and I can take it with me when/if we rent/move.  Yes English is my first language!  lol

I just love my kitchen now, it has such a homey feel.  Thanks for checking it out!  Would love to have any feed back you guys have!  xx

Mantle Mania!!!

My mantle is driving me crazy, okay to be honest a lot is driving me crazy. 

If you would be so kind, look of the pictures and tell me what you think, and what changes I should make.

I would be grateful.

First up the Mantle.  I love the direction it's headed, it's just not there yet.  Any ideas?  I would love a larger mirror to layer behind the smaller one.  That's all I can come up with.  I did add a new mercury glass piece, and I love it, but that's all I've done.  Should I change the banner to a burlap pennant with the word Family on it? 

Next up, the trunk between my living room chairs.  What do you think about this area?  Even the wall behind, don't hold back.  Trust me my feelings won't be hurt, remember, I'm asking you for help.  The books with the bird I like, and burlap runner is good.  Should I cut it down so you can see more of the trunk?  I'm not unhappy with the lamp or picture frame I made, but the flowers and candle have to go! 

This area needs a face lift too, I'm gonna hang my transferware here when I've collected it all.  What about the rest of it?  Should I get a bigger lamp?  I like the birds, and the willow piece was a gift from my kids.  It has to be out somewhere.  I'm not loving my silver box or the clock, or the candle for that matter.  Sigh.

I've bought some great pics that I'm gonna hang over the tin door, but they haven't arrived yet.  I like the wreath here, but this isn't it's forever home.  I just moved it here so I could display some Valentines stuff.  I really like the topiary trees and the glass cloche, everything else, not so much.  

 Whew, finally, the kitchen area.  I really like the direction this is going, but it's the area over the fridge that has me stuck.

See what I mean?  I'm thinking canisters over the cabinets and wooded dough bowl.  What about on top of the fridge?  The chicken stays, love it.   The rest, I'm not feeling it.   The red finial piece is going to be moved upstairs, but it has to be painted first.  Story of my life, PAINT!!!

Thanks for stopping by and any feedback!!!

Tammy  =)

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