Kitchen Nook Windows

The windows in my kitchen nook are large & let in lots of morning sun, which I love.

Nook - Drapes are gone!

I have had some fabric for a couple of years that I think is just right for them.  It looks really nice against the creamy yellow walls.  (Hopefully you'll get to see that color one day!)  

The plan is to make valances out of the toile, trimmed with the ticking fabric.  Then, I'll add roman shades, that can stack up under the valance, made from the ticking.

Now, we just have to finish the move so I can start sewing!

The Colors

Update: I have been trying for days to get some decent photos of my paint colors!  Both my digital camera & my cell phone camera have produced very poor results.  I think I need to take a class... I'm going to move on for now.  When/if I figure this out I'll post photos, deal? (I am open to suggestions from you fab photographers!)

I am headed over to the new house to take photos of the finished painting.  It is a bright day, so I'm hoping you can get an idea of the colors look up on the walls.  I have a couple of fabric choices for the kitchen windows that I'll try to show as well.

Below is a photo of the paint chips.  The kitchen paint is actually a very creamy yellow.  The chip in the photo is off. :(  The stencil is an idea for the entrance hall.  I would apply it either a clear gloss, or darker shade of the same color for a tone-on-tone look.  Still thinking about that one....

More "Before" Photos

It has been a busy week.  I'm packing one house and unpacking into another.  We've had new, water-saving toilets installed, had the front of the house repaired (where the plumber ran into it with his van), and the painting has been done in the entry, kitchen, living/dining room and hall. 

I guess I'd better get some more before photos posted, so I can show you what's new!  This is definitely too much white for me...

Entrance Hallway

Dining Area

Living Area - Back Wall

Living Area - "Alcove"

Hallway to Bedrooms

The painting is all of these spaces is done.  Patti The Painter will be back on Monday morning to do any touch up that is necessary.  I absolutely love the colors.  I'll post some shots of the rooms as soon as we get a bright day to show them off.  Tomorrow, maybe?

We have the keys!

Last Thursday evening, we finally received the keys to our new home.  Seemed to me that the event would never arrive!  It did, and I am over the moon!

The last 3 days have been busy.  We needed to change the door hardware/locks, start measuring for furniture, deal with utilities.  You know, all the little things that go along with a change of residence.  Oh, I forgot to mention conducting the guided tours for my friends! :)

I have taken quite a few "before" photos, and will start posting them for you all to see. 

Kitchen

Here's my new kitchen.  It's small but really very efficient.  The kitchen I am leaving behind is too big.  Yes, you heard me, TOO BIG.  It is a killer, to work in because the work triangle is non-existent.  I am going to love the new one!

 

The retro drapes are going.  They will be replaced with valances & fabric blinds.  Hanging lamp will be replaced as well.

The credenza I showed you will be placed on the wall you can't seen on the other side of the pantry cabinet.

I have a small, square library table with two pull-out extensions that will just fit this space.  Eventually, I'd like to put banquette seating in the corner under both windows.

View into the kitchen nook 

 

All of the appliances are original to the house. They are in good, working condition so we can push that expense out a while.

I need to decide whether I am going to paint the cabinetry white, and I am leaning that direction.  If I do, we'll go stainless steel.  If I leave the oak, I'll use white. 

I love those little glass block windows over the counter.  This is the east wall of the house, and the morning sun shine through!

Stove wall

Haven't decided about the counters.  I can live with white tile.  The advantage to changing is that the double sink is really too small.  Not a decision I have to make right away. 

 

Planning to put slide-outs in the pantry cupboard.  A couple of the lower cabinets have slide out already.

Sink/Dishwasher

 

Just wanted to show the inside-out view of the front garden. You also get a close-up of those "interesting" drapes.

View out of the front window

 

Yellow Rose

We had the final walk through in our new home yesterday afternoon.  It was great to see it completely empty & cleaned up a bit.  Everything looked as it should, and we are set to receive our keys this coming Thursday. Can't wait!

It was a nice surprise to see the rose in the front garden blooming.  It had been covered with buds when we were last there.  It is definitely an English rose. Unfortunately, the tag is no longer there, so I may have some difficulty identifying it.  Am I the only person who carefully maintains the tags on roses?  I am starting my garden diary for this home now!

In any case, I think it is a beauty!

Mystery Yellow Rose

Quick Update!

We are all set to close on the new house on April 17th!  I will be so glad to start moving and transforming it into "my" home. There are a couple of very busy weeks ahead, but it will be happy work. :)

I have to say that I am the most grateful for our real estate agent who hand-held us through this process.  She is outstanding!  I might just have to do a post about it one day...

As soon as we get the keys, and I get the move-in cleaning done, I'll post the "before" photos.  Today, I am playing with paint color. You'll see why below.  Fun!

Here are a two more photos from the real estate listing.  This furniture belongs to the previous owner.

Dining/Living Room

Master Bedroom

From 10 Acres to...

In addition to interior decor, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about landscaping.  With acres & acres of farm/ranch land around our home, the natural landscaping was just right!  There are beautiful views out almost every window and off the decks.  

Here is our new property!  Postage Stamp might well describe it.  However, I am very excited to plan & execute a new garden for my new home.

The back garden ( from listing photos).

Front - Overgrown bushes everywhere.

I am going to have to live in the new place for a few weeks to see how the sunlight falls on the gardens, but I am certain I will have more shade.  There is, I think, a sunny side yard behind the fence for vegetables and a small cutting garden.  In the more shaded area in back, there is a nice hydrangea, a raggedy azalea and that poor citrus tree that needs feeding, which I have done already.  Poor tree, I hate to yank it, but it is exactly in the wrong place in my opinion.  One option is to go to my favorite nursery and have them do a plan for me.  

I think this will definitely be FUN!

Letting Go of "Stuff"

Preparing to move into a new home is hard work.  I know that.  But when your new home is much smaller, it also means making tough decisions about what to keep & what has to go.  I am not enjoying this part!  I have always been a "more is more" kind of girl.  That needs to change, not just of necessity, but also because I don't want stuff to be what my life is all about.

I have let go of a ton of things already. Had to...house for sale.  For example, I called my dear friend Pat one day and asked her to come get most of my teapot collection and dispose of it however she saw fit.  I just could not do it. I cried as I packed them, choosing only to keep a few that I use, or a couple that where gifts from my daughter.  As it turns out, while I am wistful when I think of some of them, that happens less and less often. I can now say that I hope wherever they land, they will bring joy and delicious tea into their new homes.

Today's dilemma is this decanter set.  I have owned it for years, and it has had a fair amount of use.  I am a fan of Port, Sherry & Madeira.  I also like to serve an after-dinner liquor occasionally.  But truth be told, the set is being used less and less frequently.

So, what to do?

I enjoy the set, and it holds many fun memories of guests and dinners parties. Port definitely tastes better out of those glasses! It looks lovely on my buffet. I think it probably needs stay.

It isn't being used often, it is a pain to wash & dust, if it is on display.  If I store it away, it'll never get used. Someone else might use & love it?  I think it probably needs go.

See what I mean?  Have you had to make these kinds of decisions?  Do you have any advice for me?

Moving!

Yes, it has been months since I wrote.  

Actually, there wasn't much to say, except that our home was on the market, sold once (deal fell apart) then sold a second time (that deal stuck)!  Keeping the house ready to show during that long time wasn't fun.  Most of decor was packed away, entertaining was out of the question, my home didn't feel like "home".  We couldn't even look for a new place to live until we were sure we had a sale on our home.  Compounded by the fact we don't really want to leave the "farm", I have to admit that it hasn't been the happiest of times, although, I have learned some valuable lessons.

The family moving in is just right for this house & property.  They are young, have 2 kids, a horse & dog and will love living here.  They also have the energy to take care of 10 acres, which we just do not, anymore.  This all makes the leaving much easier

The great news is that we have purchased our new home and I am so happy to start this next adventure in our lives!  The home is small, half the size of our current one, approximately 1322 sq. ft.  "right-sizing" into this space is a challenge I am looking forward to tackling.

I am posting a photo of the front of the house from the real estate listing, and a floor plan that my husband drew.  Those red numbers represent project he wants to do & their priority.  LOVE my engineer husband!

As I start moving and decorating, there will be lots more to share!  I will be back soon!

Front of house

Floor plan