Bathroom Renovations

Chris and I are taking the 3 bedroom ranch, "fixer upper" that he purchased four years ago, and are working on major upgrades.

Here's our list:

-Gut and renovate the full bath. New cabinet, new floor, new sub floor, new tub and shower and surround, beadboard and trim, new mirrors, lighting, etc.
-Gut and renovate the half bath. New pedestal sink, new wall color, beadboard and trim, new floor, new mirror, and ligthing.
-Paint kitchen cabinets, add new hardware, new HD laminate counter tops, new lighting,new over the stove microwave, installing dishwasher, new ceramic floor.
-Paint hallway trim and doors white. ( Previously stained wood.)
-Replace sliding hall closet doors with bifold doors.
-New front door, and storm door.
-New french door for the back of the house.
-New black shutters. ( Now they're YELLOW!)
-New exterior lighting.
-New front walk.
-New lamp post.

It's been a loooong summer, and here's some pictures of our progress on the full bath! The top pictures are where we are now, and the bottom ones are where we started.

Powder Room Redo

Here's my mood board for the powder room. The stained glass window pictured isn't the actual window I'm using, but is similar. I pulled the colors from the window and created what I hope is a sunny, relaxing, space. I can't wait to publish pictures when the "real" space is done.

powder room redo by heathernoelle77 on Polyvore.com

GREAT CAKES!

I just completed baking two great desserts! Baking is one of my favorite things to do, and I am always looking for an excuse to do so. So, with Father's Day coming up, I figured it was a chance to try two new recipes. Dorie's Perfect Party Cake, and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake.

My father in-law, I am told, has an affinity for white cake and white frosting. I have never had success with made-from-scratch white or yellow cakes.

Until now.

I forgot to snap a picture of the cake prior to it being devoured, but I must say that I was delighted with my result, and so was my father in-law. Instead of layering raspberry preserves between the layers, I chose strawberry. I also added a vanilla bean to the icing, and left out the lemon extract. It was divine. I am now wondering what other types of fillings I could use. . .

The Vanilla Bean Cheesecake recipe is a copy-cat recipe from the Cheesecake Factory. I've still yet to taste it, since it's waiting on dinner with my dad tonight, but it looks pretty good. The next time I make it, I'll attempt to "pretty it up" but I still think it looks pretty darn yummy.

The Cheesecake is layered with white chocolate mousse and home made vanilla bean whipped cream. I can't wait to eat it. :)

Kitchen Inspiration

As Chris and I attempt to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, so to speak, I keep refering to my favorite kitchen pictures, hoping that mine will end up as beautiful ( or almost as) as the pictures I've been hoarding for months. I have no idea where most of them came from, or to whom to give credit. As you can see, I have an affinity for black and white, crisp, clean lines, and the cottage look. I'd love to own an old farmhouse, but I don't know if I'll be up for more work after the upcoming renovations are done!

It's been too long. ..

The school year, the need to get my house on the market, and the general ins and outs of the first year of marriage have made my blog virtually non-existent.

But summer is here.

And now I can blog.

As well as. . .

* strip,prime, and paint the woodwork and doors in the WHOLE house.
* paint the hallways
* install new ceramic tile in the kitchen and both baths
*hang new shutters
* help hubby GUT two bathrooms and install all new fixtures, sinks, tubs, toilets
*paint the kitchen cabinets
*install beadboard in bathrooms and on back splash
* find new area rugs to cover the hardwoods that are desperately in need of refinishing


It's going to be interesting.

I kissed a headband, and I liked it.

How in love am I with the headband at left. I am not in love with it's price. It's listed at $225, from Saks 5th Avenue. I think I can make it for less than $5, and certainly for less than $10. Perhaps I need to make a move towards my own Etsy site a bit more quickly :)

How awesome is the bird mobile to the right. I found it on the "Spool" website. This site is an awesome sewing site for those who love all things handmade, kitschy, unique, and wonderful . Since I am not a sewer ( never been taught ) I have spent a great deal of time attempting bird making this week. Mine are certainly not as awesome as the ones on the mobile, but they do show some progress. Even my kids at school like them. Here's a link to the pattern.