Bling and mud

I finally finished tiling the kitchen back splash. The grout actually looked like Manitoba clay. And felt like dealing with it too. Apparently renos could use some pre-training since my arms feel like spaghetti now.

I had a little trouble with haze but you have to love Google - found a tip that suggested some vinegar in the water and it seemed to do the trick!

Here's the beginning... (well sort of - it was originally an orange kitchen with a hole where the dishwasher went and this was my cost-effective attempt to update it although some doors were duct taped together)



















Delivery!




















Not all the cabinets were the right sizes...ugh.




















Correct size counter:



















Tiles up:


















With grout:


















There is a valance to go above the sink and toe kick to go. There are also cabinets across with the fridge that need an outlet moved up and to be secured to the wall.

The one year project

A year ago...





















And then...























And then it was a comedy of errors of a few incorrect cabinet sizes that took months to finally show up. A countertop measurement mistakenly transposed on a fax that took and extra 6 weeks to remedy. And finally tile decisions and ordering and then the biggie...the motivation to install it.

























































Grout still to do... and toe kick.

April mini project

Hmm....I seem to be getting one mini project per month done....

I added inserts to some plain curtains that were/are hanging in the dining room. And I forgot to take a before so just picture them plain.

After:






















May have to try for more pictures after dark since they're not lined. I also shortened them since puddling drapes may be stylish but not so much when they are puddling in dog hair.

























Ah...much better! (And the fabric on the back of the chair is for another project...)

Mini project

The kitchen is still in progress...like many things in the reno palace. However I did do a few little tweaks for the wall that never had cabinets before. They now tend to be a dumping ground so I'll have to work on that! I also need to buy some chalk:






































I may also make a valance to go over the shade - which would cover the holes left by the previous curtain rod. And yes, the ladder will go back downstairs...although I do need something to reach the top cupboards!

Rose coloured glasses?

More pillows to come - since I have more fabric! And I'd like to find a low dresser to paint out cream. There's a highboy at the end of the bed now.