Kitchen: New Window Treatments

Here is a before kitchen reminder:

 Here it is today...such a big change. We recently added curtain panels to the window and they really give the room some personality! Every room should have a little fabric! It also helped to knock out the trim piece above the window and install a new pendant light. You can also see in this pic where we removed a cabinet and installed a dishwasher. A new cabinet and drawer had to be built to the right of it since there was a weird space left there.

Here is another before angle:

No more ugly vent and now the microwave is out of the way! The laminate backsplash over the stove was replaced with a new stainless one. Now it's hardly noticeable!

Here is a closer shot so you can see how nice the curtains look with the light fixture. They will probably stay open the majority of the time but it's nice to have an easy privacy option.

Man Cave Updates

This was the third bedroom that is slowly being turned into the man cave. We kept all of the paneling and pulled up the old carpet.

Here is the view so far. Lots of animals and a recliner. We used an old trunk that was my grandfather's actual travel trunk as a side table. It is sitting on a stool to create a side table.

Here is another angle before.

 Here it is now. Still some progress to be made but getting there! The rug is a plush off-white shag rug that I found at Pottery Barn outlet. It works perfectly in there.

 I used the same frame for the picture of my dad and his "man cave" custom art work that my friend Hillary designed. They work great in there!

We used the old den book shelf in between the windows to house some of my dad's books and his collection of ducks. It will probably be painted eventually to give some contrast from the wood walls. There will also eventually be some shades to replace the mini blinds currently in the space.

Hall Bath: Big Transformation!

This may be my favorite transformation.
It was kind of a hodge-podge of fixtures and a drab paint scheme that didn't help. Also the pink toilet and tub with the "peach" paint on everything was less than desireable.
Before:

 Now:
We took down the dark mini blinds and added a roll-up match stick blind instead. A new white pedestal sink and toilet help open up the space while the printed shower curtain helps hide the pink tub and the speckled tile.
We also painted all of the tile board and trim white and used the same green from throughout the house to provide continuity and really freshen up the space.

Before:
Another angle...so much peach!

Now:
Similar angle. The light fixture helps provide additional light and a new framed mirror gives a more custom look. We also moved the towel rack to above the toilet which helps when washing your hands. The new tile laid on a diagonal helps finish off this small and now pretty space!

Kitchen: A few updates

For some reason I didn't get a full shot of the kitchen, but here are a few updates to share.
Before:

Now:
I know it's not the same angle, but I wanted to show the difference in the microwave over the stove and the stainless backsplash. How great do the painted cabinets look? Also the black granite adds a nice contrast to all of the lighter finishes in the room and helps tie together the appliances.

 Here is a pic of the fun pendant that coordinates with the dining fixture. I am going to make some cafe curtains to add some color to the windows with a bright printed fabric.

 We used some of Oma's old pieces that were found in the cabinets to add some personality to the corner. This scale is in perfect shape as well as the mini bunt pan!

 Before:
This was the awkward space with the stand-alone dishwasher and mounted microwave. It was kind of a mess.

 Now:
The dishwasher has been moved to the right of the sink and mom bought an island that can be moved around the kitchen if needed. It also can house wine glasses and has 3 handy shelves. It even folds up if you need more space!

Before:

Now:

 We used some more of Oma's old baking pans to add a little something to this wall. They already have a loop for hanging so it literally took about 3 minutes to make a huge difference!

Dining Room: More Updates!

I have a few updated pics from the dining room since the lighting went in and the side chairs arrived.
Before:

 Now:
We still need some pieces for the back wall (the wreath was there for a shower that we hosted this weekend). Also I need to learn how to not take crooked pictures! The room is not leaning...it's just me!

 Here is a pic with the light off so you can see the cool Edison bulbs! They add a little personality to the space. Anything is better than the light/fan monstrosity that was there before!

Another Before:

 Now:
The view into the kitchen is very different! More on that in the next post. The fabric chairs also add a little warmth to the space and the nailhead trim mirrors the trim on the living room chairs.

 

Den: Finally some updates!

I was home this weekend and got some updated pics of different rooms...first up is the den!
Before:

Now: 

We used a grouping over the couch to help break up this long wall.

The plan is to use a floor lamp in the corner to add extra light.

We uncovered so many old family pictures during this process so I decided to showcase a few along with a mix of mirrors and art.

 

Before from another angle:

Now:
We still need an art piece to go over the recliner and side table to balance out that wall. By using a taller lamp we will be able to break up the wall into two smaller sections. This is a simple way to tackle a long wall like this.

 Before:

Now:
By painting the shelves and the wall behind them the same color as the trim, we created a "built-in" effect. Items stand out so much more when there is a nice white background for them to pop against.

 Accessorizing the shelves was challenging but we used lots of old books that were previously housed there, and added in accessories and pictures along the way. Hopefully we can find a table or bench to sit in the awkward spot under the built ins (we think it used to house an old TV...the kind that were built into the boxes!)

 These shelves are a great mix of my grandparents' and my parents' things and can be changed up at any time!

Stay tuned for more updates!