What's Cookin'!

I have been lookin forward to writin this post for over a year - seriously!  Now don't go gettin too terribly excited, the kitchen is NOT finished, but it IS functioning - so no more cookin in the laudry room (and that's not some crazy joke you're not privy to - my super-resourceful Daddy installed a 2-burner cooktop in the laundry room.  The microwave and coffee maker were stacked on top of the dryer, and most food prep occurred on top of the washing machine).  But no longer!  We now have a fabulous gas cook top, a dishwasher (probably my favorite part!  I can't tell you how many sippy cups we lost during hand washing - just couldn't get those little plastic parts clean enough), and a HUGE farmhouse sink.  We are still working on hardware, lighting, a backsplash, and more drywall touch-up and paiting, etc etc etc.  Also, keep in mind we are still under construction, so random tools, ladders, and supplies are in the pics, too.  These aren't true "before and after" pics, but enjoy these progress shots!

Here are some reminders on what we started with:

There's that dishwasher that is makin my life soooo much nicer!

You can see we closed up a door way in the back of the pic (there will be a master bath behind that drywall someday..). We also traded the french door pantry on the right for the butler's pantry (aka, dish storage/display).  This is also a pretty good close-up of our granite (I didn't even think I wanted granite, but let me tell ya, it's pretty amazing stuff!)



Just another shot of the same view above.  This one shows the new window, farmhouse sink, and super-cute sconces on the cabinets. I have been unjustifiably excited about those little lights, but they make me happy - and after all, it's the little things, right?

This is another view of the new Butler's Pantry, as well as the cabinet over the fridge.  Wish I could take credit for that adorable little cubby, but that idea was all my very-clever aunt (who happened to do the same thing in her kitchen remodel).



I threw this picture in so you could see the wall we took down on the left.  Definitely opened things up.  Now, the dining room, kitchen, and den are all one common area - good news for the cook (no more being trapped away, all alone, to slave over the stove.)  The cooktop in the island was a must for this very reason.  Also noteworthy, are those towers on either side of the window.  The tower on the left acts as the pantry, complete with pull-out shelves. The right holds all of my appliances, even with the coffee maker, can-opener, stand-mixer, and food processor plugged in and ready to use, while being hidden away.  The sink in the middle is just a little veggie sink (very much lookin forward to usin this spot as drink station while entertaining, but right now I don't know that anyone would want to come into our house, as it still looks abandoned and/or haunted from the outside.  Seriously folks, I haven't even pulled a single weed, much less done any construction work out there).

I hope y'all enjoyed takin this little tour of my new kitchen!  Stop by any time and gimme a good excuse to use it ;o)