Phase One: Before and Afters

One of the things that drew us to our new house is its not-so-badness.  We know it will feel pretty comfortable until we are able afford to take on the heftier projects, and in the meantime it has some nice, neutral features and the potential to be lovelier with some quicker fixes. For example it came with...

...white cabinets that are in great shape, including some uppers with glass doors and a wine rack...

...big windows with a view of a grassy hill and trees...

...an island with storage, electricity, and space for my little chefs-in-training...

...all open to a family room with a fireplace.

And here's how those spaces look today!



In addition to painting (Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter color matched by Valspar again), Mike replaced the brass knobs, handles, and hinges in the kitchen and hallways.  

New appliances freshened things up quite a bit.  I love the oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs that we added throughout the house, but I'm considering switching again to nickel drawer and cabinet pulls for down the road when we update floors and counter tops in the kitchen, but that's a ways away.  Right now I think the dark ones add some necessary warmth and contrast.

The family room lamp and kitchen pendant are from Ikea.  The drum shade you might recall from the old place.

As much as I look forward to updates to our fireplace facade and so on, I'm finding myself much more patient about improvements with this second house than I was with the first.  We'll get there!

This is my favorite view right now, the one I see when crashing on the couch after a long month of settling in!