Looking Back, Looking Forward

2018 was quite a year for us.

We came to the realization that we needed to go back home.  

Luckily, selling the house we bought less than a year ago turned out to be a good idea.

We sold at the right time, and bought our new home also at the right time.

Timing is everything they say!

It has been such a joy to be back in the community where we raised our children, where our friends of 30 plus years are, and closer to our 96 year old mother.

Because we bought a fixer upper, I'm in my element remodeling our home and creating my vision for it. 

We finished Phase 1 just before the holidays and are now looking forward to the next phase in 2019.

I predict this year is going to be challenging as we live through the dust and inconvenience of construction. 

 I've made a list of construction goals for 2019:

1.  Remodel the kitchen and add a powder room.

3.  Replace the rotten brick porch.

 4.  Replace the rotten deck.

5.  Landscape the front and back yards.

6.  Paint the exterior a whole new color!

On a personal level, I've made a few New Year's Resolutions:

1.  Read more books.

2.  Walk 30 minutes per day.  

3.  Less time on my phone.

4.  More travel and adventures. 

And finally, laugh more!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2019!

From Mustard To Mayo

 After the kitchen cabinets were painted green, I lived with the mustard colored walls for two years--all the while trying to convince myself that it was ok, but knowing that it just wasn't.

I knew that the cabinets and walls were fighting each other but was sort of paralyzed about what to do.

All the woodwork, windows and built-ins are painted such a dark, creamy white so finding a wall color that would contrast with the moulding and yet go with the cabinets proved to be quite challenging.

Until last week when the light bulb went off.  Why not match the wall color to all that creamy woodwork?

So I pulled out a drawer, took it to the paint store and asked them to match it.

And that's how the kitchen and family room went from "mustard to mayo," or from Benjamin Moore "Dijon" to a custom color I have nicknamed "mayonnaise!"

Let's look at some before and after photos, shall we?

before

Although the dijon color is nice in the family room (I clearly spent some time on the staging) the linen sofas clash with the walls.

after

 Now the new "mayonnaise" colored walls take backstage to the sofa and green cabinets.

before

I know the dijon color looks great in this photo, but....

after

 ...my landscapes look better with the neutral walls.

after

See what I mean?

before

In the kitchen, I tried not to let the green and gold combination bug me too much.  Eventually I stopped seeing it altogether. 

after

Now with the "mayo" walls, the green cabinets are crisper and cleaner.

I like how the white ironstone stands out too.

before

Before, the white subway tile did contrast nicely with the walls, but looking through the door into the dining room, I never liked how the wallpaper didn't seem to flow.

after

I've never been a fan of green and gold together!

But I love green and white together.

Or in this case, green and "mayo!"

Doesn't the dining room wallpaper look better now as you view from one room to the other?

before

I took the brown floral curtains down too.

before

Oh, how I love those curtains, but...

after

...the windows look better without, plus it lets in much more needed light.

I knew the kitchen was very dark, but I didn't realize how much it affected my mood until I lightened up the walls, took down the curtains and all those plates!

Can you tell I love my new kitchen?

 

The only question is, what took so long?