This blog is the transformation of our new home, the progress of baby Isaac, garden updates, healthy recipes, yippy living (thats yuppy hippie...I made up the word) and our adventures as a couple, all with a little Scandinavian Style!

Monday, August 19, 2013

office before & after

Peter got ambitious with the office while demo-ing the kitchen. He was hoping to tear out the side walls that made it look less like a closet but the hardwood floors did not continue under the walls. Despite this with everything torn up and removed from the shelves it was a perfect excuse to repaint everything and add new trim. I love the way it turned out and made us get rid of so many books and just junk!


We also tried to create some form of organized entry way with little room we had and Peter added trim to the walk through which really makes everything pop! Let's keep this ball rolling so much more to do! Stay posted for the finale of the real before vs. after of the kitchen!


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Country Living, City Style


Welcome to Woodinville sign

I just stumbled upon this picture while trying to do some research about the new housing developments and park going in near our house. I have no idea where this sign exists in Woodinville but this is exactly why we live here. People often ask us if we are happy here and I usually give this very roundabout explanation why it is so unique. This is why! Where else can you live on a few acres, have horses and chickens, but go to Target and eat at one of the most fine dining restaurants in the area??

Monday, May 20, 2013

hardware and lights

The hardware is in and the pendants/can lights in the kitchen are in. We still have to hang the chandelier back up over the table. The lighting makes such a difference!




Wednesday, May 15, 2013

1,123 pageviews this month

I don't even know if this is a calendar month or 30 days past from today but that is how many page views my blog received. Turns out people love a kitchen remodel. Blogging is something that is so fun for me and I love sharing info with all of my friends and family. I'm glad there are people out there that enjoy it too! Love to you all!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Oven

We haven't used a microwave since we moved into this house. We weren't really prepared when our cabinet came as a double oven unit. So we plan on buying the microwave sometime down the road but for now Peter made it work without it.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Kitchen favorites

These are my favorites so far about the kitchen. It's funny because the choice of a dark faucet for me was so "bold" and a "risk". Anything that breaks away from a traditional look is hard for me but I really wanted something to pop against the white and we are having all dark hardware. So even though all of my "Pinterest" pictures showed dark hardware and a silver faucet. I wanted continuity. I just hope I don't hate it in 10 years! I love simplicity and when I looked at my dishes all in the cupboard it was like a calming presence came over me. Aaaah at last.







Thursday, May 9, 2013

Countertops, gas range and dishwasher!

These are the updates from today. It's actually starting to look like a kitchen!





Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Kitchen remodel Day (stopped counting)

This is the latest!! We love it and all of these pictures were taken on a cloudy day with no lights on! Our house is instantly brighter which is a continuous goal for us. There is still so much more to do. The countertops, dishwasher, and faucet will be installed tomorrow. Then there is installing the microwave, oven, lights, and then putting on all the trim and hardware. If you are wondering why the island looks weird you will just have to wait for the finish product to understand!





Friday, May 3, 2013

Day #14 part 2

A lot has visually changed since this morning. The painting is all done so the plastic can come down. It's so nice to be able to visualize the space now. It's amazing how much bright the kitchen is with the white cabinets and the popcorn free ceiling. The glass doors are wrong, the white panes need to be removed.  

Peter has two more full days of work left on the kitchen before he has to go back to work. 

Still to do:

-finish putting together the island (thats why it looks a little funky)
-install appliances
-put in light fixtures
-install hardware
-install both countertops
-put on the backsplash
-trim out all cabinets
-Trim out the living room/dining room

My favorite part of the kitchen is our sink. It was a big splurge but I feel that it is worth it because being a stay at home mom I spend a lot of time there!





Kitchen remodel day #14

Well it looks like progress but we might have to take some steps backwards. The new wall unit is wrong, the middle pantry cabinet is wrong and the oven unit on the left side is wrong. So I'm not quite sure how we are gonna fix this. But the sink is in!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Stella and Dot website

It's official I am a Stella and Dot stylist and here is the link to my website in case something strikes your eye and you want to buy!

click here

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Kitchen remodel Day #9

Things are coming along! The newest addition to this picture is the hardwood floors. We tried to match the oak hardwoods that are in the entire house. It's not a perfect match as we learned that hardwoods darken over time and the original floor is 50+ years old. So the new floor is lighter but eventually we would like to refinish all of our hardwoods and the it would be the exact same color. All the dry wall is taped and mudded and ready for the cabinets to be out in tonight or tomorrow. Peter also got all of the can lights ruffed in the all of the rooms. Peter got a break and met us in sunny Suncadia for our friend Ali and Anna 's 30th birthdays. Peter got two nights and one day to relax but it think it was still hard for him knowing how much work was waiting for him when he got back. Stay posted...now we are getting into the exciting stuff!





Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Kitchen remodel Day #5

Day #5 Peter spent half the day running errands but he and Alan made up for it by working until 12:30 am. The ceiling in the kitchen is drywalled, mudded and taped. The rest of the kitchen got drywalled and they began cutting out the holes for the can lights in the living room. In the pictures you can see all of the popcorn all scraped off and mudded in both rooms. Now the ceiling just needs to be texturized and painted. We payed Peter a visit today because we drove down to Woodinville so Isaac could go to Toddler Class. He was excited to see Daddy!






Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Stella and Dot



Four years ago I first saw Stella and Dot jewelry in a silent auction at a Seattle Prep Auction we attended for Peter's work. It was so unique and nothing like what I had seen before. Nobody was bidding on it so I got a screaming deal and a beautiful pearl necklace and matching cuff. It came with a catalog and as I was skimming through it I thought to myself, "I am not really a jewelry person (I had only ever worn my wedding ring) but I would wear most of this stuff." It kind of made me realize maybe I was a jewelry person I just had never really liked the jewelry I had seen or didn't feel like spending the money. Years went by before I had ever thought or saw Stella and Dot again. Right after I had Isaac my friend Jenni bought me this charm necklace (pictured below) with his initial and his birthstone. I have worn it every day since and not only do I love the way it looks but it is something that has very special meaning to me. Fast forward to 1 1/2 year later and my friend Adriann invites me to a Stella and Dot jewelry party. I think to myself "finally!" I get to experience what this is all about. I've always been very skeptical about somebody trying to sell me something. I don't like the pressure and I am a people pleaser so that is a bad combination. There was no "pitch" no awkward "try this on!" I know what I like and I usually don't like what other people pick out for me. It was super laid back, comfortable, and fun. I bought this ring below and I love it! Needless to say I was intrigued. I immediately thought to myself "I could do this!" I tried talking myself out of it for several weeks with the whole idea that I would be a salesperson and my friends would feel obligated to buy. I asked Peter and several friends to get their input on what they thought and everyone said, "go for it, you would be good at it!" When I was in Hermosa Beach and most of my friends were wearing Stella and Dot I thought, people buy this stuff because they like it and want to wear it not because they have to! It's fashion, it's the same reason we buy anything we wear, we like it and want to look good. This is the perfect stay at home mom job and I have to be honest I love to throw parties and go to parties. Not to mention it would satisfy that part of your mom life where you just want to use your "brain" and have a little something that is just for you and that you feel a sense of accomplishment. So long story short this is the beginning of an adventure that I have no idea where it will take me but I feel it is meant to be and I hope I have fun doing it. Check out the jewelry on the website Stella and Dot or ask me about hosting a party where you could get tons of free jewelry and bags as well as being able to shop at 50% off.



Day #4 kitchen remodel

Peter took half of Sunday off to come up and visit us. The rest of the day he spent ripping out the last soffit. Yesterday he framed in two wing walls and cut back the wall by the entry. Our friend Phil is an electrician and life saver! He came over and re-wired the whole kitchen as the old wiring wasn't correct or safe and it's now wired for the can lights we are going to out in the kitchen, living room, and dining room. They dry-walled the ceiling back up and ripped out the floor. So far things are going ahead of schedule, when does that ever happen? There is still a lot more to do so fingers crossed!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Day #2 Kitchen remodel

Peter and his cousin Alan scraped the popcorn off the ceiling in the family room, dining room, living room and entry way in 5 hours! Next they ripped out two of the 3 soffits while the ceiling dries. Next up for day #3 is to rip out the last soffit, dry wall, tape and mud the holes. So far the project is on schedule!





Friday, April 19, 2013

Kitchen re-model Day #1

Day #1 Peter and I moved out the furniture in both the living room, dining room, and family room while Isaac napped and crammed it all into our guest, master, and isaac's room. When he was up we kissed daddy goodbye and we were off to my parents our new temporary home. The rest of the day Peter packed up the entire kitchen, taped off the rooms, disconnected all the appliances, and hauled out half the kitchen cabinets. During isaacs bath all he said was "dada? Dada?" And I thought this going to be a long week! At 7pm when we face timed Peter he said he had only eaten one hardboiled egg all day, crazy!! Needless to say we are all adjusting to our new normals and can't wait for the end result! Stay tuned for more.....






Wednesday, April 17, 2013

garden beds done




The boxes are done! Peter added trim to the top which I think adds a lot to the look and is kinda nice to have a seat on the corner and watch Isaac mill around the yard. I've already bought 3 dill plants and one pack of leeks, can't wait to get planting!! Stay posted for more garden updates to come.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

pop of color


It's been a dream of mine to have Tulips lining the outskirts of my yard just like I saw all over the farmhouses in the Skagit Valley. So when Costco sold large bags of bulbs back in the fall I couldn't resist. Now I know why it's hard to grow Tulips. Nobody in their right mind on a freezing cold, dark, rainy day in October wants to go dig holes in your yard. My dad helped me which made this task go much faster. The good news is it's delayed gratification at it's best but it is worth it. When everything in your yard is so dead and there is nothing but green or brown for miles when you see a bright red flower pop up in your yard giving you hope for things to come, it's magical. I've enjoyed my flower arrangements in my home, I've enjoyed picking them and wrapping them up to give to family and friends. Isaac has enjoyed walking slowly along the rows and tapping each flower. I can say I am inspire d to do more next year.




Thursday, March 28, 2013

live simply

I saw this on pinterest and wish I could buy this somewhere to hang in my house. Such a good reminder, plus it looks a little Scandi...


Sunday, March 24, 2013

coconut oil



I tease that coconut oil is the new "windex" if you have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  It fixes everything! I've only dabbled in the uses for coconut oil and haven't done a ton of research on other uses. But the various uses I've used it for I'm hooked.

1st use: Popcorn/Kettle Corn it adds a great flavor
2nd use: my face in the dead of winter when moisturizer just didn't cut it. My skin suprisingly soaked it up with very little "greasy feeling". It has good amounts of the antioxidant vitamin E, which is very protective.
3rd use: My feet. Towards the end of winter you start seeing those cracks (unless you get pedicures) coconut oil does the trick.
4th use: I have started giving Isaac a spoonful every day. He seems to like it and coconut oil has anti-viral qualities. I found this, "The antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of coconut oil are directly attributed to the medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in the oil." We are constantly fighting the new cold around here. Isaac is at the prime age of colds between ages 1-2 is the worst. So anything that will help works for me.
5th use: Peter and I sauteed peppers, onions, garlic and spinach in coconut oil instead of olive oil. It was to die for, it added such a different flavor it made the vegetable exciting again.

Coconut oil has gotten a bad rap in the past for being a saturated fat and has been seen as a bad oil, hence that it's solid at room temperature. The reason this doesn't apply to coconut oil, say supporters, is that about half the saturated fat in the oil is medium-chain fatty acids, which are easier to digest than the more prevalent long-chain fatty acids in most other oils, including butter. Coconut oil can also positively affect our hormones for thyroid and blood sugar control. People who take coconut oil also tend to have improvements in how they handle blood sugar since coconut can help improve insulin use within the body. Coconut oil can boost thyroid function helping to increase metabolism, energy and endurance. It increases digestion and helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

Of course everything in moderation if you are ingesting it. I wouldn't use it for all of your cooking but the research shows a little can go a long with way with a lot of benefit. 

The best news of course is although it is pricey they sell it at Costco! 


Saturday, March 23, 2013

snow in the springtime

A few days ago was the official start to spring and we got 3 inches of snow! Peter tried to make Isaac a snowman but it rapidly melted before completion. Isaac thoroughly enjoyed sampling the snow around the yard before his hands were bright red and frozen!


Thursday, March 21, 2013

so many decions

Peter and I feel like we have been working on this project forever and yet we are making no progress. You take a couple steps forward and then you feel like you take two steps back. The constant dilemma is making our dream a reality with the confines our our current kitchen. Deciding what to splurge on and what to save on. Originally we thought let's go cheap on the cabinets by getting Ikea cabinets and splurge on all new nice appliances. Although it makes sense to get Ikea cabinets since we are doing "white" we decided against it and would rather have real wood drawers and then Peter won't have to put them together himself. We designed our cabinets with BMC in Issaquah which is a company Peter's dad has worked with for a long time. We were very excited about our design until the quote came back way higher than expected so we had to change a few details to make it work. We decided to keep our existing fridge since it is already stainless and build a large space to replace it a year or two down the road. Since we are small family our fridge will work fine for awhile. When picking out counter tops I dreamed of a black dull (not shiny) look. We picked out one online with a company Peter has worked with on his current project as they will give us a great deal. The lady says of every single sample you saw online with no prices you have picked out the most expensive one we carry. Of course we did! So we have to compromise and go with a dark grey quartz with a dull finish. Every other black option was super shiny and I really want a dull hue to it. The re-cycled butcher block we were hoping to get through my aunt's friend who had just torn it out of the kitchen didn't work out. The dimensions wouldn't work with our island size. So we will most likely buy that from Ikea. We still have to find an apron sink that is one large bowl instead of two for a good price, pick out light fixtures, and find a retractable hood for the island. We also deliberated forever on whether we should take out the popcorn ceiling to match the kitchen ceiling but have decided against it. It would take tons of time and we would rather pick and choose our battles that not being one of them. So we will have to trim it out or put in a decorative beam to divide the two looks. We are on track to start putting in cabinets the last week of April with hopes of it all being mostly done the middle of May. 

Below is current layout we have drawn up. The weird shelf you see in the island will just be an exposed shelf for cookbooks etc. 



Here is the sample of counter top we picked out on top of our current counter top


Sunday, March 17, 2013

spring is here

I'm not even sure if spring is officially started yet but Isaac and I have deemed it here. The weather is warming up, we have breaks from the rain. Isaac has been waiting all winter long by pointing out the window and grunting on a daily basis to go outside. We try to every chance we can get and this day we got to try out a new trike I had picked up at a consignment sale. Even though he looks very serious and sad in these pictures don't be fooled he is having a good time!