i built isaac a bed...

Ok with some major help from my friend Emily and Peter. We found plans on Ana White's website and it was not as difficult as it would seem but of course costs more than expected. Overall it was a fun project and I learned a lot! We used blue colored stain from Ikea and the bed still needs one more coat but we couldn't stand to go back to Ikea anytime soon, so it will have to wait! Plus when is anything 100% finished at our house anyways!

kitchen as of late

We can't call it a Before/After because it's not done!! We still need the butcher block counter tops for the island, the under cabinet lighting, new bar stools, and to finish around the oven. But this is what it looks like for now!

grow chart

 The myth goes you double kids height at 2 1/2 to see how tall they will be as adults as you are supposedly half your adult height. Well at 2 Isaac would then be 6 3' and he's got 6 more months to go!

It's so hard to write your first blog post when you haven't written in so long! I've gotten out of the habit because lots has changed since I was in the groove! I watch another 2 year old 3 days a week, I am on the Board of Directors for Isaac's toddler group, and I am constantly posting photos of our daily life on Instagram. But I miss posting and hope to continue the trend! My first post is an awesome Christmas present we received from my sister-in-law Kari. She gave us the decal and Peter and I picked out the board at Home Depot and he stained it. It turned out great and the best part is if we move we can take it with us! It super cheap and easy project and you can get the decals on Etsy. Check back and see what we're up to next!

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!

Country Living, City Style

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??

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!

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!

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.

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.

Countertops, gas range and dishwasher!

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

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!

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!

Kitchen remodel Day #12

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.....

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.