Kitchen Updated for Pennies

George built a windowsill, stained & put up window trim, and did lots of finishing touches. So we managed to finish a kitchen renovation by the end of January. With the exception of track lighting and the floor which will happen later.

The window trim is reclaimed wood from the original kitchen base cabinets. Using glaze, we only needed 1.5 sample cans of aqua blue paint for the entire wall. The base cabinets courtesy of a free giveaway on Craigslist. The artwork and stool courtesy of Urban Ore. The artwork is an impression by Monet of just outside his Giverny home, which we visited a few months ago.
We only had to shell out cash for a new counter, copper-faux backsplace and acrylic sink which came out to around $350. The best thing is we didn't need to change the "footprint" of the kitchen or move walls, electrical or plumbing. We basically just worked everything in around the existing main elements in a kitchen that hadn't been updated since perhaps the 60's. Lemons from our tree in the basket shelf.

As if that wasn't enough, he also wallpapered the entire front entry closet, including the ceiling, by himself. The butterfly wallpaper was found at Urban Ore for $2 for both rolls.

Hard at work

George has been busy this week, re-framing & installing our new double-pane kitchen window. He also insulated the wall. No more leaks and drafts.

Yesterday he replaced the counter, cabinets & sink! He will have to share more from his perspective of doing all the hard work. I just painted the wall and assisted a little. There is more finishing to do, but it is a tremendous improvement. I love the deeper sink already.


I did some weeding yesterday and cleared the Eiffel Tower area. Now it's just the bougainvillea, nasturtium and the new daffodil bulbs Marleen gave us, are sprouting.
The other daffodils are blooming as well, and the lemon tree is full of lemons that I need to out and pick now. Then I get to start digging up weeds on that side. Toodles.

6 Month Anniversary: Shanghai Surprise

Andrea and I celebrated our 6 months wedding anniversary by getting creative with the Barbary Coast steamer truck my sister gave us a few months ago.

My sister found this trunk at a hotel in San Francisco that used to house Barbary Coast denizens. This trunk was left there by the original owner who most likely was Shanghai'd and could not retrieve it. What's interesting about this trunk are the two Civil War era images on front which depict important events in Union history.


First I removed as much of the rust from it as I could and then sanded the wood slats and stained them with the same stain I used on the parlor floor. I then sprayed a protective coat around the entire chest to give it a bit of a shine.

For the interior, Andrea took some canvas and began doing the collage artwork she does so well. We blended in many different elements into it and will place a nice piece of glass over the top of it so it can serve as a coffee table!

What do you think?

Thanks Sylvia and Bill for this unique gift. We love it.

Winter Solitude

I made a little art collage on a piece of wood George gave me. I painted it white (and a bit of blue) and added some images & a haiku and a little oil pastel. This is the first time I've used an old piece of wood for a canvas.


Now back to your regular scheduled programming.

Just a few more

Just a few more pictures of the new & improved functional parts of the kitchen. I lined them with my fave natural fiber shelf liner. Not a bad start to week one of new year.

New Year with New Kitchen Cabinets

Happy New Year and since George's Christmas Miracle story, our New Year is starting off with a new & improved kitchen, how exciting!

George is mounting the upper cabinets this week and I can't believe what a difference it is making. It's starting to look like a real, functional, and inviting kitchen!

First this corner cabinet went up yesterday.


Then I assisted him on mounting the 2nd cabinet last night.


Tonight when I got home, he had installed the small upper cabinet and the range-vent/light-hood.


Tomorrow this one goes up!