Pantry Remodel ~ In Progress

Pin It

One of the most disappointing situations we encountered while building our house was realizing that our kitchen was vastly different than the model.  In addition to less cabinets and counter tops, our kitchen would not have room for an overhang like was shown in the model home.

Honestly, had we not been "homeless" and living with my parents...I might have walked away from this house.  I know it's silly, but I was down for days after I found out.  I always had this dream of my kids sitting at the island and cooking with me in the kitchen.

After living in our house for awhile, we realized that we could remove the existing pantry and replace it with a wall of pantry cabinets.  This not only gained us 12 inches of space in the kitchen...it actually gives me more functional storage!  Everything from our old pantry is in the new pantry and I still have plenty of room to expand.  (and nope, I am not going to paint or stencil the back of my pantry...I am not going to take out all the food and put it in "pretty" containers.  It's a pantry, people!)

Work is still obviously in progress.  Hubby is now tackling the tedious job of trying to patch in the floor pieces, putting molding around the cabinet, and replacing trim on the floor.  Then of course he will have to repaint the walls.

From these pictures you can also get a sneak peek of our Ballard Designs outlet lighting fixtures!  For now we are going to live with no overhang while we decide what, if anything, we would like to do about replacing the top on the island with a bigger one.

The light fixtures and pantry were selected with the knowledge that we have made the choice to go white with the cabinetry.  It's not just me...Todd likes it better, too.  :)  I know some people love espresso and dark cabinetry...unfortunately our builder did not give us the choice of white.  I chose the espresso hoping it would grow on me and it hasn't.

Also from the pictures you can get an idea of how the extra foot gives the kitchen a more square and open feeling.  The width more matches the length now and makes the space feel better for me.

Before:

 After:

 

Before:

  After:

I wish that the bulkhead could have been removed, but that would have involved moving wiring and trying to match the ceiling texture for the repair.  So I am letting it go.  In person, it doesn't feel that noticeable.

"Elderly Day"

Pin It

This week is school spirit week and each day the kids are supposed to dress up as something different.  Today was "elderly" day and they were supposed to dress like their grandparents.  I personally don't think my parents look "elderly" (you're welcome, mom ;)  )  but we gave it our best shot! 

Sewing Room - The Bones

Pin It

The sewing room is coming together!  I am so thankful that my mom allowed me to borrow her machines (plus other sewing stuff) and bring them to my house.   So far the only money I have spent on this room is for paint, counter top, and the three cube storage shelves to build the cutting table. (Which is still waiting for my husband to cut a top) Everything else is random old furniture from around the house.  The curtains, shelves, lamp, and chandelier were also decorating leftovers from other rooms.

That is why I say this is the bones of the room.  I hope that as time goes on I will be able to purchase more functional shelving and storage pieces.  I am also sure that after I actually get sewing in this room I will see areas where I need to make changes!

   The next phase is the decor, I want to get pictures and pretty stuff on the walls.  I also want to repaint the nightstand that holds my fabric scraps/patterns a fun color and get a new ironing board cover.  Today I am going to go digging in the garage for frames to make a gallery wall and I will also shop the house for a cute pillow to put on my comfy chair.

 

I highly doubt I will ever take a break to prop my feet up, sit on this cushy chair, and watch TV!  ;)  I also envision the kids being able to come in, sit, and chat with me while I am working....we'll see if that happens.  They will most likely being the ones watching TV!

A HUGE thank you to my BFF, Stephanie, for helping me organize and fold all the fabric!

Sewing Happenings

Pin It

This week my sewing group had a launch on Facebook.  A launch is where designers network and all list items for sale on the same night.  I have been sewing with my group for almost 6 years, and as my daughter grows older I am cherishing my time left to create for her.

This is what I came up with for Easter

In other sewing news... I have been working on moving my sewing studio from my mom's house to my house!  It's not a quick or easy process!  I am grateful to my hubby and BFF for all their help.  Hopefully, I will be finished and can post pictures of my new sewing studio soon.

Recipe Review - Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Pin It

Today I tried a new Pinterest crock pot recipe for Greek Chicken.  It was easy and yummy!

Greek Chicken

1 Small Whole Chicken (3-5 lbs.), skin removed
1 Red Onion, diced
2 Cups Vegetable Broth
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 Tbs. Oregano
1 Tbs. Basil

Place all ingredients except chicken in crock pot and stir well. Add in chicken (you can keep it whole or break it into breast, thigh, leg, wing etc. This recipe also works with frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts... just defrost first). Cook on low for 6+ hours. Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees (F).

garnish with sliced black or kalmata olives and cucumber slices.

I needed a side dish and my favorite local Greek restaurant serves the best potatoes.  I went on the lookout for a recipe and found this one.  However, I was out of lemons and I didn't feel like messing with making chicken broth...so I diced some potatoes, coated them with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil...then I poured some of the juices from the chicken in the crock pot over the potatoes!  Covered them and baked them as the recipe instructed...they were delish!

 Greek Potatoes

 Ingredients

1/3 cup olive oil

1 1/2 cups water

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 Tbsp dried oregano

2 pkgs of chicken bouillon

6 or 7 potatoes, peeled and quartered

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

Whisk together first 6 ingredients.

Place quartered potatoes in large casserole dish, pour mixture over them.

Cook, covered, at 350 until tender. (About 1 hour)

To crisp up outside of potatoes – uncover and place under broiler for the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Watch carefully so they don’t burn!

Ballard Designs Outlet

Pin It

 

Many years ago I went to a Ballard Designs outlet store in Ohio with my friends.  I don't even remember anything about it besides walking in and out in about 5 minutes and not buying anything...obviously, I never really thought about it again.  Even though, I continued to drool over the Ballard catalog when it would come the my house!

Fast forward to now, I have been coveting one of their orb chandeliers for over my kitchen table and I mentioned this to a friend who lives in Atlanta.  She offered to run to her outlet store and check for me....whaaat?!!  A quick Google search revealed that the old outlet store I visited in Ohio had been closed, BUT there is a new store on the other side of town.  Right on the same exit as Ikea...which I have been to a dozen times in the past year!  GAAAAH!!!

So yesterday, while the kids were in school, hubby and I took a little drive (1.5 hours each way) to see if the new store was any better.  As you can see from the pictures, it IS better! I so wish I had known this store was here 6 months ago when we were buying so much furniture for the new house.  The prices were not dirt cheap, grab as much as you can carry and run out fast before anyone stops you low, but they were very affordable!  For around $100 more I could have gotten a better quality desk, coffee table, etc...than Ikea.  

Most items were 20%-40% off the catalog price and each week they run doorbuster sales and those items were a great deal!

A couple of the items this week were this lamp for $39.99.  

These small garden district mirrors were $79.99 for a set!

Even though I almost left with a rug, coffee table, mirrors, and new lampshades...our goal yesterday was lighting!  So I put all the other stuff down and focused on the mission at hand.

We ended up with the orb chandelier I had been wanting.  The catalog price was $299 (on sale!) plus $50 shipping.  I got it for $210.

We didn't go there planning on buying anything else but the chandelier...however, if you recall I have also been on the lookout for pendant lights.  We came home with two of these small Eldridge lantern lights for over the island. Retail price $149, plus shipping.  We got them for $77 each.

Finally, on total impulse, we picked up one of these Dianna pendant lights to hang at semi-flush height over the kitchen sink.  Retail price $149, plus shipping.  We got it for $77. 

Overall, it was a very successful day and I am thrilled with our purchases!  I can't wait to go back when I have more time to look at everything more slowly. I will also be keeping an eye on those weekly door busters, which they post online.  The Ballard Designs outlet was also connected FrontGate and Grandin Road outlet stores.  If you are anywhere close to West Chester, Ohio...check it out!