John & Alice’s House:: What’s Next? The Kitchen!!

As I’m winding down the master bathroom makeover, I’m looking ahead to the next room I’ll be working on…the kitchen!! I’ll actually be tackling the kitchen, the family room and the little breakfast area all together, as they’re all one big great room.

Let me show you what I have to work with!  First, here’s the kitchen, in all its wallpapered glory.

Of course, all of the wallpaper will be going.  They’ve already gotten new appliances, and the flooring has been replaced.

Opposite the window wall in the kitchen is this paneled wall.  These aren’t just panels created with moulding.  Nope, this paneled wall is the real deal.  Those panels are actually set back about 1/2 inch from the rest of the wall.  Initially, I was frustrated that I’d have to work with a paneled wall, but I’ve actually grown to love the idea.  I have something quite special planned for it.

To the left of the paneled wall is the fireplace.  It’ll get a coat of paint (obviously), and the crown moulding mantle will be replaced with something a little more rustic to look like a chunk of aged wood. 

And then to the right of the paneled wall, opposite the fireplace is this huge wall of windows.  At a certain point every day, light pours through these windows, so they’ll not only need to be dressed up, but also given some panels that will help with light control and energy efficiency.  And then, tucked in the corner, you can see the little breakfast area.

I’m so anxious to get my hands on these rooms!!  The ideas are swarming in my head, and I’ve been collecting pictures in my “ideas file” specifically for these rooms.  Do you love starting a new project as much as I do?  I love it.  I get so excited!  But for me, narrowing down the possibilities is the hardest part.

What part of starting a new project do you love the most?  Is it the gathering of ideas?  The beginning of the demolition, like being able to rip that first piece of wallpaper off the wall?  What about seeing that first coat of paint go on?  It’s hard for me to say.  I just love the entire process!