Updating an Old Light Fixture

Slow design is something I have really embraced over the last several years.  It makes sense to me - living somewhere for a while helps you really start to see and understand what you like and need in a space.  I'm the kind of person who isn't scared of making changes in our home, especially ones like paint because they can easily be redone if we don't like it.  Not too long ago I was really needing a change with our kitchen Ceiling light.  The one I had chosen ( at the time)  I loved but over time just wasn't working for our space.  I can't tell you how many people banged their heads on that light and after living with it for a while, I just felt like it wasn't the right light for the space I was slowly putting together.  I was ready for a change but here is the big issue..I didn't really want to spend a ton of money on a new light.  After thinking about it, I really thought I could update something old to fit our space and be something I really liked.  I feel like you can always get creative and figure out a solution.

Wow, so this pic below goes way back.  This is our kitchen when we moved in...I hated this space so much but over time and making changes slowly - I absolutely love this space, its probably my favorite in our whole house.  At first we had this big and bulky ceiling fan in our kitchen...I could not get this thing out quick enough.

So much better right?  A lot of paint, a new light and some decorations helped a ton.  Now this light is not bad, I really did like it.  But after living with it and people bumping their heads on it...it just wasn't functional for us.  I was on the hunt for something I could make work. 

Sometimes it pays to wait, to not rush into a decision just to buy something now. My parents were changing out some things in their house a little while back and had this little brass chandelier light they were tossing out.  Their trash was my treasure!  I gobbled up the light and got to work. Free = the best.  If it didn't work I had not invested much besides the cost of spray paint.

It really didn't take a lot to update the light.  First I sprayed painted it with oil rubbed bronze (and I did take pics but can't find them for the life of me).  Next, the only other thing I did to change it was to get the round shaped light bulbs instead of the traditional pointy ones that people usually use.  It's really fun how a light bulb shape can make a huge difference.  I also threw on some wood beads I had and wasn't using just for fun and texture.  I may leave them on, I may take them off...I like them for now. And that was it - probably took me and afternoon to paint a couple of light coats of paint and it was a quick install.

Another awesome bonus with this light is the dimmer Justin installed...the round bulbs tend to be a lot brighter so we really needed it.

In addition to this space we have a new tile floor, new kitchen chairs, new wall paint and I painted our mirror.  All things we have slowly added and changed over time.  

I really love the updated light in our kitchen! It really feels like it fits the feel of our house so much better and no one ever bumps their head anymore.  Eventually if I want to switch it up again I won't feel guilty because this really cost almost nothing to change.  One of the reasons why I love doing this blog is to show people you don't have to spend a fortune to create a space you really love and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by today and Happy Friday!

Installing an Ikea Sink

 Lately I have been sharing about our current diy kitchen remodel project in steps, from demo to prep work to installing ikea butcher block counters and today I get to share about installing our farmhouse sink.  You guys, this sink is the bomb.com - (and yes I was teenager in the 90s.)  But seriously, I really can't say anything bad about it.  If you are in the market for a farmhouse sink no doubt you have looked at this one - its the domsjo sink from ikea.  By far it is the best priced farmhouse sink for its size out there.  Its such a great deal that we had to wait on a list for months to get one.  So know up front your closet ikea may not have one in stock if you just randomly show up.  Call before you go!  Now to be clear, we have currently been using this sink for about 2 weeks so I can't speak on longevity - but still I love it.   

For a little background (if you are just joining in) we decided recently to upgrade the majority of our kitchen - pretty much everything has been replaced besides our cabinets.  This made installing counters and this sink a little different since they are from ikea and made to install really easily into their own (ikea) cabinets.  But it can easily be done and we are living proof.  It just took a little extra work.

The fist steps in this process was back in our demo days which involved removing the old plumbing and cutting out the area in our cabinets in which this sink was going to sit.  Next, we cut our counters to size and cut in the notches for the sink.  After that we secured our counters in place and we were ready for the sink to go in.  So that brings us to the picture below - the mini beams.

This sink is massive and heavy - no exaggeration- and needs really good support.  If you look at the instructions from ikea you can see that the cabinets you buy from ikea have this support already built in.  To make it work for us, Justin built two "mini beams" (one for each side of the sink) under the cabinet for it to rest on and to be secured to.  Honestly, this was the most complicated part of the whole process...besides maybe the plumbing portion..but this is all about the pretty stuff right now.  

After the sink was firmly in place the next thing we did was seal around it (not pictured).  We used a caulk gun and some silicone based sealer around the edges of the sink.  There are some great tutorials out there but basically we taped off the sink and counters with painters tape and ran the caulk down the crease, wiped with a damp cloth and removed the tape.  I'm not going to lie I was pretty sure I was going to ruin the counters at this point but it all worked out.  Just take my advice and have some damp cloths readily available. 

We still need to fix the bit underneath the sink - its on our immediate to do list.  I'm also seriously considering painting the lower cabinets a darker gray...to be continued.  

But look how far this little kitchen has come!  I just love this before and after.

Cool thing is, we still have a few more things to do and it already looks a bajillion times better.  

I am a believer that a little goes a long way and patience pays off.  We have slowly worked to get this thing to where we want it and have not broken the bank at all.  Everything we have done has been within a small working budget.  Remodeling a kitchen does not have to be the biggest deal ever and all those little things make a major difference.  I'll share more soon about some of the little details!

Replacing the Range Hood

You guys, we have been up to some crazy things over here.  Our kitchen is getting more updates and we are closer to being completed with some of our kitchen goals than ever before.  As I am sitting here typing this we have installed new countertops, a farmhouse sink (just a few little things to finish with this), new faucet - oh and a new range hood (hello, this post). Also, we are preparing to get started on a kitchen backsplash, building an extra cabinet and who knows what else.  Why does the list keep extending?  Mainly because we are really enjoying this kitchen remodel thing.  This has been a slow process but I'm thankful for that because I've enjoyed each step and we really have a good grasp on the final goal now.  Each step has been a labor of love and something we have enjoyed doing together.  Everything we have done has been within a budget we have set and we have tackled each diy process and learned a ton.  So stayed tuned for more kitchen posts/oversharing coming soon...

Ok, so rewind from the picture above - before we started ripping out countertops and sinks we removed and replaced our old range hood.  Within the last year we were able to upgrade our appliances to stainless.  We were super thankful when some close friends offered their range/oven to us (they were upgrading to gas) and that kind of started a trickle effect on each appliance upgrade.  Our dishwasher was on its last leg so we set out for a new one.  Another friend of ours is an appliance manager at a big box store and was able to help us get a great deal on some discontinued floor models.  We pretty much were able to score all 3 appliances for less than the cost of a new fridge (crazy).  My advice for upgrading appliances on a budget would be to check places like craiglist, buy/sell/trade and such.  Also, we learned that discontinued floor model appliances are very negotiable.  You never know what prices you might be able to score if you are willing to negotiate and look at something not brand spanking new.  

So back to the range hood - this was actually a really easy upgrade.  Removing it pretty much involved unscrewing it and disconnecting the wires.  Also - please make sure and switch off the breaker when you are removing the hood since you will be disconnecting the old wiring and reconnecting the new wires.  Before you buy your range hood take some measurements!  Usually our house has weird pieced together oddly shaped things and I was really worried this would be the case- but thankfully it was really standard.  But, I would measure just to make sure - standard has not always been the case for us (old house status).

The ultimate goal for this space behind the oven is to install a tile backsplash (that will run the whole length of the counters) so we went ahead and removed the old plastic piece that I guess was serving some sort of purpose.  Of course it was gross behind there.

Since we are working towards tiling I just decided to grab some white paint we had and paint over the ugliness.  After that we installed the new range hood - and tada! Done.

Its nothing incredibly fancy but its nice and everything is now back to matching.  Its a little addition but something I really think makes a big difference - something maybe you don't even realize until you do it.  

If you want to check out what we have done so far in the process of remodeling the kitchen- we have painted our knotty pine cabinets, replaced the cabinet hardware, installed a tile floor, replaced some lighting, painted the walls and painted a chalkboard door.

Lots more to share about with our little kitchen remodel!  Stay tuned this week!

Kitchen Update

Last week I shared our progress on the living room and today its time to share our {work in progress} kitchen...

I'm here to say it is possible to get the kitchen you love on a budget.  Our kitchen is still not complete, its a work in progress- but it has come a really long way (check out the before and afters at the bottom of the post).  We have made updates throughout the last several years and each one brings us closer to our goal.  

We painted everything (cabinets, walls, trim), replaced the flooring, replaced the hardware, replaced some lighting, and recently replaced our appliances. 

Overall I think the paint made the biggest difference and the tile floor is one of my favorite things we've done so far.  We painted these cabinets 4 years ago and they are still holding up really well.  If you are on the fence - go for it.  I love our white cabinets.

We still have the old countertop (don't worry though we actually have a new one waiting to be installed...can't wait!).  But its crazy how updating the paint and a few other things makes the countertops not seem as bad.  So it is possible to enjoy your kitchen with just a few easy and inexpensive upgrades.

This may be one of my favorite little spots in our house.

Don't look too closely at the door, it is on our replace list.  It has seen better days for sure.

Recently we were able to upgrade all of our appliances.  And, we were able to do so rather inexpensively.  You can probably tell that they are not all the same brand - something that I could care less about but maybe for others is a must.  Our stove came by a friend who was upgrading to gas and the fridge and dishwasher were outdated floor models.  If you are looking to upgrade but want to save some cash - try the floor model approach...we saved tons.  We still need to adjust everything in its place (see stove below) but we are waiting on installing the countertops...which is waiting for the sink that is backordered.  We will get there eventually.

Look at how far this little kitchen has come....

This little kitchen gets a ton of use from monday night meals with our community group to college ministry cookouts.  It has served us so well and its amazing how many people you can actually get in here and feed at one time.

Hope this helps some of you have hope in your little kitchens.  A little time and some work pays off.  Next on the list - replace countertops and sink!  We are pumped.

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Fridge Organization

I'm still working on getting an organized home.  Today I'm working on one of the biggest problem areas in our house - the fridge.  I have always had trouble keeping the fridge organized and keeping it from becoming overrun.  Honestly, I have never really tried to add any sort of organized system to it so its just been a free for all.  I don't know what we have, what we need and what needs to go.  It was finally time to get it right.

So you don't need a ton of money to get your home organized.  You really just need to come up with the best systems for your family - at least that is what I am learning.  I did purchase a few storage bins for the fridge - but they all came from the dollar store...even the food storage containers.

Ok, let me share some of the details - to start everything off I did a thorough cleaning out of the fridge and cleaning of the fridge.  I unfortunately don't have a real before.  I kind of started on a whim when I got frustrated with the mess.  But I did get a post clean out photo - this is usually how the fridge is.  A random assortment and no real place for anything.

I then grouped everything in different sections and determined which items I wanted in storage bins and which items would go inside the fridge drawers.  I ended up with a storage bin for spreads, snacks, cooking supplies and fruit.  My drawers consist of deli, veggies and then baking supplies.  Plus I have clear food storage containers for more of what I call snacking fruits and veggies - that way I can easily know what we have on hand.

Oh, and I used my little label maker plus washi tape to add a little fun.  

I am loving it so far.  Its been two weeks since we did this and everything looks just as organized.  The storage bins really help give things a place and also really helps me know when things are low and need replacing.  This is like life changing for me - to open the fridge and know exactly what we have and need.

So just for fun I thought I would add some pretty and fun organization elements that I would love to add to our new organized fridge.  All of these items are really affordable too.

1.  This glass creamer carton is so cute to me - it would be fun to store creamer in right?  You can find it at Carol Wright Gifts and for $5.99!

2.  I love ceramic egg crates, this one is by West Elm for $9.00

3.  I'm thinking of using a tray in our fridge for our fresh meats - how could I say no to this tray, its the same exact pattern as our fabric ottoman.  The tray is also from Target for $9.99.

4.  These berry baskets from World Market are so adorable.  Strawberry season is so close and these are perfect for storing your freshly picked berries.  A 3 pack will run you $14.97.

Moral of the story today... The most dreaded spot in your house can become one the cutest and most organized.  It just takes a little time and determination to get it right.

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Tomorrow I'm sharing some more patio progress.  Have a great day!

Pegboard Organization

I love a pegboard.  They are so versatile and great for organizing.  I wanted a way to pretty up the fridge clutter - you know the stuff that accumulates all over the outside of your fridge?  As well as a way to keep it organized and neat - so a pegboard was the answer.

This was super easy and quick.  I actually had a leftover pegboard already but this stuff is not expensive if you want to go buy some.  I gave it a quick two coats of paint.  This is a paint sample that I grabbed for a dollar a while back when Lowes was trying to get rid of all of their pre-made samples.  From time to time I browse the oops paint section and pick up super cheap paint for little projects like this.   I love this soft color, its called Glass Tile by Valspar.  

Next I just needed to tie in a few pieces of yarn and add a few clothespins.  I love that this is quickly customizable.  I can add more yarn or change the placement easily.

I used these magnet hooks and some twine to secure it to fridge.  I have almost thrown these away a few times - so glad I held onto them.  

Now we have a pretty way to corral all of the fridge clutter.  

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Anyone else love a good pegboard?  Have a great pegboard organizing tip to share?  Have a great day!

Cleaning and Organizing the Pantry

Our "pantry" was in chaos.  Well, let me back up a bit - when I say pantry I mean old cabinet/hutch.  Old house = no real pantry.  So we have improvised and use an antique cabinet for a lot of our kitchen storage needs.  Its not that big so it tends to get overrun a bit - and by a bit I mean a lot.  It was definitely time to clean this little "pantry" out and give it better function and organization.  So here we go...

First, the mess - we had things shoved in some places and then we were not utilizing some areas that well at all.  We really just didn't have a plan or any kind of organization (obviously).  It was pretty much just a free for all.  Something I am learning through this "get organized" process is that small spaces need plans.  

I don't even know what to say, it was just obviously not working.  So first thing was first, everything was all emptied out and gone through.  There were definitely things in there that needed to be tossed and some things that needed to be scaled down.  Taking the little packages out of the bigger boxes really freed up a ton of space.  

After everything came out, all of the shelves received a good wipe down.  I also decided to line the bottom shelf.  I just measured and cut wrapping paper and then covered it with clear contact liner to make it more durable and easier to clean.

Next came the grouping of items.  I just tried to keep similar things together.  Like drink mixes, baking items, canned goods, snacks. paper goods, etc.  I had several plastic bins leftover from my big laundry organization project so I was able to just use what I already had.  I didn't have to buy any sort of organization item or container for this clean -out!

I decided to add a few labels to the bins to just help keep things neat in the future.  A simple label maker and a little washi tape was all I used.  If you are looking for just a basic label maker, mine is from Target - is was around $18, which is a super price for one of these.

Its nice to have everything cleaned out, neat and in its own place.  I feel like the space is being much better utilized now.

One small step at a time and things are getting organized around here and its so nice.  More things to come!

So are you guys getting excited about the Pinterest Challenge on Wednesday??  I can't wait to see what you have come up with!  I'm still working on getting my project completed, its organization related and I'm loving it.  Come by and link up your projects this Wednesday!!  It can be anything big or small!

Have a wonderful week!

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Clean It Challenge Link Party