Resolution & Renovation Updates

Hello all!  I am writing to update about my resolutions and "debut" my kitchen pictures!  My kitchen is DONE!!

We'll start with the boring stuff first.  Feel free to scroll down if you only want to look at pictures.  Just keep in mind that I am cursing you in my head because looking at pictures and not the words IS CHEATING.  At least that's what I tell my students.  You are just cheating yourself out of becoming a better reader.  I assume y'all can read though!  So skip if you must.

Here's the resolution reminders...
1.  Run a half-marathon.---We've had some bizarre weather in Ohio.  I continue to run inside 3-7 miles at the Y depending on the day.  I was able to run 10.77 miles on a beautiful day on Saturday!  So I'm working it.  Not tellin' my time though...  
3.  Go one day a week with NO SWEETS.  I AM STRUGGLING HERE.  Today is my no sweets day and seriously all I want in the entire world is a cookie.  This will be week 3 and day 3 of it and I know it will benefit me later!  BUT STILL I WANT A DANG-GONE COOKIE.  
4.  Work on my abs and legs.  I have been doing the machines at the Y and my favorite pilates instructor added some inner thigh stuff at my request.  Also, each morning since January 1 I have spent about 5 minutes stretching, doing sit-ups, push-ups, and plank.  I look pretty cool doing it in m penguin PJs.  Be jealous.  
5.  Lose 5 pounds.  (Khloe)  We are walking more and I am trying to feed her less.  
6.  Pay off my Sears credit card.  I made a $50 payment this month and plan to make another next pay too.  I don't know I am going to make the May goal though.  :/

.....DRUM ROLL....KITCHEN UPDATE!!

Just a reminder as to what the kitchen looked like before.  Patriotic theme.  Red.  White.  Blue.  Go America.  Old Glory.  ICK.  

Before.

Progress.  My dad took all the cabinet doors off and labeled each one so he knew what was what.  

Taking Old Glory down.  But look, another border!  

You can see the soffet is painted and part of the cabinet base is painted.  

Notice, the cabinets are just builder's grade cabinets.  Totally flat on the front.  On Pintrest, I saw all these great ideas about adding molding to the front of the cabinet.  So after a lot of convincing, my dad agreed to do the labor!  Here were his steps.  

1.  Take cabinet off wall.
2.  Degloss cabinet with deglosser.  This eliminates the sanding step and helps the paint to really "stick."  
3.  Add molding with Elmer's wood glue.  Secure with clamps.  Let sit for at least 24 hours.  Fill in any gaps between wood with wood caulk.  
4.  Paint one side.  Dry Completely.  Do a second coat.  Then paint the other side with the same process.  We used Sherwin Williams ProClassic because all the blogs recommended that.  It supposedly can deal with the wear 'n tear cabinets naturally get.  
5.  Add door handles and pulls.  I purchased these from the Home Depot in the bargain bin.  The handles were $1.50 and the pulls were $1.99 each.  I think they were Martha Stewart brand.  

Dad's supplies.  

My dad added the molding.  They were $1.99 for 4 ft. of poplar board.

My dad likes to make sure things are secure!  He let them sit like this for 24 hours.  

FINISHED PRODUCT.....

Cabinets!
My mom made the Roman Shades with fabric from JoAnn's.  

Close up of the cabinets.  What do you think?
You can see the added flat molding on the door and the new pulls.
My dad added the mini-crown molding on the bottom too.  

Roman Shade by Mama!  What do you think of that light?
It came with the house.  It's not awful, but something might be better....

Close-up.  

I love the handles and pulls!

Other side of the kitchen!  You can see the aluminum sheet my dad added
to the left above the oven to prevent splashing.  

My favorite corner to stand and spill stuff at.  

The white tile was with the house.  You can barely see where we painted over the Old Glory
border.  One day I might add 2 rows of subway tile to really cover it up.  My dad hates tile work though,
so I'll need a new contractor!  :)  

My pull-out trash can.  Bargain find from dad.
Don't you love how I took out the trash for you?

Pull out kitchen-cleaning supplies under sink.
Dad installed!

My dad found this wooden drawer that didn't quite fit for $5.
He added  2X4s on the side to make it fit.  

Another drawer by dad!

So from this.....

To this....
I lived with the open-concept kitchen for a lot of weeks.
It was great.  I always knew I didn't have any food.  :)

FINAL PRODUCT!!
The walls/soffet are Sherwin Williams Gateway Gray.
The cabinets are SW Dovetail in ProClassic.  

What do you think?  I am totally in love with it.  Like I said I would love to add some accent tiling eventually and maybe a new light.  But that can wait for now.  I got really lucky with the counter tops matching being really neutral and matching perfectly.  I don't totally love the floor.  It seems cheap to me.  But for now, it works.  

Now, we are working on painting the trim and doors in the hallway.  And finishing up the living room totally.  It's 95% done.  My reupholster-er (i.e., Mom) is still working on a chair.  

I'll keep you updated, but I'd love to know what you think of my kitchen!