Kitchen Updates and Plans

When we first moved in our kitchen looked like this:

After some demo and yanking up the crapet(yep, I typed crapet instead of carpet....seriously gross, carpet in the kitchen and dining room. barf.)

I painted the lantern I picked up for $10 at the thrift store.  I still love the lantern, but I'm thinking it needs to be black instead.  I also had mason jar lights above the kitchen area after I switched out the crappy lights that were there.  Apparently they got super hot and when my brother in low tapped one...shattered.  Suckola.  Luckily I had this barn lights that were in the kids' rooms when we moved in.  I had to switch those for ceiling fans because it is so hot upstairs.

Kitchen Plans:

Phase Easily DIY:

*add some planks to the back of the island and trim bottom out.

*paint the kitchen cabinets white on top.  

*add some shelves below the cabinets, they have been raised and we could use a little reachable storage.

*paint bottom cabinets black
*spray paint hinges black or nickel....we'll see.

Phase Need Some Assistance:

*add hardware
*skim coat laminate counters with concrete
* subway tile backsplash

Phase Costs Some Dough:
*new countertops
*new sink
*maybe add a window


Phase DIY and NeedSome Assistance will be done by Christmas...I'm hosting Christmas for the first time in 9 years. I am going to begin most of this at the beginning of October.  I already purchased the hardware and will be getting the subway tile as soon as I choose which one I want to go with!

Some more progress pics:

xoxo

Corner Nook {black with white shelves}

I have this weird nook in my living room made by the spot where the furnace is.  It was wasted space when we moved in.

Before 

I painted it awhile back with a stencil (I actually just measured and taped....I am not purchasing stencils!) 

After some badgering, Mr. TSL made me some shelves to make it more of a bookshelf look.

I'm not going to lie.  I didn't love it.  In fact, I never even got around to actually styling it.  Just through some crap up there and stared at it for much too long.......

Finally, I figured out what to do.  Paint it again.  I do this a lot, almost nothing I originally painted is staying the first color I chose.  Decorating ADD at it's best.

xoxo

SUNDAY: The DIY Showoff 

 MONDAY: Thrifty Decor Chick, Dittle Dattle,Between Naps On the Porch, Homemaker on a Dime
TUESDAY: Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Strictly Homemade
WEDNESDAY: Not Just A Housewife Sugar and Dots The Mommy Club  
THURSDAY:My Repurposed Life. House of Hepworths, Beyond The Picket Fence, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple 
FRIDAY: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, Chic on a Shoestring,  Shabby Nest
SATURDAY: Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello