Ta-dah! Our new kitchen

Before

After

As promised, photos of our new kitchen! A new light fitting or two, a blind, a few stools and our kitchen will be 'done'. But I think we are close enough to calling it finished that I couldn't resist sharing the before and afters. 

I am really loving our new kitchen. It came together just as I imagined and is such a lovely place to work. We looked at several options and decided on a custom built kitchen with routed, painted doors, white appliances and white stone bench tops. Dave was a little concerned with how an all white kitchen would look. It has long been a dream of mine and thankfully he trusted my judgement, as now he loves it. He put his own stamp on it by way of choosing the sink and tap wear, as he works in the plumbing industry. (Both pieces seemed enormous until they were in the space! Now I am loving the large double bowl sink and the tap wear.) 

How far our house has come in the almost two years we have called it home. It feels like it is really all coming together now that the kitchen is (almost) complete.

Home sweet home.

Kitchen Progress

1. Cabinets in and plastering in progress, 2. Doors and drawers on and a make shift bench top from chip board, 3. Hello kitchen island bench (and our old microwave), 4. Stone bench tops!, 5. Subway tiles in progress, 5. Grouting completed!

The past couple of weeks it feels as if our lives have revolved around having our kitchen renovated. From leaving the house with the kids for a week while the demolition and installation of the cabinets took place, to living in the house for a week with two children and no kitchen. From washing the dishes in a bowl in the bathroom sink (which then clogged!), to only being able to cook in an electric fry pan. From keeping the children out from under the feet of the tradesmen, to cleaning up after said tradesmen. 

I can honestly say I underestimated how disruptive and stressful this period would be. Thankfully it was well and truly worth it. There are still a few finishing touches to be made - a few handles to be attached, a few electrical fittings to be completed, the sink waste to be attached, a new blind, some open shelves, a plate rack, stools for the island, floor boards touched up where the old cabinets were - but the big things are done. And very soon I will be cooking, baking and jam making in my new, lovely, white, dream kitchen. Hooray!

And while it may not interest anyone else but me, I will be posting images for prosperity in the least, once the kitchen is all finished.

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1. Progress in the kitchen - the cabinets are in, the electrical and plastering has now been done, next week the doors and stone bench tops will be fitted - Hooray!

2. The cutest kitchen helper - out of the frying pan and in to the pot?

3. A wonderful visit to Threads and More's new abode at Indooroopilly, where I scored these magazines for $5 each - so much lovely yarn too

4. Waste not, want not - sharing the Rosella love with friends who make jam - can't wait to make jam in my new kitchen!

5. The little shoe monster strikes again

6. First slippers for the shoe monster

7. Going 'home' - twenty five years later

8. Always time for tea - especially when partaking in an op-shopping adventure with two children

Our days are a little strange as we live without a kitchen and live with the white plaster dust of renovating. (I'd forgotten about that white dust.) There are dishes on the bathroom sink, a toaster on the tv cabinet and tradies coming and going as progress is made. It's an exciting sort of mess to live in, full of promise. I am excited at the prospect of getting to know my new kitchen and unpacking my collections. Finding a home for the plates, glasses and vases. I think a little kitchen party will be in order once it is complete.

Tonight though I am looking forward to book club - lovely ladies, a great book and a glass or two of wine (of course.)

What are your plans this Friday evening?

Going away

Packing the girl: hand knits, overalls, vintage dresses, tights and onesies.

Packing the boy: stripes, Star Wars and Soccer boots.

Packing the Mama: knitting, camera, books, stripes, embroidery.

My two little ones have followed me from room to room this morning as I fold clothes, gather bits and pieces and pack our ports. Packing is exciting business. Next, to finish packing up the kitchen. At present all the cupboards are empty save half the pantry, the dining table is covered in glass and crockery and I'm waiting on a few more boxes. 

Today will be the last time I see my old peach kitchen. The little ones and I are leaving Dada at home to demolish and supervise, and we shall come home to a new kitchen (sans stone bench top, which will be installed a week later.) In the meantime we three are staying with family, well out of the way of the construction zone.

Did I mention that I am super excited about my new kitchen! An all white kitchen in fact. A dream come true.

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The shop will stay open as normal, as I am taking my pieces and packaging box with me.