I'm Dreaming of a Light Kitchen...

Okay so, hubby decided at the end of 2014 that his long season
of service was coming to an end.
This is HUGE for our family!
After 21 years of being an Army family, I don't even know what to
expect from being "civilianized".
But am I excited?
Heck to the yes, I am!
We get to live in a house for longer than 3 years, we get to decide when
we go on vacation, we get to put down roots.
What?!
I. Am.Giddy.
Don't get me wrong, being a part of this amazing Army community has been
such a privilege and we've forged bonds every bit as strong as family.
But, something has been put on my dear hubby's heart.
And he's in a position to move toward what he feels called to
in this season.
I'm so proud of him and so thankful to be married to a man
who listens when that still voice speaks.
If the reams of paperwork move smoothly through all the proper channels,
if all the signatures and stamps get put in all the right places,
we should be back in the US of A by the end of August.
Of this year!
In an effort to be helpful,
I'm already doing a mental redecoration of our spaces.
I kid, I kid.
But seriously. I am.
I'm researching paint colors and doing space plans for our furniture.
In the two-ish years I've been in Europe, I've defined my personal style.
It really is the perfect place to get to know timeless style up close and personal.
I still love all shades of aqua because well....it's delicious.
But the bookworm in me wants to nerd out with the classics in
rooms that are more collected and quiet, with shots of quirk and pattern.
We'll be moving back into the house we own in the states.
It is the epitome of builder grade,
which is okay with me because it has potential.
And I don't have to compete with architecture, I can create it.
Realistically, my project wish list will take years.
But since it's a "wish" list I think getting just a tad crazy is acceptable.
Right?
I think yes.
This is the kitchen before we moved in circa 2010.

 That dooky beige paint is fabulous, no?
No!
Paint was at the top of the to-do list.

When we had lived in the house for 6-ish months we did a few projects.
The laminate countertops were replaced with granite slabs, and the
sink and faucet were upraded.
Beadboard was installed as a backsplash. and the ceiling got crowned with moulding.
Ooooooh.....aaaaaaah.
We took out the world's tiniest cabinet and added open shelves.
We retrofit a trash can that slides out of the cabinet next to the sink.
(Super handy for meal prep)
But then it was time to move again and projects stopped.
This is what it looked like when I listed it for rent.

No more dooky beige. LOL
And the new floors were a huge improvement throughout the downstairs.

We moved overseas feeling good about the changes we'd made.

But now that we're headed back, a new to-do list is forming.

Like the cabinets.

The cabs are a nice maple....but, oh my, are they orange.

I crave light neutral cabinets.

Like this...

Source

Or this...

Source

Those kitchens say, "Hello, I'm light and airy. Love me."

Nothing a little paint can't fix.

And beside a desire to tone down the orange,

a light grey on the cabinets would really compliment our granite slab

countertops.

After all, having those countertops installed is what finally made

us feel like grown-ups.

Just kidding, but it was a big deal.

While I'm wishing for lighter cabinets, I'll add chunky crown to the uppers.

Why not?

The project I'm most excited about though, is closing in the big hole between

the kitchen and family room.

I know the builder was probably thinking "open concept".

But it's really just a big hole that eats up valuable wall space in both the kitchen 

and the family room.

By walling this in, we gain wall space for much needed shelving.

Since we tend to gather in the kitchen anyway,

we don't need a hole to talk to people through.

Of course, closing the hole creates another project.

We will either have to redo the beadboard, or choose another material.

Hubs and I agreed, while the beadboard has performed 

beyond our expectations, we want to use tile this time around.

And, in a shocking twist, we agreed that marble tile was the way to go.

Something along these lines...

Source

Herringbooooone!

And this is also lovely...

Source

With such a very small space to cover, it would be a major impact for an affordable price.

Let's face it, budget is boss for most of us.

By doing the work ourselves, we can afford a few high end finishes,

with the savings from not hiring subs to do everything for us.

It is such a win!

Over the next 8 months or so, I'll be putting together design plans

for all the rooms in our house.

Not only is that one of my favorite things to do, but it will

help me prioritize and organize for our big move back across the pond.

I'm sitting here grinning from ear to ear.

It's so ridiculous how happy this makes me!

I hope it's contagious ;-)