Clay's Kitchen

This project was all Clay! He has been wanting to re-tile the back-splash for a long time. I really don't think I helped at all. He did a great job and it only took about a week and a half.

Here is the picture from move in day:

Here is the first picture I took (He starts projects so quick that I don't get a chance to take a good "before" picture).

Here are some pictures during the process:

Told you he did it all :)

The "after" pictures:

It's not a huge difference but I think it makes the room look complete. The whole project only costs about $70 for all the tiles and supplies. Clay was able to use some supplies left over from when he re-tiled our shower. I will post those pictures when we redo our bathroom. Lately, Clay has been working outside as much as possible and I have been sewing some gifts for my pregnant friends. We are planning on redoing the guest bathroom before we have friends come visit this summer. I will keep you updated!

Be Our Guest

We have been working on some smaller projects over the past few weeks. The latest one is the guest bedroom. We decided to paint it the same color as the top of the dining room. Here is a picture of the room on the first day we moved in: 

This next picture is how the room looked for a few weeks after the wedding and after I moved in:

We of course started by painting all the trim white:

Here is a picture of the room painted and put back together:

Clay wants to build the headboard and we are also looking for a dresser to refinish. We refinished this piece that my mom found from goodwill for $14.

Clay is painting the door pulls today so this piece will be completely finished. Clay also tiled the guest bath room with a back splash. He is practicing for the kitchen's back splash.

Clay also glazed the cabinets. We are planning on painting this bathroom sometime soon. (Actually we are going to paint it the same color brown as the guest bedroom- can you tell we got the paint for a great deal?!)

This week I also finally finished the curtain in the laundry room. It is nothing great- just a simple curtain. Maybe one day I will be able to sew more than a straight line and sew something great like my mom and grandmas!

The next big adventure is our front yard. Clay and my dad cut down two trees this weekend and today I have been playing "pick up sticks" with all the twigs. Now that the weather is nice I have a feeling we will be spending more time outdoors. 

A New Look for the Dining Room

We worked during the week last week and almost all weekend to finish our dining room. We still have a few things to finish- but overall it is done! We love our new room and the "new" furniture. I apologize for all the pictures, I was just excited to show the differences.

Here is what the room looked like on move in day: 

 

Here is what it looked like right after moving the furniture back in: 

Here the buffet cabinet before we started: 

 

 We removed the doors and wiped it down with liquid sander:

 I taped the edges:

 I started to paint:

 After two coats of the cream paint:

 Clay wiped it down with the tinted glaze. Clay then re-installed the doors.

 We still need to buy new handles for the doors (they are harder to find then we thought).

Here is how we did the table/chairs:

 We took off the seats and also wiped them down with the liquid sander:

 I taped the edge of the table because we wanted to leave the top with the natural wood:

 We put two coats of the cream paint on them as well:

 Clay working on the glaze:

 A close up of the finished chair:

 After the glaze had been put on the table:

 We did the same process with the china cabinet:

 Clay also installed lights in the top of the china cabinet. It is amazing how different the lights make it look. I was also very happy to finally unpack some of our wedding gifts. Now we just have to hang pictures, buy the door handles, and finish covering the chairs this weekend.

The best part of this whole project:
1. Can of Opps paint cream Glidden Duo=$12
1. Can of Opps tinted glaze paint= $7
1. Can of Martha Stewart clearance paint (light brown) = $12
1. Can of Martha Stewart clearance paint (dark brown) = $12

For a total of $43 we were able to paint the room and all the furniture and still have paint left over.

We are going to start some more projects this weekend. Hope everyone has a blessed week!

Good Cookin'

One of my favorite rooms in our house is the kitchen. Maybe it's because of my love for food. Maybe it's because it's a big open room. Maybe it's because that's where Clay is 90% of the time he is home. 

Here is the updates we have made to the kitchen- I didn't take any pictures throughout the process. It was really close to our wedding and we were doing bits and pieces here and there.

Move in day once again

view from other side of the room

We were thinking green..

the kitchen cabinets- before I moved in

After I moved in :)

Clay hung a TV and replaced the pantry doors

We decided a yellow color would be better

My mom surprised us when we got back from our honeymoon with these new curtains. The kitchen table is from my great grandparents house. My parents refinished the table years ago and used it has their kitchen table. We found a fabric that matched the curtains and recovered the chairs. 

the table and curtains

other side of the room

told you- always in the kitchen

the hallway

Clay's plan is to tile the back-splash, but we are waiting to finish the bathroom and dining room furniture first. I am very thankful to have a great kitchen to cook in/watch tv/work on the computer/hang out in. I especially love the kitchen table that has been in my family for so long. It's neat to have it in our first home and continue the legacy of good food and good times with family and friends.