Step into my kitchen…
The journey that has been my new kitchen is complete! I can’t quite manage to put together a book video, but I did work on this little musical view into my kitchen. The wood is cherry. The granite is called “cosa esmerelda” and the tile is tumbled marble with glass inserts. The appliances are stainless steel. The floor is a laminate, though it looks and feels like tile (except softer on the feet and warmer to the touch.) I think I covered just about every material known to kitchen builders, LOL!
I have to say that the whole process was relatively painless. And I mean “relatively.” I don’t like having people in my house. I don’t like having chatter in the background that isn’t chatter from my family…chatter from workers must be listened to, while family can be tuned out, LOL!
But I’m really pleased. There are actually a few little things left…the table you see in the pictures is my very old table and I’m waiting for the new one to come in. I haven’t found any bar stools that I like. The bulk of the contents of my kitchen are still in boxes in the dining room and I’m slowly weeding through it all and throwing out stuff I don’t use and finding a home for the stuff I do.
Oh, and that last picture is of my favorite feature–the InstaHot. Love that sucker. It gives you instant boiling hot water for instant coffee and tea. Can you say, “love, love, LOVE?”
I was going to run this video with a contest, but instead, Janelle and I have switched contest weeks and I’m running a very special WEEKLONG contest starting on Monday of next week. Trust me, it’ll be worth stopping by every day next week to swing into the jungle.
And speaking of contests…I know I’m behind mailing some things out. Between the kitchen, my flu and the general upheaval that is my life, I’m a slug. I admit it and apologize profusely…but those of you who are waiting will get a little something extra for your trouble. I promise!
The kitchen looks fabulous! All shiny and new. Enjoy cooking and entertaining. You should host a new recipe party and break in the new kitchen with friends.
Comment by ThatBrunette — March 14, 2008 @ 6:13 am
It looks fabulous Julie! Very warm and inviting, spacious. Gorgeous job. I bet you just love it
Comment by Stacy ~ — March 14, 2008 @ 6:31 am
Ah, here it is! One day it was up, the next it wasn’t. Still love looking at the pictures.
Comment by Stacy ~ — March 19, 2008 @ 6:09 am
I am soooo jealous. I would love a new kitchen. I hate ours. You can’t have more than one person and a dog in it. and not because it is small, but because of the way it is set up. Someone is always in the way.
Have you cooked in it yet????
Comment by ev — March 19, 2008 @ 7:20 am
Comment by Carly — March 19, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Comment by Katie B. — March 19, 2008 @ 8:18 am
that is so beautiful.. i am so jelous it isnt funny..lol.. some day i am going to redo ours if i have to borrow all the money from a bank to do it…
Comment by Jolene — March 19, 2008 @ 8:18 am
Gorgeous kitchen. Congratulations. I am so envious.
Comment by Crystal B. — March 19, 2008 @ 8:58 am
STUNNING, BEAUTIFUL, STYLISH KITCHEN. You lucky girl!!
Comment by Patty L. — March 19, 2008 @ 9:00 am
Your kitchen looks fabulous! Love the colors and the InstaHot sounds wonderful!
Comment by Liza — March 19, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Thanks, everyone! Dont’ be too jealous…it took me TEN years to get this kitchen.
I’m not kidding.
We moved into the house ten years ago and the one and only thing I wanted to redo was the kitchen. My husband, however, wanted to do the bathrooms first…start small, he said…learn about contractors and subcontractors and renovation, etc.
Well, that experience, eight years ago, turned me OFF to renovation! The whole experience was a nightmare that ended when one of the workers left a blowtorch, flaming, unattended about two feet from my then two-year-old daughter. I fired them on the spot and for YEARS (as Janelle will attest when she stayed with us and had to endure a bathroom with no mirror!) I didn’t want anyone else in my house!
Then about three years ago, we decided to have some much-needed work done on the outside of the house. We replaced windows and had stucco repaired. This went off without a hitch. Then we finally brought in someone to finish up the repair work on our bathrooms and to do a few necessary additions. Though this wasn’t without headaches, it wasn’t a complete disaster.
Over all this time, we were saving and saving and saving. Finally, ten years later, we met a contractor we liked, who had done work in our neighborhood on more than one house and whose wife worked with my husband. It all seemed to finally fall together.
So it was a long, drawn-out and emotional wait, but I’m so glad it’s done! My whole house looks new because the kitchen is the heart of the house, both literally and figuratively.
Did I mention that when I first moved into the house, the first thing I did was tear down the god-awful wallpaper the previous owner had. While I replaced some of the paper, we never quite got around to doing backsplash. I stared at torn drywall for ten years. I think I love my tile most of all!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 19, 2008 @ 9:10 am
For a kitchen like that - I’d learn to cook! It’s beautiful.
Comment by Barbara-Jo — March 19, 2008 @ 9:25 am
It’s beautiful….makes me wish I didn’t have a kitchen island….hubby will laugh at me!
Comment by katie — March 19, 2008 @ 9:38 am
It’s gorgeous, Julie!
Comment by Robin — March 19, 2008 @ 10:12 am
I also have the nice linoleum that looks like real tile but is softer on the feet. I have tile at the entrance to one of my doors as that stuff is ice cold in the winter. I like warm.
I really like the tile work on the walls. Lovely. Your video is giving me ideas.
Comment by Gigi — March 19, 2008 @ 10:36 am
It truly is gorgeous, Julie, I am so happy for you! Can’t wait to visit and have you cook for me.
Comment by Leslie — March 19, 2008 @ 10:45 am
Absolutely GORGEOUS, Julie!!! It was well worth the wait! Now where’s the blender so you can whip up some margaritas for us all?
Comment by Janelle — March 19, 2008 @ 11:07 am
I love your new kitchen! I’m curious about the drop-down lights. Are they stained glass?
Comment by wendy roberts — March 19, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Not stained glass, but definitely hand-blown because each one is just a little different. And they change color when the lights are on. Very green when off, very blue when on. It’s a beautiful, “watery” effect that I was hoping for.
I love stained glass, though. Love, love, love.
Comment by Julie Leto — March 19, 2008 @ 11:41 am
I love the new kitchen! It’s beautiful. I love the stainless steel appliances. And, I would love to have something that provided instant hot water.
Comment by Lynn Matherly — March 19, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Ooooh Julie its beautiful!! I especially love the tile. I hope that you and your family enjoy many meals together.
Comment by Tina Martinesu — March 19, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Hey I just noticed my last name was spelt wrong
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 19, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Congrats. Your kitchen is beautiful. Enjoy..
Comment by Ardie — March 19, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
Beautiful Julie, you did a great job picking out everything. Enjoy, enjoy! I’m sure you are going to love cooking in your kitchen.
After waiting ten years this is well deserved. 
Comment by Donna M — March 19, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
Julie, that is SUCH a beautiful kitchen!! I’m drooling, and we just redid our kitchen last year! Yours looks amazing, and I’m sure your family will enjoy many happy hours together in it!
Comment by Fedora — March 19, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Hi Jules, your kitchen is fantabulous…wow…hard to believe it…your builders did a great job…I am envious of that gorgeous space…I am glad that you are still rebounding nicely from being so sick…it is good to see you hanging in the jungle again…I hope that you have a wonderful rest of the day…have fun putting the kitchen together…ttyl…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — March 19, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
That is one gorgeous kitchen!
My son had an InstaHot in a house he rented. They are wonderful.
Comment by Estella — March 19, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Great job on your kitchen! I remember seeing the photos as the project was underway and the
kitchen was topsy-turvy!! Enjoy the new creation!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — March 19, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Julie it’s beautiful! Well worth the wait, I’d say.
Comment by Jaci Burton — March 19, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Beautiful kitchen Julie! And I love your new gadget. I guess I have to still throw my mug in the microwave - lol. I’ll keep dreaming.
Comment by Michelle J. in NJ — March 19, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
I was gone all day yesterday and didn’t get a chance to stop by here, but I wanted to go ahead and comment today. Your kitchen is beautiful!!! I can only imagine how excited you must be to have it finished and to have turned out so fantastic.
I hope you enjoy cooking many wonderful meals for your family there!
Comment by Jodie — March 20, 2008 @ 8:24 am
BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN–HAVE FUN COOKING NOW.
ALICE IN TEXAS
Comment by ALICE — March 21, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Happy Friday!!!
Comment by Julie Parrish — March 28, 2008 @ 9:56 pm