Sneek Peak At My Newly Decorated Kitchen!

Just a couple of pictures to show you what I have been up to...

I added some white fabric and tacked it on the backside of the doors.  I wanted to create a simple, clean look.  So I just covered up all the stuff that is in the cabinet. Kinda of refreshing.

My cool grey walls and my homemade burlap faux roman shades.  I couldn't possibly do a tutorial on them....Why do somethings (okay like a lot of things) seem like such a good, easy idea at the time only to be a point of frustration?  Let's just say I measured, sewed, ripped out seams (my hair too), and finally decided to pull out the trusty glue gun (much to Mr. Smith's horror).  I couldn't get them to hang right-I tried to tack them.  Well you get the picture!  Glue gun to the rescue!  I did learn something though-Mr. Smith had never used a glue gun before!!!!  Crazy- I know! 

In this process of redoing the kitchen, I am trying to put together TheSmithHotel's First Open House and Boutique.  So once I get the rest of the kitchen cleaned up (hard to when you use the kitchen table for sewing and crafting) I will post more pictures of the kitchen!

Enjoy!

The Kitchen in Progress....

Mr. Smith was pleasantly surprised how well the red paint covered up with the primer....The last time we painted the kitchen-red-it took 2 or 3 coats of primer and around 5 coats of red....Needless to say Mr. Smith wasn't jumping up and down to paint the kitchen again.....

There I am, Mrs. Smith, in painting grubs and a HUGE apron.....Boy Wonder and I begged Mr. Smith to let us help him....He finally gave in (only after a LECTURE on the proper way to paint-HIS WAY)....only to fire me later....paint on my apron, paint on the bottom of my foot, paint in my hair (so I don't claim to be a Professional Painter)....

Boy Wonder doing a great job at painting primer (yes he might paint better than his mom)....

Red walls gone....

Hello Cool Grey!!!

Now I just need to work on what goes, what stays, where to put it......With Mr. Smith still looking for a job, I plan on selling a boat load of stuff.  Decluttering with a mission! 

P.S.  Mr. Smith left the ladder out (the big one not the step ladder) and told me before he left to pick up Drama Queen from school- "Don't get on the ladder".  So I was good and just looked longingly at the high shelves and the stuff I want to put up and will wait till he gets home.....

Mr. Smith is at Home Depot getting paint.....

Here is my kitchen as of 9:30am....cleaning up from breakfast (Drama Queen finishing reading the comics)....

Started taking things down off the walls and cleaning up the counters.....

Boy Wonder said that it made it more "spacious" (let's just say that my kiddos have been raised watching HGTV and the Food Network).

Looking at that refrigerator.....need to clean that up too.....

Mr. Smith is going to need a ladder to reach up there...

I will be taking down everything, dust and decide if I am going to keep the items or sell them....

The furniture will stay in the same locations.....

Oh yes....see I told you Mr. Smith would show up yesterday......Funny thing is when I mentioned that I picked out the paint for the kitchen, Mr. Smith said "I thought we were just talking about it".....

Really after almost 18 years of marriage????

Gotta go...I think I just heard the garage door open.....Mr. Smith is home.

I think I have been ditched by Mr. Smith......

Well Mr. Smith has conveniently been MIA today....  You know going to coffee this morning with a friend......Playing tennis with another friend.......Couldn't make it to Home Depot or Lowe's today with me.....

That's okay I don't need him around to PICK OUT the paint color.....I just need him around to, you know, move furniture, climb ladders.....and well PAINT..... Mr. Smith thinks he can escape me!!!!

So handfuls of light colors.....I think I found the one I like.....think really subtle.....It's called Cool Gray by Ralph Lauren.......

Here's what it looks like with some burlap and the white molding of my windows....

Trying to cover up the red so you can get a better idea what it would look like with the cabinets and the tile....I know hard to tell.....

Oh I have a secret....You see I know where Mr. Smith lives and he has to come home sometime to....sleep, shower, eat, change clothes.......

I feel like a trip to Home Depot tomorrow!

My Red Kitchen and My New Idea.....

We moved into our new house back in August of 2004....I wanted a red kitchen.....

Bubble gum pink primer and I think 8 coats of red paint latter......

I promised Mr. Smith that I would Never ask him to paint red again.....(one of my favorite sayings is Never say Never.....just saying).....

I have fallen in LOVE with the whole creamy, white, wood, rusty, burlap.....Well you get the picture if you are reading any of the decorating blogs.....like those in Australia or Sweden......

Problem is that my cabinets are really nice so they don't need to be painted.....So how do I get that look I am after....the red wall have to go.......So I asked Mr. Smith what he was doing for the next few days....Still hasn't found a job yet (no that wasn't trying to sound mean...just that he has time on his hands....and when he does get a job he will be working....i.e. too busy to paint)....

I think I might have to make a trip to Home Depot tomorrow with Mr. Smith to look at paint samples......Hey I figure it's been over 5 years......time for a little change....Oh and don't tell Mr. Smith but I was also thinking of making some new valances (have you ever "settled" for something....that would be my kitchen valances.....just never were "right" for me)....I am thinking maybe burlap or white fabric....Hey I have loads of both fabrics so it technically wouldn't cost anything....

Oh yeah....how many cans of paint will it take to cover up the red????  I did mention to Mr. Smith that I was thinking of getting rid of (maybe 2)  items from above the cabinets plus it would be good to get everything down and DUST!!!!

See that's what happens when I clean up the Pantry.....Oh and yes the kiddos were very impressed with the clean, newly organized pantry......

A Little Pantry Clean Up

This is scary......I am letting everyone see what my pantry looks like.....not pretty.....

It's not a large pantry but larger than any I have every had....okay actually it's the first one....I had visions that it would look so organized....so much for a "Walk in Pantry"......can't get past the door....have to lean over.....me and leaning.....it just spells trouble....did I mention that I am accident prone?

Oh and I need a ladder to get to the upper shelves....hence the "shoved" look......

Sprinkles, Spices, Tupperware....it all breeds at night....

So 6 bags of stuff to donate at the Salvation Army....3 trips to the trash can......

I can walk into my pantry now.....

We shall see if the kiddos notice when they get home from school today....

Mini Daffodils

Must be the sunshine-I know-2 posts in one day!!!

Had to cut some of my mini daffodils and bring them inside to enjoy! 

Oh and I bought this sweet little glass at a thrift store today for 25 cents....I bought a tiny white pitcher and another glass jar-total came to 88 cents......Problem......didn't have any cash on me......not enough to use the debit card......they were so nice they said that I could pay them next time I come in!!!  Guess that gives me an excuse to go back tomorrow to give them their 88 cents and see if they got any "new" items in.....

A little SUN!!!

After school today, Drama Queen, Snow White and I ran out to the backyard and soaked up some rays!!!

Enjoying a cold one....(no Dr. Pepper doesn't pay me to advertise....yet)

Drama Queen sipping Dr. Pepper and basking in the warm sun.

Please advert your eyes from the pasty white legs and no paint-on-the-toe nails.....Snow is enjoying some sunshine too.

Yes we all needed a little Vitamin D.....

Hope you can enjoy some sunshine too!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

Boy Wonder and Drama Queen are going to spend some quality time with the grandparents.  Mr. Smith and I are thinking about going out to dinner (we just need to see if there are any coupons in Sunday's paper or it might even be tacos at Taco Bell).  That's how we roll here at The Smith Hotel.....doesn't matter where we eat- just happy to spend time with Mr. Smith!!!

Valentine's Day Treats, Flowers and Babies!!!

Drama Queen's Valentine's Day party is tomorrow at school so we created these.....

Jodi over at Pleasant home made these and they looked so cute!

Go visit her here for the recipe-easy!!!

http://www.pleasant-home.com/2010/01/quick-and-easy-valentines-treats.html

All wrapped up to give out tomorrow!

Had to add a polka dot ribbon to the basket for more "love"... Plus half the gift is presentation!

Hours and hours I have spent making these flower lapel pins.....need to take this bunch to a local shop in town.  Looks like a bouquet of flowers-don't you think?

My other project was for a customer who wanted these letters for a baby shower!  My Valentine's letter being used for other ideas(man-why didn't I think of that)...Mr. Smith was so kind to cut each letter out for me! 

So lots of color going on at The Smith Hotel......Just wish it would feel a little more like Spring outside!!!

Open House Fun!

Fun night at Sweetspot last night!   A great big THANKS for all who came to see our display! 

 

My little area of display.  I created new flower lapel pins that I need to post on Etsy.  They were a hit!  In the next day or so, I will try to post them.  Right now (Sunday afternoon)- my bed, a book and a nap are calling me.  

Kelli at Henna Body Art (also Glasswench on Etsy) was kind enough to paint this on my hand.....

That's right folks, still shamelessly plugging my Etsy shop.   I am my own walking advertisement!!!

I've been busy.......

Here I am-Mrs. Smith-self portrait......

I am trying to take a picture of my newest creation.....

burlap flower lapel pins....

I think I am on a mission to see how many things I can create out of burlap....

This one is mine......it looks pretty cute on the hat if I do say so myself...... I made more....soon to be added to my Etsy shop....

Mini burlap heart flag with upcycled buttons.....at my Etsy shop now....

Here are some items that I had at home that I thought I would use to add some Valentine's Day decor around the house....

Made a banner out of my Pink,Glittery Letters and Burlap Heart flag.....

Wooden thread spools, ribbon, twine, fabric-pink gingham and yes burlap.....

Put my "X O"  on my empty frame with some pink tulle.....

My Present Wreath.....redecorated......thanks to my Mom's idea......Drama Queen helped by cutting out paper hearts out of card stock. Used pink crepe paper, ribbon, tulle, rick rack to make the packages look like they are for Valentine's Day presents (empty of course).

My newest burlap pillow......a heart of course......will be posting this to my shop as well....

I am getting ready for Redding Handmade Etsy Team's First Open House-tomorrow night at Sweetspot from 6-9pm.  If you are in the Redding, California area-make sure you grab a couple of girlfriends and check out all the creative people! 

Mr. Smith is diligently out looking for a job, interviews, networking.......We are hopeful!  In the meantime-I am going to shamelessly plug my Etsy Shop!!!