a kitchen corner :: before and after

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my new years resolution had to do with sprucing up our rental home after living here for over a year "on pause" grieving the loss of our own home in 2011. I haven't really let this house in to my heart or the reality that this is our new life. I realized after the holidays that it was time to dig in a bit more and create some spaces around here that reflected me and my love for decorating on a tight budget.

The built in desk was the first thing that came to mind. A true mark of a house built in the nineties this built in desk/cabinets in white washed oak had become a sort of catchall dumping ground in our well used kitchen space and truthfully it was dismally embarrassing and rarely ever organized.

We asked Jeff and Jenny (the homeowners and our brother and sister) if they would mind us ripping it out and after confessing that they had also considered ripping it out a time or two were eager to let us have a go at it. We knew that the wall behind and the floor would need to be repaired but decided to go for it anyways because of the potential to transform this kitchen corner into a much more peaceful and beautiful space.

This is what it looked like beforehand on most days. A bunch of random stuff, basket of diapers and our bills. Mismatched outlet covers and cords. It was bogging me down big time. When we tore it out the wall was in pretty good shape just some putty and sanding and a coat of paint and new outlet covers brought it back to life.

The flooring was a bit more labor intensive since the brand and size is no longer made (at least we couldn't find it). Chris went to about a dozen stores and settled on one that was a great color match but not the same width. He was able to puzzle piece it together though in an afternoon - I was so SO impressed with him fixing the floor so fast sacrificing a rare pocket of free time to bless me!

I also swapped out our oval dining table for a round 50's set a $40 Craigslist find. It needed a TON of scrubbing. My knees have not been happy with me after the three hour date I had with this baby but she cleaned up nice!

Here it is again - I just love a good before and after photo and love how this little corner turned out. This hutch was my favorite in our old dining room with the beautiful Orla Kiely wallpaper (see it here) so each time I come into the kitchen and catch a glimpse of it my heart lightens and I feel such joy and comfort. It's really starting to feel more and more like home and I love investing time and energy into what makes my heart sing.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

And here is a kitchen before/after view...really considering getting down and dirty with the white paint on those cabinets...we shall see...

saying goodbye

It's been over a week now since we officially closed and moved forward into the next chapter saying goodbye to our home. My heart is still unraveling itself from the finality of it all but it feels good in so many ways to be able to walk away knowing that we are right where God wants us to be.

These are photos of us wrapping up at our first home...it's a long long rather tiedious story but we actually ended the short sale process with two houses in the past two weeks. So many are in the same spot I know right now and although I wish it wasn't the case I am deeply grateful that this two year journey is finally behind us.

We spent time at both homes saying goodbye. Praying for the new owners and bidding adieu to neighbors and friends. Its weird knowing that we can't ever go back onto these properties again. It just feels so strange knowing how many memories were made.

How my water broke five weeks early in this tiny little house and I had to convince Mr. Gough to get his butt in the car because it was game time and no I did not pee my pants :)...the time I lit the bathroom on fire at 1am preparing for my sister in laws bridal shower because I somehow knocked over a candle and it caught the towel...sweat and hard work and the way it smelled like home even from the first time we laid eyes on it.

But I am learning. Everyday Chris comes home from his job at the Union Gospel Mission and tells me of the amazing things he sees God doing in our city. He shares heartbreaking trials and incredible triumph. We've watched a transitional housing development burn to the ground displacing 41 in minutes - babies and mommies and tired fathers with nowhere to go. These stories put my life into perspective and help make it much easier to let go and move forward trusting in God and asking to be apart of His story.

So just like that the tide shifts and things change. And I am proud to say that we weathered many storms this year together as a family coming out strong and happy - and a little bit pooped out :) - but so thankful.

So as a little tribute Heather asked me to share a final home tour on her Home Made Lovely series today. It felt really good to put together some before and after pictures one last time and to thank God for the season that he allowed us to live in that space.

If you would like to see the tour go HERE! Thanks Heather for the opportunity it was just what my heart needed

Before and After :: the Antique Sofa

A long overdue post about our redone sofa!

Ever since spotting Rashida Jones amazing NYC studio apartment in the February 2008 issue of Domino magazine (oh how I miss that gorgeous publication) I basically could not get her antique white sofa out of my mind. I KNOW you too...here let me remind you:

I mean the dark wood work contrasting with the amazing white linen feather seat. Be.still.my.heart. Seriously if I could marry a couch this would be it, it's just perfect in my mind. So I did what any level headed mother of two wild boys and a dirty dog would do. I hunted Craigslist for a similar one.

It was a mission that I was fully committed too no matter how long it would take. I found this one about three years ago now. Great bones, right but the original gold brocade was pretty hideous. Never mind the smell and the fact that we did not have the money to redo it. I bought it after considering it for like thirty seconds. Drug it home. Ignored Mr. Gough's eye rolls and plunked it down into our living room.

It has sat in our front living room for all these years. I've hosted parties with it, covered it with a sheet for a time. Like I said it was a commitment and I don't ever remember caring when someone would look at it sort of sideways wondering the story and why it was taking up residence in our home. I knew what she could be. I waited.

And then a miracle occurred. My sister and brother in law seeing as how they had spent many parties sitting on the old gold couch and how much I longed to see it redone, one day surprised me with an early birthday gift..the money to have it recovered!! I KNOW - seriously - WOAH!

I mean it was crazy, like I think I sort of feel like I know what it's like to win the lottery. Amazing. It took me months to decide because after all a white linen sofa with now three kids under the age of four would have been so stupid.

So I considered damask, velvet, a gorgeous orange brocade. But I just could not for the life of me get Rashidas sofa  out of my mind. And because there is a God who loves me :) one day I thought to myself - what about white leather? hm..too expensive...white pleather? Would it be gross? Could it be awesome?

Here she is:

I KNOW! Seriously if I could marry a couch. I.love.it! And we have had it since September and the vinyl is holding up great with the kids and the dog - even better! Spills and dirt for the most part wiped off with only a wet cloth!

A special thank you to Jeff and Jenny who saw my desperate heart and chose to fulfill an indulgence that without you guys I probably would never have known!

And if you live in the Seattle area and need the name of an amazing upholsterer, Denise Lingle is your girl. She spent hours tufting this vinyl couch and tirelessly added each one of those brass nail heads to make my vision come to life. Seriously email me if you want her info she is wonderful!

Before and After :: the Old Piano

BEFORE

When I was little the story goes that one day my parents got a random call from my Grandmother, Marge. She lived in Oakland, CA. both of my parents grew up in California but had moved to Seattle the day after they were married and at the time were living in what I understand was a tiny little house up on Capitol Hill. The call came in to let them know that they were inheriting the old upright piano. My Mom said that she really didn't know where they could keep a piano in their small living space. My grandma said "it's for Becky, I am giving it to Becky" (I was called Becky when I was young)...they ended the call wondering how to handle the situation when literally not twenty minutes later a moving truck pulled up in front of the house with Becky's Piano. Oh boy, this baby has been through it all. Truly. I remember it inside for a few years but mostly it has gone from garage to storage unit to garage. It got pretty run down and I almost gave it a way once to a guy who said he'd give me $50 to take it off my hands. For some reason I couldn't do it. It is one of the only things Marge ever put my name on. 

A few years back I got the hair-brained idea to paint it. Some of the wood veneer had pulled off and it had become an eye sore. Chris thought that sounded like a lot of work (mainly code for I think YOU should paint it for me :)) so it sat at least another winter in the garage. 

For my birthday I told Chris that all I wanted was for us to spend a weekend together, no kids, eating cupcakes and takeout and working on the old piano. We were all set to go, kids at his folks house, cupcakes in the fridge, me about to burst at eight months pregnant - serious nesting was going on. Chris got super sick over my birthday weekend so the old piano project was postponed. But not to fear after our number three was born Chris got to work on it. It has been a looooong labor of love and still needs a few more touches but she is coming along. I chose marigold yellow...

What do you think?

AFTER

I really love it! The right yellow is such a hard thing to pick and it is super dark in our front room so the color in the photo is a bit off. What you can't see are the turquoise blue ceilings. I think the combo of blue and yellow is my most favorite part. 

I can't really speak to much about the process because Chris did ALL of the work on this one but he did tell me a few things to add here and a few cell phone pictures of his process:

 

First he cleaned it really well with TSP then taped off the areas that needed to be and sanded it all with a fine sandpaper. He cleaned it off really well at this point making sure there was no dust on it and began the tiring work of painting it. Between every coat he sanded it again to make it as smooth as possible. I think one thing he mentioned a few times was the paint that we purchased was not as high quality as we could have. If we ever do something like this again I think Benjamin Moore paint might be just a bit better even though it has a higher price tag. The cheaper paint tended to run after a bit making super frustrating drips even when he had carefully gone over spots meticulously. 

After all of the painting and sanding coats were done (I think he did at least six) then he painted a polyurethane top coat over it to seal and give it a better protection from wear. 

I definitely have been enjoying changing out the display on top since we don't have a proper mantel and I love doing seasonal displays. She is mighty pretty now and one of my favorite birthday gifts (I have another one to show you soon - it's to die for!) oh and to the left in the photo you might notice an adorable celery green fiberglass mid century inspired rocker. Yup I got that little guy under the Christmas tree but apparently Chris ordered it for me the first week of June as a birthday present (end of September) and it arrived two weeks before Christmas! Isn't he sweet! 

Thanks Babe I love it all, and you are the best!! xoxo