~OUR COMPLETE KITCHEN REMODEL...ALMOST DONE~

Good Morning All...

~APRIL 2015...Remodel Close to being Complete!~

I thought I'd pop in and say and hello and just SEE if any of my old peeps are still bloggin'...  Life's been so busy for me the past two years that squeezing in time to do much more than WORK has been almost impossible.  I thought I'd catch you all up today on what's been going on with us and to see how you all are doing...

~WHERE WE BEGAN~

First...Happy JUNE and HAPPY SUMMER!  Can you even believe that almost half the year is already over?  Time is movin' on, isn't it?  I realize how FAST the months have passed by when I see that Hobby Lobby is beginning to stock the store shelves with Christmas.  WHAT?  Say it isn't so.  Not at all ready for that!!!!

 ~THE RIP-OUT BEGINS~

If you've read my blog in the past then you know that in April or 2011 my hubby returned to school to finish up his one missing year of college.  He graduated with honors in December of 2012.  Very proud of him!  Then in early July of  the following year (2013) he was laid off from his longtime job (almost 17 years) at Xerox.  We were stunned by the termination and were grateful he was only out of work for seven months.  Going back to school in his 50's was tough, but it was absolutely the right move.  Without his degree in Computer Science he wouldn't have landed the job he now has with a local college (he's still loving it!!!). We have friends who have lost their jobs and are STILL looking for something permanent.That December my hubby lost his father and the following February (2014) my precious daddy slipped away to heaven...  In July of last year our daughter and her hubby moved in with us while they began the hunt for their first home.  None of us ever dreamed it would take so long for them to find the right HOUSE and I'm happy to say they are now moved in and on their way to building happy memories in their beautiful new home.  Secretly I'm hoping a sweet little baby will be on the horizon soon.  Still just have my Miss K and she will be 13 in November (I know...CRAZY!)...

 ~ABOUT TO UNCOVER A NIGHTMARE!~

Lots of life struggles, trials and heartbreak sprinkled with good days and even some measurable JOY!  Today My Mr. AGPMan and I are doing wonderful and I continue to be thankful for God's goodness to us.  We've survived some difficult days and by God's grace we've emerged to the other side of sorrow.

~THE PIPES LEADING UPSTAIRS WERE A CHALLENGE TO MOVE!~

I share this with you because in the midst of all of the heartbreak, chaos, loss and schooling we've been chipping away at the kitchen renovation I've blogged on and off about for about four years.  I should have called it a "Downstairs Renovation" because that is what it became.  Couldn't begin the actual kitchen portion of the remodel until so many other things were done...  The tearing down and ripping out of the kitchen (laundry room and bath) took so long...  And I must add that when you lose your JOB in the middle of such a huge undertaking you DON'T go and spend money on projects until you have another one!!!!  Rebounding from being out of work was tough financially, but we've recovered by focusing on each new day as well as our long-term goals.

~VERY NARROW GALLEY KITCHEN~

(See How The Fridge Sticks Out From the Doorway!)

During the renovation there were times when it all became overwhelming and I can honestly tell you I'm glad it's almost over.  We knew it would be at least a two-three year long project, but we never could have imagined all the things that would be tossed into the mix to mess up our timeline.  My hubby has done ALL the work (hundreds and hundreds of hours) except for installing the granite counter tops and our wood flooring.  He is also going to build me a custom island if the one we hope to purchase (a vintage drugstore counter) doesn't work out!  Staying on task (and working when our funds got LOW) has been challenging.  But, here we are nearing the end of the makeover journey and we are both on cloud nine and still happy we started it when we did.  We can see the light at the end of a long, long dark tunnel and we couldn't be happier our home will once again have order.  We still have some trim and wall painting to do, installing of our back splash and also the wood flooring.  But other than that we are pretty much done.  What is left is NOTHING compared to where we were even last January.

~COMPUTER LAYOUT OF DESIGN~

One thing I can tell you is that the vision for our kitchen remodel definitely changed since we first started it soooo many months ago!  We had to give up a few things as they just didn't work out with the final layout and design (namely a fabulous vent over the stove!).  But, overall I'm totally in love with the outcome even though the work to get to where we are today has been MORE than grueling!  I still love vintage, chic and all things French Country and Farmhouse.  But, I've moved away from having as much fluff around as I once did.  These days I favor a little 'less' for my kitchen instead.

So...if any of you out there are still interested I'm going to start showing you pictures of the process this week!   Not sure if they will inspire you or deter you, but either way I hope you will at least see that hard work does pay off.  Even if it takes longer to get something done than you might think.  During the process I constantly had to remind myself that the renovation was a journey...a project...and NOT a contest...

 ~PREPARING FOR POCKET DOORS~

 

~NEW POCKET DOOR LEADS TO OFFICE~

 ~MORE OF THE EARLY JOURNEY...~

 

 ~SO MUCH PLANNING AND MEASURING!~

~POCKET DOOR INSTALLED...NOW FOR THE DOOR ON THE RIGHT!~

~DOOR ON THE RIGHT IS OUR PANTRY~

~WALLING UP THE UGLY VENT ON THE OUTSIDE WALL~

(Always hated that stupid thing!)

~YES...THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER FROM 1970...YUCK!)

~TEMPORARY KITCHEN...MODERATELY FUNCTIONAL~

 ~TONS OF PLUMBING AND CONCRETE WORK!~

 ~FILING IN THE HOLE...NEW FRIDGE GOES HERE!~

~MY JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES~

~LOTS OF DUST AND LIVING WITH TEMPORARY FIXTURES!~

 

 ~SHEETROCK...SEEING THIS MADE ME SOOO HAPPY!~

 ~TEMPORARY SINK CABINET~

 ~NEW FARMHOUSE SINK...AHHHHHH!!!~

~SEEING OUR NEW FRIDGE IN PLACE MADE ME SOOOO HAPPY!~

(Loving the new door trim, too!)

I'll be back later this week to show you more.  Sooo many pictures to go through...

May God Bless You All!

Love to you...