We did it!

Well, half of it. Chris and I decided to update our countertops on our own, and so we went with ceramic tile because it's "easier." You can see the old ugly laminate in the picture with the coffee pot.

We only did one half of the kitchen because we need the tile saw to cut around the window for the other side. We are going to use black grout on the counter and the backsplash. Go us!

Countertop

I checked on the Wilson Marble website, and the marble is used for bathrooms and the silestone is used for kitchen countertops. So I checked the color options, and they have one that I think will be perfect. What do you think?

Backsplash, cont.

I found some more pictures of backsplashes...and this kitchen is small like mine! I think the black countertops and the white ceramic tile make it look much bigger...

Chris likes the beadboard idea...

GO TARHEELS

My home improvement projects are put on hold for the NCAA Tournament! Go HEELS!!

This is eerily similar to my kitchen. The differences: there is no cabinet on the left, the fridge is on the side with the sink and the kitchen is about 3 feet shorter. Otherwise, the cabinets are white, the floors are laminate, the appliances are black/white, and the walls are the same shade of green!

Countertop, cont.

Black counter, white backsplash. I think I've decided. I have not decided on the materials, although I do love the white subway tile. I'm thinking of black glazed ceramic tile or (if we can afford it) black granite tile. Here are some products I found:

White ceramic tile, 3in by 6in, Lowes (for backsplash) $.22 each
Black ceramic tile, 4" by 4", Lowes (for counter) $.28 each
Black granite tile, 8" by 8", southcypress.com, (for counter) $1.28 sg/ft

A little overdue...

So for my wedding, I ordered this fantastic custom photo guestbook from Sondra's Ink. (www.sondrasink.com) I absolutely love it! I think it is one of the best decisions my mom allowed me to make. :)

So today, I am finally adding the pictures of people who somehow got into the ceremony without having their picture taken for the guest book. I know I have pictures of them from my photographer! (and here's another advertisement for Ben Waddell Photography!)

Anyway, for those of you who are getting married soon, please consider this guest book. Even 6 months after your wedding, you'll be looking at it!

Backsplash

When I got home from work last night around 12:30, I switched the tv to HGTV, and saw this GREAT kitchen makeover. I love the idea of the white tile with black grout for my kitchen backsplash. The butcher block counter top is a neat idea too, Its just looks too much like the cheap stuff I have on the counters now...

Guest Room

Our Guest Room. Black furniture. Ivory quilt & shams. White walls & trim. Ivory Carpet.

Can you say "bland?"

So I was thinking of this duvet set and paint color to liven things up. Thoughts?

I Need An Office

My house has 3 bedrooms. I live with my husband, two dogs and a cat. So it should make sense that we have a guest room and an office. But no, Chris has a HUGE weight set he rarely uses, and it takes up the entire 3rd bedroom. I'm going to reclaim this room eventually, but I promised to give him a suitable alternative for his workout stuff. I'm thinking of an outside building for him, but I just dont have the $2,000 right now to pay for one and to get it wired with cable and electricity...

Oh! But to have an office! I already have a fantastic black corner desk, much like the one in the picture. I want to install wide black shelving so I can put all my law books, etc on them and make it look really professional.

And then, because I refuse to waste space, I want to put a daybed with a pullout/popup trundle in that room, so even though its an office (and a place for me to lay back and read over the latest reading assignment) it will double as a guest room. I'm thinking something black (gotta match) and using light blue bedding, painting the walls in the room light blue and making it feel comforting. I'll need comforting after all the work I'll be doing in there.

My Carpet Needs Cleaning

So I should replace it! Hey, for less than $200 I can buy really nice laminate wood flooring for my bedroom from lumberliquidators.com and do it myself! And then I can move on to the hallway, stairs, and living room! How hard can it be?

Anyone wanna help?

Kitchen Updates

We've been in our house since September 2007, and I already want to update it. Not "remodel" because that costs money that I don't have, but just update.

We have a humorously small "galley" kitchen with what looks like laminate flooring on the counter top. And by laminate flooring I mean my counter top looks like super cheap fake flooring materials that the old owners scratched and scraped and ruined. (Not that I would like it even if it was in good condition.) So, for my first update, I want to replace the counters. All 15 square feet of them.

My cabinets are glossy white with silver pulls, my appliances are black and white (cant afford new ones for now, but If I had my way they would all be black), the walls are a soft green and the floor is light-wood laminate. (Now that's laminate I can live with.)

So what should I do with my counters? Ceramic? More Laminate? Here are some photos of kitchens I like (the one with the black flowery plate is my favorite...)