Planet Granite in the Kitchen

My new granite countertops were installed in May and I love 'em! They definitely add a little more glam to the kitchen. Here's what the kitchen looked like before

 

 

It was a 3 day process:

Day 1: Old countertops were taken off and plumbing was disconnected

 

 

Day 2: Countertops were installed

Day 3: Plumbing was reconnected

 

And here's what the countertops look like now:

 

 

I got the faucet from Amazon. The countertop installers recommended we get a new garbage disposal instead of reconnecting our old one. After some research I decided to go with the Waste King disposal.

Going without a sink, a countertop, or a dishwasher for 3 days was a bit challenging but totally worth it! I decided to go without the 4 inch backsplash because I'm going to be putting in my own backsplash....one day. I really love, love, love the countertops, sink, and faucet! The kitchen still needs a paint job, and hardware and molding on the island. It's getting there...

Kitchen Island is DONE!

This is long overdue. In October my island was FINALLY finished. Woo hoo! It was ready just in time for the holidays. I love, love, love it and use it all the time. Totally worth every penny to have to have the added counter space. We can now eat at our island and watch TV and it makes a great surface for food prep.



We also installed a Rev A Shelf, door mount trash bin in one of our cupboards. LOVE IT! No more black plastic trash bin laying outside the island.


My next mission is to upgrade the other counter tops to either granite or quartz later this year.

Painting Bathroom Cabinets

I finished painting the Jack and Jill bathroom cabinets white and I love it! I just need to find the right hardware for them.


I'm thinking something like this from the Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot



The room has definitely brightened up with the white cabinets. All that's left is to tile the floor.

Here's the project before, during, and after:






I followed the same steps as I did with my kitchen island but instead of sanding the cabinets I used liquid sandpaper. I followed that up with oil based primer and 3 coats of semi gloss crisp white paint. I also installed new chrome faucets to replace the single handle brushed nickle faucets. I found the faucets on clearance for $15.44 each at Lowes. That price blew me away that I had to ask a store associate if that price was for real. It was. Sold!

Projects for 2011

I'm starting a list for the home projects I want to take on for the New Year. Some of them are finishing touches on projects that I've already started. I needed to put a 3rd coat of black paint on my front and closet doors in the entry way.



I started off painting them with a black glossy paint. Glossy paint is not forgiving and you could see every single brush stroke on in the paint. Plan B was Behr paint + primer in an eggshell finish. WAY better but some of the shine is still showing through on the doors so I put another coat of the paint + primer. MUCH better. I can check this one off the list.

I also need to cover the bottom of my drum light shade in my office with fabric. I've needed to finish this one for awhile.


My other home improvment projects for this year are:
> Tile the Jack and Jill bathroom.
> New faucets for the Jack and Jill bathroom. They've already been purchased, just need to install them which is currently in progress. Notice the faucet on the right is our new faucet and the faucet on the left is our old builder grade faucet.
> Paint the cabinets white (in progress)



New countertops, sink, and faucet for the kitchen. I'm thinking of either quartz or granite for the countertops. I'd like a granite sink, and a faucet and soap dispenser intalled. I would love for it to look something like this sink and countertop from DOD Home Interiors Inc.



Tile the fireplace surround in the family room


Purchase new end tables for the bedroom



Make my own art work for the master bedroom to go over the dresser


Re-upholster this chair in the master bedroom



New ceiling light fixtures for the entry way, guest bedroom, and Jack and Jill bathroom because I'm sick of these lights


Re-paint the dining room, ceiling included.

(This is the dining room at Christmas time)

Save money for a master bathroom renovation for next year