Perfect for our first try! (sneak peek)

Our first kitchen re-do is complete!

We kept the original oak cabinetry and freshened it up with a coat of low VOC paint and new hinges. A stainless steel industrial type double sink and brushed steel countertops ties everything up in our tiny kitchen.

Unfortunately, we could not reposition our stove due to the gas lines and still is next to the refrigerator, but being I don't use the oven much I hope it's not a big problem.

A new coat of paint, including on my dear knob-missing antique chest (which I still distressed a bit though), really livened the rooms up.

Even he thinks so!

I too am pleased how everything turned out,

but what I loved the most was...

It was a family project and it was done with love.

Sorry I've been AWOL

The sound of the sledgehammer and dust due to our kitchen remodeling has been greedy with my time, and unfortunately it means I've been neglecting this holiday and my blog....

Fortunately I am able to find serenity in things as small yet as beautiful as these herbs sitting placidly on my desk.

May serenity find a place in your home.

Happy Friday

I woke up with a great feeling.

(Even prior to having seen these!)

I know our weekend is off to a good start.

May you have a sweet weekend.

See you Monday.

A peek of Christmas

Cake pedestals repurposed as tree stands.

Handmade stockings hang from random places.

A peek of my tree, I dressed her in pink and white fairy lights, mirrored prisms,

and a silhouette or two.

I wish you a good holiday season.

The Inspiration Bug

Last night, the inspiration bug bit me.

I repainted and repurposed this jardiniere for use in the bathroom.

I am still working on the vignettes. How I do love neutrals and sea glass tones!

Now off to finish holiday gift wrapping. Tonight we'll be putting up our tree.

I'll share that with you tomorrow.

One Down

She hangs now, and we made sure she'd stay there.

Getting the dining area finished first was my priority. That's where we gather as a family, discuss our day and plan our future. Among the plans I have is to find out how to cover the breaker box.

After I put together our living room, i'm off to yoga class.

And then I'll be giving her a bath.

Life- An Adventure

I look around me and I see fresh new paint on walls, a brand new enameled door, corners that need to be retouched and drop-cloth, paint guns and rollers scattered around my feet. There is a kitchen patiently waiting to be refaced, a chandelier showing off her newly scrubbed prisms to the empty walls.

As you can see we are going through renovating our house, and if that is not stressful enough, try doing it on a limited budget while trying to manage, promote and keep afloat two businesses.

This is the current adventure my life has signed me up for (with my permission of course), and although stressful at times, I make it a point to create moments of serenity for myself. Whether it is by reading, meditating, practicing yoga or just plopping down in front of the TV with my family I savor every little piece of these still moments.

I concentrate on the outcomes and work with the present.

Even in change there is not pretty only in the outcome, but if you look around in the present you're sure to find it as well.