A little before and after of my kitchen

I thought I'd share a little about our kitchen since it has been a little neglected in previous posts. It has come a long way in the last year. It quite possibility was the most time consuming process of all and there are still things that need to be done to it. While it isn't my ideal open concept layout complete with an island, it will do until that day comes... When we bought the home, the seller had attempted to update ever so slightly by applying a new top coat to the cabinets, new brushed nickel pulls and knobs (they left the terrible bronze hinges), and a new (ugly) laminate countertop. They did install (or not install in the case of the dishwasher) brand new white appliances minus the fridge, which we purchased. We did not find out until after closing that the dishwasher didn't even have a water line ran to it. So I decided to take up plumbing. I t'ed off our washer line in the basement and ran it up through the floor and under the dishwasher. And would you know I had no leaks on my first attempt at plumbing?! It was a miracle. After that set back, I got to painting the cabinetry, which is a huge job. A lot of priming, painting and waiting for things to dry just to do it all over again.

Here is a little before picture. I have a bunch I will upload later from all angles.

They did install this lovely sheet vinyl which was beyond tacky, but my thought after Brent fell in love with the house... "Hey... At least it's new." There's nothing worse than lived on, nasty floors. While it wasn't my preference, I was going to choose to live with it for awhile. That was until a few months later and we had a lovely plumbing leak under the sink that had been going on prior to us moving in and it ruined the subfloor. I was finally able to say "RIP vinyl floor." After this catastrophe and the long hours I spent ripping up subfloor and vinyl, it made me really think hard about the next type of flooring I'd install. Number one criteria: waterproof. I was not about to pick another floor that could ever be ruined by water. So I chose a click together vinyl plank in a gray barn wood look. I haven't regretted my decision since. I installed this flooring by myself in about 5 hours with just a miter saw, hammer, measuring tape and my mom on stand by for emotional support (lol).

I enclosed the backside of the cabinets with beadboard, which tied in the beadboard in the dining room.

I installed crown molding above and below the soffet and painted the soffet white so it blended more with the cabinetry.

I wanted light to be able to pass into the kitchen more, so I frosted glass and framed out the upper peninsula cabinets with tiny trim to hold the glass in place.

There used to be a vent In the peninsula that we removed along with cabinets and installed two pendant lights (which i bought and "returned" multiple times to Lowe's as they continued to mark them down... Final price... $15 each, originally $85). Wine taste on a beer budget, people!

Here you can see how great the kitchen (waterproof!) floors turned out.

If we stay at this house long enough, I may just start all over with this kitchen! And the best part? I can take my flooring up and number it as I go and lay it right back down with a new layout!