The Art of Home ~ a never finished canvas

~ Welcome to our home ~

My friend Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages

{link is at bottom of my post}

 has invited me

to share our home renovations along with hers,

and our mutual love of decorating and whimsy.

So here is a partial tour of our renovations and updates

to this 30+ year old home we purchased last year

~ First the "After" of the exterior ~

New roof, excessive trees removed, new lawn,

larger upper story window with new trim around it

and the dormer windows, and more plants.

This photo shows that larger window up on the left

which my husband took out of the laundry room where he installed a door.

Below is a "before" photo

Good bones, but badly needing a new roof, trees removed so the sparse lawn could get some light,

and those light posts cut down 

Inside, with my husband doing the majority of the work

and me doing the painting, we removed layers of wallpaper,

had the wood floors refinished,

transformed a bedroom into the master bath

and turned the former bathroom into a master closet.

{All to eventually be shown here on the blog}

I painted the large oak built-in bookcases on either side

of the rebuilt fireplace surround and mantle in the great room

in white and gray, and the walls in pale gray.

{these can be seen in an earlier post}

Today I will show the KITCHEN

I fell in love with the kitchen at first sight,

and even more so now after we replaced the formica

countertops with quartz, replaced the worn 30 year old

Wolf range with a new Italian model, installed a new sink

and painted the walls.

I removed 2 layers of wallpaper

{not the funnest job in the world to put it mildly...}

A solid yellow had been applied over the tiny rosebud print

the yellow pulled right off ... but the underneath one was quite a task

Then after painting the walls a pale blue-gray

I painted a mural in the breakfast nook.

I spray painted this vintage chandelier aqua

and got rid of the not so pretty ceiling light

I titled this post the ART of HOME because,

like Anita, I love incorporating my love of art

and fun into my decorating,

we both love white and shabby chic and French decor.

My home has been my canvas this past year,

...my unfinsihed story...

The new Verona range, tile backspash, counters

and wall paint color

With Anita, I share a love of whimsy and

it is evident in every room of our home... here you can see

a shadowbox scene on the counter of an

Audrey Hepburn doll from "Roman Holiday"...

a horse and carriage on the range hood carrying 2 felted mice...

and a sign I made with a saying from Cinderella.

Below, the "Before" and the vintage range we sold on Craigs list.

The counters and tile backsplash were a cream color, although in this photo they look white.

The idea of a Wolf range was exciting, but it was quite worn and the 

kitchen needed a sleeker range.

Another "Before" photo

Here you can see the orangey oak floor, the old sink and rubber surround,

the black range and the black speckled formica island top.

The house came with a year old Sub Zero refrigerator and 2 wall ovens.

Below, as it is now.

We took out the island sink

and made the island a bit longer for seating.

There is another sink on the other side of the kitchen.

eventually there will be a chandelier hanging over the island

Anita and I also share a love of chandeliers, candelabras

faux cakes, and vintage trucks for decor

... The flower lamp was a flea market treasure ...

This is where I sit every morning with my laptop, coffee in hand,

emailing Anita... we correspond daily!

This door heads out to the garage, and is the 2nd sink area.

 

Fun thing about a neutral kitchen in white and gray,

I can change out whatever colors I'm into....  

such as my love of Aqua and Pink!

So, there's our kitchen!

Now, please go and visit Anita,

it is so exciting, her home is featured in

the new Romantic Country magazine,

and is even on the cover!

(and ... one of my paintings is on her mantle!)

Anita and I met through our blogs many years ago

and developed a friendship from our mutual sense of fun,

decor, faith and laughter.

Thank you Anita, for your beautiful friensdhip!!!

________

~ Violet ~