Project Progress: Kitchen Update Week 1

I get sort of crazy about projects. Maybe you don't realize it, but when I get something in my brain, I cannot let it go. I don't hear people talking to me. I lie in bed at night thinking obsessive thoughts. I will bargain hunt until I have migraines from the cacophony of smells at yard sales and thrift stores. I make sketches and draw diagrams with newly sharpened pencils. I am a serious project person.

My newest project? My kitchen. I've gone completely laser focused on updating it and making it a totally cute, vintage inspired, fun, funky with a modern twist place to hang out. You know, in case I ever deign to make dinner and have to spend more than 10 minutes in the place. You might want to move aside. Wouldn't want to lose any fingers to my laser vision.

This is what the kitchen looked like when we moved in:

I'm sure this is going to be a huge transformation, even if a lot of the basics are staying the same.

So, do date, I've already updated the countertops, and I have a kitchen table, thanks to David's efforts. I have a fairly long list of things I want to do in this room, and I pretty much have no money to do it with. I mean, I have a little bit, but not a huge budget, probably less than $500. Ummm, I should probably firm that up with the husband, now that I think about it. I painted the walls a yellowish green. It's Spanish Olive by Glidden if you're interested in the specifics. Then I hung my kitchen message center.

Anyway, after the painting was done, getting some shelves up was a high priority. We used these fabulous plans from Ana at Knock Off Wood via Young House Love. If you don't already read those blogs, you are seriously missing out. David pretty much already knew how to do it, so we didn't use the plans too much, but it was looking at them that firmed up my plans for shelves in the kitchen.

We spent less than $30 on materials, and they are seven feet long and eight inches deep. Yep, I said seven feet long. We also had enough left over to make two 24" shelves that are in our master bathroom.

I did a lot (most?) of the work. I made all the cuts myself, David nailed the frames together, then I sanded, puttied and painted for hours to get them looking like this. They were a bit of a pain to hang, but we did it. I wanted them really high for two reasons: 1. to keep small children from reaching all my precious breakables (all from my Grandma Jensen, thrift store finds or art I made myself), and 2. so I could hang a gallery style art display underneath them.

Isn't Maxton so cute? He's reading his homework assignment. It's really meant for the parents, but he doesn't know that. Reading apparently requires a furrowed brow and pursed lips. And some serious bed-head.

I haven't finished dressing the shelves yet. I've basically been sticking anything I want in the kitchen up on the shelves. I'm planning on arranging things a little bit better once I have some art hanging beneath them, all of which I'm designing myself. See what I mean about obsessed?