Happy Halloween!

Now We're Cookin'

Two years ago my kitchen looked like this.



And this.



Today, it looks like this.







It has taken a lot of time, creativity, and elbow grease to finish our kitchen on a grad school budget but we're finally done!!! (Minus a few colorful accessories... I can't decide if I want to do my accents in red or yellow...)

Anyway, here's what we did:

Built and island using MDF (in the garage), painted it black and added Ikea hardware. (About $100 for materials. Garrit borrowed the tools he needed from his dad. Thanks Blair!)

Replaced the sub floor and vinyl floor with Ikea Tundra laminate. (Around $400 for the sub floor and laminate in the kitchen and dining room.)

Painted the cabinets white, then black, and replaced the hardware. (I found the cabinet in the as-is section at Ikea... so we only paid about $25 for those. We had to pay like $65 for the hinges on ebay because the big box stores didn't have the right ones. Paint and supplies... $20)

Replaced all the counter tops with Ikea butcher block and stained and sealed them to match the floor. (Around $300 for the counters, stain, and sealant.)

Installed recessed lighting (thanks Danny and Garrit!) to brighten things up. (Around $85)

Installed a new subway tile back splash for about $85. (Thanks Casey!)

It's a good thing we're finished because our little chef was getting antsy.



Ahhh. Much better.

Life With Two

Me: "Okay Drew, I'm going upstairs for a second. What are you going to do while I'm gone?"

Drew: (Poised on the couch, ready to pounce) "I'm going to jump on the baby while you are gone."

Don't worry. I'm still downstairs.

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