Another phase in the kitchen re-do...

Hello there,
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!
I was hoping to get this post out on Sunday night, but we were blessed with a nice chilly evening, and so, after a day spent in the garden, we decided to drag the fire pit out and chill with a cuppa on the patio. The evening would have suited a nice Rioja perfectly, but, as it was a school night, tea had to suffice.
Anyhoo, before our impromptu garden campfire, I grabbed a few minutes away from the kiddies to take some shots of the kitchen.

Now, I have to say, I felt a bit silly taking pictures of our run-down, haphazard kitchen... I mean, yes, it has just had a lick of paint, but it's hardly Homes and Gardens... I spend an inordinate amount of time drooling over lip-smackingly gorgeous kitchens (you should see the stack of my well-thumbed issues of Country Living and the likes), and so, when faced with my kitchen through the lens, I saw it with a critical eye, and it appeared exactly what is was: a tiny, old kitchen with a new paint job and a lot of stuff packed in!

Now, I'm not going to downplay my own personal pleasure as to what I have achieved. As for me, it was a pain-staking job... I did the prep-work and painted between the hours of 8pm until 11pm most weeknights. I asked a contractor friend for tips and the best way to complete this daunting task, and I followed his advice to the letter...

... and I am ecstatic with the finish. To be honest, I don't think I could have paid and gotten better...

...but, I imagine for many out there, you look at this little space and say, 'Now, there's a place in need of an update' and you'd be right... but we all have to make the best of what we've got!
So, the cabinets are still old, but have now been refreshed and given a new lease on life. My kitchen is still tiny, but the bright colour opens it up....

I used to refer this room as Dracula's Coffin, because of the red walls and overbearing wood... The picture below makes it look much nicer than it actually was (and even this looks bad...)

Picture from original house specification.

But, now, the macabre look has all but gone... and replaced by a much lighter cottage kitchen... not one worthy of Country Living, granted, but for me, the difference is immense...

Picture from original house specification.

We've still a way to go... the counter tops have yet to be replaced with butcher block...

... all the appliances need replacing...

... I dream of a farmhouse sink some day... subway tile back-splash...

... new light fittings... Oh, and a new ceiling...

... and much, much more.

But for now, I'll take it... I'm happy... happy to have finished painting. Happy to have a space I want to spend time in!

If you would like to read some more kitchen posts, check out why red features so heavily here or read about my conundrum with distressing chairs here!
Take care all and thanks for popping by.
Lx

Shared with Sarah at A Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesday

Friday Flower and a sneak peek...

I told you I'd be back and, as it's Friday, I just had to post a Friday Flower. While on blogging hiatus, I had stopped my weekly tradition of bringing blooms into our home and, I have to say, there was definitely some sparkle missing around this old place.

The garden is in a transition phase at the moment, as the spring flowers give way to the showy blooms of summer. Even though their petals are tightly-wrapped, I know it's only a matter of a week or so before my hydrangeas display all their beauty... and, let me tell you, I have quite a number of hydrangeas packed into my little garden, so I'm itching to see them in all their glory! Most were picked up and planted at the end of last summer... taking full advantage of the end of season sales. It's always touch-and-go when I do this each year, as I hope that they have established themselves before the onslaught of winter... but, hey, enough of this talk of winter... It's June, the sun is shining, the sandals are on, and the freezer is stacked with juice pops!

Anyhoo, while I patiently await the hydrangea arrival, I popped to the supermarket for this week's Friday Flower and picked up these... not from my garden, but beautiful all the same... I just love the delicate shade of pink (yep, the girls picked the flowers this week)...
... and, this week, my flower is dedicated to all you lovelies... Thank you so much for sticking with me while I've been away and a B-I-G thank you to all my new followers. You guys jumped on board during the lean times, and that just warms my heart. I hope to keep you with me... I so enjoy this little tete-a-tete we have....

Oh, and next week, I'll be showing you the old kitchen cabinets... that's them, there in the background... want a closer look? Check back next week!
Take care all and have a great weekend!
Lx

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Painting, planning & flowers...

Hi there...
Just popping in to show you the fruits of my labour, what I've got planned (for the next month... urgh), and to share my Friday Flower.

I had very good intentions this week, but I started it feeling sluggish and pretty much stuck with that feeling all week... I attempted to get something together for a mid-week post by whipping something up in the kitchen... but, then, I absentmindedly dished it up, and it was eaten before any photos were taken... it was delicious, so it gives me an excuse to make it again, and share it with all you lovelies at some point in the near future...

A selection of the doors... ohh, there are more...

Kitchen update:  I did manage to undercoat the kitchen cabinets, but that's about it... it takes soooo long... I foolishly thought it was a weekend job..... nooooo... Anyhoo, a painter friend gave them the thumbs-up... he did the whole, looking at them in daylight, an inch from his nose (as though expecting a diamond), and declared them top notch! I have every intention of giving them a top coat this weekend. I even drew up this little time plan (lets see if I stick to it)...

... it's right over the kitchen sink (which I am chained to), so there's no excuses for not 'getting with the program'...

Anyhoo, as it's Friday I dutifully popped out in the torrential rain to pick up this week's Friday Flower... and, let me tell you, I'm sat here writing this tonight while it's raining cats and dogs and blowing a hooey outside... we're praying that all of the work done in the basement this past Fall will help us to not flood (prior to this, we would have had water to the top of our welly boots)... So, keep your fingers crossed for us... my dad said we should just invest in a dinghy...

... sorry to digress... Friday Flower... yes... My Friday flower is dedicated to the writer of the blog Bibbity-Bob... I have two daughters under 5, and so, hear 'bippity-bob' a lot in my house...well, actually, my  youngest says 'zippity bar-bra'... nevertheless, it's a cool blog name (Bibbity-bob, not Zippity-bar-bra), and, you know what? It's a cool blog... she features crafts, home renovations, and (my favourite posts) eye candy and retail therapy from stores in Blighty... shops I so wish I could shop at... Pop over to her blog this weekend. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Anyways, I've kept you long enough (because I've missed chatting to you so much)... off you trot, have a super weekend and I'll catch you next week!
Lx

If you would like to join in with this week's Friday Flower, simply use the linky widget below to link to your flower post (new or old)... It's blooming marvelous! 

Egg custards, tea & a good old chin wag...

Hello there... yes, I'm still here... just!
So, I would love to report that the kitchen cabinets have been painted, hung, and dutifully adored, but, alas, I am a fickle girl... easily tempted by the beautiful Spring sunshine and the promise of warmer days... So, instead of painting this past weekend (as intended), I went for a bike ride... and it was lovely... so no apologies! The kitchen update at this point in time is they are all cleaned, sanded, and eagerly awaiting that first lick of paint... that, and the new kitchen dresser I procured the other day... Did I not mention that??

Picture taken from Craigslist

'It needs a lot of TLC, but I think it will fit in like a charm in my little kitchen'... These were the exact words I used to the hubby, as he rolled his eyes at the prospect of me taking on yet another project... Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the prints on the front will be going... Watch this space to see it transformed into something spectacular (cough, cough)...

Anyhoo, this week has entailed sanding kitchen cabinets, doctors visits, trailing across the Jersey Shore in search of the kitchen dresser, parents' evening at my eldest daughter's school, the usual Mummy duties, and a much needed cup of tea and natter with my ex-Pat chum...

She'd just been home to Blighty, and so, I needed filling in as to what is happening in my beloved home country... Are the shops all decked out for Spring and the Royal Wedding? What food did she eat? What was on the telly? Did she get the current issue of Country Living?? I bathed in her English experiences, hoping that, somehow, they would rub off on me... and, as I can't go to see a friend empty-handed, I also whipped up a batch of Egg Custards to go with the tea, and to help us pretend that we were having a good old chin-wag back in Blighty...

Egg Custards were one of my favourite desserts back home (England), but I've not been able to get them here in the States. So, my mum passed me the recipe, and, really, I don't know why I never made them in the past... they're so easy! As I'm super busy at the mo', I did cheat and buy the ready-made Graham Cracker cases (instead of making my own pastry) and, I have to say, they were quite yummy... I guess they were a little Americanised... just like me!
Take care all... I'm off to paint, sew, check Craigslist or something...
 Lx

 A Cheat's Egg Custard Tarts

Ingredients

2 Eggs

250ml milk

2 tablespoons of sugar (vanilla sugar if you have it)

grated nutmeg

6 small tart cases

Method

Preheat oven to 350F (180c)
To prepare the custard filling, whisk eggs separately, and bring the milk and sugar to the boil in a pan. Pour milk mixture onto the eggs and cool.
Pour the custard mixture into the tart cases and grate nutmeg on top over the tarts.
Pop the tarts in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the tarts have set.

I cheated and brought Graham Cracker cases (which were delicious), but if you're wanting a traditional Custard Tart, then follow the recipe above using shortcrust pastry tart cases.

Daffs for Dad...

Spring is in the air... granted, here in the Northeast, it's still pretty chilly, but Spring is definitely brewing... I can finally see grass... brown instead of green, but no snow... bulbs are starting to push through the ground and buds are forming on the trees... the days are getting longer and the birds are getting busy.

It's only a matter of time before my attention turns to the great outdoors and all my indoor projects go on the back burner... So, before Spring fever takes a hold of me, I decided to start painting the kitchen cabinets... I've taken them all down and removed the hardware, and so, I am now committed to the task ahead... it's going to be a long and arduous one, but it has to be done... Wish me luck, chaps!

Anyhoo, before I get elbow-deep in paint, I thought I'd just pop in to let you know why I'm not posting as frequently, and, also, to share my Friday Flower.

Daffodils... the epitome of Spring... This week, my flower is dedicated to my Dad, as this past Thursday was his birthday. I won't go into details, but his story is an amazing one of survival against the odds... Each year that we celebrate his birthday, I always say, 'you've made it to see the daffodils for another year'... You did it again Dad! Love you!
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy weekend!
Take care.
Lx

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