I am a visual person.  When we decided to purchase this house, it was boarded up, uninhabited for years (except for raccoons, from what I hear), and rather, well, scary looking.  I had lots of ideas about how to make the space beautiful and functional, but didn't know how to actually make it happen.

Enter Dave, our contractor.  We chose Dave because he had amazing ideas for our house, appreciates the quirks & architecture of older homes, and was just as brave (probably braver) than us about making the house livable and beautiful again.

When we decided to revamp the kitchen and take down a wall, it was amazing to see what it would look like and how the space would work from a 3D perspective.  Dave & Crystal listened to my ideas, entertained my awful sketches (seriously, they were really terrible), listened to me obsess about what shade of white the cabinets should be ("white with warmth & patina, not cold, sterile white…is this too white? Or is it inviting and cozy? Does this white make you want to curl up with a mug of tea?….").  They compiled it all together and created a gorgeous, functional kitchen.    

Here's the progression of our kitchen, courtesy of Architectural XPressions: 

Some of you have been asking about sources in the kitchen and I have listed them below.  Anyone who knows me knows I love a bargain.  I listed the websites for locating these items, but the site listed is not necessarily where I purchased them from.  While we were renovating, I searched exhaustively  and used my pregnant insomnia powers to find the best deals on these items.  The knobs from RH were found at an outlet for $3; the dishwasher came free (!) with the stove.  The rest, I researched to the ends of the earth and was able to find some clearanced or on major sale.   

Any questions, just holler.

Kitchen Sources

Design: Architectural XPressions, Delafield WI

http://www.archxpressions.com/

Faucet: Tresa by Brizo

http://www.brizo.com/kitchen/collection/tresa.html#/top

Countertops:  Calacutta Maximum porcelain slab by Fiandre via Architectural XPressions

http://www.granitifiandre.com/porcelain-tile/technical-ceramic/marmi-maximum/calacatta-maximum/
*Note on the countertops.  They look like marble, but they're actually a giant slab of porcelain with a digital imprint of marble. It's the look of marble without the etching, the staining or the maintenance!  Miracle product, in my opinion.  This product is going to take off, mark my words.  

Fridge: Viking 

Range & Dishwasher: Thermador

Cabinetry: Mouser 

http://www.mousercc.com/gallery.aspx?grp=okitchen&pg=1&tot=5

Pendants: Visual Comfort Thomas O'Brian Hicks Pendant 

http://www.VISUALCOMFORTLIGHTINGSTORE.COM/product-p/tob5062bz_hab-wg.htm

Sconces: Boston Functional Library Wall Light by Circa Lighting

http://www.circalighting.com/details.aspx?pid=648

Knobs: Restoration Hardware "Duluth" in oil rubbed bronze

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1283026&categoryId=cat1512021

Pulls: Atlas Homewares Distressed Collection

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Atlas-Homewares-Distressed-Collection-Oil-Rubbed-Bronze-5-98-in-Medium-Pull-334-ORB/202543425#

Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Stingray

Trim Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove

China Cabinet: Custom 

Flooring: Original

What's cool about a new home is figuring out the way rooms can function best for you and/or your family.  

Our living room is long and narrow and there was really no good place for a television. That is, except for over the fireplace, but I didn't want to put a tv there.  

So we decided to use one of the bedrooms on the first floor as a tv room.  We don't have any seating in that room other than some rather uncomfortable (but cheap! and pretty!) chairs from Marshalls and some beanbag chairs for the girls.  We've been eyeing sectionals for a couple of months, but we want a sectional that has a pullout sleeper so that the room can double as a guest room.  I've found that sectionals with sleepers are few and far between.  

Here's what I found so far.

Candidate #1:  Axis II from Crate & Barrel

Candidate #2: Collins from La-Z-Boy

Here's the thing.  I love, love the feel and color of the fabric of the Axis.  The sales rep said that it's their best selling sofa and my research online has shown lots and lots of happy customers.  I liked the dimensions and fabric on the floor model, which made it easy for me to see what it would look like in our home.  BUT the cushions on the back of the couch are loose, which means that I will spend my time every day picking them off the floor and arranging them back on the sofa after their girls throw them off.  Also, I've seen photos of people who have had the couch for a couple of years and indeed, the seat cushions and back cushions look pretty slouchy.  A bit too much slouch for my taste.  

The Collins isn't as comfortable to sink into as the Axis, but that's likely because the cushions aren't as relaxed.  I like that the back cushions are attached to the couch, but not too tightly.  The mattress comes in either a memory foam or air cushion option (both are the same price) and the mattress is more comfortable than the Axis.  La-Z-Boy had lots of fabric options to choose from, but none of them felt as velvety-awesome as the Axis.  Also, the floor model shown is just the sofa, which makes it hard to visualize what the couch would look like as a sectional in a non-corduroy fabric of a different color.  

I was able to find one review on the Collins from Melissa at The Inspired Room.  The fabric she ordered it in is no longer available, unfortunately.  

The Axis is stocked in the fabric I want and would arrive in a week after I order it.  The Collins would take 8-10 weeks for delivery.  I really want to move ahead and make a decision, but both cost a healthy chunk of change and I want to get this right so I'm going to keep looking for other comparisons.  I saw this online, but don't know where I could see it in person.

Does anyone know of other options or have some input on these sectionals? 

As I am sure most of the country knows, we in Wisconsin are experiencing a polar vortex.  I saw someone post on Facebook that it was colder in Wisconsin than in the South Pole or Antartica.  Our pipes in our upstairs bathroom are frozen, and the bathtub won't even drain.  

Needless to say, my kiddos have been out of school due to the cold.  So what have I been doing in this weather (besides picking up their endless piles of construction paper)?  Well, it's too cold to go outside, but LUCKILY I have access to the finest restaurant in Milwaukee.  It's so exclusive that your name has to be on "the list" to get in.  

Luckily for me, I was on the list that day. And the menu serves locally sourced food.

I am not a foodie, so I didn't order the snacka.  I do recommend the "derzerts" and "other stuff like that".  Very decadent.  And served with very chic sippy cups.  

It's been a nice couple of days to hunker down at home and eat soup and drink coffee but I am certainly ready to get out of the house and get back to society again and do exciting things like look for sectionals and get groceries.  

Go away, polar vortex.  Go away.

Today, I was looking through the photos from before the remodel began, and wow…it really was ugly.  Perhaps people were right: I was insane to buy a house in this condition.  But it sure turned out pretty.  

So here's a walk down memory lane.

February

April

May

June

August

We did a quick paint job before moving in.

This is the kitchen we moved into. I think the two-by-fours holding up the countertop channel that rustic modern look, don't you think?

October

The countertops came.  And broke.  And were replaced with a different substrate underneath and now elicit awe from passersby. Well, maybe not, but I like them.  A lot. 

December

We're still awaiting the glass shelves for the china cabinet, but other that that it's done. Except for the paint touch-up, window sanding.....

We love it.  And it's certainly the place where people congregate, which is just what I'd hoped for.