Moving Along

I did some more work over the weekend on my kitchen cabinets and stove.  I also threw up some accessories around the kitchen (i.e.  boards on the wall and wallpaper) but I'm not sure how all that is going to come together.  I just wanted to give the photos a "homey" context.  :)

Everything is constructed from balsa or bass wood and matboard.  The drawer pulls are seed beads with straight pins attaching them and the sink fixtures are more jewelry findings and some picture hanging wire, painted black.  The drain in the sink is an old rivet I found in my stash of stuff.  The knobs on the oven are adhesive little "rhinestone" thingies from Michaels. I made the oven clock-control panel in Photoshop and printed it out on glossy paper.

My work is far from perfect.  My measuring leaves LOTS to be desired but for my first major construction project, I'm pleased and looking forward to getting better. This is just so much fun!

I'm planning to put a window above the sink so stay tuned . . . thank you for coming by.

Sneak Preview

antiqued cabinets in progress -- with a black soapstone sink

I wanted to share a little more of what I've been working on.  I am just feeling my way around, so I don't have early progress shots.  In fact I will work on something, glue it, then realize I shouldn't have glued it yet, pull it apart and do what else I need to do.  This is all a learning process, but it's so much fun.  :)

another shot with the counter in place

I must say, I was very overwhelmed by the large empty space that is to be the kitchen.  So it's taken me a long time to get motivated, but I knew that if I could just start, I'd be ok.  I began by looking at reference photos of real kitchens.  But even that was overwhelming!  There are so many beautiful ones in so many different styles and colors -- so much to choose from.  Oh boy.  So while I'm not completely sure how all my rooms are going to flow together, I'm having fun and just creating.  I figure this is my "learning house."  

On a slightly different note, I want to share with you the generous and thoughtful gift a fellow watercolorist blogger/friend sent me yesterday.  How sweet is this!?  The book is full of beautiful photos and I'm so excited.  Thank you, Carrie Waller!  (Carrie is an award-winning watercolorist and if you are interested in seeing her work, visit www.carriewaller.blogspot.com.)

Kitchen Cupboard

So I've been working on my kitchen, and repainted an unfinished hutch I purchased years ago from Michaels. Originally, I painted it a barn-red color but it came out cheesy. It sat in my stash for years until I more recently, took it apart, separating the top portion from the bottom. The color was still awful, so in my search for kitchen design inspiration, I came across the photo below of a real kitchen. I like the color scheme and saw that my torn-apart hutch was similar to their wall cabinet. I'm still playing with colors -- and building my counters. I truly am such a novice at building that I'm a little hesitant to take photos of my process as of yet. I make so many mistakes and have so many redo's that it would be confusing to document. The only value you could possibly get is that: if you too are a novice, have hope that by plugging along, making mistakes, taking risks and starting over when needed, you will learn a lot and eventually get to where you are going.  :) Progress has been slow, but I'll soon have some more photos to share. Even with all the starts and stops, I am having lots of fun! Thank you for stopping in.

AT HOME Magazine
July/Aug - 2008