Moved in - before and after edition

I know that times flies but I had no idea that almost a month has passed since I last posted. I haven't done much crafty stuff in that time - a little knitting and cross stitch but I haven't turned on my sewing machine at all. And why this dry spell? Well I finally got moved into my new place.

Would you like to see some pictures? Oh I hoped you would. First let's step back in time and view the kitchen in its original 1953 condition with a mid-70's update.

A dearth of cabinets and counter space...

Refrigerator and stove crammed next to each other with one tiny inaccessible cabinet above...

New kitchen same view as first picture...more cabinets, a dishwasher and counter space..

turning your view to the right...what was a open space of nothing is now a 12' solid surface counter with TONS of cabinets and drawers...

and pivoting again to your right...stove, microwave and more cabinets...

and a final turn to complete the tour... the space where the refrigerator and stove were crammed together... new fridge and TONS of pantry cabinets with pull out shelves

Now the decorating isn't complete but you can get the picture. I waiting for special order mini blinds and I going to jazz up the tops of the cabinets with more chickens and greenery and those giant utensils on the counter are going to get hung over the doorways. I'm very happy with the tile floors and the ceiling fan. It isn't a big space - about 10' X 12' - but we certainly packed a lot into it. My contractor has also been working on another kitchen remodel this summer - a BIG budget project in the neighborhood of $50K - he and his crew have all remarked that I have more storage in my little kitchen than was in the big budget remodel and from the pictures he showed me, I agree. All the cabinetry is from IKEA. The style is called Adel. There are so many great built in features. Quiet close doors and drawers... and oh how I love the drawers... very deep, lots of space. The corner cabinets have these pull out lazy susan racks that let you access everything with ease. The kitchen staff at IKEA have some amazing computer programs that help you design your layout and see what it will look like in 3D - very cool.

So this is one room of my new house. In the next couple of days I'll show you other spaces. I know you want to see my sewing studio but that is the one space that isn't finished yet... insert frowny face. The laminate floor has turned into quite a production as it got wet twice (both accidents) and taking it up and putting it back down isn't easy. But that said, the rest of it is looking wonderful. There is tons of light - we put in 6 fluorescent fixtures and additional fixtures too. My bank of IKEA book shelves in the black brown color really display my fabric nicely. There is still a mountain of stuff to sort and put away and I'm chipping away a little each day. So until that task in complete there won't be much craftiness but there will be plenty of decorating. I have a drill and I'm not afraid to use it... off to hang some pictures!

Happy stitching-
carol fun