Monthly Archives: March 2012

One

Posted in Velvet Toolbox by

One

One year ago today, I published my very first velvet toolbox post.  So much has happened in the last year – sold my loft, decorated my neice and nephew’s guest bedroom at my parents’, moved into a full-on 4-bedroom house deep into the burbs,  quasi-gutted the entire main floor of said house, and renovated a kitchen.

I’m so excited to begin another year with you, sharing all of our reno and decoration adventures to come.  And I’m so thankful to all of you who read and contribute to this blog.  Your comments and feedback have encouraged me to continue writing and scouting for more beautiful things to share with you.  If it weren’t for all of you I’d be talking to myself, so thanks for not making me look like a nutter.

Happy Birthday, velvet!

Such a tease

Posted in Our Home by

Oh hello.

You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?  You want to see our new kitchen, right?  Well, the torturer in me will only let you sneak a peek.  You see, the kitchen is not completely done yet.  The floors and cabinets are in, but we’re still putting the final touches in preparation for the big reveal.  Lighting, backsplash, paint touch ups, countertops, sink and faucet are still on our to do list for the coming weeks.

The kitchen cabinet installation took 4 full days.  Having zero experience in kitchen cabinetry, we left this job to the experts.  Quite glad that we planned it this way, because every muscle in our bodies hurt from last weekend’s mad rush to install the floors and paint – I doubt we would have had the patience or energy for more work.

This weekend was the most exciting of all.  I was actually able to get rid of boxes, people!  The dishes are actually in real cabinets!!!  We have a functioning dishwasher, fridge and stove!  I can now showcase my fancy dishes!!!  I was doing the chicken dance all weekend, btw.  That’s how happy I was.

So…without further adue (I’m sure you’ve already scrolled down to see the pics because you’re too excited, but an intro is in order nonetheless), voila – a taste of the Davises’ kitchen!

Kitchen Island
Kitchen Island drawers
Brass handles
Paneled Fridge with brass handles
Glass cabinet hutch
Kitchen cabinet shelving
Paper straw collection

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Posted in Our Home by

Adam, post sanding

It’s been pretty mild out these days, but Adam and I have been living in a whole other kind of snow.

Our kitchen cabinets are getting installed on March 19th, so it’s been a mad dash to the finish line for the last few weeks.  In short, gyprock is up, and we’re putting the final coats of mud on the walls.

The biggest lesson from the last few weeks?  Make sure the gyprock is level throughout.  If you think that using mud to fix the small level differences is ok, think again.  I think we’re on our 5th coat of mud right now, lol.  In the end, I think we’ll manage to straighten out the kinks in the ceiling, but it’s been a LONG process.  Mud, dry, sand.  Mud, dry, sand. Mud, dry, sand.  Mud, dry, sand – you get the picture.

So, we have less than 10 days before the kitchen cabinets arrive.  To finish:  final mudding/sanding, prime, paint, and install hardwood floors.  Less critical items which will most likely happen after the cabinets:  installing lighting & outlet covers, and molding around the window and patio door.

Wish us luck, cuz we need it!

Kitchen Gyprock Ceiling

Kitchen Gyprock Completed Ceiling

Kitchen Gyprock walls

Surprise! It's almost a kitchen!

Kitchen, after 2 coats of mud

Kitchen Mudding sink wall

Kitchen Mudding Pantry Area