Itchin' for a new kitchen

What a day! Many of my clients cancelled or didn't show, so I got a lot of paperwork done today. You would think that since I am in the helping profession that my job would be mostly talking to people, but a good 50% of it or more is paperwork, so when people don't show up, then I got a lot of time to work on catching up on files.



Well that fun didn't last. I was the last one to leave the building, and when I got out to my van, it wouldn't start. The engine light went on last week, but I hadn't taken the time to contact a repair shop. This kind of decided it for me. I called Triple A, and within a half hour, had a tow truck there. Tomorrow I'll find out what is wrong with it and find out how much it will cost to repair. I live in dread. I am so glad I just renewed my AAA membership! I get my money's worth every year. Anyhow, when I arrived home sans mini-van, I had a nice suprise in my mailbox!



Nice fat, soft package! My eBay winnings were here! Wonder what's in there?
Valances for my kitchen! I love the Waverly Norfolk rose pattern. It's so country or shabby chic, and I love roses. There was an extra bit of red checkered material in there. I think I am going to cut it up and refabricate it to be long curtains to put in the little window on the door leading to the garage.
These are the current valances that I am going to replace. I don't hate the current ones, I just don't love them.
Ever since I moved here, I have wanted to re-do the kitchen. I don't have a lot of funds, but I can do things like painting. Below is my inspiration kitchen from berley_joy on Rate My Space. This is a picture of her dining room. What I like is that her table is very similar to mine, and I think the room is cute as can be. This is something that is doable in my kitchen. I love the green and found the exact color at Menards. Don't you just love all the touches of red and the creamy white furniture? I already have the chair covers.
Here is what my kitchen looks like now. Again, I don't hate it, I just don't love it. The green wallpaper is just too dark, and I find that I am always having to turn the lights on even during the day. I would like to lighten things up a bit! I don't even want to talk about the linoleum on the floors. I need some laminated wood floors in a pecan stain. Oh, and I used to have four lovely matching ladderback chairs. Now I am down to two. Let's just say that TEENAGE BOYS happened to them! Grrr!

I haven't decided if I am going to take down the border. I kind of like it, then some days, not so much. The sayings on it are pretty sweet. "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always gives," and "The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." Awww!
My dream is to paint the cabinets a creamy white. I love a clean country look in a kitchen. I think that a glaze over the top to antique them up a bit would be cute. The cabinets are pretty sturdy even though they were installed in the 1960s. I could do a lot to improve the looks of them.

I love these black knobs.
And these black drawer pulls. Maybe if I buy one of each every pay day, by fall I will have enough for the kitchen!

You don't even want to know what my counters look like. They are white with gold flecks in them...something straight out of the 60s. I have read about painting old countertops and may give this a try.

I don't know when I'll be able to get around to all of this, but I'm sure having fun dreaming about it! I've lived here a year and there are so many things I want to do, but for now, it will be just one thing at a time.