Tile Backsplash

Even though we are miles and miles away from being able to actually install the tile backsplash in the kitchen we've ordered it. We'll need it in our hands soon since we need to make some decisions on the floor tile and it needs to be a perfect match. Also, I couldn't pass up a 15% promo for being one of the first 1000 fans of Modwalls on facebook. For all those facebook haters out there, this just saved us $80. I've also realized that the clock I wanted in the previous post will not match this tile at all. Oh well - I guess I'll keep looking but for now, here is a picture of the tile en route to our house:

Accessories are difficult for me. I"m not a shopper by any sense of the word so decorating is not something I really do. At all. When it comes to this kitchen I've decided that I'm actually going to try, a little bit. I'm using this blog to keep track of things that I like. This morning I came across this clock and I think I like it and I believe I have the perfect place for it on a chunk of wall that can't hold any cabinets. We'll see if it makes it in but for now I'm liking it. It comes courtesy of World Market.

Many ideas have come and gone in my quest to plan this kitchen. I've found that things that I thought I liked before are just "ho hum" now and finishes that I didn't think I liked I'm now being drawn toward. Like this Benson Pendant light from Restoration Hardware for example:

Don't you think it would look great above my future sink? I do. We had initially planned on using a light from schoolhouse electric. However, if I get my way this beauty will be gracing yours truly when I'm scrubbing all those dishes. Er, I mean loading those dishes into the new dishwasher!

Here is an example of the lights I was initially thinking:

We would only need one of course, above the sink. I still love them, but I will do my best to convince Dan that the RH Benson light is the one. I'm guessing, for me to be pursuasive, I'll need to convince Bill (Dan's dad) first because Dan seems to take Bill's lead a lot. Or maybe a trip to Birch Run is in order to simply hit up the RH outlet to (cross your fingers) pick up one on the cheap. So cheap that Dan couldn't possibly say no.

Picking paint colors is another difficult task for me. Our kitchen is small, and we'll be going from a three window kitchen down to a one window kitchen so our natural light will be significanly less. Actually, I don't think we should count one of the existing windows becuase the refridgerator has been sitting in front of it for so long that we don't really get any natural light from it. I can't wait for that bad boy to move into the corner where he belongs. I digress. Paint colors. Since I'm using this blog to keep track of ideas:

Hot Cross Buns - American Tradition
Short Grass Prairie - Valspar

I'm thinking the dining room will need to be repainted so as not to be one-upped by the kitchen. I think she'd look great in Nantuket Gray, Benjamin Moore (HC-111). I can't figure out how to put paint color swatches up but for now the names and maker will have to do.

This weekend Dan and Bill will be doing some light demo and possibly moving a window which will depend on time and weather. I need to take some current pictures before the work begins!

Why a blog

Are you out there? Or is it just me? I've decided to start this blog as a way to keep myself in check regarding our impending kitchen remodel. Can we really call it a remodel if we're tearing down the kitchen in its entirety and starting from scratch? Yes? What about if we have to tear the back of the house off to move or remove a window or three? NO? Either way - this is going to be an "adventure" and I'm hoping this kitchen project doesn't send me to inpatient care at Pine Rest. I also hope that Claire and Jackson still want to go home by the end of this. Claire already picked out the paint color: pink. We'll work on that.

I hope to post pictures along the way to keep us motivated and to serve as a reminder of how far we've come. I often forget. I can be impatient. Its been 5 1/2 years folks. Its time. So - I now enter into the world of blogging, mostly for myself but if there are friends and family that care to follow us through this transformation thats great too!

Here is a picture of a kitchen from Project Rowhouse. I hope to end this blog with a picture of my kitchen looking remarkably similar. Not in layout, but in pretty much everything else. :)

Lets just send up a quick prayer that the final blog post with photos is in my lifetime!