Here I go! I have thought about starting some kind of blog but never quite knew what direction I should take and now I am on a mission. We have decided to remodel our kitchen and so many of my friends and family are just as excited for me as I am that I thought it was a perfect time to start.

Here is a little background. My house is the house I grew up in.  After my parents both passed away, Lloyd and I bought the house. We have a 50’s ranch with about 1100 square feet. I have a 12 x 9 kitchen that for many on by block back in the day served families of 6, 7 and even 10 people! It is really hard to fathom how people did it back then. When we moved in back in 1996 I thought I died and went to heaven, with the exception of the electric range. The kitchen was remodeled by my father around 1990 for the second time.  He was the KING of projects and made those projects look easy. He took pride in finding a way to do it easier and cheaper. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do and anything he could not fix. It has taken me over 15 years to decide that it is ok to do it all over again.

When you finally decide to take the plunge, there are so many decisions to make.  All of a sudden those pictures you have in your mind from the countless TV remodel shows you have watched for years are swimming in your head, and what you thought you liked is no longer an option. One thing that is non-negotiable is a gas range.

Cabinets, countertops, floors and the backsplash are on your mind 24/7. Do you have any idea how many sites are on the web with suggestions? Way too many!

I had to tell myself STOP.  You don’t have a huge room, you don’t have room for that island or peninsula or anything else that most of those TV kitchens get, so we need to get real.

Here is the before and soon I will post some of my ideas for the after.

This is the counter top repair. I blistered it with a hot pot about 14 years ago. We just happened to have extra Formica in the basement and Lloyd was able to put that piece in after I totally destroyed it.  Did I mention that I am excited to get a gas stove?

Like the red microwave? I don't, but it was free and when mine broke and it fit in the shelf.

This floor actually looks better in this picture than is does in person!

This bar was a DIY project that served it's purpose but I won't miss it!