What top cabinets?

So, with a kitchen this large I wondered if we could do without top cabinets.  Its all the rage now, I understand.  

Here is a picture of the cabinets in place and with the bar still intact See Removing of the bar for that project.  

With top cabinets

We shook, yanked, and pulled on those cabinets for an hour.

One side down, now for the other

This side was a &*##@, they had to come down connected to the each other.  If you were there when I took the picture, you'd hear us calling those cabinets every horrible curse word in the book, and lots of exhausted breath catching.  

They had to come down together.


And now.....
What cabinets?

What cabinets?

Before removing these cabinets I had the brilliant idea of using them in the butlers pantry <pictures of that coming soon> but all you have to do is flip it over and build up the counter-top or build a box for them to sit on to get them to counter-top height.
By flipping them, the handles are now off the floor and nearer the counter-top, plus inside the shelves are now flipped over and look nice and new with the bowing changed.
The picture below gives you an idea of the cabinet flipped, but you are going to have to wait to see where I used them.  

What bar?

Although the idea of this bar was a good one for the former owners, it was not good for us.  The kitchen side was rough sawed lumber and plywood scraps.  No doors or proper storage at all.  The front was outdoor paneling.  It also sucked up all the light from the two bright windows in the dining room.  

I knew it had been installed to hide something, as the floors in the rest of the home are wood.  The kitchen floor is concrete and obviously they'd not gotten around to removing everything and building up that floor to match the others.  

Sure enough, a 1 1/2 inch step.  

It is what it is.  A different flooring design between the kitchen and dining room should save my drunken tripping expected in the future.  

Bar from the dining room looking into the kitchen

From the dining room looking into the kitchen and almost down

What bar?

Paint color "Grey Tweed" by Glidden

The paint just before pouring

This color was bought on a whim.  I liked it in Home Depot, and so did hubby, so we stupidly <or not> bought 5 gallons.  

After getting it to the house, I painted a splash on different walls of rooms I was intending to use, but I just wasn't feeling the color.  

FIVE GALLONS!

In the foyer

In the dining room

In the formal living room

I had to use it somewhere.  Originally, I considered painting the floors a dark brown, but after trying it in a corner of Kyle's room, I knew it would be the floor color and TA-DA I had plenty of it for all the original wood floors in the home. 

In Kyle's bedroom

In Derrick's bedroom

Coming soon, another bedroom and the hallway!

The Shortline Mansion

Here it is.  

My newest endeavor.

Let me introduce you to The Shortline Mansion.

I named it the Shortline because it sits right next to the railroad tracks, and the Shortline is from the Monopoly Game.

But honestly, its because there is a very short line between any level spot in this home.  Nothing is plumb.  

It is what it is, and I love it.

The Shortline Mansion

Train goes by

Just a sample of how loud it is on the front porch.  

Then.... Peacefulness again.

MudandSand MudandSand MudandSand

Painting floors to the tune of Cleaning Windows by VantheMan

CLICK TO LISTEN Van Morrison "Cleaning Windows"

Kyle's room

Kyle's room

Kyle's room, finished

Looking into Kyle's room

Kyle's room showing the kicked in white door

Storm rolling in

I was lucky enough to be at the house when a lovely summer storm rolled in.  Even got a wee video of it!

Rolling clouds

Skies just about to open up

My first ever blog video.

Wish you could smell that freshly dampened earth smell that is so strong when you have a dry August and it finally pours.   

We needed this rain in a bad sorta way.

Paint and light

In the dining room corner

In front bedroom or formal living room

In foyer <originally intended> 
Its grey Clyde!  Dark Grey!

Laundry area re-think

Kitchen cabinets before and after a scrub..

Man, these were dirty.  

Pay no attention <please> to the counter tops.  

They will be replaced with something much more easy to maintain. Cracked and broken tile is not very sanitary in any kitchen setting.  

Before

Next to the stove.  GROSS!

  After

After.  Soooo much cleaner and Kathy friendly 

Bathroom sink before and after a scrub.

It just amazes me what a little elbow grease and some simple green will do for a dirty bathroom sink.  I mighta thought that faucet was done for.  After 15 minutes, it looked fresh and almost new.