Floor Tile

I realized that there was some luxury to the green linoleum.  I didn't mop it, ever.  I mean, I did once or twice, but soon realized that it never looked clean.  With a new kitchen I'd have to start cleaning it!  Ugh.  So, with two dogs and a cat, I knew I'd have to get something that hides dirt.  I chose this tile from Home Depot.  They sold a very similar tile at Lowes too.  I was able to get Home Depot to price match, and beat the Lowe's price by 10%.  So, it was a no brainer.  The color is "biltmore grey." 

Stone Backsplash

I saw this backsplash at Home Depot the other day.  What do you think about this?  I like that it is neutral so we could go with any color walls and accessories.  Although, it may be a little too bland.  Funny enough I didn't like the tile before seeing it grouted.  I wonder why any company wouldn't display the tile grouted.  I find it odd.

Subway Tile

So, I've been searching for the right back-splash for our new kitchen.  Well, I fell in love with subway tile.  White will be too much of a stark contrast to the wood color cabinets we've chosen.  If we were going with white cabinets, I think it would be great to have white subway tiles, and grey colored walls.  We're not though, as my boyfriend has chosen long ago to go with Ikea's Adel Medium Brown Cabinets.

I then fell in love with green subway tile.  Funny enough, because I thought we were trying to get rid of the "green" kitchen.  I'm still having trouble convincing the man of the house with green.  He says it's too trendy.

I love this though:

Antique Moss Glass Subway Tile.  Shown in 3x6, and then 1x2 mosiac.

What's a remuddle, you ask?

You've seen them around, a house painted all black, an awkward deck added to the front of the house, or a load bearing wall removed to "open" the house up.


What are some remuddles you've seen recently?

This should be illegal.

This poor, poor house.

Front door looks like a back door.

Kitchen Remodel - It isn't easy being green

My boyfriend is the proud owner of his 1930s bungalow.  It is the perfect sized home (about 1500 sq feet), and equipped with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and a wonderful "green" kitchen.  Not exactly the green we want.  We're talking green countertops, green floors, and we found green wallpaper that had been painted over.

Kitchen Faucet

For our kitchen remodel I've been looking for the perfect kitchen faucet.  I had never realized how many choices you have and how expensive they get!  Most faucets I loved were more than the brand new dishwasher we purchased.  Finally, after many lunch hours spent searching and researching, I finally went to Lowes and found the faucet of my dreams.  I did make a check online to see if I could find it anywhere else cheaper.  $250 wasn't exactly what I had in mind to spend, since the dishwasher was $525.  However, we saved in the countertop and flooring budget, so we had a little splurge room. 
This little beauty from Moen is called the "Boutique."  It has a pull down faucet spray head and came with the soap dispenser.  That was a biggie because some brands do not include the soap dispenser, then want to charge another couple hundred bucks for it.  Ouch!  I was able to find a coupon to Home Depot for 10% off, that Lowes honored at their store.  So, I was able to get it for a whopping $225.

Snow

Well, the snow storm today was actually a dusting.  So, I thought it would be nice to post pictures from the last real big snow storm.

Doesn't she look so majestic?

Mudroom

So, I really don't have a mudroom, but this is the landing that you walk into to enter the house from the rear.
I really wanted something to match the blue paint, and yet still hide dirt.  I chose a darker grout, which I think looks really sharp.

What do you think about my first tile job?

When I moved into this house, someone had tiled and laminated the landing and steps.  So, when I pulled that up, the steps were coming with it.  So, I had a stair company down the street custom make a new staircase for the rear entry.  I received them unfinished, and had to find someone to install them myself, but overall I was very happy with them, and the price.  It ended up costing about $700, but I chose higher quality wood, and because of the odd shape of the entry, I had to have them made custom.

I painted the trim white to match the rest of the house.  The steps I stained to match the kitchen floors.  The kitchen is just on the other side of that door.

Paint Paint Paint!

Painting is a common DIY job.  However, it can be filled with stress.  Matter of fact, soon after I moved in with my boyfriend, he said I could paint the walls any color I wanted.  When we got to the paint swatches, he changed his tune.  Color is hard to visualize in a space when all you have is a couple square inches of a color in a brightly lit store.  Get it home and on the walls, and it can go from "love it!" to "what was I thinking?" really fast.  Over the years I have found some great colors that I have been really happy with.  Do you have any colors that you've used and just love?



Behr - Spicy Caynne

It's the perfect red for a dining room.



Benjamin Moore - Olive Branch

This color is warm and neutral at the same time.