The Kitchen - Before

Ho-kay. I wanted to write about the kitchen when it was COMPLETELY DONE, but I have the feeling that it will never really be done. At least, not until I have a bajillion dollars. BUT, our widdle kitchen has come a very long way since we moved in. And I have the photos to prove it. Tomorrow I'll take some photos of how the kitchen currently looks, but for now let's reminisce about where we started.


What up 1960's - knotty pine cabinets, black barnyard handles, big-ass brown stove, rainbow tile and GREEN counter tops. Awesomeness personified.


Yes, I said rainbow tile. These people were not messing around in the 70s (trim throughout the house had also been included in the rainbow theme).


And, YES - that is an original 1960s (I think that's the right decade) BIG ASS STOVE. Like, ridiculously large and ugly and big and gross. I realize some people LOVE these things, but I am not one of those people. I am not nearly hipster enough for that stove. It HAD to go. Immediately. Sorry for the fuzzy picture - I was probably shaking with confusion/disgust.


Let's look closer at the cabinets, counters and floor, shall we? Hmmm, maybe not tooooo close - cause they are le ugly. Unfortunately, we still have the counters and floor...but we're hoping to lay tile in the next 6 months. It's the same linoleum my parents have in their BATHROOM, only this linoleum has a slight greenish tint to it - maybe to complement the counters? Anyways...the counters aren't SO bad since we painted the cabinets and walls...they'll do for now.


All of the kitchen drawers and cabinets has this loverly primary color graph-like contact paper inside - M and I spent a whole night de-contacting every freaking surface. There was paper EVERYWHERE. It was a pain to take out too. I realize it's a fast and easy way to cover up grossness (I did it in our bathroom when we moved in - after I cleaned and gagged), but come on - a primary colors graph pattern? Sheesh.


On the other side of the kitchen, next to the dining room, is a built-in wine rack. In knotty pine. And it's somewhat off - they should have just stuck with the 5 lower holes and skipped the top two - they don't really line up. OH WELL. At least it's a nice pantry with a lot of space!


Across from the pantry/wine rack was a giant island. GIANT as in about 4 feet tall and 5 feet long. So long that there was only about 2.5 feet between the island and the fridge. Don't ask me. ANYWAYS, I couldn't find an intact-island-picture. Mostly because as soon as we bought the house we ripped it out. =) But here you can get an idea of the island's largeness.


Soooo lastly, let's look above the kitchen sink. Yes. That is a scalloped wooden border thing (and FREAKING GREEN MINI BLINDS). And OH HOW I HATED IT. I begged M from day ONE to knock it out...because for some reason I just couldn't stand the thing. The day I came home and the scallops were no more was a very awesome day. VERY.


And what, pray tell, is hiding BEHIND the scalloped wooden thingie??? An ugly light. Of course.

Anyways - that is what our kitchen looked like when we moved in. How I ever convinced M to buy this house when the kitchen looked like that is a testament to my persuasive prowess. "During" and "After" pictures to come soon!!