Is just around the corner and so the plans and planning for WDW are coexisting with those for Spring Break.
As well as the pressing needs of my house reno. Did I mention that we are currently in the process of updating our almost 21 year old house? No?
We aren't doing anything TOO major. Just the kitchen and bathrooms!
It's almost comical what happens to my kitchen every time my parents visit. The first time, within a month of moving in, the wallpaper came down. And so did the peek-a-boo cabinets. You know those cabinets that hang from the ceiling (generally a soffit). They separate an informal dining area from the kitchen. When you're in the kitchen and trying to talk to someone in the dining area, it feels like you need to duck down a bit, like peek-a-boo, I see you!
Well, we opened up the space by getting rid of those. They currently hang in the garage now.
So my parents left. I had walls that looked rather horrid, because we didn't do anything to them, just got rid of the wallpaper. So actually, despite the fact that they looked horrid, they were much better looking than before!
And I had fewer cabinets.
The next visit. My parents were eyeing that soffit. It was just like a big bump in the ceiling. So how great would it be to get rid of that and just have a nice flat ceiling?
I came home from a dental appt I think, and they were trying to take it down. A little help from me and the sledge hammer and we had that soffit down. Bummer about the pipe we found in the soffit.
So they left again. Still, the walls looked the same and now there was a big HOLE in my ceiling.
After about a year of the hole, we finally did something about it. And finalized the plans for the kitchen update.
We couldn't rework the kichen arrangement without spending tons of money, so we opted to keep the base cabinets. We ordered new wall cabinets. I designed a new arrangement for them to regain lost cabinet shelving from taking down the peek-a-boos. New 42" tall cabinets. So nice. I have 8' ceilings, so they go almost to the top. We are adding crown molding to them. They are looking good.
Since I got such a great deal on the wall cabs, and we kept the base ones, we splurged on the countertop. Home Depot had a major sale on solid surface counters. I found an excellent choice in Grade B of Silestone. It goes so well with the current tile!! So we got that!
No fancy edge. I said, I have solid gray formica right now. It's 20 years old. Silestone is enough of an upgrade. I don't need any fancy edges. We had a plan to hide the counter decking anyway, so no big.
The counters are in and they are beautiful. It's amazing the difference shiny counter tops make.
So, you're probably wondering if the new wall cabs and base cabs match, right? (If you are still reading that is!
) They don't. They plan was always to paint them.
The color is called Fudge Cookie. I love it. It is kind of a mahogany type color. I am going to add a glaze too. The doors are a typical raised panel oak door. My old oak cabs have faded to a lovely orange, so I'm pretty excited to get them updated.
So that's the big project for when the parents come this year. We are painting the cabinets. Among other things.
I finally got sick of all the wall paper in the house. I took it all down months ago, and we have been living with bare walls since then.
Needless to say, I have many many household projects on my to do list. Things that I really need to do if ever we are to deal with Peter's 61 mile commute.
I enjoy it all though. I AM a HUGE Devine Design fan, even though I can't watch Candice anymore because I don't have cable or satelite.
If I could, I would do something with design for a career.
That's about enough rambling for today. The Disney planning is rather hard to continue with without June hours.
Anyone else doing any reno?
Hope everyone is having a magical day!
you are just a few days behind me on the trip, but have so many more to make! Hopefully it will get sorted out. Did you end up planning to pay the child plan for your son? Somehow I thought you were contemplating adult for him... was that before you decided to go with the deluxe?
It was a night 
I hate that. Women's clothes.
Men seriously have it easier when it comes to figuring out what size they are.
I have not done any of my own reno because I am apartment bound, but I have assisted my parents! Nothing too major though... new floors, painting, etc. Everything sounds lovely though for your new kitchen! 
SO AFTER:
<--Ok, so he isn't exactly painting the walls, but you get my picture. 
Don't let them leave until it is 
