I am a VISIONARY.
And I dragged my poor family along for the ride. Some people might not think this is a big deal, nor risky but I felt that it was risky.
We started by renting out our condo, risky, but I am happy with our decision.
Then we bought a house, 2 mortgages riskier, but we did move to the suburb that was rated #1 in Business Week to raise a family in. Our neighbors are nice, I met the mom brigade, and the most important stores are like 4 blocks away, Micheal's, Costco, the mall. Again, I feel good about my decision.
The last risk, we started taking supporting walls down in our new house. RISKIEST thing I have ever done, but again I am happy with my decision. Why?
Because I had this vision that my kitchen was open to a family room. I studied
art in college and one movement, the Arts and Crafts Movement sweep me off my feet! The movement advocated truth to materials and traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and I couldn't get enough of it! My house needed to be decorated like this, along with my flair for a few ornate things.
Take a look at our old kitchen
The wall we removed was the back of the breakfast nook. Behind it was a small bedroom. Although the nook was gorgeous, we did not like having to scoot around the refrigerator to enter the kitchen; and there was no where else we could move it too.Our kitchen also had outdated appliances from the 50's and the floor was worn through in some places. I didn't want my poor child to fall through so we gutted the kitchen...
and the bedroom...
and started from scratch. We picked out the cabinets, the appliances, the sink, the facet, the light fixtures, the counter tops, the butcher block, the tile back splash, I designed a built in hutch, and detailed wainscoting, and we had to find someone who could match our existing stain on the floor in the bedroom with the hardwood floor we put in the kitchen. Then I picked out paint and I went to town painting! It is still a work in progress, the back splash and the tv still need to be put in place and I have to make shades and seat cushions and then I can finally say my work is done. In this room, we have eight more to tackle!
This is just a sneak peak. I hope to have the tile finished by this weekend and then I will show each detail of the kitchen and family room combo!
You are brave. We rent out a home in another state and are renters in our current state. I hate being a renter but can't afford to sell if that makes sense. I also love the risk you took in your kitchen. I could learn so much from you.
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