Window Solution

{Image Source}

This picture verifies my thinking about having a window that is longer than sink base. The previous homeowners covered up part of our window as to save the original window. However, it is one of the things that drive my batty. From the sink up & wide as our window they put a contraption up to make a backsplash right in front of the window. {I'm serious, crazy as this seems!}

 The window also extends down behind the sink base. It's hard to clean the window or open it. {You should see me open it!} Plus, the natural light is taken away. It looks odd from the outside as you see this cherry wood piece coming up from the windowsill walking by. Lovely.

If we don't open the wall to the porch, I have been pondering a solution and this picture was the answer. It verified my idea of ripping out lower cabinets and installing an open underneath sink/countertop piece.

The photo above got my attention today while looking at Maria Killam's blog about color, etc. Her blog, Colour Me Happy, is amazing if you are building or remodeling. Maria talks about color undertones, tile, grout line widths & other important home issues.

Is my partially covered up window the only one out there?

Make these recipes in your kitchen this weekend:  Iced Tangerine Mint Green Tea  or Veggie Gyros on Homemade Pita with Feta. Yum!

Painted Kitchen Floor

 The Linoleum Lacquer® has a great finish. It's very thick paint, I used a 6 inch foam roller. The foam was perfect for the application.  {see my final thoughts on Linoleum Lacquer® here}

{See, I have one cabinet painted. 1st coat anyway!  The dark splotch is a test of the Annie Sloan dark wax. The cabinets will get the natural wax treatment as the dark is well, too dark!}

{Had to put the shutters up to reduce the blinding sun, which is appreciated here in Ohio. They will be attached once I strip the windows. I have never striped woodwork, so this shall be interesting. I purchased this book for restoration advice on windows.} Spring and summer sounds good for that project.

 When we moved in 7 years ago we painted only the walls in the kitchen. Haven't done much in here except hang an antique light. See the cabinets on the left? That wall would be lovely knocked out and opened up to our porch and finish the porch as part of the kitchen.  First, need to finish painting cabinets and then the attic project. The kitchen is complicated as to lay the wood floor we want to lay the flooring under the cabinets. Quite a big project and in no hurry to not have a kitchen with 3 little ones.

Freckled laundry painted her countertops---I would like to change our countertops, but will wait to do those when the whole kitchen project is tackled!

Do you take on house projects with fervor and finish them up fast?? {We do not! haha}

About {Linoleum Lacquer®}

{Images Source}

Some of you have requested what kind of paint I used for my linoleum.....
Linoleum Lacquer specifically formulated for linoleum, how cool is that! I love that it's keeping the dirt on top of the paint, has a great finish. However, the paint is not holding up as well as I would like.

The prep work took longer than the actual painting and the dry time is 48 hours with each coat.
I do love seeing the ugly linoleum covered up and it's so much cleaner!

*Update: My floor has been finished for 1.5 weeks and it's chipping off in too many places. I would think twice about the work that goes into the prep + painting. Really, there are a lot of reasonable flooring choices and can lay it in less time than it takes this stuff to dry! Remember you are without that room for 96 hours after painting if you do 2 coats of lacquer. I thought it was a good solution for at least a year until we lay our wood flooring.  Sigh.

Farmhouse Style {in the kitchen}

Faucet for indoors & outdoors.

French canning jars and they have a pretty font on them.

I want to organize my fridge with these. Easy for leftovers

& you can see what's in them.

This Farmhouse sink, installation is directly on the wall which I love.

{The drain board is a work of art!}

A commercial espresso machine.

{because our coffee maker is almost 15 years old!}

Our anniversary is coming up....we have one on our anniversary

gift "wish" list. {Cheers! Here's to another 15 years. I mean to "us" not

our old coffee maker! :)}

This heavy, quality made latte bowl is another practical thing I love.

Worth every penny & made in France.

Stack some up in your kitchen and they will be ready for your morning latte.

{Display worthy!}

*I love fresh whipped cream in my coffee. My mother made it and it's an easy way

to make your coffee/latte extra special.*

I found this particular recipe via Tracey at French Larkspur and it's a keeper!

 My favorite square pitcher, it's narrow so you can tuck it in tight spaces. 

This should be on every bride's registry!

Another simple pitcher I found.

This jam and the jar is good to have on hand! I reuse the jar leaving the

 pretty label on for a votive holder.

No preservatives & no high fructose corn syrup and once you taste it, well.....it will be on

your grocery list! Yum!

I use it sometimes with goat cheese & crackers. The combo of the goat cheese & sweet, it's sometimes my lunch!

{Last two images source}

{now time to organize and clean out cupboards, it's January in Ohio!}

Have a lovely week!