Friday, April 23, 2010

Before and After!

Open shelves, Open kitchen!
My first "before and after" post!

I really enjoy looking at all of the fabulous "before and after" projects 
that are displayed on blogs across the web. 
We moved into our current home almost 6 years ago and have done many updates and projects.   Nothing major...yet. And for most of them, there is no official "before" picture to be found.  Our most recent project, however, does have a "before" shot  (thanks to my husbands quick thinking...and his mobile phone.) 
Our house was built in the mid 80's. I must assume (since it is common around my neighborhood) that at that time it was popular to have a row of cabinets "hanging" over the counter seperating the cooking area from the eating area. Well, I  never liked those hanging cabinets. I always had to peek underneath them to see anyone at the table...I felt as if I were in a different room all together.

Sorry the picture quality is not very good, but you get the idea. Uugggh! Right?
I always knew that someday those cabinets would come down.
Only 5 years after we moved in, the cabinets did come down. The project was finished in about 10 days and for very little money...compared to most kitchen re-dos.  
We knew we wanted the kitchen to be open. Because those cabinets were connected to each other all the way around to the window, we had to replace those that hung on the wall....so in keeping with the open theme, we went with open shelves....and we love them!

Of course, we have to keep our dishes neat on these shelves, but luckily our other cabinets still have doors and contain our mismatched cups, a variety of coffee mugs and lots of pyrex dishes and tupperware.

So what do you think of our open kitchen?
Maybe one day we will gut the whole thing and go all stainless and granite, but for now we are just so glad to be able to cook, clean dishes, chat, do homework, and color at the table...and feel like we are in the same room....'cause we are!

Happy Day!

19 comments:

  1. Love this! What a great reno! Link it up to this site: http://oursuburbancottage.blogspot.com/
    Have a great weekend!

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  2. I love it. Such a small change for such a huge impact.

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  3. Happy FF!! I'm your newest follower. Wow, beautiful job! =) ~Liz

    http://lizssavvyseasons.blogspot.com/

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  4. Beautiful! It just opens the entire space up and makes it nice and airy.

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  5. Hiya!

    I’m your latest Friday Followe--No. 14 I would appreciate a follow-back on Google Friends Connect and/or Networked Blogs.

    http://inspiredbyron.blogspot.com/

    http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/inspire_343432/


    Ron

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  6. I LOVE it!! I want to do the same thing with all my 80's cabinets!! It looks fantastic!

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  7. I think it is GORGEOUS and it should be in a magazine. Nice job!

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  8. Very nice! So open and roomy. I love the lighting too. Hmmmm I'm thinking about my kitchen now.

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  9. WOW that is amazing!! Seriously, your kitchen is beautiful, what a big change!

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  10. Wow! Your kitchen is so cheery and open now! What a difference taking down that set of cabinets made! Love your space...you have great taste!

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  11. Thanks for all your sweet comments. So glad you like it.

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  12. Hi Jen ~ yet another Jenn here! =) Found you on Laura's blog! Love your open shelving in the kitchen! fun fun! Cute ball player above!! =)

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  13. I love it! What a difference! In fact, my aunt's kitchen is laid out the same way so I'm going to show this to her!

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  14. I love it - it's so bright and airy! I always admire open shelves like yours, but I'm to scattered not to have things behind closed doors. =)

    Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. I'm following so I can get to know you. Have a good day!

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  15. Jen! your kitchen turned out aMAZing!! i love that you just went for it with the open shelves.....congrats :)

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  16. wow...i love the open shelves!!!!

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  17. Hi, I just found you on ccbella's blog. I love your blog and had to comment about your kitchen! It's beautiful! I love the after! You did an amazing job! I love how open it is! I also love looking at before, during, and after pictures. They are inspirational!

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  18. Wow!! I LOVE it!! love love it! envy envy!! snicker snicker!~ ;)

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  19. Where did you get your shelves?

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