A Giant Fancy Kitchen— our DIY remodel, using repurposed antiques! *video*
Once upon a time, there was a kitchen…
The kitchen was in a falling-down old house.
A woman lived in the falling-down house.
She loved old broken garbage, and other fancy things.
I mean… she REALLY loved it.
Like… it was her *MOST ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.*
A man lived in the house, too.
He also had some favorite things.
The man’s favorite things were marching-at-dawn, and spending-no-money.
The man said— today we will march to the cabinet store and get cabinets and the kitchen will be finished in three days.
The woman was like…
…
…
…
lol.
The woman had a different idea.
A most-tremendous idea.
She said— WHAT IF:
We make a kitchen out of *magic.*
And.
Glorious wonder.
AND.
FREE STUFF I FIND ON CRAIGSLIST.
The man was like— WOW.
That sounds totally amazeballs.
No.
I’m lying.
The man did not think it was totally amazeballs.
Not at all.
The man thought it was NEGATIVE amazeballs.
Illegal, even.
He said— total disaster idiocy.
But.
The thing is:
The man didn’t have a choice.
He HAD to do the total disaster idiocy; because the woman had spoken aloud, the idiocy-forcing-spell-binding-sorcery-incantation:
FREE.
So the man was like— fine… but it definitely absolutely is not possibly going to be anything like you imagine… unless what you are imagining is a pile of flaming garbage.
Then the man made exactly what the woman wanted; which made him really super mad, because it definitely ABSOLUTELY could NOT be done.
The woman was like— I told you it was easy.
Now it is time for a video— the entire project, start to finish; it’s my favorite thing I’ve ever made, I hope you enjoy it!!
Two tips: make the video full screen (4 arrows in corner of video), AND turn up the brightness on your device! You’ll see more detail!
The song is Dive Bomber, Rob Rio.
Here are some links:
Index/search all 115 kitchen posts– the answer to any question is somewhere in there!!
Original kitchen, before remodel.
Posts with video.
Antique FREE grand piano repurposed into kitchen island.
Giant mirror on wall.
Gilt sconces.
A post illustrating the man’s love of spending no money.
Another post illustrating the man’s love of spending no money.
Building our DIY kitchen cabinets– with EXTRA deep countertops, LOVE THEM!
My first (and still favorite kitchen inspiration)– Pilar Guzman’s kitchen.
A checklist for your next remodel– all of my obsessive kitchen research.
My custom sink design– I wanted to use ALL of the available space!
Wall ovens that are ALSO the microwave– why have two boxes?
My first post about induction cooking– I’d used gas forever and had no idea what induction was…Our trip to see the totally-hidden-in-counter induction units– I updated this post, at the bottom with our final choices.
AND.
The Kingdom Mirror– if you are going to read any of my posts, it should really be this one.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:03 pm
Oh. My. Goodness! I am completely blown away by your kitchen remodel. You must have the most patient husband on the planet, and Girl, you have some serious creative chops. Kudos on the remodel of the century. I’ve missed your blog posts and am so happy to get to see your final product!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:50 pm
……………..no words…………wait! Complete ADMIRATION…yup. 💝
December 1, 2022 @ 12:16 pm
Absolutely beautiful job!
December 4, 2022 @ 8:31 pm
Enjoyed seeing Elvis one more time during the transformation! It was worth the wait-your kitchen is gorgeous!
November 30, 2022 @ 1:10 pm
I love love love the chandelier used as a wall sconce!!!!
November 30, 2022 @ 3:59 pm
No wonder you needed to shut down and not care for a while!! This is utterly AMAZEBALLS!!
December 14, 2022 @ 4:52 pm
Beautiful!
January 8, 2023 @ 6:12 pm
I love it so much! The piano/island is even more amazing than I thought it could be. Kudos to you and your husband, who deserves a medal for all of his work.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:03 pm
I tell people about this kitchen as if I come over regularly and was hanging out with you in the chaos of the design process. I have been on board, fully invested in your design idea since the day you decided to use a piano as an island (brilliant!). It turned out sooo well! I am so happy for you to enjoy cooking in your masterpiece of a kitchen!!!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:04 pm
Splendid!!! Fantastic!!! A functional labor of love!!!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:06 pm
The most beautiful kitchen ever!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:06 pm
Victoria! There you are! So wonderful to hear from you. I was wondering where you’ve been. Hope you and Paul are enjoying the holiday season. Your kitchen looks amazing. You must be thrilled with the outcome and so very happy that it is completed, and I ADORE that wall mounted brass faucet. You must tell me where you got it. No, don’t tell me. You got it from a salvage source, meaning I will never, ever have one like it. If it is new, then you must tell me where you got it. BTW, I found an absolutely fabulous way to clean old brass. I have an old house with lots of brass fixtures. It’s Lysol toilet bowl cleaner – I am not kidding. Cleans all the grime and tarnish really quickly, and saves one from having to use so much elbow grease that you end up at the physical therapist. Please fill me in on how your cat family is doing.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:06 pm
Wow
November 30, 2022 @ 12:06 pm
Most beautiful “pile of flaming garbage” ever! Exquisite! Your treasures make the kitchen super fancy delightful.
Also,
KITTENS!!!
I swoon.
December 1, 2022 @ 7:58 am
I am speechless — without speech! The vision— the execution— the beauty— it’s all beyond words. It can be done!!! I love it all— you can never move!!!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:07 pm
I thought your first picture was an inspiration picture. So beautiful. Can we get a whole house video walkthrough. I would love to feel the flow.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:08 pm
Okay….this was amazing! Beautiful vision, beautiful execution and beyond compare! Thanks for sharing!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:10 pm
OH. MY. STARS!!!!!! Your kitchen is absolutely 10,000% fantastic. Also, please clone Paul. Sell all the Pauls on Craig’s List to rich widowed women. You will become rich beyond your wildest dreams.
So very happy you are back!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:10 pm
I have missed your posts and I have waited for this for so long. Thank you for the video. It did not disappoint!! Great job, especially because I know how much time, heart and soul went into the design and execution. Do’nt be a stranger, keep writing 🙂
C
November 30, 2022 @ 12:45 pm
Absolutely gorgeous, exceeding all my imaginations of what it was going to look like… so satisfying and worth the wait!!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:11 pm
Congrats on a job well done!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:11 pm
Oh, my word! How can I love a kitchen this much?
November 30, 2022 @ 12:12 pm
This post makes me so happy! I love your kitchen and your Kitty’s! I’m so glad you’re back!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:13 pm
How glorious!! Congratulations on making the kitchen of your dreams!!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:13 pm
Love, love, love it! Have missed your fabulous dancing, too.
November 30, 2022 @ 12:14 pm
You did it, you really and finally did it! So worth the wait, it is gorgeous and one of kind, love love love!
November 30, 2022 @ 12:15 pm
Worth the wait!!!! And we’re all exceedingly glad you’re alive 🙂
November 30, 2022 @ 12:15 pm
Glorious! I have missed you.
November 30, 2022 @ 1:06 pm
Love this!!!!! Yay amazing kitchen. The dancing and delight was evident. Hope your husband loves it now too
November 30, 2022 @ 12:16 pm
Huzzah! A triumphant! Thank you for all your efforts. Loved the journey and benefited from your research.