Thought for the Day

We ought to do our neighbour all the good we can. If you do good, good will be done to you; but if you do evil, the same will be measured back to you again.

- Bidpai, Dabschelim and Pilpay. Chap. i.

Walk on Words

I can't seem to get the written word floor out of my mind. Maybe I could do a easier variation with a simple, "Welcome Friends". While I don't know calligraphy, that is why we have computers and fonts (or as my friend Paul says, types).

I like the Miama font because it is scripty but clean, but I'm still not convinced on what I should say.

My To Do List

Summer has almost come and gone, but I still have 2 projects left on my to do list.

1. Finish the Floor in the Entry Way

2. Install a Brick Path

Right now the floor in the entry way is unsealed concrete. Do I stain it or just seal it? More painted concrete floor ideas from Apartment Therapy piqued my interest. I don't like the faux rug and I'm not a lacy person, but the scripted floor has potential...too bad I never learned calligraphy.

I thought that I would have to host the last Book Club meeting (deadlines help), so I was actually making progress on the brick path. The bricks are here and I'm playing around with patterns, but I haven't work on that project in awhile.

The Other Real Estate Bubble

The Cloister Inn by Addison Mizner, survived the 1926 real estate bubble and the Great Miami Hurricane. Sound familiar? I guess we never learn. Nonetheless, the building survived and is now known as the Boca Raton Resort and Club.

The Poverty Jet Set in Boca

Poolside

Intercoastal

It is usually one or the other – time or money. You either have lots of time but no money (me) or lots of money but no time (me in a former life). So I’m reverting back to my poverty jet set ways. I never really left it, but now I’ve fully embraced it. Hence my summer vacation all across the state, in New York, Washington DC, Baltimore and now Boca Raton.

How do I do it? I rely on the generosity of others, credit card rebates and frequent flyer miles (in that order).

The resort we stayed at in Boca is great. The water, palm trees and cool weather was relaxing. I did think twice about popping open a bottle of Cakebread, but boy was it worth it. I like being this person!

My Recession Car

Last week was super busy with free work, the whole car selling/buying ordeal and night classes. How did I get all of this stuff done before when I was working 40+ hours a week?

The Saab sold on ebay around noon on Thursday to the guy who test drove it on Wednesday. I got more than I would have if I traded it in, so I’m pleased with the transaction. I dropped off the Saab at his house in the ‘burbs with the agreement that he would drive me back home. In the end, he drove me to the Honda dealership that provided me with the best quote. We still had a few details to iron out, so he dropped me off at the service department - where I negotiated with the salesman on the phone all the while sitting outside on a bench. I was out the door and on my way to class by 7 PM.

The Honda CRV is perfect for me right now. I can fit my bike inside without taking off any parts and it is r-e-l-i-a-b-l-e. Yes, I miss my exotic European cars and the leather, wood trim and buttons on the steering wheel. But I have to admit that this was the first time in years that I was able to take off on a trip and not have to worry that the car would break down in the middle of nowhere.

Doesn't it Look Pretty

I’m selling the car on ebay as we type. I sold my Alfa Romeo on ebay and was happy with the final outcome. The auction ends tomorrow and all is going well. My reserve is met. Two people called about the car and one person took it for a spin. I frantically washed and vacuumed it again before the test drive.

Car negotiations are going well. I know I’m a geek, but shouldn’t everyone do this much homework before they spend $20,000? I’m using the techniques from Roger Dawson’s Secrets of Power Negotiation and the information from Fighting Chance. Right now, between the two, proposals are running around $500 under invoice.

When is a clunker a clunker?

Today is the day. Today is the deadline the government had to list cars on their website. I hoped that the wagon (versus the sedan) would qualify as a clunker, but it does not. According to the website, my car gets 19 MPG and does not meet the 18 MPG eligibility threshold.

This puts a dent in my plan to get a new car. I factored in my math a $3,500 rebate. The KBB value for my car is only $2,000. Bids are coming in from various dealers, so we’ll see who has the best deal. The three numbers I have are all in the $19,500 range, minus taxes, tag, title and dealer fees.

Financing was surprisingly easy. My credit union quoted me 4.75% for 48 months beating my local bank's rate of 5.5%.

Sourcing Bricks

Time to construct a permanent walkway to the Carriage House. Right now, we have a gravel path. I troll Craigslist (love it!) every other day looking for cheap or free bricks. I see plenty of salvage bricks around town and when I run, but I'm reminded daily by others that it is a felony to pick those bricks up. I finally scored some bricks today. They are not free, but they are cheap and he is going to deliver them for free. Deal done!

Open Letter re: Cash for Clunkers

Dear Fuel Economy,

Hi. I am trying to find out whether or not my car qualifies for the CARS program. I checked the website and my car is not listed. They have the sedan, but not the station wagon.

I am writing to you because I called the Official Hotline number of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-866-227-7891 and they forwarded me to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at 1-877-337-3463. I was told that the dealer probably did not provide them with a vehicle for testing and was directed to contact you at this e-mail address.

My car is a 1999, Saab, 9-5, V6, Station Wagon. Any information you could provide is appreciated.

Thanks.

Cash for Clunkers

I have a love hate relationship with my car. After spending a weekend test driving Mini Coopers, Hondas and Nissans, I am still in love with how the Saab drives. I know everyone is tired to hearing me compare cars to the Alfa, but it has great form and function. Unfortunately, my quest for a beautiful car that drives like a dream always catches up with me…as a regular at my mechanic’s shop.

In anticipation of trading it in, I cleaned and detailed the Saab today. I even tried to remove a dent with my hair dryer. Boy does it look good! I had high hopes of utilizing the CARS credit towards a new vehicle, but according to the website my car is 1 MPG over the limit. As a footnote, I should add that they only have the sedan, not the wagon, but how do I dispute something with the government? If my car doesn’t fit the definition of a clunker, I don’t know what does.

On days like this, I dream about selling everything and moving back to NYC.

6 Lessons Learned from my IKEA Kitchen

During

After

My kitchen is awesome and I can't believe that I made it happen. IKEA has some great products and you can definitely save $$ using their kitchen cabinets. The easy thing to forget, especially when a project is done, is how much labor you put into it. On average, it look me about an hour per box to assemble the cabinets. The simple ones took a little less than that, the more complicated ones took a little longer. If I could do it all over again, this is what I would do.

1. Plan the size of my kitchen based on the cabinets I want. Because of the stairwell, my kitchen is not a standard 10x10 kitchen. It is a little shorter and a little longer, hence the lazy susans in both corners. When I mentioned this to an interiors friend, she said that she always designs the kitchen first.

2. Have more drawer banks. I already knew this from renovating the kitchen in the main house, but because my kitchen is not a standard size (see comment 1) I only have one drawer bank. I do have a pull out by the sink, but that required me to downsize from a double to a single basin.

3. Always, always get a flat surface stove. One exception to this rule is if you can get a gas stove. I've found that in smaller kitchens with limited counter space, the extra flat surface is extremely valuable. When my friend Nan replaced her stove, she went with a flat surface stove and says it was a great idea. I love it when people take my advice and tell me that I am right!

4. Use a drill to attach the doors to the cabinets. The little cartoon instructions IKEA provides does not place an emphasis on using a high powered drill. You need to use a good drill. Why? Because if you just try to screw in the hinges by hand, or use an electric screw driver (which is what I initially did), the doors will fall off after a few uses.

5. Use a square when you are making the first box of your cabinet. Again, the little cartoon people don't reference using a square, but this is muy importante if you are going to: 1. line up the cabinets against a wall. 2. line up cabinets against each other. 3. just want things to line up.

6. Be patient with IKEA. When you are in the planning/ordering phase go on a weekday. Also, more often than not, they will not have all of the pieces available for your project. You will either have to wait until after hours, "because it is in the storage area and we are not allowed to move things back there until after hours" or it will take multiple trips. I had to pick up my supplies at a future date at their warehouse by the airport. One shining light is their customer service. When I lost a few of the leg pieces, all it took was a quick trip with my receipt to get some FREE replacements.

OMG Cupcakes Galore

Back in the day, when we would mix high strength concrete in the lab, my friend and PhD candidate Sandy would say that mixing concrete was just like baking - but with bigger ingredients and equipment. My college roommate also introduced me to the Cake Bible where the author refers to herself as a kitchen chemist. Maybe that is why I prefer baking to other forms of cooking. My sweet tooth probably contributes too.

So where am I going with this? I am a cupcake fan. I read a cupcake blog, visit cupcakes stores in every city I visit and eat more than my fair share of cupcakes. First wife is having a baby shower in August and I really, really want to make some cute cupcakes for the shower. I wasn't sure what I wanted to make until I saw the kupcake kababs.

The End of TV

My television died on Friday. Thanks to a new converter box (only $5 thanks to the government coupon) it is on life support.

Here’s what all the infomercials don’t tell you:
● Your bunny ears will not pick up all the network channels.
● The connection is sporadic. One day I can watch ABC in all of it’s digital splendor, the next day it is gone. Today, only NBC works. Goodbye Oprah, hello Martha Stewart.

Here’s the good news:
● When it works, it works great.
● I now have a remote control.
● I really don’t miss it that much.

Over the past few months I’ve wondered, “Do I buy a new tv? Do I buy a computer monitor/tv? Do I just get a digital projector?” Thanks to my parents, ex-boyfriends and friends, I have never spent a dime on a television. Then again, you get what you pay for.

This week will be a test for me. So far I’ve found that I can watch many of my favorite shows on the internet. I'm now addicted to google video. Coverage of live sports is the hardest to find. Right now I’m leaning towards relegating the box to the garage. In the garage, I can get on my bike trainer and watch DVD’s.

High Line - Open!

Talk about thinking outside of the box - from freight to public open space. You have to give it to NYC. They find opportunities in places no one would think to look. The High Line is a former freight line on the west side of Manhattan in the Meatpacking District. Ten years after the Friends of the High Line was formed to advocate for the High Line's preservation and reuse as public open space, it is now open and I'm going to check it out.

This morning on NPR, they compared it to an open air museum. I picture it as a trail high up in the air and I love trails. I run on trails. I ride my bike on trails. I plan lots and lots of trails and sometimes I even design a trail or two. I know it sounds geeky but I really want to see the guard rails. Where we live, multi-use trails that accommodate bicycles have to use 4'-6" picket railing where there is significant grade change.

Outdoor Inspiration: Claire and Nick’s Arbor

Have I mentioned that we’ve had more than our fair share of May showers? Now that the constant gray sky is gone, I’m back at work on my outdoor rooms and can’t this jasmine arbor out of my mind. It frames in the space, but lets the sun shine through and welcomes you to the back yard of their house. Sound familiar?

My Green Workout

It is official. The gym membership is gone. Like everyone else, I’m cutting back on some expenses. I’ve also found that my little home improvement projects are a great workout! Last weekend I worked on my pile of bricks and was sore for days. The search for more salvage bricks continues. After over 15 years in the neighborhood, my good neighbor across the street is moving to Virginia…and I’m getting ready to pick up some stray bricks.

Rain, Bricks and Budget

It is something like day 10 of continuous torrential rain and thunderstorms. Prior to this, the past few months were very dry so working on my landscape was not a priority. This weekend I decided that I might as well use the rain to my advantage and started work on my landscape plan (courtesy of the very talented Cornelia). Another motivation is our next book club meeting, which will be at my house.

During demolition and construction, the guys would start digging and hit a brick. There bricks were everywhere. I asked them to put them off to the side with the hopes that I could use them as pavers. Well after several hours of digging, carrying and stacking bricks, I can tell you that I have 50 full bricks and that much and more in partial bricks. What to do.

Budget ties all my weekend’s tasks together, as everything is free. With all of the rain, I decided to take the chance and try to propagate some of my existing ground cover and creeping vines. A friend’s circular patio was made entirely from salvaged bricks. Val would just ask for them when she saw a pile on a construction site. I’m going to troll craigslist and keep my eye out for some more free bricks.

Lets hope my body can take this. My hands are used to typing, not laying brick. The last time I did this – the back patio on the main house, I said, “Never again.”

Stop Me. I think I want a new car.

Don't get me wrong. I love my car. I love the way it drives. I love the cargo capacity. What I don't love is having to spend lots of money to fix it. I spent $2,000 in January and $1,700 this month to keep the car running. My only saving grace is that the car is paid off. The rule of thumb I've used over the years is that once the maintenance cost exceeds a car payment, it is time to get a new car. I hit that threshold and it is only May.

So, what did I start to do? Research, research, research.

I've always admired the Mini Cooper. It was on my short list the last time I was shopping, but alas they did not have a model with an automatic transmission. Not only do they have an automatic, but an automatic clubman!! I love the exterior, but have always felt like the interior was a little too overdone. The fine Italian lines of the Alfa spoiled me.

This 08 Mini Clubman is asking $24,000 with 13,000 miles. The local dealership also has one in racing green.

Pros: Cuteness, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Stiffness, Future Maintenance Cost

I went to the Honda dealership to test drive a Honda Fit. I know several people that own a Fit and they love the car. The Fit also has some cool folding seats that would let me fit my entire bike inside. I didn't like the way it drove. Again, the Alfa and the Saab spoiled me. I took the CRV for a spin and liked it. My mechanic keeps telling me to buy a Honda, Honda, Honda.

This 07 Honda CRV is asking $16,000 with 30,000 miles.

Pros: Reliability, Full Bike Storage, Future Maintenance Cost
Cons: Limited Cuteness

The Volvo wagon was also on my last short list. The Saab won out due to price. I know I like this car, but would I just be delaying the inevitable and find myself in the same place in a few years?

This 06 Volvo X90 is asking $20,000 with 41,000 miles.

Pros: Smooth Drive, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Future Maintenance Cost, Soccer Mom Image

How to Find a Good Architect

My little project has come a long way and having a good architect and contractor made the world of a difference. I’ve heard so many horror stories that sometimes I consider myself extremely lucky, but it wasn’t just luck. I didn’t just call someone out of the phone book or google “good architect.” I’m in the industry so I know the value of good references and leaned on the resources of others.

My Architect – A neighbor down the street built a garage apartment while I was in the “thinking about it” phase. These guys are serial remodelers, have great taste and demand quality work. I asked for a tour and quizzed them about what they liked and didn’t like:

• Did they like their contractor? No.
• Did they like their architect? Yes, loved her.
• What would they do differently? More storage and closet space.

I like to think that I made it as easy as I could on my architect. I told her what I wanted through some performance criteria and bubble diagrams. I also brought along kitchen plans from a house I put an offer on a few years ago. When we opened it up, I realized that she was the architect of that house. That sealed the deal.

So what were the signs that she would be a good fit for my project?

1. She had prior experience with garage apartments. One project was in my neighborhood so I knew that she was familiar with the local zoning and permitting requirements.


2. She had great references. Picky people (who did not recommend their contractor) raved about her.


3. She designed spaces that I already knew I liked.

If you can find someone that meets all of the above criteria, you are more likely to have a good experience. It’s not just luck.

No Excuses for No Cooking

New wood brackets/corbels and trim underneath the granite bar top.

More subway tile for the kitchen backsplash.

Trim, tile and more. I can't believe that we are almost done! Once I do the final touch up painting, the living area will be finished. The kitchen was originally value engineered out of my budget, so it was completed in phases over the past seven months. The first wood corbel that caught my eye costs $70/each, so what you see is the wood bracket budget version at 1/10 of the price. I'll add a final update on lessons learned soon.

Pink Slip Party

Plating Food

Uncork the Wine

Great food, friends, and wine on a beautiful day. What more do you need? How about a bunch of themed tables along the block by the park. This was the first year we hosted a table at Dinner on the Avenue with our friends at Infusion Tea. No gloom and doom here. Our pink slip party included lots of pink tulle, pink cupcakes and rose wine. Next door, our friends at Studio Cara were gold diggers manning the Bailout table. We helped them hand out stimulus money.

All is Forgiven

1,200 lb Delivery

AM Kitchen

PM Kitchen

Today is a beautiful day! We went to the west coast for a mini-vacation and got back into town around 10 AM. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw that my garage was open. You have no idea how many times I circle the block (at least three times a week) just to make sure that the door is closed. Then it hit me, my granite guy is here.

All is forgiven. The granite looks fabulous. My choice in colors was limited to his inventory, so I told him that I wanted black. I didn't know if it would be uba tuba, verde peacock, absolute black, etc. Those that know me realize what a leap of faith it is for me to purchase something sight unseen. For the record, I wanted a black black and that is exactly what I got. It matches the cooktop too.

I'm going to enjoy this moment and report back on the minor details some other day.

On Again, Off Again Relationships

Contractor relationships, sometimes it is like getting back together with an old boyfriend. Should you go down that road again? It is really worth it? I'll find out tomorrow. One week turned into two weeks and today's text indicated that the countertops are done.

Four Months Later - Now What?

I finally made a decision and ordered the Beluga laminate countertop yesterday. This after spending at least a week in analysis paralysis. The actual Beluga sample had a lot more green than blue color in it then I thought (or that images on the computer screen show), but against my paint color it worked. They didn't have the laminate in stock, so it would take at least an extra week to get it to the shop. That put the install date around the first week of April.

Lo and behold today I get a text from my kitchen contractor, "you should have countertops by next week." Huh? I called him and explained that I had already ordered countertops because of the delay. He proceeds to tell me that he would have installed the granite at the same cost of laminate. Huh? So what's a gal to do? The guys (we were carpooling from a meeting) convinced me that a year from now I would wish I had the granite. True. I called the laminate people and cancelled the order at no charge. I felt crappy doing it, but I did it. I called my granite guy again and said we are back on. He said that he just cancelled my order. Now what? I decided to sleep on it, get my thoughts together when I'm a little more settled and then try again.

Have I mentioned that I haven't had an operable kitchen sink since Feb 27?

Beluga, Bamboo or Soapstone

Way back when, the original plan was to have my kitchen contractor install granite countertops. When he disappeared so did the granite. I spent last week getting quotes from other companies. They all came in the $1800 to $1900 price range, and my target number was $1200. After debating it for over a week, I just can't justify spending that kind of cash right now.

The quote for bamboo laminate countertop is $529.23. This price doesn't include the bar top as I'm holding out for a granite remnant. So now the question is which pattern do I choose? I saw Beluga in another friends kitchen, Bamboo is what I used in the main house and Soapstone has the all black look I was aiming for with granite.

Almost There

They say your environment is a reflection of yourself. My kitchen was in a state of construction for over four months, and I guess you could say the same thing about me. Last week was a turning point. I got a new gig and my kitchen is almost there!

Now We're Cooking

A Brown Bag Lunch. That what Paula, former co-worker and recent remodeler, and I had planned to do on Friday...until my building contractor came to work on my kitchen. My house became a construction site again. I wasn't going to do anything to slow them down, so I skedaddled out of there.

The IKEA end panel is $60. Instead, we're using a $6 door I found in IKEA's as-is department.

That's my microwave on top of the stool.

Back on Track

Good customer service goes a long way. I went to IKEA bright and early and was the first person in line at Returns. Receipt in hand, I asked for my missing Akurum leg pieces. My new best friend, Lola, had it waiting for the next shift / me with a note attached.

With that very important task accomplished, I headed upstairs to kitchens. After comparing prices (and finding out that I got a gig yesterday), I decided to go ahead and get some upper cabinets for the wall with the range hood. A pair of 36" wide cabinets with glass front doors and a 15" tall box on the bottom will flank the range hood. The 15" box is my compromise. It fits my toaster oven and allows me to have quick access to open storage. The orange stool on the left will let me reach the other shelving.

Since I "have creative avoidance of work that is to my disliking," I promptly spent my afternoon banging together boxes. The source of that quote is the boss of my college co-op job. How true, how true. I only hit my finger with the soft mallet once.

My building contractor is coming tomorrow morning. Gotta go attach the knobs to the doors. The kitchen is back on the fast track.

Time for a New Contractor

Over 3 months, that is how long it has been since my kitchen contractor "started" my job. I checked the date on my previous post. The tipping point for me was going to a party and seeing a friend's new kitchen. It was beautiful! It is so funny hearing interior designers' critique work, "that's too matchy, matchy." The engineer in me didn't think that circles and lines match, but what do I know? Maybe I'll invite myself over again and take a picture.

My building contractor (not to be confused with my kitchen contractor) stopped by today to drop off the roof affidavit for my main house. I asked him to take a look at my kitchen to see if he could finish it. Part of the deal with my kitchen contractor was that he could give me a good price on granite. I'm more than happy to just have a finished kitchen even if it means that my countertops are laminate.

So, this evening, I headed over to IKEA to see if I could buy/get the clips that attach the toe kick to the plastic feet on the bottom of the cabinets. My kitchen contractor has the ones I purchased and I don't want to wait another day! Love them, or hate them, IKEA certainly has its moments. Case in point - as long as I bring in my receipt, they will give me the missing pieces.

Final thoughts: my building contractor finished this house in a little over three months, so why should it take my kitchen that long?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Four and a half months. That is how long I went without a mirror in the bathroom. You sort of get used to it. After I installed the mirror this weekend, I have to admit that I sort of felt uncomfortable when I saw someone staring back at me while I brushed my teeth.

I picked up the mirror at the EXPO Design Center's going out of business sale. I debated waiting a little longer to reap a bigger discount, until I found out that they only had one mirror left. Decision made.

All I want for Valentine's Day is a Kitchen Sink

It wasn't too long ago that I said, "All I want for Christmas is a Finished Kitchen." Now I'm updating that statement to reflect my desire for a kitchen sink. I can make do without the fancy countertops, but not having a sink in my kitchen is definitely cramping my style. I don't mind filling my Brita water filter in my bathroom sink. Where I cross the line is scrubbing my pots and pans in a tub, within my bathtub, and then having to toss the gray water over the balcony.

Now for some positive thoughts. My dishwasher is full operational and I sold my temporary kitchen sink on craigslist this week. Cash is king!

Childproofing My House

Guess who came to visit last weekend? Say hello to Ryan. I don't particularly believe in childproofing my house, but what kid doesn't like stairs? I've learned that the best way to contain them in the living area is to just scoot the couch over and against the wall. Voila, instant gate blocked by mom and dad.

Additional Assembly & Shopping Required

Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Cow. Bit by bit, I'm making progress on my kitchen. There are still no new countertops. I'm washing dishes in my bathroom sink and tub. That is getting old fast.

The good news is that my building contractor came and successfully installed my Arietta range hood. They had quite a time doing it too.

So here's my new pet peeve. If they sell it at the Big Box store, they should have the other pieces you need to make it work. After all their motto is, "You can do it. We can help.TM" I bought the range hood at their store and knew enough to get an elbow and side wall vent. I should add that I asked an employee for the pieces that fit (pointed to) that range hood. Well, lo and behold the elbow and vent pieces they sell don't fit the range hood they also sell. It turns out that the range hood requires pieces that are not readily available at the Big Box stores. My contractor had to go to a mechanical supplier and make some of the components. Not planned, not scoped, not cool.

Homework for the Week

My homework for the week was to pick out a color for the balcony carpet and hang my Capiz shell light. Both are now done! For the most part, my bedroom is complete. I think next week's homework will be to finally hang a mirror in the bathroom and list the extra furniture sitting in my garage on craigslist.

Rumor has it that my countertop will be measured this week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Balcony Love

Living in a small space (less than 700 SF) means maximizing the outdoor space as well as the indoor space. Well, here it is. My balcony is finished and ready for someone to sit outside and enjoy the nice cool weather. The carpet team installed the chestnut carpet on Saturday. I talked my shopping friend into helping me move my bubble couch from the garage to the balcony, "It's really light, I promise."

While I would have preferred two individual bubble chairs, that is not what was available and on sale at the model home warehouse. If you aren't paying retail, you don't always get exactly what you want. Regardless, I'm happy with the final outcome. Time to sit outside and read the Sunday paper!

Copper Tan or Chestnut?

Always have two options. Sometimes colors are discontinued or not in stock. If you want to save some time, always have two options. If both colors are available, we'll go with the least expensive color.

The balcony is currently covered with shingles like a roof. While this is a great topping to minimize leaks, it makes it difficult to walk outside without shoes - and I have a no shoe house. We decided to go with a fake grass like covering. Since leaves and acorns from the adjacent trees land all over the balcony, I decided to pick a color that matches the leaf piles. This way if I don't sweep it off quickly or it stains, it *should* blend in nicely.

The official price quote is forthcoming, but initial estimates are $400-$500 installed.

UPDATE: My contractor is awesome. Chestnut is available and less expensive. The total cost is $387 and he will be here on Saturday to install it.

Finally - Kitchen Progress

I was going to give it another week before I went ahead and installed the cabinets myself. I busted my butt putting together the kitchen cabinets, only to have them sit for two months! Lo and behold, this is what I came home to yesterday. They even made a few extra fixes - leveling my refrigerator and tightening up the drawer face. I'm so happy that all my pantry items finally have a home. No more searching through boxes for a bottle of vanilla.

My homework this week is to decide on a backsplash for the range and color for the balcony carpet.

Height Matters

Who knew that choosing and installing the right curtains would take so long? And, once they were complete, I had second thoughts. All is well now.

My makeup studio has some wonderful curtains in the window facing the street. They are shear and a plaid of yellow, green and blue. I thought that I would have to look for the fabric during one of my trips to Atlanta, but I found something similar locally. The colors are a little different, but it works. A local seamstress hemmed and finished them for only $20. What a deal! I could have done it myself, but then I would see every little imperfection. To all the engineers out there, yes I know that the patterns don't line up and I'm okay with it.

As soon as they were complete, I hung them on a curtain rod and hated it. I second guessed the fabric and location. Maybe I could put them over the frosted windows? After I raised the curtain rod, I realized that it was a height issue. I didn't hate the curtains, I just didn't like the height. They also serve as a headboard for my minimalist platform bed. Don't you just love dual purpose items?

The next little project in this room is to hang my capiz shell light fixture. It will go above my butterfly chair on the left.

Inspiration Kitchen

Maybe it is because the kitchen in the main house is so narrow, but I've fallen in love with kitchens without upper cabinets. Everyone tells me that you can never have too much storage and I'm crazy, but who cares. It is my kitchen and my money. The inspiration kitchen above is Drew Barrymore's office kitchen, as shown in last April's Domino magazine.

The minimalist side of me doesn't even want shelves. Here's where I'll compromise. Now, the question is do I get the stainless steel IKEA Mossby shelves or wooden shelves that I can paint?

New Year, New Kitchen

I've decided that every day will be a good day. Really, it's that simple. Today's good news is that my kitchen contractor came by this morning. He left lots of tools, measured stuff, ran the dishwasher and will be back tomorrow.