Kitchen Transformation

After Photos

Okay are you ready for a shock?  Well here are the before photos.

 She was dark and out dated.  She had been used as a rental (most of these pictures were taken before I got her and a bunch of college kids were living there).  She was sooo sad.

 The upper cabinets were painted dark green.  I took off the doors and painted her white with a touch of red on the inside.

 Her spanish tile floors were falling apart.

I added cabinets on the side where the stove was located.  It made for lots of counter space, which helped with the two roommates I had for most of time I lived here.  She is a big house for one person  (probably a bit over 2,000 square feet).  I was able to use the rent money to help with repairs.

How she looked after the college kids moved out.  Less stuff but still sad.

It is amazing how well she transformed, and I think she likes her new look.

Until next time….
Kathleen

I never intended to be gone so long…….

I never intended to be gone so long from this blog.  As it is, two years have gone by and I've got "Grace" on the market.   I'm moving to be closer to Suzy.

I had intended to make post all along with the transformation of "Grace" into the beauty that she has become.  She has always been special for me and I thought when I purchased her that I would take five years, not two to fix her up before moving on.

So much has happened in the past two years.  I will have to fill you in later on that, but for now I will post some after pictures of grace.  These pictures were taken for the real estate listing.  It will be hard to appreciate the transformation until you see the before.  I will do that in many post and I promise not to take two years to get them up on the blog.

One of the many reasons I fell in love with "Grace" was because her front exterior reminds me of homes in San Francisco.  If money were no object, I would live in San Francisco.  I think it is one of the most beautiful places.  Certainly in my eyes.  I will miss being close to it, but I intend to visit at least once a year.  I am looking forward to other adventures in the Northern US though.

I will show you close up pictures of things in later post.  You may notice though, that I am very fond of Asian things and the beach.  They tend to be reoccuring themes in my decorating style.  I am also very fond of Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic style.  I like to think of my style as "Touched by Asia".  I am extremely fond of the Asian culture and San Francisco Chinatown is one of my favorite places.

The Chandelier is from Pottery Barn.  I picked it out years ago before I moved from Oregon.  I couldn't wait to get the right house so I could buy it.  It is one of the most statisfying purchases I have ever made. 

The kitchen is a long gallery kitchen but it is very wide.  You can open the oven or dishwasher door and still have plenty of room to walk pass.  The kitchen and the bathroom were one of the first things that got redone in the house.

I tend to like open shelving.  The doors were so bad on these cabinets that I just got rid of them.  Believe it or not the kitchen use to be orange and the cabinets were dark green. 

The red kitchen stool is one that use to be in my mother's dining room.  It was right under the phone and I would sit on it while talking on the phone to girl friends (or boy friends) :)

I would have loved doing more to the master bedroom but when I realized I need to move to be closer to Suzy (I'll explain later), I just needed to do what was necessary so it is not my dream master bedroom.  It is very comfortable and the koi pond is right outside so when the window is open I can hear the water feature.  It is very soothing.

The laundry area is at the end of the kitchen.  It use to have doors but I like everything open.

I've been very fortunate to have two wonderful roommates this year.  This was Rachelle's room (pronounced like Michelle but with a Ra on the front instead of the Mi).  Yes, "Go Giants"!!  I guess I will have to cheer for the "Twins" now - I'll need to think about that one.

The bathroom separates the two front bedrooms.  I purchased the sink from Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley.  It is an amazing place.  I thought this was fitting for the house "Grace".

Jill was in the back room.  You can see the beautiful dark hardwood floors from her room.  The floors didn't look anything like this when I started out.  They were blonde and very damaged.  I'd read that dark stain would hide the flaws and it did.  I am very pleased the way they turned out.

I'll do other post of the outside and more close up of various things in the house.  Some of my creative things but I hope that you enjoyed the little tour.

Until next time…..

Kathleen

What is in a name?

Well, August 1st - this is my birthday and I was named after the song I'll take you home again, Kathleen sung by Marty Robbins. 


My Dad just loved the song.  We won't go into the other options he gave my Mom.  See they thought I was going to be a boy so they only had a boys name picked out.  Lets just say that the options really left my mom with no other choice but to pick Kathleen.

This photo of Marty Robbins was taken in 1960 the year before I was born.




I've been thinking a lot about what is in a name.  This year I'm legally changing my name back to my maiden name.  I actually could take my maiden name back once my divorce was granted last September but I've waited to make the change because.....Although, I love my first name Kathleen, my parents had a hard deciding on a middle name so they didn't give me one.  When I got married in 1988 I took my maiden name as my legal middle name.  I don't want to be without a middle name so I've thought very hard about what I should take as a middle name.  


Well, this is what I came up with.  There was a time when I was entertaining the thought of having a child.  My ex had always maintained he didn't want children right from the start but we had talked about it when I was in my 30's. 


I chose what he called old lady names.  I was crazy about Laura Ingalls Wilder at the time and my first choice was Rose Elizabeth.  Rose for Rose Wilder Lane (Laura's daughter) and Elizabeth after Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder.  


My Granny's (my mother's mom) name had been Eva Lee.  I had chosen Eva for my Granny and possibly using Rose for the middle name.  I'm pretty sure though that I would have gone with my first choice.


As it turns out I have decided to go with Kathleen Eva-Rose using the hyphen to make it one name because I don't want to go with two middle names.  So I will be submitting the paperwork soon to make that a reality.  I hope Granny and Mom will be smiling at the choice.


Until Next Time
Kathleen

Luther Burbank Garden Tea Party and a Hat Contest

My friends April and Jean gave me a wonderful present - a ticket to the Luther Burbank Garden Tea Party.  April and I went together and we had the best of time.

Here is April all decked out ready to go to the tea party.  She is so beautiful.




April and Jean had told me that there would be a hat contest and also a silent auction.  Well guess what???  I came in 2nd on the Hat Contest.  I am so happy!!!!

I have always loved the Luther Burbank Gardens.  I usually visit in the Winter.  They do an open house right after Thanksgiving.  

Here is another picture.  The silk flowers are poppies and daises all flowers of Luther Burbank.  I also got a picture of an old Luther Burbank seed packet and a small picture of the man himself.

Here is my prize.  I took it to work and shared it with my co-worker.  It brightens our little office some.

Here it is uncovered.  It is just beautiful.  April and I decided we have to make this a yearly thing.  Next year we are dragging Jean with us and we jokingly said that we were starting on next years hats today!!

Clever garden art which was for sale in the silent auction.  Made from various dish ware.  I just love it!!

More garden art.  I'm going to try something like this for Grace.  I think she will appreciate it.




Luther Burbank Gardens is a wonderful place to visit.  It is so beautiful.  If you are in Santa Rosa or if you live in the area you should take a look.

Take a look for yourself - Luther Burbank Gardens


Until Next Time
Kathleen

Meet "Grace"

Meet Grace

This is Grace and well she is one of the reasons I have been missing in action.  The loan closed in March but I spent a few months having work done before moving in.  She needs a lot of work and I'm sure it will take me a while.

I looked at a lot of houses.  And I do mean a lot of houses before putting an offer on Grace.  She wasn't the first one I put an offer on but I will say that when I walked through her doors I felt home.  She had been a little neglected but I could feel that she was speaking to me and asking me to "Save" her.

I kept dreaming about the phrase "Saving Grace".  Not only that but I saw the word Grace everywhere.  I sort of felt like she is my "Saving Grace" and I'm hers.  

I hope to take you through the adventure of bringing "Grace" and myself back to beautiful glory.  I feel we have both been a little neglected and it is time to shine.

So stay tuned and enjoy the unfolding of wonderful things.

Until next time. . . . . 

Kathleen

A Watermelon of a Shark

Yes, I've been missing in action for a little while.  Okay so for a long while....I'd love to say the above shark ate me and that is why but well it isn't true.


I've been busy (aren't we all)  I will share the reason with you in another post.  Right now, I want to tell you about what I did yesterday and show you the watermelon shark my roommate Shelly made for her granddaughter's 5th birthday party.

Arissa is to the right - she is the birthday girl.  Sorry I can't remember her little friends name.

This is Arissa's mommy Stephanie.  Years ago she had been my roommate for six months (and a great roomie too).  Now, Stephanie's mom Shelly is my current roommate and Shelly or Grammy as Arissa calls her is the one who made the cool watermelon shark.

Sweden's fish in multi-color is added to the balls of watermelon

Blue jello jiggliers make up the water

It was a fun party and it was good to focus on something else besides work or home for a change.  I will share another post today about what else is going on in my life.

Until next time. . . . . 

Kathleen

I'm Back-(Hopefully)

I know Kathleen (and everyone else) is surprised to hear from me.  I have had a little set back the last few months with my health, but hopefully we are getting things under control.  I have quite a few ideas for future post.  It seems as though thinking is just about all I have accomplished lately.  Today's post is just going to be a few of my random thoughts, as scary as that seems. 


I just got a notice to serve on jury duty.  I haven't done that in quite a few (maybe 13) years and it is something I really would like to do Except-----I have to use the bathroom at least once every hour.  Usually it's more that once and hour and also I have been having a lot of problems with my ilieostomy pouches, for a lack of a better term, blowing up.  I don't think any of the previous situations would work very well during a trial, should I be chosen for one.  So I went on line, filled out the jury qualification questionnaire.  When asked about health issues I answered the question.  Two days later I receive a letter saying I need a doctor's statement.  I was tell my daughter, Maria, about this and she told me she got out of jury duty because she was breast feeding.  Are you Kidding me!!!!!!  Like pumping for a week would scar my grandchild.  Somehow this has me puzzled. I breast fed and know how important it is, but!!!!!!!!!  Either they take my doctor's word for it, or it might be a very interesting week.  So off to the doctor I go. 


That is another issue.  I have been seeing this doctor for about 15 years.  He is my primary and know all about my issues with Crohn's disease relating to my retiring from work and all of my insurance issues.  Not having to start over with someone else is probably the main reason to stay with him.  He is quite different now than 15 years ago.  He used to actually touch his patients, and now seems to avoid that whenever possible.  Don't get me wrong, he is a nice man.  He seems to be way too busy, which I believe is probably much too common now days.  This is the doctor who asked me to return his video's for him when I was done with my office visit.  Thank goodness he can write without too much physical contact.


Well I am going to sign off for now.  Kathleen I hope you are proud of me. 

Until next time,

 Love to you all

Sue