Feeling Crafty Again...

Maybe it's fall coming on (at least - I'm dreaming of fall temps, tall boots and being able to bake/cook in my house without overheating the entire place...), but I'm starting to feel a little crafty again and I was inspired by this great post from one of my favorite blogs, Home Stories A2Z, on how to find color palette inspiration. Beth provided some amazing examples and tools for selecting color palettes and my mind is spinning... I'm going to be spending lots of time on Design Seeds for sure!

Image: Design Seeds
I would LOVE this color palette in our bedroom, which we just painted grey like the color on the bottom...

I was also inspired by this post from Jane at Modern Jane. Isn't her front door (below) the cutest thing you've ever seen? We need a new front door (hoping it can be a Christmas project when my father-in-law is in town...) and it would be awesome to paint it a fun color. I'm thinking something in the yellow family. Thoughts?

Photo: Modern Jane

I feel a craft coming on...

The list of crafts I'd like to complete is growing... if only I had unlimited time and resources! This jewelry holder idea from Peace, Love, 2 Sisters (found by way of Ucreate), however, has me thinking it would be an easy, affordable, unique gift idea for friends...

Photo credit: Peace, Love, 2 Sisters

I have been inspired by a few ideas that involve repurposed frames lately (see here what Dana from House Tweaking did with some mirror frames from Goodwill). Do you have any ideas for using old frames - or maybe a few old frames that need a home? I will start looking at garage sales and thrift stores...

After...

One week later and it's done! My awesome kitchen makeover is complete and we think it looks great. I took this picture before we put the hardware back on - but it's still the antique brass even though my original plan was brushed nickel. That was the only wrench in my plans, but the door hinges made keeping the other hardware a necessity - at least for now...

Kitchen "after".
How come my floors look cleaner in pictures than in real life?

Next project: painting our bedroom - which has been in desperate need of painting since my father-in-law built us a new closet in May!

Extreme Makeover: My Kitchen Edition

My kitchen: before.

I am so excited - tomorrow marks the start of a paint makeover in my beloved kitchen! I should caveat that the kitchen is beloved because I spend so much time there cooking, which I love. However, the cupboards are definitely worn down and the paint color is something along the lines of Big Bird yellow. I do love the backsplash and under-cabinet lighting, but my love for those is tempered by my dislike of the ancient stove (yes, I know it looks cool - but if you'd like to clean it out by hand give me a call) and the amazing (when you can't say something nice...) blue countertops. I would never have picked them myself.

Thanks to some designer friends, our state tax refund (thanks, Colorado!) and a serendipitous e-mail announcing that a wonderful painter had some suddenly found time - our kitchen is about to undergo a needed makeover. The cabinets will become a distressed white, the walls are getting a muted taupe color, the hardware will all be changed to brushed nickel, and the dishes in the before picture will all be put away. Hee-hee, had to throw that one in there.

Stay tuned for the after shots! The job should be over by the weekend.