THE GREAT REMODEL OF 2008

Are you ready for some before and after pictures? I hope so because I just want to brag and praise and jump up and down in sheer joy for my beautiful new living room and recently remodeled kitchen.

This is what we've been living in for the past nine wonderful years.

Here's my ever hard worker of a husband

He loves me very much because we've teetered back and forth for years trying to decide if we should knock out the kitchen wall and add an addition or just put down cheap linoleum and carpet then get the heck out of dodge.

I was willing to do either and Brett was willing to do neither. So instead Brett compromised with something even better.

In what would be only a four week project, Brett repainted the bulk of our main level. He put down sub flooring (remember the linoleum idea) then ripped it back up so he could take down all the cupboards and cabinets in the kitchen.

Then with the help of his brother Rusty, his know how and connections, Brett and I agreed on a Rustic Maple hardwood floor throughout the entire level. Thus creating an illusion of size by having a continuous flow of flooring instead of definite start and stop points in both rooms. I also think the planks themselves help elongate the living room.

Sammy and Brady (my nephew and son to Rusty and Jennifer) kept themselves occupied with the empty boxes while the adults spent two days laying the flooring. Thanks go out to Rusty and Jennifer for sacrificing a very precious Friday night and all day Saturday to help us.

Then again thanks go to Rusty who helped us assemble and install our beautiful Knotty Alder Cabinets with even more amazing crown molding. The Granite Countertops and black undermount sink were ordered and installed in a record six days.

I also want to add that Brett is the mastermind behind my incredible rolling island which comes in so handy when one wants to have a chocolate fountain dessert table.

And all this wouldn't have happened if not for my wonderful husband and his brother who wanted to get it finished so they could enjoy a week a Lake Powell Stress Free; three out-of-state Internet acquaintances who were staying in my house the very day after final installation, and twenty five of my closest friends who came to have dinner at my house in my new kitchen. (all of which will be blogged about later)

So here you are again a before and after shot of the same view.