Walls of the Bedroom Painted

YELLOW or STRAW? That is the question

The Walls are Done in the Bedroom!!!

We are moving the old dressers out and getting into sellout mode for most of the furniture.  

Our cabinet maker came today with the contractor and the electrician is coming tomorrow!

We're off to the races.

Bright Burrow

Who needs a big house? 

House Dreaming

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8-Long-Ridge-Ct_Farmington_CT_06085_1101306360

With all these plans working on the house, Hal and I went and did a little window shopping (car windows) and we found a great house for us.

After considering it 20 seconds or so, I think we're going to stay exactly where we are and enjoy our front porch, big trees, great neighbors and a little renovation. Besides, what would we do with four bathrooms and a three car garage?

Pros and Cons: Base Filler - Pantry

Another filler. Again, if I have a funny space, why not use it? I don't see a down side.

Pros and Cons: In Door Spice Rack

This seems like a no brainer to me. I remember growing up in a house where the oft-used spices were kept near at hand and the infrequently used spices were in the spice rack always covered with dust and sticky with grease. Icky! This has given me an aversion to spice racks in general and anyone who knows me understands that I hate anything that has a permanent home on the countertop instead of being "put away". To me, a clean kitchen means cleared off, so clean you can lick them countertops, so I am definitely up for throwing away my twirling spice rack in favor of a in door spice rack.

Pros

• The perfect solution
• No grimey spice jars out on display
• Frees up space on the countertop, but spices are still at your fingertips

Cons

• Increases the weight of the door, do I need to worry about the hinges?
• Open the door too quickly and things go flying across the room
• I don't want to store spices near the stove because it decreases their life, but I do want to use spices next to the stove. Will I just keep everything here because it is convenient? And does it really change my bahavior? I think that now I just shove everything in the cupboard next to the stove anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

Pros and Cons: Cutlery Divider

This specialty drawer has a big cool factor, but I can buy a divider from IKEA for what, $10? Or will I love it because there is no in front of or behind, no sliding around? However, I won't be able to turn it upside down and shake the inevitable crumbs out . . .

Pros and Cons: Pull Out Table

Pros

• Extends working cabinet space
• Has to be put away, you can't leave the clutter on it, the drawer must be closed after use

Cons

• Takes up drawer space
• Not removable (can I get a bread board like Rebecca has instead?)
• If it gets dirty, it must be cleaned where it is, there is no sinck option

Pros and Cons: Tray Divider

I had one of these in my NJ apartment and loved it. I'm having a hard time coming up with "cons".

Pros

• Stores trays vertically instead of horizontally
• Easier to find the tray you want and extract it
• Uses small spaces where a regular drawer or shelves won't fit

Cons

• Could have another drawer or shelf (if not a small space)
• Trays can go under the oven, isn't that what the drawer there is for?
  

Pros and Cons: Bread Box Drawer

It kind of freaks me out to think of putting perishables in a cupboard and not in the fridge or on the countertop. For me, out-of-sight frequently means out-of-mind. However, if I could get the food off the countertop, that may be a plus for me.

Pros

• Gets perishables off the countertop and out of the refrigerator
• It's cool

Cons

• Out-of-sight, out-of-mind
• Am I inviting mold into my home?
• Not my favorite, perhaps an unneeded expense?

Pros and Cons: Adjustable Drawer Divider

I've never had one of these before, but it looks handy.

Pros

• Use the drawer to store things and not get them all mixed up
• Better organization
• Change the sizes based on what you want to store

Cons

• Losing the dividers if you take them out for some reason
• They get in the way if you have stuff that is too big and then you have to take them out and re-jig
• Is it an unneeded expense?
  

Pros and Cons: Floating Island

I'm really torn on this one. Do I need an island that I can move around? My kitchen is small and I am definitely a countertop hog. But will it end up in the same place all the time? Why won't I have it permanently affixed?

Pros and Cons: Appliance Garage

I have wanted one of these ever since I got my first stand mixer.

Pros

• No more heavy lifting, now it is a sliding proposition

Cons

• Takes up counter space
  

Pros and Cons: Plate Rack

The purpose of a plate rack at the Bright Burrow is to keep our favorite and most often used plates, cups and glasses within reach and easy to put away. It also breaks the cupboards up visually so you see something other than door after door. My thought is to put it right over the sink.

Pros

• Easy reach
• Breaks up cabinet lines
• Informal to match house
• Looks like we are displaying a collection

Cons

• Dust and grease will collect over time unless dishes are really used
• Dropping dishes in the sink as I get them out of the rack
• I've never had one before, this is a risk for me
  

Pros and Cons

We are considering putting a few "specialty" cabinets into the kitchen, but figure that only two or three of our favorites will fit into the budget. Please give us your opinion on what you think the pros an cons are of each of the options we post. Thanks for helping us decide.

Plate Racks

Our intention is to put a plate rack with either a shelf or cup hooks over the sink. Teak seems to be the best choice since it is more impervious to rot (if we use it as a drying rack), or we may be using one that matches our cupboards.

PODS for Storage

PODS
8x8x16 = $278.83 + 54.95 333
8x8x12 = $245.65 + 54.95 300
Quote #6439730, 6439732
866-229-4120

Shaker Inspired Cupboards

These are the kind of cupboards we want in the kitchen, Shaker style, very simple. Not painted, just a medium colored wood, and either wooden knobs or brushed stainless steel knobs.

Kitchen Suggestions from Rebecca

• If you are going to have kids, you want to be able to lock everything
• A black stove top shows fingerprints, splashes, smears - you can't hide anything
• A plate and cup rack saves space in the cupboard
• Do not take up counter space with a microwave, mount it somewhere
• Put in the floor you want, not what someone else thinks you should have
• Plan a space to hang dishtowels and aprons and to store brooms and dustpans
• Magnetic knife rack
• Grout is always a problem
  

Ceiling Painted

Ceiling is painted and room is taped. We have some "minor plaster repair to do before we can prime. I will be doing that while Tortilla packs for NY and LA.

Falling Apart

Kitchen

New tile and grout in the bathroom. Hmmm, should it be doing this, it's three months old.

We need to get cracking!