I started this before and after on July 1st. It has been a long and exhausting job; which would not be finished today if it weren't for Ron pitching in. (Thank you, Sugarbear!) I went into this knowing it would take most of my summer, worried that it might be a huge disaster, and determined to not be making a horrible mistake. I am pleased with the results.
Here are a few before pictures. The kitchen and the half-bath are the only rooms I actually had pictures of. The laundry room must have been wearing an invisibility cloak!
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When we moved in, Ron sanded the fronts of the cabinets and refinished them.
It helped a little, but I have always hated the ugly wood and paneling the builder used.
Typical 70's house. |
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| This is the half-bath. No one liked using it because it is tiny and dark. |
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| Other side of the kitchen with more ugly cabinets and paneling. |
Here are a couple of during pictures. Ron was in charge of removing the cabinets and putting them back up. I didn't remove the things in the cabinets the first time I sanded the cabinet box... HUGE mistake. After removing everything just to wipe it down, I learned my lesson.
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| Laundry room... |
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| Looking into the kitchen and half bath from the laundry room... |
And finally, the after pictures! Everyone has had the same reaction: "Wow! It is so bright in here now! It looks good!"
I'm about 95% finished with decorating; etc. Still have some curtains to make and waiting for Leslie to cut my vinyl letters for the laundry room.
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| Laundry room... |
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| Looking into the half-bath... |
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| It is soooo much lighter in here now! |
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| Kitchen from the laundry room door... |
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| Kitchen from the dining room... |
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| My shelf that Ron put up... just for some of my canning and milk jars. |
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| Family keepsakes... no longer stuck in a cabinet! |
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More family keepsakes. The picture belonged to Grandma Veach, the basket was made by Mom.
I don't remember who owned the lamp. |
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| Kitchen window... I don't think I am going to put up any curtains. |
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Look how dark that dining room is compared to the kitchen!
What a difference!! |
I am happy, happy, happy!
Next summer... pulling the paneling off the living and dining room walls, texturing the walls, and white washing the fireplace!!!
