No More Kitchen Door

Before and After

Cabinets and Rockstars

More walls were opened up today! Unfortunately I couldn't get over there to take a pic.  But I will have some updates tomorrow.  I'm excited!  

We made the final decision on what and where the cabinets are going.  We went with these guys:

They are shaker style and will look super clean and modern with my hardware:

And on a completely different note, Avery announced:

"Mom, I want a rockstar bedroom, full of peace signs and rockstars."

Amazing.  Where is a four year old coming up this?

Maybe its time for this movie:

http://www.schoolofrockmovie.com/

And as far as peace sign go, these aren't too bad right?  Yes they are.  I think I will just paint her room purple while she is gone.  haha

Let's Talk Fireplaces

When I originally saw this house I thought the fireplace needed to be painted immediately.  The brick was dark and the black mortar was terrible.  The hearth was a giant mess sticking out into my family room ready to break the teeth off my sweet running and climbing girlies.

Then we hired contractor Steve (who is amazing btw).  It turns out Steve worked in brick for quite a while and is somewhat of a brick expert.  He told me straight up I was not allowed to paint that brick. 

According to Steve it is old Alabama Bessemer Grey brick that probably dates back to a pre-civil war era.  The brick was hand cast, which is why it is so rough and multicolored.  In some of the bricks you can actually see the fingerprints of the men who made it. So awesome, right!  

That little bit of history made me fall in love with our fireplace.  I decided not to paint it but the hearth still had to go (I don't love that fireplace more than the girls' teeth/heads).  Now I am looking for a creative way to showcase it and its awesome brick. 

Here is the fireplace before:

Here is where we are now.  It already looks so much better without the hearth.  Steve is going to take the brick from the hearth and lay it on the bottom so it matches perfectly.  

Its been hard to find some good inspiration now that I'm not painting it.  Everything I am drawn to is all white.  If you see fireplaces that rock the original brick, send me a link, or post a link in a comment.  (pics from http://www.bhg.com/)

This was my original idea:

Love the white in this one (below) but I don't love the plant or the stool.  Way too much French country. blah.

 

Based on the style of the room (below), I would automatically expect this one to be painted but it's not!  And it really works - awesome.

And this one (below) is so not my style but I find it so beautiful!  Just had to share.

So thats the current round up.  I appreciate everyone who has been giving me advice!  Thank you and keep it coming.  I need all the help I can get!

Demo day three! And I need advice...

So I ran over to the house this afternoon and this had happened!!

And yes that is my girl collecting nails or some other dangerous construction leftovers.  I am standing in the kitchen looking into the family room.  The wall separating the two is gone!  The space already feels so open.

Here is the view from the other side.  See the door?  We can't decide if we should just get rid of it or not.  That entire wall is going to be glorious kitchen so we could put the refrigerator there and gain a lot more counter space...I just can't decide.

Here is a pic of one of the workers covering the window for me so I can try to get a visual.  Hahaha!  What a good sport.  But really, what do you think?  More kitchen or random door leading to the side of the house that lets in tons of light?  I need help.  Seriously.  If you are reading this right now tell me what you would do.  Not kidding.

We do have all this light flowing into the area and another large window over the future sink directly to the left, so its not like we have a lack of windows...

And of course while I stared at the door the girls got some time in the best back yard in Vestavia.  Makes my mom heart feel sooo good.

Demo Day One

So we made it through the first day of demo.  I stopped by the house this morning to see what progress was made yesterday.  A few awesome things popped up.

We found the original flooring in the kitchen!

Our awesome oven has been removed.  Everyone keeps telling me I should sell that thing on e-bay.  It is amazing.  I wanted to keep it but its doesn't work.  Sad.

Our hearth has started to come down!  Very excited about this.  I didn't want a hearth eating up valuable space in the family room and adding one more dangerous thing for Reese to climb on.  I could just see the future injuries.  I was going to paint the brick but I have since learned its history.  It is amazing.  More on that later.

I'm also having a hard time with fireplace inspiration.  Ideas anyone?

This is what your house would look like it it was entirely made of wood paneling.

And my favorite pic;

Hi Avery in jammies and gloves.  No you can't come in.

A little background...

We have been looking for house in Vestavia since November of last year.  We have gone out almost every week at least once searching for three things:

1) A kitchen that is somewhat connected to the family room.
2) A backyard that has at least some flat area.
3) A basement.

I didn't think I was being that picky, but it is almost impossible to find all three of those things in Vestavia Hills because it is in fact, full of hills (no yards) and rocks (no basements).

Finally this gem popped up!

It was built in 1959 and has been owned by one family.  The older gentleman that came to the closing actually grew up in the home and handed me the original key and land survey!  From 1959!  I was so excited!

 The family was immaculate and the house is in great shape.  It's your basic three two with a full unfinished basement.  And somehow miraculously it has a flat backyard.  (and no we did not get to keep the trailer)

And to make it even more amazing the wall separating the kitchen and family room is not weight bearing so it is coming down!

I love the fact that only one family has owned this house.  I love that they have done almost nothing too it since the 50's.  We are going to fix it up and make it amazing.

Here is the news:

We bought a house on Monday!  It is now wednesday and we are tearing it up!  I am so excited!  I got there just in time to snap a few pics before it all started.