Moving Back In

The grouting is done...and it's white.  I have no photos of the process

because it was tough.  It's been several years since I last grouted anything

and I've never done such a large area.  I wasn't sure how long I would have

the time I started grouting until it set up so I moved quickly.  It was difficult.

It was messy.  I broke out in a sweat.  And I might have cried a little bit.  

Once I had about one-third of it done, I stood back and was certain I

made a mistake using white.  It should have been gray, I thought.

But once it was all done and I'd wiped off the white haze, the subtle

color difference and texture looked beautiful and my attention went back

to the cabinets which is where I thought it should be.

(I should note I'm not done painting the cabinets.)

This was what the kitchen looked like on Monday night after I'd finished the

grouting and I started contemplating what I'm going to do with the window

casings and sashes.  I'm going to paint the French doors on the opposite wall

the same as the cabinets so I think I need to have some of that darker value

on the windows to balance them.  Having the dark gray above the white sink

will also make a nice composition I think.

Everything needed to be cleaned out of the kitchen for a final coat on the 

floors.  I understand that it makes a lot of sense to leave a final coat until

all the work is done--there were a few scratches that happened--but it was a

drag having to keep the cats barricaded from the room while the floors dried.

But all the workmen are out the house and I can start moving back in. I had

to wonder, after living with the bare essentials for the past seven months,

what was in all the boxes that were stacked in my front hallway. I'm taking

a critical look at everything and making tough choices about what I keep.

I'm a hunter and gatherer by nature and giving away doesn't come easily.

I recently discovered my neighborhood had a "free table."  Anyone can

drop off or pick up from the free table.  It's a great place to drop things off

that wouldn't really warrant to trip to Goodwill or selling at a yard sale.

People leave books, clothes, boots, housewares, artwork, all kinds of things.

Even the worst of things seems to find a new home.

I have some vintage stuff I can send off for sale but a good deal of this

stuff will be going to the free table.

I've never really been an organized person.  The house

might look presentable but I have screwdrivers in my sock drawer

and paint cans in the dining room cupboards.  I want that to change.

I gathered up all my gift cards and headed to The Container Store

where I got all kinds stuff to pimp out my cabinets.  I got several

of these pull out drawers so I can make better use of the space.

In some of the cabinets, I can fit two.  I thought

the lid racks would also be good for cookie sheets

and cutting boards. 

I wanted to have a pull-out trash and recycling combo 

but the bins were so small, the really didn't make sense.

So I got a trash bin and there will be room left over for

a paper grocery bag to sit next to it for recycling.

And I got a few of these dividers for the deep bins

to store smaller pans and cutting boards.

I'm kind of spring cleaning as things move around. After

several months of renovation, the house is just filthy and I

can't take it anymore.

My armoire will be delivered this week and I'm really looking

forward to getting all the dishes, serving pieces and glassware put away.