In July 2009, we experienced a front row seat to the current economic climate when we lost a major account. Our business was already slower than usual. This one account was keeping us afloat. When we lost it, there was a moment of disbelief and then a sense of being stunned. What really helped to change the outcome of where we ended up and helped us through the difficulty was letting go of the way things had been and starting to imagine what could be.
We put everything up for sale, the office, house, equipment, and some ‘toys’. We planned to keep just enough equipment to keep the business going. Everything sold within a few months except for our home. A year later, it too sold and we were able to buy a much more modest property free and clear.
Our initial move necessitated a remodel of the existing house. We think that the original part of the house was begun around 1960, although there are no good records available to know this for sure. It was then added onto numerous times by the next owners. We think that we are the third family to live here. The back, bedroom portion of the home was in pretty good shape minus the need for some paint, but the front of the house needed some major remodeling.
Here is the kitchen when we first bought the house. My youngest son started taking everything apart the day we moved in. The cabinets are now in my father's woodworking shop. Most everything in our remodel was recycled in some fashion.
Here are a few pictures of the new kitchen.
Designing the kitchen was fun. I wanted it to have some furniture-like qualities so the upper cabinets all have glass front doors to mimic a china cabinet. We painted the cabinets white and then antiqued them by hand. The refrigerator was moved to the opposite wall and we put a microwave/convection oven, electric oven, and warming drawer where the refrigerator was. By adding the butler's pantry I was able to extend the somewhat small kitchen space. We brought in natural gas and I replaced the very small cooktop with a natural gas cooktop. Oh, what a difference!
Notice the door at the end of the kitchen. We opened up this wall and created a butler's pantry, one of my favorite parts of the remodel, that increases the usefulness of this kitchen a million fold. We took space from a mud room that even after stealing quite a large space out of it, is still more than ample.
We made the island significantly larger and added bookends on each end. The gas cooktop is also about three times larger. We also added a raised bar so you can eat in the kitchen.
The family room and dining room were really dated. We pulled out carpet and added more hardwood floors, replaced really old, drafty, aluminum windows with energy-efficient ones, and removed a built-in and moved it to the garage for storage space. We also replaced all of the old 2" millwork trim around the doors and windows. This made a huge difference in the appearance of things.
This is my favorite spot, the butler's pantry. The sink is where an old utility sink originally sat. We added a wall, covered up a doorway, removed a closet door and made a rounded opening, installed removable shelves in an old broom closet, and added hardwood flooring. I furnished the pantry with antiques and collectibles.
We installed a brass sink in this old, pine buffet. It is the perfect drink center for morning coffee and afternoon tea.
An old cabinet makes a great place to store some Fiestaware plates, some vintage pitchers, and a "Fresh Eggs" sign.
This is one of my favorite spots. An old baker's table is outfitted with a marble slab that my granite fabricator had leftover from another project. He cut it to fit and sold me the piece for $100. The old bookcase mounted on the wall holds my vintage mixing bowls, flour, sugar, and other baking necessities; and the baker's table hold measuring cups, spoons, and rolling pin, keeping all of the needed supplies close at hand. A bulletin board on the wall is an easy place to pin a recipe for easy viewing.
An old baking rack holds a myriad array of goodies from napkin rings to old cast iron frying pans. What would I do without it?
A tall, pine cabinet houses some of my many teapots and also store a breadmaker and crockpot in the cabinet below.
And last, but not least, are some pictures of the adjoining family room and dining room.
Before:
These pictures came off the internet from the advertisement from when the house was for sale. It is full of the previous owners furnishings. Jeez, I hope they don't see this and mind...
We closed off the doorway in this picture in order to create the butler's pantry. It originally went into the mud room.
After:
The dining room also doubles as the breakfast nook since there is no other place to eat except the kitchen bar. I recovered the chairs that were in a white damask to a more friendly rooster print fabric.
I really love all the windows in this room. The views are amazing and we get to watch the storms blow through, see Mt. Hood on a clear day, and watch the wildlife out the window. Last winter we saw coyotes, deer, a bobcat, and a cougar, oh my!
I was originally tempted to take out the woodstove and the cedar siding on this wall, but it has grown on me. By painting the walls a dark forest green, it tends to fit in better than with the more contemporary colors that were there before. We love the warmth of the stove and it helps to make it through the long, cold, winter evenings to have a fire crackling away.
A doorway here leads out onto a large deck that overlooks the valley. A view of Mt. Hood from the front of the house is a real bonus and we enjoy sitting out here during the summer and counting our blessings.
Ah, Home Sweet Home!
