Author Archives: kati

From the kitchen… sort of.

published on by kati

Grilled Chicken Caprese sandwich with sweet potato chips and pomegranate-lemon-lime spritzer.

There’s always time for a sandwich, right?

On the last day we had our kitchen we were able to whip up a lovely little sandwich using the grill and the toaster oven. It was so beautiful, and so tasty, that we decided it should photographed and shared for all to see! I’m hopeful that even amid the inconvenience of having only one bathroom sink to do all the washing up, and prepping on one little table in the living room, we can still manage to be creative with our food, and keep the cooking spirit within us alive.

Grilled Chicken Caprese sandwich

Ingredients:
Rosemary-olive oil sourdough bread, toasted lightly
Fresh mozzarella
Pesto
Grape tomatoes, quartered
Fresh whole basil leaves (from the garden)
Grilled chicken breast seasoned simply with salt, pepper and olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Toss the tomatoes with about 2-3 teaspoons (use as much as you like) pesto, a little salt and pepper, and a splash (1 tsp?) balsamic vinegar. Lay some of the tomato mixture on each side of the bread. On one side, lay sliced chicken; the other, whole basil leaves, then sliced fresh mozzarella. Pile on some more tomatoes then close up the sandwich. Slice to show how gorgeous it is, and then devour it! Sooo good!

More house pics to come. Until then, lunch it up, people!

hey you guys!

published on by kati

*** Update: Photos! ***

** Update: Rewiring house = installing all new overhead lights to replace “antique” fixtures. Hidden, hidden costs! **

Electrical work is set to begin today on our unforeseen, but hopefully only real overage on our renovation. We’re having the whole house rewired – get lost, knob and tube! – which is a blessing in disguise. While no one is ever happy about spending more money than they expected, I, for one, am happy it is to make the house safer for us, and future occupants.


Think it’s a wise idea to have the electrician start in the attic on the hottest day of the year so far? I honestly don’t know where he’s going to start. I’ll take photos of his handiwork when I can!

Let the renovations begin!

(Love the labels on the wires!)

(Did I mention that we have to have our smoke/carbon monoxide detectors hard-wired?)

(Poor little attic floor.)

(The mayhem required for order.)

blast from the past…

published on by kati


When Jeff and I first bought our home, we knew we’d like to overhaul the kitchen someday. We also knew it would be a huge undertaking, one we’d like to really design, and not just redo. So, in the meantime we painted the cabinets, updated our appliances (since most were non-operational), and accessorized as best we could. Now, here it is, our long-awaited renovation is about to begin. Our baby is coming, after months of designing, drawing, consulting, shopping and contemplating.


I thought it might be good to remember how awful the kitchen was when we first got the house, to recall our zeal and determination in the face of an absolute lack of design.




When we finally painted the cabinets, put in a new countertop and sink, installed under cabinet lighting, and updated the appliances we were able to live with the kitchen, for a while.

Eventually, however, the lack of storage space, counter space, seating space, burner space, and oven space (space, maybe?) got to us, the floor gawked at us with its orangey-browny-ness one too many times, the full bath within the confines of the kitchen disturbed one too many guests, made the burning desire to rip it all apart became impossible to ignore.

Ignored no longer, our impending renovation will encompass the kitchen, the (presently) full bath downstairs, the maid’s bath turned master bath upstairs, the maid’s staircase and the office. Phew!

Excitement is brewing.

More pictures and plans to come!


Major BEFORE!

published on by kati

The renovations are about to begin… and by “about to” I mean in a few weeks. But, before then we have sooooo many things to get done. Chiefly, packing up the entire kitchen, moving our bedroom into the office, the office into the guest room, and the guest room, well, it’s closed down after this week. We also have to protect all our wood flooring – covering half the house in cardboard and drop cloths – and deconstruct (not demolish) our kitchen (most of the cabinets/countertops will be reused or repurposed rather than dumped).


We’ll also be going from a three bath house to a one bath house for the rest of the summer. I predict that might end up being harder than it seems. Still, the most inconvenient will be losing the kitchen. I know I will appreciate it that much more when it’s reborn!

Soon, I’ll put up some before pictures, and some of my inspirations for the renovation. I can hardly stand it – the process is finally beginning!

Hope you enjoy peeking into our life, and witnessing the highs and lows of a kitchen/bathroom(s) remodel!

xoxo