Saturday, January 3, 2009

A sweet update...

Look what I got for Christmas! in the spirit of handmade gifts this year, dear husband did a little beadboard backsplash project in the kitchen and I couldn't be happier. We remodeled the kitchen about 16 years ago. When we moved to this little cottage as newlyweds, there was no kitchen to speak of. A few floor to ceiling built ins from the 40's was it. No counter top, nothing. We finally remodeled the kitchen after years of make do and as it happens with so many DIY projects, some of the details never got done. Namely, the backsplash. So many things have needed to be worked on over the years (we doubled the size of the house, by ourselves, while having children, attending school and sweetheart working 50 hours a week!) that the details have suffered. I mentioned that I would love some beadboard for a backsplash and that is one of the things I got for Christmas! Thank you darling! I hurried and took some photos while the counters were cleared, lol!
I love how bright and cheery and finished it all looks. Now I step back and imagine the cabinets painted white and a beautiful new color on the walls, or maybe a fantastic sage green wallpaper with lush cabbage roses! Oops, guess you opened a can of worms honey:>) I think I'll enjoy just dreaming about what to do until spring. Isn't that part of the fun?

47 comments:

  1. Oh, how beautiful! What a wonderful Christmas gift! You two are quite the ambitious pair doing all of that yourselves! That's amazing!

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  2. I love the beadboard Kathy! Perfect for your cottage style. The sun shining in makes me want to stop by for a cup of coffee and long chat.

    Oh....white painted cabinets would be wonderful! I love to paint, can I come help?
    xo
    Penny

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  3. It looks gorgeous Kathy!! May I borrow your husband for a week or so?? *laugh*
    Such a perfect gift!!

    Happy new year to you all!

    Love,
    Sue

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  4. One thing always leads to another doesn't it?

    The beadboard looks great! That's the homiest look of all to me. :)

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  5. Kathy, I love the way your beadboard backsplash turned out. I have a kitchen that has been remodeled a bit and the backsplash has not been finished. I've thought about beadboard but we haven't completely decided what we want. My sweetheart groans whenever I mention the backsplash - it means work! Thanks for sharing yours. It's such an inspiration. I'll let you know (and see) what we end of up with sometime this year. That's part of the list of things to accomplish in 2009. ~Adrienne~

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  6. The perfect cottage backsplash!You should be very happy about that. It looks like he did a great job!

    ~Liz

    P.S. Love that little vignette in your header. Very sweet!

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  7. Me too...love the backsplash! Your hubby did a fabulous job and a great Christmas gift!

    Cathy

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  8. I am a big fan of bead board. I'd love to put that up from chair rail height down to the floor in my great room. But we don't have such skills :-(

    It's a most wonderful Christmas gift !!

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  9. Kathy, that is perfect! I am glad to know that there are others who believe home improvements make great gifts!

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  10. What a wonderful gift! I love beadboard - it's so cottagey. It looks just wonderful!

    Manuela

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  11. Kathy, what an amazing gift...something you wanted, something you can enjoy and appreciate...AND all made with loving care!! It looks amazing and I'm picturing the white cabinets and the wallpaper in sage green with cabbage roses....can of worms indeed!! Isn't decorating fun?!

    I love your winter banner!!

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  12. Love the beadboard backsplash! What a nice Christmas gift!

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  13. You know I won't encourage you to paint OAK cabinets...I love to see the woodgrain.

    Your beadboard looks marvelous, though. Tell Earl he did another great job! It really looks bright and cheery with the sun shining in the window. Can't wait to see it in person.

    Love ya!

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  14. How pretty; what a wonderful gift!

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  15. Kathy, I am so jealous!!!!!! Your hubby rocks!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE beadboard!!! I have been wanting a backsplash like that for years. Yours looks gorgeous!!!

    Love ya,
    Amy

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  16. Love that bead board...My daughter just did a whole wall in her kitchen of it...Stop over at the blog, I'm having a giveaway and the 2009 calendar of Miss Sophie at the movies is posted....Happy New Year!!

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  17. The backsplash is beautiful! Your Sweetie did a great job :-)

    I can so relate to your remodeling scenario. I was just thinking yesterday about how to finish up the details on our kithchen and bathroom projects. Looks like the coming weeks are going to be busy ones for me.

    Rhonda

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  18. So gorgeous! Could I borrow him? What a guy. Let me know how it cleans. I would LOVE to have a beadboard backsplash. I'm afraid it's going to take us awhile to get to it, since we have to finish other things first..You know how that goes. Mimi

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  19. Hi Kathleen!

    Oh my GOSH! look how fabulous that looks!! I just adore beadboard and have it too, its so cottagey sweet and yours looks so crisp and clean and pretty!! I'll take that plate while Im at it too :) sooooo pretty!!

    Thanks so much for your sweet comments!

    Happy 2009! Hugs, Cynthia

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  20. I love anything with beadboard!
    We didn't have a backsplash for many years. It actually is fun to wait so many times :)

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  21. It is really beautiful, Kathy. Earl did a fantastic job. Thanks for sharing your lovely kitchen with us.

    Love, Debbi

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  22. My son and I were just talking about bead board last night and now here is your beautiful kitchen back splash. I am also thinking about painting my cabinets which look very similar to yours. I have been afraid to do it but I think I am ready. The wallpaper sounds so good.
    Roberta Anne

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  23. What a great Christmas present from your husband!! It looks beautiful. And it says so much about you as a person to want a gift that can be enjoyed by everyone. Happy New Year Kathy!
    Love,
    Jane

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  24. Oh, how pretty, Kathy!! I can "see" the kitchen cabinets painted white, too! LOL!!!

    Thanks for stopping by...

    ~Blessings,
    Jan

    ps...oops...forgot to say how much I love your new blog header and background!!!

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  25. I think the cabinets painted white would look
    great.
    From MT Pleasant MI

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  26. Oh, yes...cottage style really NEEDS a bit of beadboard...it looks fabulous. Such a sweetie is Earl. Looks like he did a great job.
    Every single time we do one thing to our house, something else just screams for attention....whew....it is never-ending.
    My next project is to take down tons of photos in my hall, repaint it in the soft creme I love, and pare down with just the most recent pictures hanging....with 10 grandkids, i am overflowing with pictures.....
    take good care and how is that bedroom coming along??

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  27. Oh, yes...cottage style really NEEDS a bit of beadboard...it looks fabulous. Such a sweetie is Earl. Looks like he did a great job.
    Every single time we do one thing to our house, something else just screams for attention....whew....it is never-ending.
    My next project is to take down tons of photos in my hall, repaint it in the soft creme I love, and pare down with just the most recent pictures hanging....with 10 grandkids, i am overflowing with pictures.....
    take good care and how is that bedroom coming along??

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  28. the beadboard looks fantastic! We are preparing...slowly...to put up the faux ceiling tin....as our backsplash....then...we are painting (correction, I am painting) our cabinets.....Perhaps we should begin a support group?!

    Looks fabulous!!!!!

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  29. Oh Kathy, that looks WONDERFUL!!! What a terrific Christmas gift!

    I'm catching up with all my blog visits, so I'm seeing your header for the first time. It's beautiful! I always crave white after all the reds and golds of Christmas.

    Wishing you and your family a joyous new year! :)
    xoxo,
    mary

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  30. It looks beautiful Kathy and white painted cabinets would look great!

    Blessings,
    Brook

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  31. Hi Sweet Kathy!
    I LOVE your special Christmas gift - those are the best kind, aren't they? ;-)
    Your new beadboard looks fantastic in your kitchen! Love it!!
    xo,
    Kim

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  32. Just perfect! I love how it turned out. Like someone else said, can I borrow your handyman husband to do my beadboard projects? I think white cabinets would be just the perfect touch to go along with the beadboard. Like Penny said, can I come and help, too?

    Happy Day,
    Becky
    xo

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  33. Hey Kathy, there's an award waiting for you on my blog.

    Cathy

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  34. I love the beadboard in the kitchen! We have it partially up the wall in one bathroom and it's a design element that I love. As for the "can of worms", that is so true. We are replacing the shower in our bathroom because of some damage. So we got new faucets and new shower door. Then I told the contractor to go ahead and take down the wallpaper and paint. Now he's going to measure for a new window. Now it's making my couner look old........ My husband is starting to get really scared! LOL!

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  35. Kathy the beadboard project is beautiful. It's just so you, so perfect. I do believe Dear Hubby did a fabulous job!

    Happy New Year!

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  36. My backsplash is beadboard, as well. I LOVE it, and I'm thinking of painting my lower cabinets white, also. They're a pretty green color now, but I want it to look a little brighter in my kitchen.

    Hubby did a wonderful job!

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  37. wow!!! what a sweet dear man..looks smashing!!!

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  38. Hi Kathy
    The beadboard looks fantastic. It is perfect for a country look in your kitchen and so nice and crisp looking in white too.
    What a sweet husband you have.
    Hugs, Rhondi

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  39. What a thoughtful and beautiful gift that your husband gave to you for Christmas! You are so blessed! I love it!
    Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

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  40. Mom, DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE CABBAGE ROSES! I REPEAT, DO NOT GIVE IN!!!! Also, I am almost CERTAIN that you will want to repaint that kitchen at least a few more times, and I know how much you hate taking down wallpaper. I love you! If you decide to paint, you can wait for me, if you decide to wallpaper.... hmm. if you need me, I guess I can just dip it in water and look away lol. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I MISS YOU SO MUCH! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
    ~V

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  41. Kathy, your beadboard looks beautiful! You must be thrilled to have it. How sweet of your husband! We never are finished with our homes,are we? LOL

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Thank you for taking the time to say hello :)