Now that we’ve officially looked back on our biggest disasters of 2015 and looked forward to all the DIY blog trends in store for us during 2016, it’s time to kick off some big projects! Today I have some super juicy content for you. And by “juicy content,” I mean I’m going to ramble about thoughts in my brain that mostly involve shopping for pants, and then I am going to awkwardly segue into talking about the kitchen renovation that I’m getting ready to kick off (because the blogosphere needs another kitchen renovation).
Before I start talking about pants and you click away, though, I want to mention that you should be sure to tune in for our Friday post and next week because something incredibly exciting is happening: we’re celebrating our one year blog anniversary (which I refuse to call our “bloggiversary,” even though I love portmanteaus)! We have so much queued up for you: joint projects, dueling projects, snark, answers to questions you didn’t ask, and more. MORE!
Okay, having dispensed with the requisite teaser, on to the pants. So, not only is it a new year, but it’s also the month in which I turn 30. Which I’m not really freaked out about — I’m excited for my age to finally make my level of introversion and homebody-ness more acceptable, and I feel great about what I’ve accomplished in life so far. I mean, I have a blog, how could I not feel like a total success?
Nevertheless, I do like to set goals for myself and I wanted to be sure I set some extra ambitious goals for this year. Here’s the list I made for myself:
I feel pretty good about most of the list. I’m already registered for the Boston Marathon and am solidly into training (it’s on April 18th), the ultramarathon (my first!) will be tough but I have confidence that if I train for it I can do it, and the two Ragnars are easy to slot into my training for Boston and the ultra. On the kitchen renovation front, I have a plan (a plan that I will be sharing with you today).
But guys, the pants. I am honestly not sure if this is an achievable goal. I currently have two pairs of pants I wear to work, and one of them is black skinny jeans (I’m an adult professional I swear). It really isn’t for lack of trying — I’ve gone pants shopping three times in the last two weeks alone, and so far all I’ve bought is sweatpants…which apparently doesn’t count. I’ll obviously be keeping you posted as this odyssey unfolds. It’s going to be an exciting and challenging year!
Okay, so now for the awkward segue to my kitchen renovation. I know that pretty much everyone and their mother is blogging about a kitchen renovation these days, and I can’t promise that mine will be the most creative, flashiest, or fastest moving out there. Here’s what I can promise you:
- I will share every budget detail, in case that’s helpful as you scope and plan your own renovation
- I will drone on about every tiny detail of product choices and the thousands of hours of research I did to make each individual decision, again in case that’s helpful
- There will be zero sponsored content, so no element of the renovation will include free products or compensation
- I will be using the brad nailer that Naomi got me for my birthday ISN’T SHE THE BEST?!?!
If that sounds interesting to you, I look forward to embarking on this journey with you! If that doesn’t sound interesting, frankly I’m surprised you stuck it out through the pants story (if that can even be called a story).
For the few of you still reading, I wanted to use this post to tell you about The Plan for The Kitchen. First of all, you might be wondering why we need to renovate at all. I mean, the room is already spectacular.
Lilac walls, blue counters, a window to the outside, a window to the inside — what more could this room need?
Some of our early readers might remember when I asked Naomi for advice about decorating our sunroom, and she did some awesome mockups that suggested I paint the room turquoise (which is always a winning plan in my book). Well despite what she proposed, she shortly thereafter informed me of her new plan for my sunroom, and she’s been steadily championing it ever sense. It involves knocking down the wall between kitchen and sunroom to create a big eat-in kitchen:
And even though I initially thought that knocking an opening into the wall between the kitchen and living room was the way to go, Naomi has totally worn me down won me over. I love the sunroom because of the great light it gets, but it’s an underutilized space which means we totally don’t enjoy all that great light. Meanwhile, our kitchen is rather dark, the table in there is cramped, and we have no actual dining room.
The offending wall is the former exterior wall of the house (the sunroom is an addition), so is most definitely load-bearing. Therefore, we need someone with more expertise than we have to help us (most other aspects of the project I plan to do myself). I’ve finally rounded up a few contractor estimates and we’re comfortable enough with the price tag to move forward. We haven’t settled on a final timeline and plan yet so the budget details are in flux, but we’re probably looking in the range of $4-5K to remove the wall, put in header and columns, repair the floor where the wall used to be, and relocate electrical as needed. We’re still figuring out how much more we will budget for the rest of the project — I’ll keep you posted!
In the meantime, let’s look at some mockups I did (I used IKEA’s kitchen planner because I was too lazy to use Sketchup, so I was limited by what IKEA carries — but it’s a good approximation).
Here’s how the floor plan would look (former sunroom is the left portion):
Looking into the former sunroom-turned-dining area, with the kitchen beyond that:
And the main kitchen area:
As all the question marks suggest, there are clearly some big unanswered questions.
And lastly, we’re planning a large storage wall that will replace the buffet, taking the space from this:
To this:
To be clear before anyone freaks out, the only place where I’m proposing open shelving is above the “Command Center/Landing Zone” (ie place to put our keys and spare change) — our dishware and foodstuffs are not nearly attractive enough for open shelving in the rest of the kitchen.
So in summary:
- Knock down load-bearing wall, replace with beam and half wall to form breakfast bar (and columns as needed)
- Turn sunroom into eat-in dining area with built-in benches
- Storage in corner by entryway
- Island
- Maybe replace microwave with range hood
- New wall of cabinetry
- New fridge and relocated fridge
- Paint all cabinets
- New backsplash
- New counters (perhaps two tone, ie something durable for the main cooking counters and butcher block/wood for the others)
- Paint all walls
- New lighting as needed
I’m projecting that it will take many many (many) months to do these projects, especially since they don’t play so nice with my other 2016 goals that involve spending huge swaths of my free time running (apparently training for an ultramarathon involves running 3-4 hours on Saturday and then 3-4 hours again on Sunday, plus 3 midweek runs…Naomi is not loving this development). Despite all this, I would bet good money that I finish this renovation before I find the right pants.
So, what are your 2016 goals?
(Sharing at Weekend Retreat Link Party and Tip Me Tuesday)
Work pants. Ugh. Back when I was 30 (more than a decade ago), there was a store called Casual Corner that solved all of my work wardrobe needs. I used to have to wear suits to work (yes, the IT monkey who was schlepping 300lb servers across multiple hospital buildings HAD TO WEAR A SUIT), and that place totally had me covered. They had suit sets: jackets, skirts, pants, etc, in different colors (navy, black, grey, etc) and every season they had different coordinating pieces (blouses, shirts, printed skirts, printed pants, etc). You’d get your mom to buy you a jacket and pants to get things started (that’s how I rolled in my 20s) and supplement with extra pieces so you’d have a nice capsule wardrobe. The main suit pieces were high quality and lined (and a little pricey, which is why I had my mom buy the base pieces for me for birthday) and lasted forever.
None of which helps you at all. Your best bet: buy pants that fit your largest part (you’re a runner, so thighs or butt probably) and have them tailored to fit the rest of you. It will save you hassle in the long run (HA).
I’m glad I’m not the only one familiar with this challenge! Where can I find me a Casual Corner?!?!? I think you might be right on the tailoring — and you’re definitely right on the thighs 🙂
Sadly, all the Casual Corners went away. 🙁
I hear Nordstrom does in-house tailoring, and they have lots of price points, it’s a good place to start.
That’s great to know, thanks Stacey!
It’s exciting to redo a kitchen and a huge undertaking that you’ve obviously given a lot a thought to. Forgive me, I know you didn’t ask, but as an older woman who has lived with several different kitchen arrangements, the thing I notice about the plan is the long walk you will be taking from kitchen work area to the dining area; exercise is great but I promise over time and many trips back & forth to the table, you will tire of the arrangement & wish there were a more straight forward way to get from A to B to C; it would cost more to move the sink’s plumbing to the island, but a longer island, turned perpendicular to the fridge, with the sink in it, would leave a clear shot from anywhere in the kitchen to the eating area. That would also bring your sink closer to the fridge, a major convenience. You can still support the ceiling above the removed wall in whatever way is most feasible.
Super helpful, thanks Mary Ann! I’ll have to raise this with Sam — I do about 0% of the cooking in our home, so it’s exactly these sort of things I overlook in the design process.
you go girls xx
Thanks! I hope Naomi does come help me!
I have wall knocking down + giant wall of cabinetry kitchen dreams myself, so I, for one, am eager to follow along both with the kitchen reno and pants buying posts (you are planning a whole series detailing pants shopping trips, yes?)
So glad that to know I’ll have at least one person eagerly following my kitchen reno AND my pants odyssey!
You’ve got two. I hate buying pants, and I second the advice above – buy pants that fit the widest part of you and get the rest tailored. If it’s tighs or butt, remember wearing ease and crotch height. This means the pants shouldn’t ride up on your tighs when you sit down, or show funny wrinkles pointing between the legs when you stand. The waistband shouldn’t pull down when you sit down. Removing excess fabric through darts is easy and not expensive, adding fabric to the crotch or the waist height is hard to do, or very very obvious.
Plus – I plan a kitchen reno too for after the move, including breaking through a load bearing wall. I’m thrilled about your plans, I can use more ideas! But in your place I’d let Sam check your plans for his storage needs and the placement of the infamous work triangle.
He maybe won’t mind the long walk to the table, since he could play diner cook and plop the food down on the breakfast bar – and you’d be waitressing it to the table… But it’s a bit harder when you’re used to grabbing tools etc. on the fly, and then you have to retrain yourself to look in another direction, or bend down instead of stretch. Just ask what needs to be where to keep his workflow, then he can’t nag when he needs to change it later 😉
Hahaha, thanks Lavacha! This is excellent advice all around! I will definitely be keeping everyone posted on the pants and kitchen situations 🙂
Made it to the end! Besides a pat on the back, does it get me anything else? Seriously, looking forward to this!
You now have approximately 5000 more brownie points than my husband, who doesn’t even start reading any posts. He may not even know we’re renovating our kitchen! (Just kidding, he does know, and he’s already sick of talking about it and now I can make all the decisions myself — win!)
Dear Sage-
I follow you and Naomi (truth be told she is my cousin and I would do anything to help you guys) thru P&D and love what you both are doing. That being said, I have been in the fashion industry forever. Pants suggestions: go to UNIQLO. They will have what you need. There is a pull on style that is great for work with a novelty stripe elastic waistband that is sooo hipster chic. Looks like both of you could wear them! Black, Navy, khaki and looks great dressed up or down. Very reasonable price too.
Good luck with the kitchen. Naomi is right, take down the wall….
let me know if you need more help with the pants problem….I will be your fashion consultant!
Oh man, you had me at “elastic waistband.” Thank you so much for this suggestion, and for reading!
Super exciting stuff! I agree with Mary Ann’s comment- one of my friend’s family re-did their kitchen in a similar way- opening up their dining room to make it all bigger- and the sink in the island was insanely successful- it makes the flow of cooking/bringing food over much easier!
You could also think about putting the stove in the island instead of over on the side, that is what we did with the kitchen at my old house. To make things flow even more you could move the oven to where the fridge is and have storage above/below it and the fridge where the stove/oven combo are. That way the fridge, stove and sink (in this case it would stay where it is) would be in close proximity to each other- that’s how our kitchen was staged haha.
Either way, can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!
Super helpful, thanks Katie! I will definitely raise this idea with Sam and with our contractor!
The kitchen and races are exciting and all, but the pants! I couldn’t agree more! When I started a new job last Fall, I promised myself that I would finally shop for decent clothes, but I haven’t bought a thing (I hate shopping, spending money, making a decision). It’s totally ridiculous what I cobble together pretending it’s semi-professional. Basically, I’ve convinced myself that my black Lands End yoga/exercise pants surely pass for trousers (I’m sorry I’m not kidding). Ha!
I’m so glad I’m not the only adult professional dressing myself in this manner! Stretch-pants lovers unite.
Sage, I recommend an overhang on the “bar” where the counter seating is placed. This will allow people on the bar stools to get closer to the flat surface by giving them a place to slip their knees under.
As for pants, I don’t suppose “Carharts from your local Agway” is a useful suggestion, but that’s all I got.
And how did you get to be 30? Stop that!!
I totally agree, Dad! IKEA Kitchen planner wouldn’t let me draw an overhang, but it’s absolutely part of my plan. I’m thinking I’d like to do it in the same wood as the wood counters we use in part of the kitchen.
Sadly I don’t think carharts will work, nor do I think we have a local Agway?
As for the Big 3-0, well you see the earth rotates the sun and every 365 days counts as a year. My dad is a scientist, maybe he can explain it to you.
Don’t hate me for saying this, but YAY RENOVATIONS! I know I know, when I own a house and it’s my turn I will curse that. But I can’t wait to follow along!!
I love your enthusiasm! I’m super excited too!
day late but here’s a photo you can flip end to end for your kitchen
https://www.facebook.com/BluHomes/photos/a.489268228562.268831.158377808562/10153760152218563/?type=3&theater
Love it! My one big concern (besides budget) is losing the counter space that the peninsula and island provide (if we nix the peninsula and put the sink in the island, that leaves us with very little counter since our kitchen isn’t very wide). But I’ll see what Sam thinks!
I absolutely would love to see a kitchen renovation that’s actually the owner’s personal renovation and not a series of secretly sponsored ads! The sponsored kitchens are nice eye candy, but not actually particularly helpful.
I’m not planning to reno my kitchen any time soon, but I do have a lot of reno on the horizon and any real world info is absolutely wonderful.
Also, work pants. Body types vary, but may I suggest finding a store with a standardized brand/style selection, finding one you kinda like, and then just buying nothing else forever? Call me boring, but I have precisely one work “pant” – JC Penny’s Worthington Curvy Fit slacks. Black. Period. I have 7 pairs. When a couple wear out, I go in, try on a pair to be sure that they still work for me, and buy up again.
Been doing it for years now, and I have NO REGRETS!
(Ask me about my work shirts. Spoiler alert, same method. ^_^)
I love this approach to pants! I can’t wear black because my cats shed all over and I look like a crazy cat person, but I could wear only gray pants until the end of time.
Glad to hear you’re looking forward to the kitchen reno, I have an update post coming on Wednesday. Spoiler alert: we bought an expensive new appliance, and we paid our own money for it! 🙂