happy christmas

This year, instead of getting each other gifts, Mike and I got something both of us have wanted for a long time: a set of cabinets to go in front of the half-wall in the kitchen. We've had a sort of cobbled-together system of shelves there to store pots and pans, but it was unsightly and also tended to collect dust and pet hair. But now we have cabinets that match the ones that are already in the kitchen! My dad helped Mike bring the cabinets home and install them, and he moved the outlets from the floor up to counter level. We even have a fancy outlet now that has USB ports, so we can charge our phones! We didn't even try to match the countertops in the rest of the kitchen, opting instead for a butcher block counter. I've been oiling it every day for two weeks now, and it's finally ready for business. And while we were in for a penny, we went ahead and installed a new light fixture too. I love the look of it, and it is SO nice to have conquered (at least for now) one little area of the house.

Here is the before shot, along with a couple of after shots. Excuse the crookedness of my framing; it's a pretty awkward angle to photograph. Take my word for it, though, that it looks gorgeous in person ... or, you know, come see it for yourself.