It doesn't matter how expensive your kitchen is if you're a bad cook. -Loesje

Some of you followed my progress through the kitchen remodel. If you missed it, you can catch the re-runs here. This week, Kelly's Korner is hosting a tour of kitchens, and I just had to link up.

*Edit* I'm linking up to Layla's Room Re-Do over at The Lettered Cottage, too!

I love my kitchen. If it wouldn't be weird, I would carry photos of it in my wallet to show everyone I run into how adorable it is. I guess I kind of do that now by having pictures on my phone, but trust me, Internet, it's not weird. A lot of people carry photos of their house on their phone. (Please don't think that I attack random strangers, so I can show off my kitchen.)

The main reason I love my kitchen is that it started out looking like this.

But after getting cabinets, laying new flooring, painting cabinets, putting up a ceiling, making new counters and a plethora of other activities, it ended up looking like this. (Technically it is decorated a bit different than this right now. I'll try to switch out an updated photo later.)

I remember last August when I walked through my house for the first time. I saw the listing early that morning, called my agent, and got to see it that evening. I loved it the moment I saw it. I loved that it had a bell on the top like a little school house. I loved that it was around the corner from my brother and sister-in-law. (And now my adorable nephew!) But most of all I loved how much potential it had.

As I walked from room to room, I imagined everything the house could become. One of the things I knew needed to happen was opening up the kitchen. My brother, Justin, tried very hard to convince me to get rid of the wall between the dining room and kitchen and put in an island. Some people thought I just needed to widen the doorway between the two. (The door on the left in the photo below used to just be a single 30 inch door, but now it is 4 feet across.) Regardless, I thought it would be years before I'd be able to do any major remodels. Thankfully though, the goverenment saw fit to give me $8,000, so I was able to remodel the entire house.

Dad told me to figure out what I wanted to do in the kitchen. It was a tough decision. Then I came across a kitchen that I fell in love with. When I saw it, I knew that was the solution. I literally just stole her ideas.

Here's what it looked like while we were installing the arch. (By we, I mean dad.)

My bowling alley counter tops are my favorite thing. I coveted butcher block counters, but when they priced out to be $40 per square foot, I knew I couldn't afford them. Then Dad had the idea of using bowling lanes as counter tops. Mom and I both told him he was crazy, but he was persistant. He found bowling lanes for $10 per linear foot on Craigslist, brought them home, and made them work. So what would have cost me $4,500 ended up costing me $380.

Another thing I love are my recipe doors. I stole this idea from some blog. I saw it, grabbed a sharpie and did it. I figured my cabinets only cost me $100 off Craigslist, and dad and I painted them once, so if it didn't work out, I could just re-paint that door.

It's all about the details, so here are a few detail shots for you. :)

My sewing machine does not normally reside in the kitchen, but this is the only shot I could find of my menu board and green door.

A source list...
Floors - Construction Auction - Pre-finished Honey Oak - $1.80/sq. foot
Cabinets - Craigslist - They were dark brown, but we painted them - $100 for all
Pulls - Came with cabinets - 3 relacement pulls - $2.50 each
Lower Cabinet Paint - Home Depot - Color: Sherwin William's Camel Back
Dish Washer - Habitat ReStore - $30
Fridge - Came with the house
Menu Board - Potter Barn - I've had it since high school, so it's about 8 years old
Door Paint - Home Depot - Color: Behr Salted Ash
Countertops - Craigslist - Old Bowling Alley - $10/linear foot
Stove - Craigslist - $50 (I wanted to save the original, but it wouldn't even fit a cookie sheet.)
Microwave - Craigslist - $30
Upper Cabinet Paint - Home Depot - Color: Behr Cotton Whisper
Wall Paint - Home Depot - Color: Sherwin Williams Believeable Beige
Ceiling - Construction Auction - Color: Cotton Whisper - $160
Hanging Light - Home Depot - $35
Other Lights - Patriot Sales in KC - $16 for 2
Sink - Craigslist - $10
Faucet - Home Depot - $60
All Accessories - Random garage sales

Thanks for stopping by! I can't wait to see all the pretty kitchens on the tour.

:j