The kitchen island is magnificent!

This is what I got myself for Christmas. 4 gorgeous stools I found at Sandy's Furniture 2 years ago. About twice a year I'd go see if they still had them and I still liked them and if they were on sale. Yes each time! So once my island top was done, it was time to run and get my stools!

This is the coolest island topper ever. Fabricated by Dan, it's made out of metal and supported on the metal legs. The works can simply be lifted off if desired. I designed it so you could sit at both ends of it.

We do everything at this thing! So my stools are being put to the best use ever! All Christmas it had Lego, boardgames and food on it. FUN!

The metal is unique to the fact that you can't destroy, burn, wreck it. I was using an exacto blade right on it the other day, proving what a workhorse this thing is! It is the perfect addition to our artsy, productive, busy household. If desired, you can grind the top for a complete stainless look. I like the natural mottled black and stainless myself.

Ta da! We so enjoyed Christmas this year in our lovely upstairs!

Next... Cody is now at his Dad's so it's time to pull a 24/7 and work on the entryway over the next couple days. Woodwork stain for stair components is on backorder until the first week in Jan, so painting the entryway it shall be! Colour blocking with taupe and sage green. Stay tuned!

Cody cooks in the new kitchen

For the last three years, we've been functioning with a kitchen too cramped for two cooks. I always felt ansy with another in such close proximity when attemping to quickly cook up a meal. I talked often about Cody helping cook when we finally had some room to move.
Now that the kitchen is finally functional, there's no further reason to delay! Cody's now older and more responsible. It's time.

Today he wanted breakfast. I was still in my morning fog and in no rush to go go go this fine Saturday morning.

"I'm hungry mom."
"Cool. (yawn, sip of coffee) You know where everything is."
"OH yeah! I can cook!"

So off he went. I oversaw the gas stove part and he passed with flying colours. All of it. He wanted me to take a picture of him cooking but was too lazy to get dressed properly for the pic, so this round we went without.

I love this kitchen! It's beautiful AND functional! I started adding my own touches to warm it up, make it familiar but have to keep things minimal as more work is being done next week. But it's starting to feel alot more like home every day.

In some ways, I miss the old country bumpkin-ish feel of the old kitchen. But only because the familiarity is comforting. I've talked to my friend Dawn about her new home and she went through the same thing. This new gorgeous shiney eliteness grows on me daily. Today I have taken the time to sit at this laptop midday (when I should be doing something, anything really) to enjoy my surroundings. I love this place!

Life with my new kitchen? Amazing. Isn't it gorgeous?!?