Please Wait While Kitchen is Loading

A little over a week ago Blake was reminding me not to get my hopes up about doing much out of our kitchen, as refrigerators--even used ones--are pretty pricey. On Friday, Blake's mom texted him from a garage sale to tell him about a vintage refrigerator someone was selling, circa the 1950's. I declared that I was going with him to see it, and coached myself to remain chill.

When we got to the garage sale, we couldn't believe how perfect this refrigerator was. It was fully functional, and even had the original ice cube trays that came with it. We asked if the man would take $175 for it, and he squinted at us and said, "Are you actually going to use it?" We nodded so enthusiastically we probably looked like weird, over-zealous refrigerator museum curators. He sighed and said, as if speaking about an old farm dog that he couldn't take with him when he moved, "I just want it to go to a good home. So, yeah, okay, deal."

This is all of my refrigerator dreams come true.

We gleefully brought it home, Blake cleaned it up, spray painted the bottom portion black (as it was just a tad too rusted to clean up), and we plugged it in to hear the happy little refrigerator hum kick on. Pretty soon, I was almost in tears as I slid the casserole I was going to cook for dinner that night onto it's long shelf and exclaimed, "Blake! I can fit a whole 9x13 casserole dish in here!"
"Wow," Blake responded, "I guess if I want to make you really happy, I just need to take away something from you for six months."
I told him that probably wasn't a good idea.

I think the fridge likes living here. At least if it had feelings about that it would. 

Something about seeing the new-to-us fridge in the kitchen must have fueled Blake's renovation motivation, because the next day he set out to install the shelves for the cabinet he built, and also installed the floating shells on that side of the wall!

LOOK AT THOSE SHELVES. LOOOOOOOOOOOK

In case you haven't noticed, we really like modern-industrial style. 

Unfortunately, he didn't have the right size screws he needed to add the...I don't know, cuffs? Shelf-reinforcements? I could Google these things, I guess. 

Google is not helping me, because I'm not even in the realm of the right term.

 

Well, there you go. Pipe straps.

So, like I was saying, Blake didn't have the right size screws for the pipe straps, so I am forbidden from putting anything on the shelves yet. But that's fine, because it will make for a more beautiful before and after later. :) Also, remember that the stove is temporary.

So, all that remains for this cabinet is for Blake to build the counter top. I would tell you in detail what is going into that, but Blake is in a meeting so I don't want to keep texting him questions that I can't answer with Google. He said it will look similar to how a bar counter top looks; it's going to be made from cedar, I think. 

I also wanted to give you a peek at a project I've started in our bedroom: a wedding-themed gallery wall! I will be out of town this weekend and next weekend, so next week I won't be able to blog anything. You're kind of getting two blogs in one week!

I'm not completely satisfied with the layout yet, but I'm giving myself a little grace, because I also want to add more to it. Either way, I had to get these things off the floor so Addie would quit trying to play with all of it! 

I may add these to the gallery wall permanently, but at the moment they are place holders until I get a few of my favorite wedding and honeymoon photos printed. :)

If this server gets a little too tarnished I'll polish it, but at the moment I kind of like it. Makes it feel antique :)

This is the first time we have had a place to display our "guestbook." Instead of the traditional guestbook, we had our guests sign a guitar that my dad spray painted (guitar enthusiasts, don't freak out; this was just a Walmart guitar). 

Oh, and as if doing all of the work in the kitchen this weekend wasn't enough, Blake finished building my closet doors. :)

This is a relief, because all of our guests could see my bras.

Well, friends, I'm happy to say that I have found myself with some more DIY wind in my sails lately. I've heard that people begin to like running when they discover the second-wind phenomenon. I have never personally experienced this made-up sounding term (as my first wind is very short and my misery is long), but I'm thinking the Fixer-Upper second wind is a similar thing. I'm hoping to see more kitchen change soon, and a long-awaited before and after post in the near future. 

Filtered, but flavored.  That's why it's red. Because this is how a recovering pop addict copes. Also reppin' this really great church in Norman, New Life Bible Church; if you're in the area and looking for a church to visit, I highly recommend this one. I am especially fond of the worship leader.

In the meantime, I will be drinking ICE. COLD. FILTERED. WATER. Because our water filter pitcher fits in our fridge. <3 Look at that condensation. It's enchanting.

P.S.!

If you haven't listened to The Modern Post yet, DO IT! This is an excerpt from their song "Rejoice!"

If you're on Instagram, I'm doing a giveaway on our Simply Stated account (@simplystatedok)! Not many people have entered, so if you want to win this canvas, your odds are pretty good! Follow the directions in the caption to enter. Winner will be announced this Friday!