Installing Wall Ovens Without a Cabinet

When purchasing our kitchen cabinets, the wall unit for the built-in ovens were CRAZY expensive. Like in $700 crazy. It was basically just a frame. He would have to modify it too because we needed the microwave installed on top of the double ovens. So, he decided to build it himself. I didn't get a lot of great pictures but I did get some. Basically, he stared with a platform on the bottom.


 He then lined the whole thing with sheetrock.







I always wanted my ovens to look like they were built in "stone." Again, I used the Airstone product that matched the fireplace and kitchen bar. They worked great to cover up the homemade box that Rick built.


Here is the finished product.

This is the most current state:




I still need to touch up the places where you can see the glue, but other than that, this is done! Pin It Now!

Building a Kitchen Bar

It has been so long since I have posted to this blog. I wrote a few posts - waiting on final pictures. I still haven't finished enough to have "final" pictures, so in an effort to update this blog (nearly two years later), I am going to go ahead and post these without the final pictures. I promise to go back and take final (or current) pictures.

When designing the kitchen as an open floor plan, we knew we would need a bar to transition to the living room area. After the base kitchen cabinets were installed, the backside of the cabinets became the foundation of the kitchen bar. Since this area was open to the living room, we needed to tie the fireplace and the back of the bar together. I decided to use the Airstone product that I used to blend on the fireplace.

He used a piece of plywood on the backside of the cabinets. Then he bought the corbels (he picked these dinky things out without me knowing). I would NOT have chosen these, as they are very small and cheap looking. However; he bought them and installed them before I could veto them. Ugh. Moving on.

Here is the view from the front. The bar will connect the support beam and make it look like all one piece.

I layed a sample of the hardwood floors that we will be putting down in order to leave enough room to scoot the hardwood under when we finally get to the floors. Glad I thought of this.

 

Here it is with 90% of the Airstone on.

And here is the in progress shot of the front view.

I had to leave it unfinished like this because I had to wait until we had the countertops installed to finish around the edges.

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Chelsea's Yellow and Gray Chevron Baby Shower

I know this post isn't related to renovations of the house, but I wanted to make this blog more reflective of my other hobbies/interests other than constant renovations that I find myself doing.

Chelsea picked yellow and gray for the nursery colors, along with a chevron pattern. I began to gather ideas for her baby shower. Of course, we had a Pintrest board that we shared and I would pin ideas to the board and she would comment on whether or not she liked the idea. I wouldn't let her know what we were going to go with, but I used the board to get a reaction from her on whether or not things were "I love it" or "I hate it" kind of thing.

Baby Shower Invites

To stick with the theme, I found these cute baby shower invites on etsy. She customizes them and sends you the electronic file. Then I uploaded my file to Costco and had them print them on 4x6 photo paper. 

I attached the 4x6 to a piece of yellow cardstock and made a cute stamp to hold the ribbon around the invitation. I embossed the Thank Heaven for Little Boys on cardstock and glued another piece on the back of it to keep the ribbon around it. Here's a picture of them with the ribbon. Sorry about the bad iphone picture but this is the only picture I could find. 

Bunting

I love bunting. However, I cannot sew too hot. My mother-in-law is trying to motivate me to learn to sew. She makes beautiful quilts (she made the baby one...pictures to come on that). She gave me her first sewing machine that Rick's dad gave her years ago to try and see if I will stick with sewing. So my first project was the bunting I used for the shower. I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like, but with no pattern or clue how to make it. So I just winged it. I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out several fabrics that I knew I wanted to use. I began to piece them together and the end result was this:

 I used the same twine that I used for the name banner and used it to hang his cute little onesies and socks. I spray painted wooden clothes pins and just stuck them up there.

I also made the bunting for the dessert table. This is the only picture I have of those. I knew she could later use them in the nursery.



Here is an in progress picture I found from my iphone. This shows the table bunting better.

Diaper Cake and Wreath

There were so many cute diaper cakes on Pintrest. I had been collecting things for awhile that I knew I wanted to use on her cake. Chelsea requested burlap ribbon and I added that under the yellow chevron ribbon that I bought at Hobby Lobby.

Of course, we had to have Sofie, The Giraffe as the star of the cake! I ended up buying her at Sam's (see it here) and she came with a bonus stuffed animal that I ended up using too.

Here's a view of the backside:

I also "attempted" the wash cloth cupcakes as shown at the bottom of the cake. Those were not so cute. I didn't buy the right kind of wash cloths (I am guessing) so I really wasn't too happy with those. But I had so many, I went ahead and set them out for her anyway. 

Then I used the extras I had and created a diaper wreath for her too.

Dessert Table

I had plenty of candy dishes leftover from our wedding (one day I will post those pictures here) candy bar. I decided to use some of those and buy yellow and white candy for the dessert table. I ordered my candy from here. My mom bought the cake at a local bakery (and we made the bunting for the cake as well). I made the cupcakes and displayed them on the table and also used the extras for the thank you gifts.

I used various receiving blankets to layer the table with. I knew that she would be able to use those after the shower. I put the polka dot blanket under the glassware on the candy buffet.

I downloaded this cute little chalkboard printable art. I cannot find the source for this yet, but when I do, I will come back and update the link. I framed it and it is now displayed in my kitchen, along with the cute burlap and silver flower. Fresh tulips in a little white pitcher is behind the Baked With Love print.

I used a gray and yellow pail turned upside down, along with a wooden tray for a makeshift cake stand.

These cupcakes were awesome. I will do a separate blog post and share the recipe. 

I used tulle as the strings for most of the balloons. I went to Party City and had them do the double balloons.  I love the way the blue balloon is inside the clear one.

I bought fresh flowers from Costco and Market Street for the tables. I put them in mason jars and a little white pitcher I found at Home Goods.

Food Table

Drinks:

I saw an idea for the chalkboard signs at each "station" and really liked it. So for the drinks, I used mason jars and straws and mixed up a wonderful punch for the drinks.  I will include the recipe soon. 

 We also used water bottles and made little diapers to go around them.

Veggies & Food Bar

I served veggies, dips, fresh fruit, and pasta salad. I also made this caprese salad with mozzerella cheese, tomatoes, and fresh basil. I put everything in cute little glass containers. I put the dips in martini glasses. 

Well Wishes

I found some really cute things to have guests write to the baby to put in his baby book and read when he grows up. So I created little cards (printed out on cardstock) for everyone to fill out. I just created this in a Word document (I can't figure out how to upload the Word file, so if you would like the file, shoot me an email and I will send it to you).

Diaper Raffle

Along with the invitation, we let everyone know that we were having a diaper raffle. I found this really cute basket (HomeGoods) to put the raffle tickets in. I knew she could use this in the nursery after the shower. The raffle was a great success. Mom and I purchased a Target giftcard to give as the prize.  

She got lots of diapers!

Thank You Favors

I made extra cupcakes to send home with everyone as a thank you from the baby. I found this adorable poem on the internet (of course I tweeked it a little bit) and printed little cards on cardstock. Again, I have the Word file, so if you would like that file, email me and I will send it to you.

I wanted to package the cupcakes really cute, but the pre-bought packaging was too expensive. So I found this tutorial here for these little packages using plastic solo cups. My mom made these (very late the night before) as I was finishing up the cupcakes.  

 Here's the poem:

In conclusion:

 The shower was a success! Chelsea was so happy and got a lot of wonderful things for the baby.

 This was the quilt that my talented mother-in-law made for her. I told you she made beautiful quilts!

It's A Boy!

 If you can't tell by now, it is a boy!

And since he is so adorable, I have to share one of my favorite pictures of him!

Linking up with: House of Hepworths, Life After Laundry, Smart! School {House}, Love and Laundry, Serenity Now

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