Figuring out the Backsplash

Terry had to work Saturday so I took advantage of the free time by attempting to be productive with the house.  I bought matching cherry nightstands that have 2-drawers and satin nickel finishes that I found for sale on craigslist from a couple who was moving out of town and selling all their furniture.  Super inexpensive and they look so nice in our bedroom. (didn't take pictures, will post tomorrow).

After I picked up the nightstands, I went to the post office and picked up my final Ebay purchase.  (again no picture....I must have not been fully awake yet because this was all before 9am on Saturday.  :-)

After the post-office, I decided to head to Lowes and buy all the parts I would need to make the hanging bookshelf  I am currently in love with.  I bought an area rug under-mat for our NEW area rug in the front living room (I will put in next post with the reveal of our (almost)finished French Door Project).  Then as I was going to leave,  I walked past the tiles for the backsplash for the kitchen.

dun-Dun-DUN!!!!!!!

Terry and I haven't necessarily been avoiding the backsplash because we do casually peruse them whenever we're at Lowes or HD.....but, I cannot tell a lie....I'VE been severely avoiding the backsplash when I can help it.  It's tricky trying to tie (say that 5 times fast) in 2-toned cabinets and granite without it being too busy or too blended or too this or too that.....so I lean to avoidance. Since I was alone and had nothing on my agenda, I forced myself into the aisle and made myself start choosing tiles I liked.  I layed them out all over the floor in different patterns, I sat down on one side of the aisle so other shoppers could walk by, took off my flip-flops, had 2 different associates coming over and asking if I needed any assistance.  I think that they were partially amused/partially annoyed, but I asked for their inputs and they then leaned towards the amused side.  I finally ended up deciding on 4 options to take home for Terry's input and away I went. 

I was really nervous for Terry to get home just because I was scared he wasn't going to like them, or was on a completely different train on thought with the design.  He ended up really liking it though, but we may still tweak it a bit. 

So here's what we ended up with.  The larger sections are a 12x12 square of travertine tiles.  Then, the accent in the center is the same travertine with glass squares that are a variety of shades of brown.  The accent is from a 12x12 square as well that we cut in order to fit from the granite to the bottom of the cabinets. 

Here's a better view of the cabinets, the backsplash, and the granite all together.

Behind the stove, we like the idea of having the full 12x12 squares of the mini-tiles (although per sheet they are a bit more expensive. 

The only thing that we may change up is the design of the travertine where instead of the different size tiles, having them the same size straight across.  Here's the other option of how the tiles could look, but this is just a picture off a website. 

Yah, wow, didn't think this post would end up being this long.  Again....why I have been avoiding backsplashing :-)  Will keep you posted for when we make our final decisions and put it up!

I consider it a day of good luck....

New Inspiration: Hanging Bookshelf

So work has been dreadfully slow this week, and I've put my (work)time to good (home)use by roaming through blogs about re-modeling and design.  I stumbled across this this morning and am absolutely in love with it. 

I found it on this blog and am so enamored.   I feel like this is something that I could actually do and make look good.  I could also make a smaller version for over the stove if we got a fume hood to hold all of our spices, and we could make it so that the wood matched the look we have already going in the kitchen.  It could be a really nice piece for our empty wall in the living room with the fireplace for picture frames and candles.   

I sent an email to Terry telling him I was a lot a bit in love with this, and here was his response; "Yeah, that’s pretty neat. You could do something similar with a glass drill bit and wine bottles. Though the weight might make it a better bookshelf to set on the floor than hang from the wall. And threaded rod for stability instead of rope."  He's always the mastermind behind making things even better. 

Some people sleep-walk; I sleep-ebay apparently....

About a week ago, it was a Monday night to be exact, I had an unfortunate but very amusing run-in with Ebay.  Terry and I are hooked on the TV Show American Pickers (seriously if you've never seen it, it's a very entertaining show, you should tune it, 9pmEST/8pmCST Mondays on the History Channel), and it's the only thing that I can attribute to what happened later in the night.  Terry usually always goes into bed before me.  I stay up and unwind, watch a little more TV, then go in on the computer for a little while and by the time I crawl in bed I am out cold.  Well, Monday night I think that I started going into sleep mode as I went in to get on the computer.  In my sleep haze, I started looking up "Gibbons Beer" memorabilia on Ebay.  I knew that it existed because I remember my grandparents had some items at their house when I was little.  It was a brewery in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and was in business from the early 1940's until 1974.  Well, I haven't been on my Ebay account in over a year, but I remembered my MemberID AND my password.  I bid on three different items, and then I went to bed.  I woke up in the morning after a wonderful nights rest and then thought about the Gibbons Beer, then layed there for a minute wondering if that was real or just part of my dream that I went on Ebay and bid on some items.  I got on the computer and sure enough, the Ebay screen was still up.  I freaked out for a minute because I had no idea what the stuff cost that I bid on.  One was 99cents, another $1.99, and the last $4.95.  Then I started laughing hysterically.  I ended up being the only bidder (shocker) on all three items. 

Coozies are never a bad thing to have around.

And doesn't everyone need a can opener.  "If it's Gibbons, It's Good!"

My third item is currently at the post office requiring a delivery confirmation.  Here's a picture though off my "winning bidder" page on Ebay....because doesn't everyone need a beer can with their name on it.....ugh

Seriously though, if anyone can find this to buy it.....I want it.  No jokes.

I am thinking I'm going to try and do some sort of artsy display with it all, but really who knows at this point.  If I do that I'm going to have to buy a few more things I think; just not while I'm asleep.  It's something for Terry and I (and you too) to laugh about for a while.  I blame (and thank) American Pickers for this! 

Please turn down the outdoor thermostat!

Enough Already!!!

It's been like this for the past 5 days and it's not supposed to let up until Sunday.  We're under Excessive Heat Warning right now with the National Radar.  "PEAK HEAT INDEX VALUES DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 105 TO 115 DEGREE RANGE THROUGH FRIDAY. ACTUAL HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR 100 DEGREES DURING THE PERIOD WITH HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS. OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE UPPER 70S AND LOWER 80S WILL PROVIDE LITTLE RELIEF FROM THE HEAT."