Decisions - Good AND Bad

Morning all !

It's coming.....................it really is!!!
I'm happy I decided to go with the plate shelves instead of upper cabinets -

What do you think of them?  Did I do good?  You have to tell me - because I've been beating myself up for 2 days over the floor fiasco..................
They really are a great storage alternative for those of us that don't want upper cabinets :)
They accommodate a LOT considering they don't take up much space at all -
I especially love that there's hooks on the bottom!

I'm happy I decided to keep the old sink ( don't know why it wasn't thrown out during the demo process - divine intervention perhaps )  Originally - when I was going to go with a marble slab the sink would have been an under mount - however this one works perfectly with the tiles - it doesn't look it but the tubs are very deep - and there's 2 of them - and it cleaned up rather nicely - nothing to write home about - but in the end it'll do fine.

I'm also happy I decided on the marble tile - ( after finding out a tooth implant was going to cost the same amount as a slab...............)  I was heartbroken about that decision if truth be told - but I really am happy about it - not the kind of happy that makes you dance all over the house - but the kind of happy that makes me smile when I look at it

I'm happy I decided to get the 2 galvanized steel units from IKEA - at 15.99 each - to rest on either side of the stove - I only have one up so far but like the industrial look it gives the area ( keeping in mind that a large stainless steel hood will be in the center of both

I'm happy I decided to borrow some space from the mudroom to create the fridge niche - it saves a huge amount of space for this kitchen

and I'm really liking the microwave niche too since it creates more counter space.
( why is the light red on it?  I've never seen that before - don't like )

And when I think of how this wall looked when we bought the house

I'm thrilled with every decision so far

( I used my incredible photography skills - and ran to PICMONKEY to photo shop the window we've ordered - so you can see what'll it look like LMHO )  remember the window will be black - but this is the one.  I think it's ready in 2 weeks.
That gap between the drawers and the cabinet on the left had side still has to have the filler piece installed to hide it. And I hate that the right hand plate rack looks crooked - it isn't !!!
Oh and I still have to paint out that wood trim along the perimeter of the tile.

Ok - now I'll let you know why I'm bragging about my decisions -

Remember the black and white tile floor I wanted?

I wanted to try it with stick on tiles first - to see if I liked it - but couldn't find stick on tiles anywhere in Montreal -
And so we went with this  ( OMG - I could seriously puke showing you this - I really wasn't going to but here you are )

It didn't look so bad when we saw the one piece.

But holy shit - what a disaster - I can barely walk into the kitchen without wanting to weep

AND I CAN'T EVEN SHOW YOU THE PHOTO WITHOUT TELLING YOU FIRST THAT IT'S COMING OFF THIS WEEK - WE'RE GETTING BLACK AND WHITE CERAMIC TILES - FORGET THE STICK ON ONES JUST TO SEE IF I'LL LIKE IT - BECAUSE NOW ANYTHING WILL BE BETTER THAN THIS - I'D RATHER JUST LOOK AT THE PLYWOOD, SERIOUSLY.

I'm not even watermarking this pic - I don't want anyone to associate my kitchen with it LMHO

I.D.I.O.T.

Suzan says - I can't live with it John
John says - and this is the FIRST time he's ever said this - CHANGE IT - IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT AND YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH IT - CHANGE IT -
Suzan says - Wow - I've never known you to be so accommodating
John says - Well - you've worked hard to create a nice space - I don't want you living with something you don't like
Suzan says - Well THAT never mattered before
Suzan says - OMG - YOU hate it too LOL
John says - It's horrid

And because I can't leave you with that image in your head - here's another decision I'm happy I made
When I painted my Knife Block ( you can see all the different wording I used on it HERE )
But it works in the new black and white kitchen :)

Oh and for those of you that suggested I paint out the original wood floor in a checker board pattern - the wood was not salvageable unfortunately - or I would have most definitely did just that !!!

You all have a wonderful Sunday - try to make sure it's a day of rest - and try to get the image of that
" horrid " floor out of your head.

Much love,


Sharing with!!!          
Common Ground                               Savvy Southern Style                          The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage                     The Shabby Nest
I should be mopping the floor              Under the Table & Dreaming

We are more....................by Shane Koyczan

I live in a province of Canada that is very conflicted.
You are either Quebecois - or You are  Canadian.
I AM BOTH 
PROUDLY FIERCELY BOTH
I love my Country - AND my province

Something that causes controversy at the best of times.


I also love " slam " poetry - LOVE it - it grabs me from somewhere deep inside - the emotion with which it's delivered gets me - every. single. time.

Fellow Canadians - you'll love this - promise.

My American friends - listen - it'll tell you a little about your Northern neighbors - and it's a must if you love slam poetry as much as I do :)

Just so you know - it isn't angry Slam - it's gentle ( like Canadians LMHO )
I get a lump in my throat every time I hear it
Way to go Shane -



YOU are more !!!

“We Are More” by Shane Koyczan
When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake 
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world’s anthem has been
” been there done that”
and maybe that’s where we used to be at
it’s true
we’ve done and we’ve been
we’ve seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say “eh?”
and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you’re welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”

someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don’t have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you’ve been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
” keep exploring… we are more”
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”
so don’t say “been there done that”
unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don’t say you’ve been there done that
unless you’ve been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn’t pack for the first time
but don’t let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what’s more
is that we didn’t just say it
we made it be.

__________________________________________________________________________________

You all have a beautiful weekend.......................
I messed up in my decision of kitchen flooring - and I mean really messed up -
I laid that wood looking floor I showed this week -
I'M AN IDIOT

BUT - I AM MORE

So I'm changing it LOL

Much love,