Drawer making and one change

Clearly our reno pace has slowed, thanks to two full-time jobs and some lovely company.  But, progress is still being made!  Brent is currently in the midst of building the replacement drawers for the lower base cabinets that we kept.  Instead of just changing the fronts of the old ones that were not solid wood construction, nor full extension, he decided to build them from scratch and get new hardware that is full-extension and soft-close.  

First, he had to plane all of the wood he was going to use. (He is starting with a batch of 3 drawers to begin with.)  Then be built them and finished them with polyurethane, linseed oil, and thinner.

The other house business that happened this week was one last electrician visit.  Peter was coming to install the special-order dimmer switch for the sink wall's under cabinet lights...and I had one more little job for him... 

Considering all of the decisions that had to be made, mostly before they could be tried in the space due to our time restrictions, I have loved almost every single thing we have put into the kitchen. I love the counters.  I love the gray base cabinet color.  I love the backsplash. I love the stainless island.  I love the ceiling.  I love the paint color.  I love the knobs and pulls, the sink, and the curtains.  Only ONE element has given me pause, now that it is in the space....the pendant light.  

I had originally been looking exclusively at dark metal lights, to tie in the lighting in the dining room, to give the kitchen a not-so-new feel, and to tie in the black on our fridge and stove....but then I let bargain-hunting get in the way...and I bought the beautiful, but TOO modern and shiny original light choice. (And it was hung too high originally, but that of course was fixable.)

I do love that light; it's just not the perfect fit for our kitchen.  It was a little too small, too shiny, and too "new" feeling.  Soooo I may have ordered a new light behind Brent's back. :)  Come on, I fought hard for that pendant light and I'll be darned if I don't loooOOOoooooOOOoove it!  My mother's mantra when clothes shopping always was: if you don't want to wear it tomorrow because you love it so much, don't buy it.  I think the same applies to dressing your home.  No settling. (But bargain hunting for similar looks you love at cheaper prices, always encouraged!)

In any event, I went back to the Pottery Barn pendant that I had really loved during my extensive search.  Once I started accessorizing the kitchen with the darker metal elements and put our chicken coop storage baskets under the island...I knew my original gut feeling had been the better choice. 

Brent made the best of my new decision.

It actually picks up the pattern
of the "fancy tiles" - something I hadn't even anticipated.

Another sign I am happier with this light...excessive picture-taking.  Light on!  Light off!  Pantry angle! Stove angle!  What does it look like when you walk in?  There were  no such pictures taken of the other light...

It really helps the darker stools relate to the stainless island,
repeats the chicken wire accessories, and the octagonal tiles,
as well as a little echo of my 70 cent artichoke?/pineapple? vase-thingy.

So now, I am totally in love.  We still have the other pendant if any one is looking for a really cool, slightly modern clear pendant!