I’ve been getting this question a lot. So, I thought I would take the time to give you guys an answer today. Why is our kitchen not done? What is the hold up? Why have you guys made no progress on your kitchen? Why has it been since March since you’ve had a kitchen? Why has it been 5 months? I know… all the burning questions & they are so valid! I addressed part of the reason [here] a while back, but I thought I would explain everything in more detail today. There are actually a few reasons our kitchen is in limbo, & some of them are my fault.
-The leak of 2017 [more like the leak since the 1980’s]
half of the kitchen area is a space we call our sunroom. It’s actually the old part of the porch that they enclosed and made it a whole wall of windows. It’s gorgeous & we loved it the second we saw the house, but unfortunately the windows had been leaking since the day they installed those windows in the 1980’s. The leak wasn’t big, but over time it had effected the foundation & it was a situation that we had to take care of, & that leads me to the second point.
-Finding someone to work on our house.
For this job we need to call in the professionals. They will need to take out all the windows, repair the foundation, replace the windows, and then put on all new siding & fix the outside of the house as well. It will be a big job & finding someone to do it was a chore. When we ripped up the kitchen we had no clue this problem was going to come up. I mean, that’s the fixer upper life I guess. I don’t know how it is in your corner of the world, but here in West Michigan the housing market is booming & builders are so busy that booking one is near impossible, but we finally did & the new windows should be in the kitchen by the middle to the end of July. & then the fun can begin. Along with finding someone to work on the house, picking the windows out was not easy at all either, but I’ll blog more about that later.
-Picking out cabinets.
I have to admit, I’m indecisive. When you start out working on a fixer upper and you realize this is your forever home, the decisions just seem more final and more scary. I mean, I know when I’m 50 in 20 some years we can replace the cabinets, but I want to know that we will love them forever. We have samples of cabinet colors & finishes coming very soon that I will share with you.
-Deciding on other finishes & appliances.
You guys I suck at this. I can tell you any day what finishes and other things will work in your home, but in mine do you think I can make a decision? Nope. We are slowly making them, but the key word is slowly. I will be keeping you update more as we go & as we are making them, but this is totally my fault. Now, we did find a kitchen island finally that you can read more about [HERE] & that has set off the inspiration for the rest of the space.
Some exciting news? The new windows should be here by mid July & cabinets should be ordered by the end of this week… progress my friends! So, I hope that answers part of your question of why we don’t have a kitchen yet. It’s been rough. We have been microwaving a lot, using our indoor grill, cooking over a fire, & thankfully our stove is electric and still plugged in so we can use that. But living in a fixer upper is not for the faint of heart & for sure has not brought out the best in me at moments, but I know the end result is going to be so good when we finally have the heart of our home complete. I would LOVE to hear from you… what appliances do you think we should get? Have any lighting suggestions? cabinet suggestions? Let me know, help a girl out. Let me know in the comments below, find me on Facebook, & chat with me on Instagram. xx
I think it may be harder for you than it needs to be if you are taking everyone else’s opinion into consideration as you design your kitchen. Are you subconsciously designing the kitchen for your business, for instagram, for your mother in law? Make sure you are making decisions that YOU like, because you get to live there! I hope you love the end result.
Giiiirrrlll I feel ya! Been without a sink in my kitchen since February-ish. Finally got my Glorious sweet sink installed tonight! ??? fixer uppers aren’t for sissies!
It all just takes time. And, yes, making permanent decisions on your forever home does seem scary and final, but trust your heart, it will be beautiful. As far as appliances…ugh, I just knew I wanted stainless steel in our new farmhouse! Big. Mistake. Never realized how hard it is to take care of and show every single smudge or mark. So, if I had to do it over again, not stainless! Maybe the non-stainless stainless?
Liz you have a true gift in sharing your heart and home. Whenever I stop by to read a blog you somehow manage to make it seem as though I’m sitting across from you on the porch listening to you share your heart and home. For that reason, I really must disagree with the idea that you would be struggling with such major decisions for any reason other than what this home represents to you and Jose. A forever home is a special place and decisions should be made with love and care. Which I have no doubt you are capable of doing! I also imagine that given the recent struggles you’ve shared with us these decisions would be a little harder to come by. I have struggled with major depression and anxiety since I was a child, both stem from my own battle with chronic illness. Big decisions can be even harder when facing those feelings. One thing I’ve done in the past in my own home is write out scripture that God lays on my heart under the flooring or walls (before we paint). This is something that my mother passed down to me and it really does help. Claiming the space as the Lord’s to do with as He sees fit is a powerful thing. It may bring some peace and certainly can help to hedge your home in protection during this hectic time.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us today. Never doubt that what God is using you for is anything less. You inspire so many of us with your story and with your genuine heart and kindness. I’ll be praying God’s best for you this week sweetie!
I have lived in a “fixer upper” for 30 years. My kitchen has not been done…for many years. Some are the same issues you face.
Needed thousands in electrical and plumbing upgrades
Needed to build a bathroom, to remove a bathroom that was in the space we wanted to enlarge the kitchen
Raising five kids in the middle of a construction zone – hockey games and band concerts were and are a much higher priority
We are doing 90% of the work ourselves
Quite honestly, the tastes and ideas I had when I started have changed, as well as products available and the use of the space.
We are proud of what we have accomplished together as a family and have learned to negotiate through different tastes and opinions. And I must say, it has taught our kids some great skill sets as they learned to shop frugally for great deals, antiquing, garage sales, and outlets, and they learned so much about power tools and construction. We also had many great family days as the extended family and friends came out to help us.
We recently celebrated one of my nephews graduation for his Masters Degree at our home. He was so proud as he escorted his friends around our little property and showed off all the projects he had helped with. As he said “no matter where I go and what I do, this has always been and will continue to be “home base”.
That is what you are creating…. Home base…and all that takes much longer than five months.
I have enjoyed following your adventures, and shopping in your shop. Best wishes…
I totally get it! Every project I d takes forever because I don’t want to make the wrong decision! It will all be a distant memory one day. 🙂
Well said 🙂
Sometimes it takes longer than you have imagined. I remember my sister and I redesigned my mother kitchen and it took 6-months. A lot of that was because of state, county, and city codes; of course, my mother said it was a year. LOL.
Just be patient with the construction. You’ll love it when it’s finished. 🙂
We just finished our kitchen renovation… complete with moving plumbing, taking down load bearing walls and adding new windows and a door where there previously wasn’t one… it’s not fun but WELL worth it! One thing we did that I love is our induction stove. Always had gas and this house was electric. We could have converted to gas but thought we’d try electric induction because the flat electric top is so much easier to keep clean than gas and it is AWESOME! A little pricier and not as many options as regular electric or gas, but well worth it!
I started my process three years ago. I could not afford to hire help or do a lot of work all at once. I created a design, purchased one cabinet with each paycheck, and stored them in my garage. It took me a year to get them all. Then I gutted the kitchen, raised a ceiling, ran new electrical, moved plumbing, removed a partial wall, and moved a doorway. My dad helped me diy the whole thing. New cabinets went in and I painted them. New appliances sat in my garage until then, but were also finally installed along with my farmhouse sink. I just got my countertops last month. I still need floors, trim, end panels, and knobs. It’s been a long, long process, but I love how it’s coming! It’s a labor of love. Hang in there! ❤️
You are amazing!!! & you for sure did it the right way. I wish we would have waited to gut the whole thing until after we inspected the windows for that leak… I can’t wait to make progress.. thank you for sharing your amazing journey and your hopeful story!!!
THIS WAS AMAZING TO READ! Thank you for the encouragement & for sharing your story! Thank you! – Liz Marie
What products do you use to clean your appliances? We had stainless in our first house, now building another one and I’ll go with stainless again. The secret to keeping them nice and shiny is NOT to use any cleaners designed for stainless steel. Just hot water and soft microfiber cloth.
I was asked once to help one lady to help her clean the house before the family reunion party, her fridge was clean, but smudgy from all the products. I took it all off with the eraser sponge and it looked great.
I would choose stainless over and over again.
Hi Liz, I have been following you for some time & you amaze me!!! Your talent is inspiring & I love, love, love everything about your farmhouse!!!! I live in Chicago & my dad & brother live in Michigan, near new buffalo, I am desperately trying to get to the found cottage, it looks fantastic! We just redid our kitchen, new cabinets, countertops, relocating the appliances & having the floors refinished, last August & it is challenging to say the least. It took us a month but it was such an inconvenience & MESS, I feel your pain over the redoing of your beautiful farmhouse. But what you’ve done so far is AMAZEBALLS! I read your fertility story & admire the outlook & faith you have. When I do get to your store it will be as exciting as if I were meeting chip & jo. Keep posting all your progress &
God Bless, Anne Kus
Liz, We are in the beginning stages of building our forever home here in Ohio it is such a crazy experience of ups and downs. I too am hesitant to pick out flooring, cabinets etc, it all seems so final. I enjoy reading your blog (one of the few I read now) your words truly touch my heart. I believe God is moving in subtle ways Liz and the end result will be magical bigger and better than anything we can ever accomplish on our own. God bless you, Jose and your farm babies.