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A Kitchen Makeover &The Benefits of a Small House

by | Jan 20, 2009 | Creative Before & After, Decorating Inspiration, Kitchens, small houses

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A Kitchen Makeover &The Benefits of a Small House

Look at this gorgeous kitchen face lift from Joni at Cote de Texas! SWOON! She got new counters, sink, faucet and appliances.  The whole makeover took just a few days! I absolutely love her post talking about her kitchen and why they opted for a face lift rather than gutting the room, and why they love their home in spite of its quirks and flaws.

Here are some of my favorite inspiring excerpts from her post:

On her kitchen face lift: “We should gut it, I know in my heart. We should add new cabinets and remove the island, close off the opening to the family room and put in a gorgeous range  with a hood fashioned after a fireplace, but really, why?”

On her small home: “We love our house, despite the fact that there is no storage and the bathrooms are terribly in need of a fix up and that Elizabeth’s room is about a foot bigger than a jail cell and our backyard is actually a courtyard. Poor thing — Lizzy never had a trampoline or a swing set, or even a place to chaser her dogs around, instead she’s had a life of hiding from the neighbor’s prying eyes, a hazard of living on a town lot just 50 x 100. Yet, we’ve been happy here, very very happy and hopefully we’ll be happy here for quite a few more years…  We could move now, we could probably afford something a little bigger and something a little nicer… But, our house is like an engagement ring — today, you could afford to buy more carats than you could as a newly wed, but it’s your ring, and it means something deeply to you, more than just bling.”

SIGH. Well said, Joni!

Be sure to click over and enjoy her entire post with lots more photos here!

For more info on the joys and benefits of small house living, visit The Jewel Box Home! Her current post talks about how small homes actually benefit children and teens! I agree, smaller houses can do wonders for family togetherness!

40 Comments

  1. Rosie's Whimsy

    I’ll be popping right over. Wish we would have listened to the voice inside of me saying. “You silly gooses, why are you building such a large house….your kids are grown!”

    Rosie’s Whimsys inspiring blog post..Are you an Earring Floozie?

    Reply
  2. Julie Walraven

    Thanks for pointing me to a great remodel. It gives me hope that someday I will get there myself!

    Julie Walravens inspiring blog post..My Journey with LinkedIn

    Reply
  3. Pat

    I missed seeing this, Melissa. I’m going over there now. Thanks for the heads up…I knew, of course, Joni’s kitchen makeover would be fabulous!

    Reply
  4. Susan J Smith

    Thanks for sharing! I’ll go check it out!

    Susan J Smiths inspiring blog post..It’s “Hooked on Friday” blog party day!

    Reply
  5. Sara

    This was a great post.
    I’m glad to see that someone can find pleasure in restraint. I never get that feeling when I watch TV.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Sara

    Saras inspiring blog post..On My Mind in 2009

    Reply
  6. Rhoda

    Oh yes, I love Joni & already checked out her beautiful kitchen. I think she did a perfect job of an update. I’ve got a smallish kitchen myself & would love to do a little tweaking in there this year.

    Hope you’re getting settled in the new house!

    Rhodas inspiring blog post..Shopping with Eddie

    Reply
  7. Stacey

    I’m definitely going to check out these sites! And please keep giving us inspiration from your move! I’m planning to move (again) in the next several months, and we will have to downsize due to housing costs in the new city. I’m partly relieved to have less to care for and worry about, and partly disappointed to let go of my house here. Stupid, isn’t it? So, keep the inspiration coming, I’m gonna need it :)!

    Stacey @ The Blessed Nests inspiring blog post..A Snow Day!

    Reply
  8. Jennifer

    Thanks for sharing! We are in the middle of a kitchen “re-do” too! New paint on the wall and cabinets. New sink and counters to come and I’ll live with the lay out and floors.

    Jennifers inspiring blog post..The Piano

    Reply
  9. teresa

    Thanks for sharing, I took a look and loved their make over-
    Have a wonderful day.

    teresas inspiring blog post..Ashlee’s Baptism Day-

    Reply
  10. Becca

    It’s beautiful and I love those sentiments! I wish more people could learn to be content with what they have!

    Beccas inspiring blog post..Blogiversary!

    Reply
  11. Kimm

    Thanks for sharing. I loved reading about her feelings about her house and her thoughts during the renovations while looking at the pictures. They did a beautiful job.

    Reply
  12. jen

    I had never heard of this blog, but sure had fun browsing. I “need: to update my counters, and oh – this marble is beautiful! :)

    jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlams inspiring blog post..Calgon take me away!

    Reply
  13. Susie

    I just found your blog through The Nester. I have been sitting here looking through your posts, enjoying every minute and losing track of time. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you find the plungers in the canisters? We have the same “low flow” toilets in our house and I have not been able to find any plungers comparable to the one you posted about.

    Thanks for sharing all your wonderful posts and photos. I enjoyed my visit and will be popping over frequently.
    Susie

    Susies inspiring blog post..Giveaway for Ten Free Hair Bows!!

    Reply
  14. cathleen

    Small homes are awesome…less space to clean and more time for fun things like quilting and knitting! Thanks….for the link…will go check her out.

    Reply
  15. SoBella Creations

    We live in a smaller house. And it has been a big adjustment. But, I’m so happy we no longer have to climb stairs at night to go to bed.

    Reply
  16. LuLu

    Her sink is something to swoon over. I love our size house. We use every room everyday. There is no room off limits. 4 children with a 4 bedroom home… 2 girls share and their bond because of it is amazing..the giggles and talk I hear coming from the door are to be cherished. their closet is horrible (clothing a constant problem to store) The kids have 1 sink to share among all of them in their bathroom…fights over who is brushing their teeth first! Ugh I wish there was a second sink… on an on but I feel so good that we are not wasting any space in our home!
    LuLu

    LuLus inspiring blog post..Vintage Weekend

    Reply
  17. a fanciful twist

    Heloo My lovely friend!! honking tons!! xoxo

    I love small spaces!! I have two small homes and I just adore them. Of course, the only way I would exchange them both, was for a giant warehouse type sapce, built on our land where the country chack is, where I would have a small kitchen sitting area, my bed, floating in the center of the room, and the rest, my studio….

    But, back to tiny spaces… They are so charming, decor looks marvelous. You can use lush materials, like marble countertops (YUMM) and not need too much.. And everything you do, seems more intense…

    Whe I redid my ktichen in the city townhouse, I felt excatly the same as above… I wanted big changes – but Iopted out, and just got new cabinets and countertops and light fixtures.. And I am just peachy with it all…

    OKay, I am rambling, haha! Love, V

    Reply
  18. pam

    -smiles- I hope you got the glue off your fingers……Good luck with all.

    Reply
  19. Pretty Organizer

    Love it! and SO TRUE! For what? It’s so important to keep balance between needs and wants and modest living. My hubby works too hard for me to be an unwise steward of the money we have. If I get out of balance and spring for an opulent unnecessary item, ultimately we pay for that purchase in time separated from Dad so he can pay for it. It’s much more worth it to me to take care of what is sufficient for our needs and have him with us! Thanks Melissa.

    Pretty Organizers inspiring blog post..Textured Wallpaper

    Reply
  20. Deanna

    She is a woman after my own heart! I am heading over to see her post!

    Thanks for sharing it!

    Deannas inspiring blog post..Farewell, President Bush

    Reply
  21. Julie Size

    Oh – I just love her blog. Once I asked her how many decorating books she owned and she told me literly hundreds!

    Julie Sizes inspiring blog post..Top Hats

    Reply
  22. Joni Webb

    I started hearing lots of “I came from The Inspired Room” today and thought I would check you out. Thanks girl! You are the sweetest ever. I hope your fingers are back to normal – that was hysterical, sorry to say in your misery! I hate when I get super glue on my fingers and truth be told, I’ve never NOT gotten it on them, no matter how careful I am!!!!

    thanks again!!!!! Very much appreciated.
    Joni

    Reply
  23. Debbie

    HI Melissa, I am heading over to see the rest of her redo! Thanks for this wonderful info. So sorry about your glued finger mess. Haven’t we all glued some part of our body to something that really should never be glued? did that make any sense? hello! Is a glue gun a power tool? Can’t wait to see more pictures!
    Debbie

    Debbies inspiring blog post..Cleaning, decorating, cleaning, organizing, cleaning…

    Reply
  24. Tim

    Sounds interesting. Now I gotta go see the pictures. I was just writing yesterday about our small house…

    Love the excerpt about the engagement ring. I’ve talked to Kim about the fact that we were only 19 years old when I bought her that and couldn’t afford much. She’s not interested in an upgrade, though.

    But I haven’t ever heard her refuse new jewelry!

    Remodeling Guy

    Tim @ Remodeling Guys inspiring blog post..The Wintertime Blues, and Reds, and Yellows, and…

    Reply
  25. Megan

    I LOVE THAT SINK!!! I want it. Almost NEED it! =)
    Blessings!
    Megan

    Megan @ LittleBellaBeans inspiring blog post..To love all things…

    Reply
  26. Jan

    What a wonderful make-over…thanks for sending me over to view it!

    Jans inspiring blog post..Rose Wednesday…

    Reply
  27. Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall

    Headed over to check it out now. Hope your doing well:)

    Reply
  28. The Antiques Diva

    Hi –

    As soon as I saw this sink photo before reading a word, I recognized it from the Cote de Texas blog on kitchen makeover. I loved this sink so much I had printed it for my files. As for small kitchens, I live in Europe where small kitchens reign. And while many of my American vistors gasp over the tiny size of my kitchen (wondering how I can cook 7 courses dinners in an oven the size of a microwave), I find small kitchens to be preferrable! A well organized small kitchen finds everything at your fingertips, like doing calistenics you stretch to the left for a pot stashed overhead while maintainging your “feet shoulder width apart” position facing the stove then lunge right for a potholder. A shoulder roll tosses a dirty spoon in the sink while a stretch is perfectly orchestrated to reach that overhead storage. When I was in cooking school in Paris our teachers all had microscopic kitchens at home… all claiming they were easier to cook in than stretched out spaces where you had to search for everything! Oddly, I never became an organized cook until living in Europe where decreasing kitchen sizes forced me to reconsider how I’ve always done things. Kudos to Joni and Cote de Texas for her sensibility… in these days where everything in America is being super-sized I’m impressed to see her sense and sensibility! And she does it with such style!

    Best,
    The Antiques Diva

    The Antiques Divas inspiring blog post..Guest Blog – The Cashmere Touch

    Reply
  29. dawn

    This is one of the prettiest kitchens ever, thank you for sharing the post!

    dawns inspiring blog post..My latest WIP-

    Reply
  30. Sandy

    we’re in the same boat – tiny tiny kitchen. and we just replaced our stove after 30+ yrs. we’re going to slowly change it, but it’s going to take time and money. thanks for sharing joni w/us!

    Sandys inspiring blog post..Thank You, MLK & Simple Frozen Dinner

    Reply
  31. mary

    i tuoi post sono sempre meravigliosi!
    buona serata
    Mary

    marys inspiring blog post..con ago alla mano!!

    Reply
  32. Lisa

    Love that! We plan on giving our kitchen a facelift too rather than knocking down walls or going to too much trouble. That will be enough to make me happy!

    Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolatess inspiring blog post..Simmering Soup – Day 3 – Chili and Soup Link-Up

    Reply
  33. Carol

    I did check it out and the kitchen is just beautiful. I think a lot can be said of small homes. They can be elegant and charming. This kitchen certainly is.

    Carols inspiring blog post..I’m an old geezer and darn proud of it…..

    Reply
  34. Rachel

    I loved Joni’s makeover too! Her countertops are just gorgeous.

    I am loving that more and more people are seeing how great it is to NOT live in a massively huge house! I love our little house. Are there a few things I would change? Sure. But I can’t imagine living in such a big house that there would be rooms I didn’t use. It’s a waste. Plus, I just think smaller houses are more charming.

    Love your blog!

    Rachels inspiring blog post..Honest Scrap!

    Reply

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