Three Years Later

I've been making a few changes around the house lately. Simple things. Easy things. One of them I'll be sharing tomorrow, in fact. I thought I would share a little peek into something I started a few years ago, and show you how far I have come since.

A few years ago, 3 to be exact, I re-painted my kitchen, with the same green paint that I have in a few other areas of the house. At that same time, I got rid of all of the fake plants that I had above the kitchen cabinets that were covered in about 2 inches of dust. I purchased a variety of frames in different colors and sizes at Michaels (all during a fabulous sale), and displayed them above the cabinets. I added in a few other odds and ends that I had laying around the house for extra decor. 

I took that photo three years ago. April of 2010. I didn't realize it had been that long ago that I stuck all of those frames up there. And yes, I totally put them up there with the cardboard and plastic packing on them. You can see that some of the frames came with those fake "photos" in them (the lighthouse, the flowers, the bride and groom), which I left in there, and some of those frames are even upside down. Classic, right ;)

I did add that photo of Sarah to the black 12x12 frame about 6 months after putting the frames up there. I had taken her out for a little photo shoot, loved that shot of her, and thought it would be perfect for the square sized photo. Sooooo. Six months later, I did add a photo to ONE frame.

This is how that section looks today. The photo of Sarah is in the same exact spot as it was before. I did add one of my Kerri Bradford Studio projects to the white frame (THIS project). You can see that the black frame is out of it's cardboard packaging, and the photo of the bride and groom is gone. I had actually used that frame for a design team project and had to get a new one to replace it. So it's there empty.

This is to the left of the photo of Sarah. The frames are a bit different. I switched a blue frame for the red frame and I believe that's the same black frame, just turned on it's side. It might seem weird to have a pencil drawn photo of Joe from high school displayed in the kitchen. Maybe it's not weird to some of you. This photo was laying around, backed with a heavy mat board, and I finally got smart and put it in a frame. The frame came from above the cabinets, so it only seemed right to put it back up there. Otherwise, I'd have a gap. So that's honestly the main reason it's there. Plus, it's kind of a cool photo. I have better shots of it that I'll have to share.

Three years ago, this is what the left side of the kitchen (above the cabinets) looked like. I got the lighthouse frame right side up, but the black one was upside down. Cardboard and plastic still on the frames.

And here's what it looks like today, three years later. Here's the red frame that I had switched out for the blue in the previous photos. And what's in that black frame? There's that bride and groom again. Lol. At least I took the cardboard and plastic off the frames, even if I still haven't put anything IN them.

This is what the right side of the kitchen (above the cabinets) looked like three years ago. That lighthouse photo sure is popular, isn't it? And will someone please remind me to switch out that ugly light with the gold trim. Ugh. Such a simple fix that will look 17 times better, I'm sure of it.

And here's what that section looks like today, three years later. The small photo of Sarah is gone. BTW. Alyssa totally comments on how there's a photo of Sarah and Joe up there, but not of her. I need to take care of that. I did fill one of the frames, with a digital word art image that I had printed out. In my last photo order from Costco over the weekend (because my photo printer is having some issues), I did have another digital print done to add to that white frame. It's sitting on my kitchen counter. We'll see how long it takes me to climb up there and add it in.

This gives you a pretty good idea about how I do a lot of things in life. Halfway. I don't set out to only do half, and it's not my intention to forget to go back and finish things. I mean, I have been up there at the top of the cabinets a few times over the past three years. I go up there, take everything down, and give it all a good scrubbing. And then I try and remember how to put it all back the same way. But it happens. Life gets busy, there's 57 other projects and things to do and worry about, so I do often get sidetracked and forget.

It's still a bit pathetic. I mean, come on. THREE years, and I've only filled four of the ten frames. I really need to make it a point to finish these and get something up there. I will make that one of my summer goals and will hopefully come and report back with all my fabulous filled frames of goodness!

Comments

[Kristin O.]

This post cracked me up - we all have projects half done all over the house! (It does happen to all of us, right?) With the hundreds of gorgeous layouts you create, I'm impressed you find time to do other things even halfway. And the cleanliness of your cabinet tops - you rock!! I really loved learning that one of my scrapbook heroes is human like me!

[Michelle]

Oh Laura I do the same thing. You aren't the only one. :) Lots of half finished projects. My cupboards have lots of the artificial greenery and nothing else. Can't seem to find anything I like. I have windows we replaced that don't have the trim up yet. I have tile sitting in my office for the past 15 mo. that needs to go on the laundry room floor. Trim that needs to go around the new cabinets we put up in the laundry room Feb. 2012. New windows that need to be varnished (weather is NOT cooperating!).

May I say, your cabinets are pretty!!!

[Cindee]

Love that print in the blue frame. Where did you get it? I just may need it. I also LOVE anything Kerri Bradford does. I may need that project too :)

[Brenda]

I'm so glad to learn I'm not the only one with really good intentions that gets sidetracked halfway through! It does look gorgeous now - thanks for sharing the pictures!

[Martina Alcock]

We are all human! so glad I am not the only woman out there with half finished projects in the house.....

[Mendi Yoshikawa]

So funny! I think I have the exact same tendencies. I get all excited with an idea and then I don't follow through. I have some art I made for my scrapbook room over a year ago that still is just sitting there un-hung.

I love your wall color! I think I may have painted my dining room almost that exact same color & I also am collecting blue and yellow (& a little red) accent pieces! The colors make me feel happy! :)