My Mad Men kitchen

Welcome to the 1960s mixed in with a little 1990s or what I like to call, my kitchen. Who knew that my new home would have a Betty Draper- style plaid kitchen courtesy of Mad Men?

Well, the plaid wallpaper’s gotta go. Along with the dinosaur of a double oven, the evergreen laminate countertops, and the overhead microwave that makes the cooktop feel like a cave.

Just one problem. See the other day when I was eating my breakfast, the ceiling dripped into my bran flakes. And with those drips went a few of our kitchen renovation plans. They’re now in the fix-the-leak-in-the-bathroom-that-isn’t-covered-by-the-home-warranty plan. So if you’ve wondered why I haven’t posted in awhile, I’ve traded my paintbrush for a spatula. (But I’ve got to eat sometime, so our grill and smoker have replaced my oven.)

Our plans now are to re-purpose as much of our current kitchen as we can.

Here’s what’s on the list:

Anyone need a trash compactor?

• Paint the kitchen cabinets white (bring on the oil-based primer)
• Paint the cabinet hinges in brushed nickel
• Paint the laminate countertops gray (Rustoleum is on my shopping list)
• Take down the wallpaper
• Remove the trash compactor (done;)
• Replace the double oven and stovetop with a range (opens up the space and it’s less expensive)
• Decide on a backsplash
• Nix the over-the-stove microwave–where can you hide a microwave?
• Swap out the lighting
  

  Plans posted in the kitchen for inspiration

• Refinish the wood floors

I’m looking forward to making the kitchen my own. And here’s the best part–when I need a break from remodeling, here’s where I head. The backyard.