This project has been at the top of my list for so long! Today I'm sharing all about our mini kitchen renovation and new door project!
We think that our garage was an addition and prior to it being added, there was a third window in our kitchen dinette; when the garage was added, instead of framing the wall correctly, they added a shallow shelf in the window hole. I've hated this shelf since day one, because it doesn't actually hold anything or help our storage situation! Above is a photo of the shelves styled for our Christmas party in 2021.
Like I said, at the top of my list for over a year, BUT until we had a baby on the way, it wasn't on the top of my husband's list. ;) Before this update, to get into the garage, you had to go out the back door, down narrow steps, onto the patio, then through a very narrow door into the garage. It doesn't sound that bad, I know, but our laundry room is in our garage. (!!!) I knew that if we could just add a door directly from the kitchen dinette to the garage, it would make life so much easier. Well, now that we have a baby on the way, this project became a priority because going outside in the heat and rain with a car seat/infant didn't sound like a good move.
SO over the last few weeks, we had construction going on in the kitchen to add a door, reframe the wall, insulate and drywall the garage wall side, and build stairs directly into the garage from the kitchen dinette. One of the previous owners who lived in our home was a big DIY person and they took a lot of shortcuts. I'm all for a good DIY, but I'm not over here trying to rewire electrical and install doors and windows myself! *insert eye roll* So we definitely took this opportunity to fix some of his shortcuts that had been done years ago. We had to move plumbing and electrical already for the washer/dryer, so it worked out!
I can't tell you how convenient it has been to have this new door! And yes, my husband is loving it, too! I'll share the garage side of the wall later, once I install my storage shelves, etc., but it's going to add quite a bit of storage for things like paper towels, light bulbs, etc. that are currently taking up precious storage space inside the house. Can't wait to organize it all!
This is Phase One of the kitchen dinette makeover. Next year, I would like to add banquette seating for the dinette table and add some additional storage (much needed!).
As part of phase one, I would also like to add different window treatments in the dinette, a new rug, new light fixture, and a new table and chairs...but we'll see what I can get done before baby comes. All of our leftover furniture and accessories ended up in the dinette and I've lived with it for over a year, so a few more months won't kill me. ;) Can't you picture a beautiful new light fixture that doesn't sag! I can't wait to trash this old ceiling fan!
I'm just so excited for a new space that we actually enjoy being in! Prior to adding the door, this space was a dumping ground, but it already feels so much better!