More on Knobs

So I thought the knob fiasco was over.  Not!  We got an email today that our pull choice was on backorder until almost September.  September?  Really?

We deciced to call them and pray that they had the same pulls in stock with a different metal choice, so we asked for the brushed nickel instead of the polished.  We were in luck.  We really didn;t want to wait for them--we need a way to open drawers in the kitchen now--not in September!  We want them on site when the carpenter comes to install the cabinets.  They need to drill the holes and install the hardware because if we do it we will likely mess up the cabinets because we would do it wrong.  What do we know about installing cabinet hardware?  Uh, nothing.  We're not taking any chances on these cabinets.  We also didn't want to go through the hassle of choosing something different. 

Knobgate 2011: Resolved!

So we finally decided on and ordered our knobs & pulls from House of Antique Hardware after much ado.  Like any good married couple, we compromised.  Jeff picked out the knobs he liked, and I picked out the pulls.  And we're both happy--especially since I googled a coupon that saved ud 30% on our order.

Here are the knobs:

Photo from houseofantiquehardware.com
Medium Fluted Glass Cabinet Knob

And the pulls:


Photo from houseofantiquehardware.com
Hexagonal Crystal Drawer Pull

 We think these choices will suit our historic home and complement the white cabinetry very well.

DIY Flower Pots

I needed to transplant my 4 African Violets that I've managed to keep alive and thriving for 2 years now, but I've had the hardest time finding simple white ceramic planters that would fit our decor.

I started out with 2 violets that my friend Sandra gave me when her life got too hectic to take care of them.  One had two babies so then I had 4--and with 3 living in one pot I had to find planters fast.  I finally found these at Shoprite after searching all the garden centers and even online:

Before

I liked that the drainage plate was built in, so I thought they were perfect.  I wanted to give them a little pizazz, however, so I went to Michael's craft store to pick up some little crystals so that I could put a meaningful word on each pot.  I decided on "Live," "Laugh," "Love," and "Dream."  Not very original I know, but they are simple--and they are words to live by that mean a lot to me.  I really like how they turned out:

With Mom's help I transplanted them.  I needed her expertise because the 3 plants potted together had severe root entanglement which I have no experience with.  The violets look happy now:

Non-House Related Rant

I'm a peaceful person.  But that went straight out the window today when I encountered a jerk in the Shop Rite parking lot.

It was about 90 degrees today and I was in the car for a long time sweating and waiting for Jeff to come back out of the store  because my disc was bothering me badly.  I saw a dog in a nearby car.  The poor thing was panting heavily and pacing in the vehicle.  He had been there since before I was, but I hadn't noticed him until he barked.  Even though a window was cracked the dog had to be in serious distress.  Idiots are STILL doing this to dogs?  You would think people would know by now that a dog can die in mere minutes inside an overn-like car.  This upset me so badly. 

I quickly went in the store so I could get Jeff's cell to call the police.  I couldn't find him!  By the time I found him and got to the car to get the tag number the jerk returned.  I could not bite my tongue.  I knew I had no time to get the police to intervene and I just let him have it.  It's very unlike me to unleash on someone.  I'm very shy and reserved.  But the rage I felt for this dog being put through this encouraged me to speak up.  I said some not so nice words as I questioned why someone would leave a dog in a roasting hot car.  No regrets.  I only hope the jerk will think next time.

Our Time Isn't Valuable to Anyone But Us

Ok just a general complaint:  people like electricians, designers, plumbers etc. seem to have a real problem keeping to their word.  Maybe I'm naive, but when a person tells you that they will have a quote/information for you by X date, then you should be able to count on that.  Gone are the days when you can take people at their word I suppose. 

It shouldn't take more than a week for someone to get back to you.  In this economy I would think that people would be grateful for the business and treat their customers with respect.  Rant over.

Knobgate 2011

Ugh.  Mama said there'd be days like this...  The past week has been a blur of making plans, phone calls, waiting on quotes, and general panic about when will SOMETHING get done in the house.  We knew this would be difficult.  We just didn't know the extent. 

With the chaos surrounding us right now it is surprising that something so seemingly innocuous and small is at the heart of a great debate in this marriage (dun Dun DUN *cue the foreboding music).  What tiny little thing could this be?  Kitchen cabinet knobs of course!

In an incident that shall from now on be referred to as Knobgate, Jeff and I locked horns while attempting to choose exactly the right knobs for the exact and perfect cabinetry we spent hours choosing--and the biggest hunk of our budget spent upon.  Er...Gigantic, actually.  See, I narrowed down our choices based on my sense of what would look really nice.  It's a choice that will effect the aesthetics of our kitchen, so it requires thoughtful consideration.  However, if I had known the trouble to befall me and my better half I might have simply ordered the knobs that I liked best rather than to open the can of worms that was unleashed into our lives.

Knobgate began when I brought up the choices on the computer and rather than looking at the style and material of the knobs Jeff was only interested in which was the cheapest.  AUUUuuuuuuuuuggggh!  He's such a guy.  This started a nearly 2 hour and exhausting debate in which Jeff's voice went all hypernasal as it tends to become when he gets excited about something; excited in a negative way, mind you.  Apparently the choices were the knobs that broke the camel's back because he was adamant that the knobs I liked best weren't worth the money.  Jeff isn't a very strong camel.  Ok.  So then he went into all sorts of nerdy histrionics about budget this and budget that and there was a tornado of Looney Tune's Tazmanian Devil inaudible utterings as he unleashed all of his renovation frustrations at once.  All of this over knobs!

So I comforted him and we discussed the projects at hand and finally narrowed our choices down (throwing out the very nice crystal knobs I chose) and decided to allow the deciding vote to go to our designer, and we are still waiting for an opinion.  In the end I was swayed to his way of thinking.  In the end, are the knobs really that important?  Nah.  I wish I wasn't so particular about things, but Jeff is the most important thing in the world to me and his feelings are paramount to me.  His happiness is my priority.  It's just kind of funny that we agreed on all the big stuff and then disagreed over little knobs;-) 

We'll see what decision is made.  Stay tuned!

Discoveries at the House

When I finally went to bed at 6 a.m. Jeff was still half asleep.  I started talking to him as I often do about the million things that race around in my brain that keep me from sleeping like a normal person.  Must be terrible to be married to me!  My head was full of ideas about the house and everything around it.  My attentions had turned toward the landscaping as everyone I know is giving us plants and trees and wanting to know when we can plant them.  Uh... we haven't even figured out the inside of this place yet.  We are grateful for the gestures, however.  Anyway I was thinking about my favorite trees and flowers and got stuck on the intoxicating scent and beauty of peony flowers.  They're my favorite!  I excitedly asked Jeff still in half-slumber, "Can we get some peonies?  Please, please peonies!?"  He was less than enthusiastic and muttered "I sleep."

We had to meet with our electrician today and what did I discover when we went over to the house this afternoon?  PEONIES! 

And lots of them!  I was so happy to see them--yet unbloomed and petals tightly wound in a ball so sweet even the little ants can't resist.  We also have a purple azalea that is in bloom.

Emerson wrote, "The Earth laughs in flowers."  I think he was right:-)

So onto less pleasant things... the living room looks like a warehouse for boxes.  Well, it kind of is actually.  The cabinetry is taking up the space right now.

I'm glad it's here so I can catch a glimpse of something brand new amidst all of this chaos and dust.



Here's one of the cabinet doors that will be on the base lazy susan cabinet.  I wonder who Susan was and why she was so lazy.  I'm glad she was!  Now I will have an easier time storing things.



This is some of the filler detail work.  I think it's so pretty!

I was happy to discover that there are a lot of ornate hinges original to the house.  I hope that we can get the paint off of them and keep them.  You just don't see charming details like this anymore.