Maple Kitchen Cabinets

<div style="text-align: justify;">Your kitchen is the heart of your home and is where you and your family probably spend a lot of your time. You want it to feel warm and inviting. Maple kitchen cabinets are a good choice due to the fact they are a beautiful wood and they are also very durable. Maple will give your kitchen an elegant look. It is a hardwood that has very little grain and is naturally light in color.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maple cabinets come in a variety of styles and finishes including, natural, Tuscany, espresso and ivory. You can find a style and finish to complement any decor. Due to the fact that maple has little or no grain, it is the perfect surface for putting on a custom color paint finish.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZEjc31KgCpBthwDfJ9Qr4GwJpgAORHOYoVFwLHjd8E6U5L0qWy3sEZILc4R9m2wm9LeOQgfcIOKJxNWfsvIyukMN6YnQhxLt9e9TkwELiSvbmgpOVZJleh1oR159-JH0Y3QlP-xSq7AW/s400/219189f7d0dd.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3_pozTE0wWAfmYn2y1-mFQDnFocNoTK3vQgc5-bew3_9iOuNj0ScjX6K-ygw54w5XDGIxG2RnVyu0Vp2Y0eV5W1Q5k3W2pScgoC2Ici5i-g2E6XpEddDy6OfSRB0XKmphhh3mPy00SGP/s400/ET-KD-Glazed-maple-1.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDLbdbBKBUruUBEnoLezkobjL63aWjQUmc0WVycswco485jm5nUUGfZpqAUmACgkXRlZpIpe0WUD6S99xRj4VJOlk9zuBCgI4AcHzBawy9CX0mTS6ngdcARrPW6Sw-TxMXN333r5N5-CZ/s400/Kitchens14L+Maple+Kitchen+Cabinets+Kitchen+Remodel_full.jpeg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a variety of paint colors for your kitchen walls that will complement your maple kitchen cabinets. Green is a good choice to use with maple kitchen cabinets. Muted tones of green, such as mint or apple, give your kitchen a bright airy feel and will complement your cabinets. If you want a darker color for your walls you can choose a terracotta color that will add contrast and make your maple kitchen cabinets stand out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Maple kitchen cabinets</b> are versatile and will go with most wall colors. This is due to the fine texture of maple and fits well with a contemporary or traditional kitchen. You can choose the finish that will look best with your color scheme. You can find maple cabinets in all shades of finishes from the lightest being natural to an onyx finish that is black in color.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK8kQHGkrn6VHCVlqth9VP96GsBIZLiQAIkf2wDxLx2XtoKf56LAKs8LwkxtiPiJArv33UZBXW7qY6NgvXIw_Ta1FHA5KQfbkspiboI8gJF1rPoub-EJY6ic_fmKmd2qdO4_nV0bNxehc/s400/Kitchens18L+Maple+Kitchen+Cabinets+with+Cherry+Stain_full.jpeg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepo1aNMXXxaC47KILFcy5rC5chq4FRRir4qscLSSEuvqiWgysMHd6EL2ii6n2GeDBK3frImNqtubXzBRHbXwQohYY7yj2fAzQqJFDjIMyWFwQ0uSWyYYyHFpj9zgG3FiqUrCaCUVbCT12/s400/Kitchens7L-Maple-Kitchen-Cabinets-with-Burnt-Sugar-Glaze.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnenzFdZPJ0cCYiz-G_pMG_6dR_JSAUDU858cU5y2cGyxFoFtyOCv_Iv34xP7hKSLTNvlCF375QYCwHYdQUsHurARbLUihu70cgIThOZ0qOaPRSiUME9GE5fH5caeWtCXZSr2t40soFmHh/s400/Maple-Kitchen-Cabinetry.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are undecided on what wall color will go best with your maple kitchen cabinets you can visit your local paint store or home improvement store. There you will be able to find paint chips in the colors that you think might work in your kitchen. Pick a variety of paint swatches even ones you think might not be the right choice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Look at the paint swatches at home in your kitchen one by one. Put them next to your flooring, appliances and cabinets. Narrow down your choices to a few and put them up on the wall. Leave them there for a few days so you can see them in different lighting conditions. Once you have narrowed the choice down to one, you can buy a small amount of paint and test it on the wall. This will give you the paints' true color after it has dried.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzTJGRk4g3XlS9Hp-tLmk4W1SV7kWHVig8WYBADWIEnQwye8coepvPsv2olmPUSkDOBQOVejxgBeThCttQsVwz-1oPAT92lWrwfYrp_frRZUIXfv-5IAHCtg_FUGe-IY_qVkOAD81IlON/s400/Maple_Cabinets_Floor_Black_Granite_600.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPe5PkLrFi1TxzwuqOQbDes3RrU8RtCEUa4MHp8pEtW2dqySK7o2Flv0L-7Swp21nTc86NchG8oP_kFR3mCFapk700R0VYEl6j58Yy6cwFZBsLiCFa0vRwq5kcY_GfBKEwrGMsHjCi9KKf/s400/Shaker-Door-Natural-Maple-Kitchen-Cabinet.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsW4SgwWh2WBcFs51LDJPTiENK3f_g5N5OUkNlskJsVwZnfE9FiteA9D-tWCarxY3oXLOIEXI_fsb8BsPSC3nzm_t3bRbH2S25l1m3qYfzZPGs5FiFiZuucHqcw30FEfsdejKq0DRh4eD/s400/franklin-kitchen-cabinets.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes it is hard to narrow the paint choices down to one. If there are two that you really like, you can test both colors on the walls. If one color is darker and one is a lighter warmer color, you might consider using the darker one on trim to accent the room.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Maple kitchen cabinets</b> are very versatile and will complement all types of decor, including modern, traditional and country. They go well with both dark and light wall colors and look good with dark countertops. No matter your taste you can find the exact look you are aiming for by using maple kitchen cabinets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tcUzQMyWAIM1FsqRaKA4ZWMKz8hTU28J6LonCAOjkoXIsB5Yu5cQKQ1I75laBpYQlRbn8KHUyTPRqKBQDIq2bC8aLgS2Leu30Gke_tQSbt0DukhnC8XVo4AkhHzcDyZxEZGdS5J83MDl/s400/glazed_maple_kitchen_cabinets_1.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Maple kitchen cabinets</b> are built of redwood and maple wood these days. These cabinets are believed to have a sturdier built and can last a lifetime. They are strong cabinets and are not lightweight like other fancy types. Maple trees are stout trees commonly available in Asia and the Europe and the wood of these trees have a large number of uses. Though considered very strong and brittle, the maple tree wood is used as the butcher's block, which undergoes multiple hits from the butcher's knife without actually breaking up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The versatility of maple wood is well understood by the manufacturers of cabinets and that is why maple wood is also used in the manufacture of these cabinets. Kitchen is a place where oil, butter and cooking fat are used in ample quantities in the cooking process. The heat from the kitchen is also at times unbearable and the first effect of these extremities falls on the permanent kitchen fixtures. These fixtures slowly chip away and loosen up needing replacements repeatedly. This is not so with maple kitchen cabinets. Reputed to be one of the best and the strongest woods around, at times even stronger than mahogany, maple cabinets have the unique fit-n-forget feature requiring negligible maintenance and cleaning. Once attached to the kitchen wall and held in place firmly, these cabinets are sure to last as long as you want them to.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB98o65jNBngxs8RPytDAH8kYBq6zhebFEIibfDOyzdrr8fvj-_xW1cLCid3F7K87OKveVfibWlWfT0CKJvVbsG4KQlNugUW98oOPkPK929PC9dCFzNBilg9xF3d0ZDxcnUs3HC7AIzv5n/s400/mansfield-kitchen-cabinets.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK2A1sY8B4WaZmNw1pJtT2TXYUj_bmBD4KTER-Y565o20bkTXInb9mdjupl-_FeGtFLc_IsQjLT06b8NV0Jz5SmDWpG4J2XivoDeRb9_XhLRFBpJCui8kEJp0E9GBTXIPlyja8ynP_fPX/s400/maple-complete-kitchen-cabinets.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5cDVpHr_Ll9vnEs0j-u0L_n49COlQhJwtDQPvKopu0H4lplxGRy6qu-0s82AKv39QSXfvw5_iFEgPL_mE7rBjPvExfdSTbhP0J84e1UU_b4ttmXldabxUBUeCzgvzlacKfApgoVvovf2/s400/maple-square-raised.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2naYXl_rdMKQxqNvCs2EuatL6liTePry9jjV0F_6au2VtFA7nC-Bn6p2Mu-FdBVey2HOEVRKTI-mpxAVPSNOkHqrZKGi2vORm8tyKbPsrpRumIIk2MXZpGIVYdB-fucQ7_D2WRtzRNqc/s400/mellowood-maple-kitchen-cabinet-menards.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you were looking for good maple kitchen cabinets for your kitchen, you would have to get in touch with a reputed furniture shop who would have to take your order specifications down before actually getting you the product. These kitchen cabinets are not openly available from ready stock and would require to be specially built as per the order. Though a little steep in pricing and costs, maple kitchen cabinets are always a welcome fixture to any kitchen howsoever big or small the space may be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can also have a look at wonderful maple kitchen cabinets online. The online shops give a colorful catalog of these cabinets and you can make your choice after going through all the specifications. You can directly get in touch with the manufacturer or the vendor of the product and give your kitchen specifications. The dealer would be glad to send across a representative to understand the exact specifications and get you the product as early as possible.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="maple kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvDY8Rha6Zr39AIsU4k-dMCW3lnWKwiHh-Sx5ZpflxeRU7pc_00beKNEZOJrs4xSmZxCPLgLWFTzbf7LMk5daI12nAEUloCd1ZJuOKReUuNLxJm679u59IJA9EtUInH0t3dsRQsV8PUl2/s400/soft_maple_2.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pvQxN6gMK385KLv9X2vuyU_22vQUJyYwbmYMKa6NgesNdDEaUklpvTOKNjZ7PALJCBDjtsPnah3eEvaOe9B281qya2GAjWdEq7gKEQPxwYPFGWcAZhyphenhyphenH7mtb1qf11ITfdOTBL2jYslnm/s400/wood-species-maple-1.jpg" title="maple kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></div>

Maple Kitchen Cabinets

Your kitchen is the heart of your home and is where you and your family probably spend a lot of your time. You want it to feel warm and in...

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The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

<center></center><div style="text-align: justify;">If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in case you're in need of a catch up:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/DSC_0591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 58.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/58.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I finally decided though that we would just work with the existing layout and cabinets and use my favorite concrete overlay technique to make this kitchen work for us until we can do a big upgrade.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 51.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/51.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm still hoping for a full kitchen reno sometime down the road, but at least for now, the space feels clean and bright! DIY wins again! :) Here's a little more on what we ended up doing and where I bought everything...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the splurges of the reno was this farmhouse sink from Signature Hardware. We had some sort of funny dimensions to work with and this one was the least expensive of the options that would fit right. I love the clean lines! I also bought the faucet from Signature Hardware and had a local plating company (Papago Plating) strip off the lacquer finish. I love it.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The black concrete counters are holding up really well and I love the dramatic look. The waterfall edge is so pretty, and I think with the creamy white cabinet color and the lighter gray on the floors (Ben Moore's Galveston Gray), the black is not too dark for the space.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 61.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/61.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My favorite part though is the little shelf we built with pine boards that I covered in concrete too. I hung them with simple black gloss brackets from Home Deport with brass screws. I wanted the brackets to just sort of go away, which they do! The shelves are super sturdy though too. We have all sorts of heavy things on top (tons of plates on one side and a 20-lb cactus planter on the other!) and it's sturdy as can be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 52.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/52.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 56.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/56.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can see in this photo too that we beefed up the trim on the doors and added trim to the windows (there was nothing there before). I LOVE how the trim addition completely changed the space!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0595-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0595-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We made a few changes to the lighting too. Just getting those super frilly and outdated pieces out was a huge improvement! </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0611.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0611.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We took down the too-low ceiling fan and the chandelier over the table area and replaced them with two of these lanterns I picked up for a song in New Jersey before we moved. I painted the pink parts white and sprayed the sleeves gold.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 55.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/55.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think a little white paint and round bulbs can make any fixture prettier! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 57.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/57.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I got three of these brass tilt cone sconces from Cedar and Moss. They are <i>beautiful. </i> I really love them and think they are a steal for the price!!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 53.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/53.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">One of my favorite little details of the space ended up being the cabinet hardware! I really wanted something a little different. I searched high and low and finally, finally stumbled on these white milk glass bin pulls. They are so perfect. They just sort of glow! We used brass screws to install them to the drawer fronts, so brass accent is there, but it's subtle.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 63.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/63.jpg" /></div><br /></div><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 66.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/66.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It's (clearly) not perfect. We did this project fast and furious, but the improvement to me is huge. We are loving it and are so happy we could make the room work for us for as long as it takes to save up for the kitchen of our dreams. :)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in cas...

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Cooking (in my NEW KITCHEN!) with Blue Apron

<center></center>I first heard about <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> when we lived in the city and some our friends would use the service. One of my good friends would always order a Blue Apron box when she was having house guests or if she knew it was going to be a particularly busy week at work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We are getting the house ready for that magazine shoot, so my mom offered to take my girls up to her house in the mountains for the week so we could focus on projects. It felt like perfect timing when <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> reached out to see if I would like to try a box for myself this week - the last thing I have time for right now is grocery shopping! So last weekend I got my refrigerated box full of the exact proportions of ingredients I needed to make three meals for Michael and I (though you can order the box for either two, four or six servings).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_7415.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/vIMG_7415.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Meals are $9.99 per person - and they are DELICIOUS. These recipes are for sure keepers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We made the <a href="http://9nl.eu/fcyv" target="_blank">Fresh Beet Pasta</a> and it was so, so, so good! I pretty much love anything with beets, but the lemony tang and the fresh goat cheese and walnuts seriously put this recipe over the edge for me. Blue Apron uses only the freshest ingredients and they try to source local and artisan goods where possible. They were gorgeous.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I love that there's no commitments with Blue Apron. I can skip or cancel my delivery at any time for the weeks I have a little more bandwidth. But sometimes, like this week, where I feel like my brain might explode if I have to make a single more decision, it's nice to have a menu plan and all the ingredients sitting in front of me on my counter top at 5 pm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue3.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The meals are so easy to prepare, especially with the well-designed recipe sheets. All of them take less than 40 minutes to make, though it will look like you slaved away for hours! Michael is always a good sport, but he definitely has an opinion about food (so it's a good thing he's always willing to cook), but this dish was a total home run with him. I'm excited to make it again when the girls get home! Claire loves anything with goat cheese. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue4a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue4a.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also, I was surprised at how generous the serving sizes were! We ended up sharing with friends who stopped over. It was fun to be like, "What? Oh, this? Yeah, I just threw it together. Just a regular old Wednesday night meal..." (as I'm quickly shoving the Blue Apron recipe sheets into a drawer) ;)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue5.jpg" /></div><br />Have you tried <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a>? I am so excited to use it again and try some new recipes. They ship nearly everywhere in the US (there's a full map <a href="http://9nl.eu/gvtl" target="_blank">here</a>).<br /><br />And good news! Blue Apron is giving the first 250 readers two free meals with their first order! <a href="http://9nl.eu/vzsc" target="_blank">Here's where you can sign up</a>. Happy cooking!

Cooking (in my NEW KITCHEN!) with Blue Apron

I first heard about Blue Apron when we lived in the city and some our friends would use the service. One of my good friends would always or...

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Black Concrete Countertops

<center></center>I am pretty sure when we do the bigger kitchen reno in a year or two that we'll want to do soapstone for the main countertops. I love its look and how hard-wearing the stone is. Our little kitchen as it's currently laid out is a little dark though, so I thought I would try dark counters now to make sure that I'm comfortable with the look before we really commit.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MADE-Black-Soapstone-Counters-Sink-Remodelista_0.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/MADE-Black-Soapstone-Counters-Sink-Remodelista_0.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-soapstone-kitchen-countertop-pros-and-cons" target="_blank">Remodelista</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I thought Ardex made Feather Finish in black, but they actually only make it in gray and white. So I poked around a little online and then called the Ardex people to make sure I could use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TDQFQA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TDQFQA&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=5CFKHPLIWC2Z2A45" target="_blank">this powdered concrete tint</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4388.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4388.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We built countertops out of scrap plywood to the exact dimensions of the old granite. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4926.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4926.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5017.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5017.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We made the edges thicker by adding a little brick moulding beneath the plywood.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5026.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5026.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also added a waterfall edge on the peninsula and I LOVE how it turned out. The first coat of concrete though, I didn't quite use enough black powder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4348.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4348.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It turns out about a 1/4 cup to every two cups of concrete is just the right amount.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4380.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4380.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5042.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5042.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5037.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5037.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_5029.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_5029.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used the same exact approach that I used <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/diy-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">in my laundry room</a>, but this time I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009VJDIC8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009VJDIC8&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=7QQNAYXZ67N453MN" target="_blank">a more expensive food-safe sealer</a>. This stuff is pretty hard core. So far it's been worth every penny! I only needed about half of the bottle for several applications, so I think it's actually a pretty good value.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4396.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4396.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At sort of the last minute I had a change of heart about the shelving. I had wanted to use <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/kitchen-inspiration-shelving-units-on.html" target="_blank">a taller series of three or four shelves</a>, but I couldn't get this image from Remodelista out of my mind. I think the single, lower sleek shelf is just perfect here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo anstruther-kitchen-remodelista-2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/anstruther-kitchen-remodelista-2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we built a little backsplash and I used a pine board to make a shelf that I also layered in concrete.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5030.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5030.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5044.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5044.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>It's not quite finished yet, but I was excited to share progress photos. I'm so happy with how everything is coming together! I especially love the black concrete - it's so pretty with the white cabinets. :) The cabinet hardware will finally be here tomorrow (five weeks late!) and we're finishing up the new window and door trim and then I'll take some more photos to share.

Black Concrete Countertops

I am pretty sure when we do the bigger kitchen reno in a year or two that we'll want to do soapstone for the main countertops. I love it...

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