More Kitchen Progress

This weekend we knocked out a few more small things off the House To-Do list. 

The 1980's brassy kitchen hardware has bothered me since we moved in.  It always seemed just a *bit* out of our budget to replace all the handles (there are 14 in just the kitchen), so I've lived with it for 18 months.  While browsing Home Depot on Saturday, we came across multipacks of new handles for a low, low price, and decided to give it a go.  

From this:

To this:

I know, it doesn't do much for those builder grade cabinets, but the sleek brushed stainless look makes me happy.

A close up:

A few months back we (and by we, I mean Big Daddy) got wild & crazy & yanked out the range hood.  The light had burned out long ago, and as the entire contraption was essentially decorative - it didn't actually vent to anywhere - we decided it needed to go. 

The kitchen when we moved in:

Unfortunately, taking out the hood also revealed a large hole in the drywall and a live electrical wire. 

We only left it like this for 3 months....

And now it looks like this!

So.  Pretty.  

And finally, we (and again, by we, I mean Big Daddy) yanked out the horrific fluorescent light over the kitchen sink.  I had had visions of a lovely pendant light to go along with the freshly painted cabinets, butcherblock counters, and updated flooring.  And then I woke up, and we decided to try a recessed light.  After all, we knew there was a electrical box right there, and the gaping hole left by the original contractors even gave us a start for the new light.  Plus, as BD pointed out, this IS our practice house, so if we're going to try out anything, now is the time.  

In just 20 minutes this beauty was in place and shining down on my suddenly much more dirty looking sink.   Love. It.  

Have you done any home improvements lately?