Roosters & Fruit...New Tile & Granite...A Great Meta & Blue Monday Post!

I am participating in both Blue Monday & Meta Monday today!
First, for the "Schocking Blue" ;)

Thanks goes out to "Smiling Sally" for hosting Blue Monday~ I took the photo of this "Blue" guitar a few weeks ago because it was so original. I used a photo shop technique to give it more of a psychedelic look. It's totally not like me, that's why I loved it! Opposites attract! ;) Be sure to click on the Blue Monday logo to visit all the other Blue Monday posts!

Thanks to Susan from "Between Naps On The Porch" for hosting one of my favorites, Meta Monday! Please visit Susan by clicking on the logo below to visit other Meta Monday Makeovers!
Many of you enjoyed the Meta Monday post of my sisters foyer steps and railing being updated. Well, welcome to her "Kitchen" makeover just completed last year. I don't have as many before pics as I do after...but I think you'll get the feel of what it looked like prior.
BEFORE:

The tile back splash was most likely the original from when the home was built. At one point, the former owner had the flower vase stenciled on to the tile. It was very pretty...but my sister wanted an entirely new look. You'll notice the counter tops were Formica & were trimmed with wood, typically an upgrade when homes are built. The range will be replaced with a new ceramic flat range, my favorite!

The dates on the pics my sister took reflect the few took prior to the work and then during the work too.

She and her husband removed the tile themselves to save on labor, but the wall behind the tile ended up needing replaced. You'll see the granite counter tops are already installed now, and the range is inserted. The drywall is up and is drying...

While upgrading the counter tops and the back splash, they also opted to upgrade the faucet, new lighting, and a new dishwasher to the Stainless Steel front; what a difference that made!

Okay, before you see the end result with the new back splash., I'd like to show you some of the items on her kitchen walls and the cove above her cabinetry that I helped her pull together using items throughout her home.

AFTER THE WORK WAS ALL DONE:

This item below is a cute peg hanger.

We had the most fun running through the house and looking in cabinets to see what we could use to change out on items for above the cabinets. We kept some things we'd used the last time when decorating, and then we swapped out many others. Just changing a few items around can sometimes make it all seem new again.

We combined all types of accessories from faux greenery, to pottery, to beaded lamps...it's quite eclectic, and looks really nicely with her rope lighting above the cabinets at night.

You'll notice two distinct decorating themes in my sisters kitchen, roosters and fruit! And the combination she has looks really nice!

This arrangement is above the double oven area, it's one of my favorites!A Wall display my sister arranged, it's very welcoming as guests enter.

Her large fruit filled glass vase stands tall on the center island.

Some fruit plaques and and inspirational plate.

She keeps her granite counters fairly cleared off because they look so nice. This is just one of a few vignettes you'll see as a result of that.

A little Asparagus Tea Pot that I gave her one year for an occasion.

A recent gift from a friend that looks so nice near the sink!

She looked high and low for the perfect kitchen breakfast stools, these made the cut! I love them!

Her lovely little black wrought iron brackets that she installed on each side under the breakfast bar area since she had the granite made a little bit larger.

She incorporated the length of the granite center island to cover a custom made trash container my brother in law made out of wood and painted to her specifications, gloss black.

Her sinks were also replaced along with the new upgraded faucet.

I love the way the sprayer pulls out of the faucet so you can use it to reach hard to get at areas on pots and pans.

Now we're getting into the "dramatic" change on the new back splash above the granite:

Doesn't it look like a brand new 2009 Kitchen Makeover? Notice her cute little rooster rug in front of the kitchen sink?

One final view... My sister and her husband were quite pleased with the results!

I love being in her kitchen...it's really a tremendous makeover!

I'm so glad you joined me today for my Blue Monday and Meta Monday post...be sure to visit everyone else today! ;)

~CC Catherine