Our Kitchen Makeover is finished!

Finally! This is our new white kitchen. We took a big box builder's mess and turned it into the kitchen that we've always wanted. It took 8 months, involved 5 big projects, a few smaller ones and cost around $12,000. We went real slow (started in early February!) and tackled one project at a time. Here's the breakdown...

Project #1, better lighting, was in my opinion the most important of all the projects. Why a big box builder would put just 1 light in a kitchen I'll never know!?! It makes no sense.
We now have 10 pot lights and 3 pendant lights over the island:)
Project #2, The Island, added some needed character to the space. Because the island increased in size we are now able to seat 4 people at the counter rather then 3. Bonus plus - because we added a bookcase to the end my cookbooks are now on display which I love.
Project #3, The new Corian Countertops, sink and new faucet, was the most expensive project (half the budget) and our big splurge!
Here's the thing - if you're going to change the counter tops then you might as well change the sink and if you're going to change the sink then you'd might as well change the faucets (this is exactly what I told Marathon Man. He agreed). I'm now a huge Corian fan.
Project #4, The Backsplash, was the least expensive project mainly because we did it ourselves (thanks again Handy Man Dad!). Subway tiles were an easy choice - simple, clean and timeless.
Project #5, Painting The Cupboards white, seemed to drag on forever. It was painful staring at open cupboards for 3 weeks but in the end it was worth the wait. I love the white - simple, clean and timeless:)

Everything really came together with the addition of the new old Chair and the Deer Antlers, the matching roman blind and of course the wallpaper (the small !#*@? project that grew).
I'm loving my our new white kitchen! Now, onto the next thing on the list.