Before & After: Living Space & Kitchen

As I sit here, surrounded by suitcases and lots of stuff, I am happy to think of only a few weeks ago when my home was in order... when my home was my home. It is slowly but surely becoming another place in which we lived one time. So, before we no longer live here, I thought it a good idea to share our final before & after photos.

Every one deals with transition differently. For some transition is less upsetting than the actual change itself. For me, the transition does a number on this restless mind, but then once the change comes, peace returns. I remember stressing to no end about my wedding day, until the day actually arrived. My maid of honor was staring at me funny when we were getting our nails done, and I asked her what was the matter. She said she was concerned about how calm I had become. I laughed and stated, "The day has arrived. If something is not done, it most likely won't be finished. So, why stress about it? As long as Bradley and I are married at the end of the day, it will have been a successful day." She still watched me with an unsure eye, but I believed what I had said. And I still do. There is a point you reach during transition where you cannot go back. Time will not stop for you to finish, undo, or redo something. So, my mind can handle the actual presence of change better than this lack-of-routine-because-any-routine-is-out-the-door-since-everything-is-about-to-change state of being. I want to just have everything sold, gifted, and packed in 1-2 days. There's that "I want to be in control" monster rearing its ugly head again. Instead, I will choose to remember that God is in control, and I can only do my best. The rest is in His hands. In the meantime, I am choosing to take a break and virtually walk through our home before our possessions exploded all over the place.

As in my previous 'before & after' posts, I approached our living space with a desire for peace with a cup of comfort, and a dash of fun.

BEFORE

Empty, dingy, peach, and ready to be revived.

Orange doors and a nook... ideas begin to formulate...

Great medallions, but I was not crazy about the lighting.

AFTER

*sigh* B built a sofa frame from up cycled pallets, and
Marissa lent her sewing machine and seamstress skills to
help me make the cushion and pillow covers.

Come on in and sit down...

Whenever we have company, the casters allow us
to use the sofas as extra seating.

I am so thankful we chose to paint the walls in this soft grey.
B also built the shelf and table. I heart him!

In everything we have done to our flat, we had to weigh out what was worth the cost and effort. Since our stay was temporary, some things were not worth our time, even though we would have loved the improvement to the space. So, we upgraded what we could without busting either our butts or budget.

Now, we come to the kitchen. I would not be surprised if most American women would choose either their closet or their kitchen to be the largest room. ;o) Well, when we chose this flat, we immediately knew that a large kitchen was not in our near future. I knew that with my creative skills and Bradley's crafting skills, that we could create a decent kitchenette anywhere we chose. So, a small kitchen that was separated from the main living area was not too daunting for us. However, after having lived with the pain of running back and forth between kitchen and kitchenette, I do feel differently about our choice. We were able to create a great space, but I would have either invested in a sink option of sorts for the kitchenette, or I would have configured the kitchen space very differently to allow for more storage. Since heavy rain floods the kitchen, I probably would have chosen the first option, but we will never know. Now, onto our kitchen transformation.

BEFORE

The kitchen is located right outside the front door.
Bradley is entering. What will he find?

A beehive! Thankfully it is vacant.

Before the beehive-ectomy. 

Before the tin roof was added... small room for sure.

Storage? Storage! Is that really enough storage?

AFTER

The kitchen is my washing station.
No food prep, but some food storage.

For some reason we did not add this fan until we returned
home from the states. I used to be dripping in sweat by the
time I finished the dishes due to no air circulation. Man,
sometimes I am dumb... but now I am cool. Get it?

My cleaning supplies and my WASHER!!!!

When we first arrived, I decided to pioneer the laundry and do all of it by hand. Well, that lasted about 4 months, and then the Edwards purchased a washing machine. They were generous enough to let me use it whenever I came to watch the kiddos, and it allowed me to only do 2-4 loads of laundry by hand per month instead of per week. Once they moved across town, we would take our laundry on Sundays, but it was a hassle to haul everything back and forth. Plus, we really felt like laundry bums, even though Jonathan and Marissa never demonstrated anything but generosity toward us. I really wanted a washer of my own, and we had even saved up enough money to purchase one. However, the problem was where to put the machine since our flat was not really set up for the beast. The drain line was the main issue since it has to lie flat and its length is restricted to avoid issues. So, placing the washer inside was not an option, but then, of course, there's the weather to consider. During the dry season, a washer outside would undoubtedly suffer from the dust and grit that would cling to it within minutes, happily building decaying layers in days. Then, during the rainy season, how would one keep an outside washer dry?

Well, while visiting a friend's apartment, I noticed that her washer was outside on her balcony, with a plastic, rain-proof cover. LIGHT BULB! Why had I not thought of using a heavy duty rain poncho? There was still the issue of the drain line though, but Bradley and I put our heads together to solve another problem. So, I have been happily washing laundry in my own washing machine, in my own home for nearly 9 months now! It has been wonderful, and every time I wheel out the washer to hook it up for use, I take a moment to thank my Heavenly Father for such a simple yet huge blessing. I hope I never take having a washing machine for granted again.

Since the kitchen is a cleaning and storage station, we needed a place for cooking and food preparation. Bradley used his skills to craft yet another beautiful area for just this task. This is our buffet, and aside from not having a sink, it works perfectly for our needs. The higher counter top prevents back strain (since the Khmer people tend to be shorter, and often prepare their food on the floor, the counter tops here are usually very short), and the metal cabinet keeps our dishes dust free while housing the burners on top. Although I would have preferred a different style of cabinet, the piece has served us well.

AFTER

(The before is above since it is one big room.)

This custom-built shelf plays the role of an open pantry.

Again the grated windows come in handy > hanging pots.

Bradley made this shelf for his coffee... I get to use it too. ;o)

Although a part of me is saddened to be tearing down this little home we have built, I am so thankful that we had the blessing of living here, even if temporarily. Living abroad has truly taught us that home is where the heart is, and our heart is with our Lord and with each other. So, wherever we go, no matter how many before and afters we undertake, we will always be home. Cheers!

Do you handle the transition stage or the actual change better?
Which room in your home is the most important to you?
(Special thanks to my FB friends who try to respond and/or answer every time!)