The Evolution of a Kitchen 2001- 2014~from Plastic to Fantastic

It has taken almost 13 years to finally see the vision I had in my head come to fruition. When we purchased this house 13 years ago, I told my husband, it was the one, IF he would let me do all the repairs and remodel myself or as the contractor on all projects. I got a Pink suede tool belt that Christmas and I got to work.
The sense of fulfillment of being near the end of the last remodel of the kitchen, that has gotten it to what I had always dreamed for it, is overwhelming. We did the remodel in several different phases for many reasons. One was cost, but mainly it takes me a long time to find what I am looking for at the perfect price and look. This means something as simple as a light fixture can become a multi-year search for me. It makes the process fun for me though. The hunt of the price without compromising my taste in design. (See my prior posts for the $1500.00 kitchen sink that I paid $298.00 for!)
The first thing I did to this kitchen was add an island where there was none. (You can see my prior posts to see how I built it.) I used two pre-fab big box store base cabinets and joined them together with a dry erase board backing and put a corian countertop that later I changed to granite during our granite remodel. Dry erase because my son used to practice his spelling words while I cooked in the kitchen. My plan was to put stools at the island but practicality and space have now converted that to a bookcase storage area in this last 2014 remodel. So to recap, we went through a 2004 kitchen island addition, 2007 the granite and the backsplash. 2010 changing of the wall color from yellow to gray, 2014 adding cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, adding base storage cabinets and 54 inch wood doors to replace the laminate (plastic...ewwww) doors and new recessed lighting in the kitchen.I am still hunting for my light fixture over the island and one for over the breakfast table. Any suggestions? I have a beautiful white frosted glass chandelier in my head...I just have to find it.Miriam I Here is my latest post!