As some of you know my husband and I bought our first home back in September 2020. The home is a fixer upper and does need some work. Whenever you buy an older home you have to be able to see the potential and have a bit of patience. The first thing that needed to be completely re-done was the kitchen.
This home was built in 1976 and the kitchen had the same cabinetry and sink. WOW. The wood was falling a part and I just could not move into this home and not update the kitchen. I was determined to make this happen. Check out the before & after...
When it comes to re-doing a kitchen it can be extremely expensive and we just did not have the budget for that. Here are the key lessons & decor tips when renovating a kitchen for under $8000.
Work with a family owned company
During demolition of the kitchen
I had the opportunity to work with a family ran business and it was a lot more intimate. The communication was clear and payment was fair from the deposit to the actual work. I dealt with some contractors that wanted me to pay 90% of the money up front and then pay 10% when they start. I didn't find that good and they could literally just walk away with your money possibly. Also, working with a Home Depot or IKEA is still solid way to go but the price will literally double because of that, so keep that in mind.
Countertops is key
Some people want to cut corners with the quality of the countertops and honestly that should not be the case. We decided to go with white quartz material because it is extremely durable and scratch free usually. White quartz is timeless and for resale purposes it's the way to go if you ever decided to sale your house.
Cabinets
This is where you can somewhat cut a little bit of corners when it comes to the budget with the cabinets. I went with a grey for the bottom cabinets to compliment the white countertops. The the top cabinets we chose white. I like having a semi-white kitchen, it made the space look much bigger than it appeared when we finished. Last, to stay on budget we went with a simple laminate material for the cabinets vs hardwood.
Backsplash
I prefer a clean kitchen and the best thing I did was use the quartz material to be the backsplash. It actually turned out to be cheaper in cost and to me it looks more elegant. I love the look! Try it!
Go big with the sink
Never go small with your sink. It is always best if possible to purchase a double sink so you can clean and organize your dishes easily. It was one of the best purchases I ever made for the kitchen.
CLEAN COUNTERTOPS are a must
Avoid as much as possible to have a cluttered counter. Try your best to keep your countertops clear. Put everything in a cabinet if possible. It just makes your kitchen more open and it makes you appreciate the look of your kitchen more.
What have you learned when it comes to Reno in a kitchen?
Below shop my kitchen! Most of my kitchen accessories came from Macys or Amazon!
I decided after 8 successful years moving up the retail ladder with Macy's, I resigned on my own terms. I was benched/being groomed to be a store manager which would have brought me into 6 figures, but I made the decision to walk away.
Why? You will probably think it's because retail is dead. It is not dead, it has changed due to how to how the customer shops. Brick & Mortar retail (department stores/standing retail stores) is not what it used to be, I will say only specific specialty is working. For example, Home Depot business has been amazing in 2020 due to the US staying home because of Covid-19. Since you are sitting at home, you have the urge to update your home. Since you cannot travel, many people took their vacation money and renovated parts of their home.
Another retailer that is working is Target. Target is a convenience type of department store since it offers everything for affordable prices. Everything is in one location from pharmacy, beauty, groceries, bedding, electronics and more. It's hard shopping there, because you always come out with something you were not planning to buy.
Furlough
In April 2020, the majority of Macy's employees were furlough for 3 months. I was one of them. I was shocked and felt a bit betrayed, but I accepted it and decided to make the best of it. Here's what I focused on:
My Parents - My parents are retired so everyday I would visit with them and spend time. Working retail I never had a lot of time and due to furlough I took advantage while I wasn't at work.
My Dog - Yes my dog. Eli is his name. I not only love my dog but he also put into perspective what it would be like to have a baby. Eli is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously, I realize that he thrives when I am around more and the same concept would be when I have a child. I want to be around.
Dad - My dad is a ex-Miami Dolphin player and played in the National Football League for 10 years. He was very successful, however he is suffering with dementia and Multiple Sclorsis (MS) now in his later years. MS affects the nervous system so his walking has worsen and it is harder for him to get around. It puts a lot of stress on my mom and I want to be around more to support.
Other life career goals - I have been interested in understanding social media and wanted to maybe start a blog. My parents helped me make it a LLC, pay for the site and much more. I am extremely grateful for the support and excited to see what will unfold for me in 2021. Also, I signed up for the John Maxwell Leadership course to become a possible professional speaker. Very humbled and pleased to pursue to lifelong dream.
With having these 4 focuses at the center of my priorities during furlough my entire view on life changed when I returned to work July 7.
After Furlough
When I returned to work, the job was different and the stores had less people working than before. I understood the job cuts and everything to stay above water financially, however it was still tough to see so many not with Macy's anymore. The expectation was taken to another level when it came to in-store initiatives that brought some stress and transitioning back to work became a bit of a challenge for me.
Next, the workload increased, more busy work, excessive virtual meetings and tighter deadlines with less hands to execute. With all of that happening I started to slip on the 4 focuses from the furlough completely. I missed it and I knew I had to make a change.
The Final Decision
What made me realize that I was ready to leave was when one of my vendor partners called my phone 8 times to set up a call to discuss a Fragrance display that was not positioned in the location they wanted. They kept calling and complaining about it even though their business was the best in the entire department.
As I drove home that night, I thought to myself that they are complaining about a fixture placement and we have people in our country dying of Covid, hunger and just depression from not having work or income coming in. I realized that I need to move on and work some place where I can make a difference in society and have time to focus on things I enjoyed.
The End
Last, I was hired away by a close friend's company named Service Now. They are a up & coming tech company and they are just expanding their departments in recruitment, intership intake, community outreach, diversity and inclusion to name a few. I am excited to work remotely so I can be the better version of myself and have a little more time to be available for my family, husband and possible future career opportunities.
What I learned through all of this...you have to be happy and put every aspect of your job in a fair assessment if this is the right career for you. I was built for retail for 12 years total and now I am excited to move on and try something new.
Did you learn something about yourself during furlough or this past summer during Covid 19? Please share below...
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Read this caption on the most charming holiday nutcracker displayed in this amazing wine cellar! Now that I have my own home, I am paying attention a bit more to wines. My husband and I aspire to have a wine cellar one day in our home, and the one I am featuring today will blow you away.
Welcome to another "Jessi's I Love Places" where I am excited to feature this amazing wine cellar in a landmark home that was built in South Florida in the 1920s. Due to the age of the home it needs to be historically preserved, so any installs or changes to this property has to be approved by the city beforehand.
First, this stunning Spanish landmark home still has that charm that the owners wanted to keep when they installed this cellar about 3 years ago. In their previous home they had a wine cellar and needed one in their current home to hold all the various wines they owned/collected over the years.
Next, the family brought in an interior designer to construct a new one in their current formal dining room. I have been in this home many time before the current owners and the space they took to build this cellar was genius. The cellar looks like it's been there for decades. See below...
There was a stunning mirror the owners kept and placed inside the space to keep the classic Spanish home feel. It honestly pulled the entire look together beautifully. The amount of wine they have is unbelievable!
Here is the list of key tips in function & decor you need to know if you are craving to have an official wine cellar in your home:
Labels - The owner has labels on specific wines in order to document when the wine was opened, the year it was made etc. Absolutely necessary to keep everything in order in your cellar if you are going to be serious about wine collecting.
Temperature - Manage the temperature of your wines appropriately. In this home they have a google nest dedicated to the space to ensure their wine stays at the right temperature. I also find the nest extremely clean and it goes with any decor.
Glass Display - If you are going to have a massive wine cellar, show it off! Glass doors could be such a nice touch to your decor and it will match the theme of your home easily. I love the black long handles they added to the doors to give it a great modern look that still complimented the old Spanish feel of this home.
Build for the future - ensure you have additional space when you build a wine cellar. If you want to collect, have enough room to grow.
This is by far one of my favorite places I have visited. Is there a wine cellar or space that just blows your mind? Share in the comments below...
Check out some of my favorite finds for a wine cellar or dry bar below!
