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Kitchen Reveal!

Karin — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:08:59 +0000

So, this is a bit of a departure from the norm here, but don’t worry – there will still be puppies!

After years of renting, we finally made the plunge and purchased our first home. We wanted something open and modern with lots of natural light. Thanks to our HGTV-watching experience, we had a good handle on what to look for versus things we could change ourselves. When we came across a semi-neglected house in foreclosure, it had all the “must-haves” for us and we went for it. This house was actually by far the least expensive of the ones we saw, allowing us to make some pretty big changes.

Although the before images don’t convey this too well, the kitchen/dining area was dirty, tired, and needed a lot of help. Cola (I think?) was spattered on the walls, the carpet was disgusting (and had a minor flea infestation), and most of the tiles in the kitchen were cracked. Jeff and I salvaged and donated what we could and took a sledgehammer to the rest. We did as much as we could ourselves (and with the help of family) and called in the pros when it was truly necessary (installing the 600 pounds of structural beam, running a gas line to the stove, etc.). We have learned so much… and more!

Here are some pictures from before the ~~chaos~~ construction began:

Let the demo begin!

Are you ready for the after? Me too!

Oh, Henry. He is always in the kitchen when we’re cooking!

And because I really like them, here are (somewhat) similar angles before-and-after, posted right next to each other:

The end!

We couldn’t have done it without…

Our friend and wonderful realtor, Ryan Haagenson.

Our friend and wonderful architect, Bob Near.

And our families for helping us tear things out and put them back in!

Sources (in case you are wondering):

Countertop: Hanstone

Backsplash: The Tile Shop

Sink: Kohler

Faucet: Delta

Lights and stools: West Elm

Dining table: DIY (with legs from Ikea)

Dining chairs: Overstock.com

Rug: FLOR (Fedora tiles in Flannel and Charcoal)

Up next: two bathrooms, a laundry room, and a basement! The projects keep on coming.

Juliet the Puppy | Minneapolis Pet Photography

Karin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:01:39 +0000

Little Miss Juliet recently had the first part of her Then-and-Now sessions – she is just 3 months old now and we get to have another session when she’s bigger! She was recently adopted from Secondhand Hounds… by her own foster mom! Juliet is the sweetest puppy with the loveliest, most expressive eyes – I just couldn’t get enough of her!

She’s got the soulful puppy eyes down!

Oh, Juliet!

Did somebody say peanut butter?!

Thank you so much, Juliet! I’m so excited to photograph you again!

My Furry Valentine 2013 | Minneapolis Pet Photography

Karin — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:48:00 +0000

Last weekend we celebrated the 2nd annual My Furry Valentine at Metro Dogs Daycare and Boarding, benefitting Safe Hands Rescue. Over 50 dogs and their people took part, raising more than $1600 for Safe Hands! Thank you again to Metro Dogs for being wonderful hosts and everyone who came to support a great cause.

Here is just a tiny sampling of the amazing pups I photographed – I wished I could share them all! I will also be sharing more on my Facebook page – stay tuned!