No man is an island...

But I know a man that can build one!

As you all know, Mr.La Bella Vie and I have been in the midst of a major
kitchen remodel which feels like its been going on F-O-R-E-V-E-R !!! 
We actually started the process in January so it hasn't been that long, it just feels like it when you don't have the use of a full functioning kitchen.
We've made a lot of progress and Mr.La Bella Vie has worked like a dog to get it done (and out of his hair!) and we're almost there so I thought I'd post a little of the progress thus far...
The island has been one of the most challenging as far as custom "furniture" work. We took the old existing island that was open on one end with a glass shelf for display, which you can't see in this picture because we had already ripped that baby out and the empty hole was being used to hold supplies.

Closed it in all the way around...

took off the old doors and installed the new ones...

removed the old marble and tile top.

And closed in the opposite side where the old bar stools used to sit...right in front of the refrigerator which was a huge problem. 

Whenever anyone was sitting on one of the bar stools, I couldn't open the fridge door because it would crash into whom ever happened to be sitting there!

 So to make better use of what would have been wasted space, we added a built-in book shelf for my cookbook collection and relocated the sitting area on the end of the island facing into the kitchen.

 Then we added bead-board to the back of the book case and custom corbels that the hubs made 

wrapped bead-board all the way around the outside...

 then added a granite topper and installed an outlet for under cabinet lighting and a shelf across the middle. I didn't get pictures of that yet but will when this bad boy is done and painted...which by the way will be 

"Oil Rubbed Bronze"

to perfectly blend and tie in with this little sweetheart...

stay tuned for more of the pretty stuff in the coming weeks...


Joining Susan's party today at Between Naps On The Porch
for another Metamorphosis Monday