The Sewing Room: The Creation of Annie's Sunshine Cafe

A lot has happened in the last month... one of the major things that has happened in my in-laws life... that has carried over to our lives, is quitting their old jobs and purchasing the equipment for a cafe of their own (which has been a dream of theirs before my husband was even born).

It's located in Lincoln, about 15-20 minuted from their house in an area called Arnold Heights. There is a lot of industrial buildings, a small airport and a small town of residential houses, just outside, the main part of, the city of Lincoln.

My hubby and I have been able to go down and help them with remodeling the restaurant to get it ready for opening day, which has been pushed back a few times, but is looking more and more to be this upcoming Monday June 27th, 2011. We are all really excited for the restaurant to open, and by the look of all the foot traffic, it seems that the locals are pretty excited too.

Here are some fun before and after pictures of the improvements made to the restaurant:

In front of the restaurant:

BEFORE

AFTER

(One of the things I got to help with was cleaning off the windows and making a window sign for Annie's Sunshine Cafe... the next project will be the billboard sign on the side of the building)

The grill and front bar:

BEFORE

(note the pop machine in the background and the broken fridge holding the sodas)

AFTER

Pop machine and broken fridge are gone... new use for the pop machine stand... a beverage center for coffee, iced tea, lemonade etc.

BEFORE

(note the cash register at the corner of the bar... limiting another possible seat)

AFTER

Cash register is no longer at the corner, but now at the end where the fridge used to be... two more spots at the bar for customers!!!

(all of the wooden trim is all painted grey to match the weather beaten styling of the wainscoting)

BEFORE

This doorway leads into the dinning room... Check out the chalkboard!! A blank canvas for the specials :)

DURING

This is just before painting all the wooden trim grey. Check out the new Chalkboard I got to work on for Annie's specials...

(these are also a good pictures to show you the difference with the old paint and the new yellow paint)

The dinning area:

BEFORE

(note the "basement" feel of the room with the lighting and red paint on the walls)

DURING

My father-in-law, the electrician, re-wiring the lighting...

AFTER

The ceiling was raised (since parts we sagging), the electrical was re-wired for new sconces on the walls and the old lighting was taken out. A fresh coat of the same color paint (from the front room) really brightened this room up and makes it feel less like a "basement" and more like a cafe.

The bathroom:

BEFORE

My father-in-law had to gut the bathroom because it was disgusting! When you stepped on some of the tiles water would squirt out... enough said! Needless to say the first thing they worked on was the bathroom...