Our new house: the good, the bad and the blackberries

We closed! Yay! Now the work on getting this house in shape really begins. Our first project will be the kitchen. As one can see: 

It really needs help getting out of the 80s. We are thinking radiant heated floors, a new island and painted cabinets. Not a total overhaul because the basics are solid. 

Next week I will paint the living room because it is horrid: 

But I love the fixture. I wanted to get some more like this so I looked and Rejuvenation and found the same one for $595. Wha? 

Then there is the issue with brambles:

A project, indeed.