Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Kitchen Nightmares


I try not to photograph it much because my own kitchen is a bit of a nightmare.  It's not unworkable or unlivable, for sure. But the 90's oak cabinets slowly wear you down to the point that you just resign yourself to existing with them (trying to convince your brain that the hue is close enough to it's more current cousin, teak)  until you get your next bit of energy that says 'are you kidding me!?".  I always tell myself I am going to redo my kitchen as next year's resolution but so far no dice.


The small galley style kitchen works well in our little cottage and wouldn't be too ungodly on the pocketbook to renovate.  All of the finishes are moderately up to date, which keeps us chuggin along at status quo for a while longer.

Until I ran across this little gem.



Game over.

I do the mental back and forth on just painting the cabinets white and being done with it. But that just doesn't make my heart sing.   This, on the other hand, does.


A few coats of charcoal paint would fix the problem.  F&B Down Pipe would be wonderful. The only time in my life I could afford a marble slab backsplash would be in this house since the entire area is only 1 foot high and 7 feel long.  Can we say remnant!?  Ikea butcher block countertops in beech and these beast little hammered copper pendants would add some warmth.  And if I had room for barstools, it would be these hide and brass numbers. We recently sourced a bench for a client out of this same footprint and it's amazing! Finish it off with some not-your-everyday-Home-Depot-picks and it could be totally doable ... next year.

That is if I have a spare weekend.  Which I don't.

On the other topic that my brain argues with itself on : decorating for yourself vs decorating for the masses - I'd rather be irreverent any day.    I read wonderful article by Emily Clark about this very thing and I was further convinced that doing my own thing is always better.  I am not afraid to mix metals or hand paint my hallway.  Some ceilings may need to return to white before I ever list my home but I don't want to be a slave to resale.  The justification for me is that I live in a very eclectic neighborhood where style and taste varies tremendously.  I am not kidding when I tell you there are shacks and then there are compounds in this little lake community.  Since it's not cookie-cutter suburbia, I can afford to make bolder decisions here.  People who want to move here are looking for different.

So that said, please offer up your easiest cabinet painting advice!  Since the beginning of the painted furniture upswing years ago I've been pinning tutorials (and I love the ease of use of chalk paint like we used here although not sure I want to use it for this) but surely you have some recent tips and advice out there, oh friends of ours.  Do tell!

18 comments:

  1. We used Annie Sloan's chalk paint for the cabinets in our last home. It was easy and looked fabulous.

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  2. I have painted all the cabinets (kitchen and bath) and our entertainment center and fireplace mantle (is is substantial). I love Glidden's Gripper primer...it allows any paint to stick without the hassle of sanding and it can be tinted making for less coats when going with a darker color. This summer I painted our daughter's bedroom furniture with a Benjamin Moore paint and it was fabulous to work with...easy on, smooth finish, and has a built in primer, although I used primer underneath. Will look for the name. I did post about it.

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  3. So chic and stylish!! Love the new photo of your pad. When can I come over? :) xoxo

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  4. My kitchen cabinets are an orangey 90's oak so I will love to see what you do...Wish I had some good advice but I do love your ideas!
    Shelley

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  5. Oh, that's going to be stunning, Bethany! In the middle of painting my kitchen cabinets right now... wish I could blink and have it over with!

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  6. Bethany I can see how chic this would be in your home. I hope you will go for it!!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts from Karena

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  7. Your cottage is just so lovely. I do feel your pain on the kitchen front though. Your plan is really gorgeous. Just remember if you have lived with imperfection this long, it will be OK to tackle this in small bites.

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  8. Your cabinets look like mine. If you paint yours, you'll be an expert and can come over and paint mine, too, right?! Isn't that how it works?!
    Love your home - so open and airy!

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  9. Clean your cabinets really well. When they're dry, lightly sand by hand to make sure that the surface is smooth and ready for primer. I use the Glidden gripper primer, too ... Tinted. Farrow and Ball paint is a dream to work with. Get a sample of Downpipe and live with it to make sure that it has the undertones that you want in your space. My best advice? Go for it! Life is too short to live with oak cabinets that you don't love.

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  10. a friend painted her cabinets years ago and absolutely swore by the little foam roller she used. she said it didn't make any streaks. good luck. I love you mood board. I have cherry wood countertops and absolutely adore them.

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  11. I think we need a support group for those of us living with kitchens that are FINE but not making our heart sing :) I LOVE your dream board Bethany. All I have to say is - paint sprayer - do you have one?? Roll on an oil based primer with one of those little foam rollers (and a brush for the edges and details) - oil based is huge, it will seal what is underneath. Then invest in a sprayer (a good one for the homeowner is only around $100ish at big box stores) - you won't believe how much easier it is to spray vs. brush or roll every single door & cabinet box. I did the latter, then finally bought a sprayer and can't get over how it cuts down on time spent painting. Plus you can do several light coats that dry quickly, and the end result is a nice smooth even finish. So now that I typed all that, ya gotta do it, right????? I'm living vicariously through you. Can't wait to see!

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  12. Oh this makes my heart sing ... go for it ... and listen to Lisa, she knows her stuff!! We're watching you now ... go! xokim

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  13. Wow - you absolutely need to do it - that would be one amazing kitchen!!

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  14. Farrow & Ball Down pipe is one of my very favorite colors for cabinets! My client did that in her mudroom built-ins its wonderful. I say go for it!!

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  15. I have never tried to paint kitchen cabinets so I have no advice to offer. I do have pieces painted for clients and I use a guy that has a spray booth - a sprayed finish makes all the difference. Looks like a factory furniture finish. Love your mood board and those hid stools. Too cool.

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  16. Your board definitely makes my heart sing. I'm obsessed with copper right now and what you dreamed up is wonderful including the color for the cabinets

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  17. Here here!!! You are the one paying the mortgage each month, so you should enjoy the house. Make it just as YOU want it. You've got excellent taste, trust it. Resale will take care of itself.

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  18. GO FOR IT!!!! I wish I could offer you advice on painting those cabinets, I'm still living with similar ones in our basement too, but LOVE your plan dear and I know with you and your mom's creativity, you can pull off something fabulous!

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