I hope you are enjoying the first week of August! I can’t believe how quickly the summer months are flying by. We leave next week for vacation, a nice break for us to spend together before Matthew returns to school. We aren’t really beach people (although I do enjoy a day at the beach) and so we are headed to Chicago to explore the city, watch the Nats play the Cubs and eat Chicago deep dish pizza!
Last week, I decided to (once again) paint my kitchen cabinets. I had previously painted them in General Finishes milk paint in the color Antique White, with Millstone on the bottom cabinets. After living with it for so long, I decided it still was too dark for my taste. Plus, the paint had started to chip in places where it was used constantly, near the cabinet pulls. I likely should have applied a more durable sealer on them.
I decided on a brighter white, Benjamin Moore Cloud White for all of the cabinets. I had the color matched at Home Depot.
Once I got going, I decided to take down our glass fronted cabinet and will install open shelving in its place. The cabinet is safe and sound in our basement, in case I wish to put it back one day. Here is a picture of the cabinet that I removed with the attached shelf underneath it. I am going for a more streamlined look and the shelves underneath the cabinets on either side of the sink came down as well.
While at it, I started taking down the backsplash. This is how I roll, I just quickly decide on something and start demolishing before really thinking it through. My husband was recruited for the job 🙂
Anyway, we are left with a bit of a mess! We will install new tile after we return from Chicago and I’m hoping to get new countertops installed in the fall. I love the look of quartz and am leaning in that direction.
As far as furniture transformations, I’m about to embark on this vintage desk. These always turn out so well and I’m looking forward to getting this one done!
Have a great weekend!
Your post was so timely for me! I just priced quartz countertops for my kitchen as we are planning a kitchen remodel soon. They are really, really expensive and I probably will have to go with something else, We are installing the countertop before the tile, though. as the tile will go right down to the countertop with a clear bead of caulking between the two.. I did that in the last two kitchens and found it very easy to clean. Good luck, and I hope you get the quartz! I will have quartz envy-teehee!
Hi Suzanne,
We’re living parallel existences at the moment! Ha! I also have a desk like that awaiting painting! Mine has two lower doors under the desk-lid-thingy. Also, like Christine ^^^, we installed the counter tops first then tiled over. It’s the recommended way as the tiles are supposed to direct the water/whatever onto the surface of the counter. It’s also easier for counter installation. I chose Essa Stone Carrara, (quartz), which has a marble look, but very faint veining. We’d had a rather busy counter prior to that, (a mistake), and now my whole kitchen is sighing, “aaahhhh…”. I am, too. It’s so soothing and you can bring in any colour when it’s neutral like that. Good luck with your reno!
Liz
It looks like you and your family is very busy. I can hardly wait to see tge final results of it all, I know everything will be fabulous to.
The kitchen is the heart of a home. It is the only place where people get together and enjoy some time chatting, cooking food and many more things.
Enjoy your trip with your family!! Sounds like fun!! Cannot wait to see the finished product in the kitchen. You are a brave girl! I admire just jumping in and tackling a big project! Good for you!!! Keep us posted!!
About the whitewashed fireplace: I think it’s been about 5 years since you did yours and I’m wondering how it’s holding up. Does the paint look dirty over time? If you reapply the wash to clean it, won’t it look too thick? And what do you think about the brick step in front of the FP: my kids always sit and play on it. Do you think the dirt would show more with the whitewash? Thanks, I love your posts!!
Hi Lisa, My fireplace has held up really well. It has not needed cleaning but I wouldn’t use water to clean it actually. It may ruin the finish. I would sweep it. Honestly, we never really sit on the hearth and it has remained dirt free. I wish I had better answers for you! If you clean it and it comes off, you can always reapply very easily. Cheers, Suzanne