My kitchen renovation
Please join me for a look back on my kitchen renovation project. Be warned, it may be a little long.
After the facelift
This old kitchen,"before"
Breakfast area looking into kitchen.
Notice the flat cove molding on top of cabinets
Entrance into kitchen from back foyer, my second front door
Kitchen and breakfast area
Open shelves opposite the kitchen sink
The "Facelift"
Selecting the perfect countertop
Granite, quartz, marble, and sandstone, endless options.
Meet Travis. He was so nice and patient helping me find just the right slabs of white carrera marble. I thought about granite and love it but decided to follow my dream and go with marble. I decided on white carrera with soft gray veining. I didn't want a dramatic kitchen and using a marble with bolder veining would not provide the look I was after. Although I love bolder veining I was going for classic, timeless and neutral. A kitchen I could change on a whim with accessories and color. I painted the walls a medium grey, Benjamin Moore smoke embers. The grey is a good contrast with the white cabinets and adds a light and airy feel to the room. I also carried the color into the family room, back foyer and hallway, back bath and the powder room off the main foyer. I plan to paint the remainder interior this year.
Using templates to layout the countertops
Demolition day for countertops and backsplash
I kid you not, it was like moving!
Hanging plastic over doors and openings
Meet Dwayne, my cabinet man. He custom built my cabinets all those years ago and he was the man to "tweak" the changes I wanted to my cabinets. Here he is removing the flat cove molding and replacing it with crown molding. It was primed for painting so one less step for the painters. Dwayne is such a talent, he can do anything with wood!
I wanted my center island painted black. I love how the black contrasts with the white cabinets. The very plain island needed something so I ask Dwayne to build raised panels. Primed and ready to paint.
Marble countertops installed
The tile on the countertops and backsplash were a nightmare to remove! A good portion of the drywall went with it and had to be patched.
Subway tile backsplash being installed
Tile work finished
Painters are here! They started with the island and here is the French hutch getting a coat of primer. The hutch and island are the same color. The square colors on the walls are color samples. I looked at so many grey colors, then narrowed it down to six paint samples.
Stained shelves get a coat of primer after sanding. All cabinet doors were removed and painted at the painter's shop.
This old kitchen, "after"
My dream kitchen come true! I love how the black island anchors the kitchen. The contrast of grey walls, white cabinets, black island and hutch and the stainless appliances has exactly the look I love.
New light fixtures
Remember those open shelves, I asked Dwayne to cover them with new doors. A new home for a Quimper collection.
Curtains are custom, linen in a darker silver/grey and natural
Kohler apron sink and Pfister bridge faucet
Chandelier from Horchow
The French Hutch painted black
Grey porcelain hardware from Lowe's
"Before"
"After"
I really have enjoyed this new look. No, not perfect but a look I love and hope to enjoy for years. Not exactly a DIY, but my husband and I did all the planning, hired all the subcontractors and Jim replaced all the under counter lighting. We did it on a budget that didn't break the bank. A few more"tweaks" to go before I'm finished. I'm still looking for the perfect chairs to go with my antique table and plans to refinish the floors in the kitchen and family room. Our sweet springer spaniel, Bentley, left his scratch marks on the floors, but that's ok! New rugs are also on the wish list. I am still enjoying finding just the right look, this may take awhile!
If you are still here, thank you. I do appreciate everyone of your comments. Hope you will leave a comment so I will know you stopped by..
