Sunday, November 09, 2008

Kitchen Before and (Finally) After

In an ideal world, my kitchen make-over would have included new cabinets, a new countertop, and cork flooring. I had to make do with new appliances, a baker’s rack, an outlet refresh, and tons of paint.

Before

It took many coats of paint to cover up those awful sunflower stencils.

After (sorry so many pictures, I’m just so happy with the “after!”)

The paint is Behr’s “Golden Cricket.” I had paint left over from covering up the hallway’s “Pumpkin Puke” and decided to give it a go in the kitchen. I’m happy with how it looks next to the true white cabinets and trim. The golden color also lessens the impact of the horribly dated countertop.

I’m proudest of the door. I bought a multi-lite door to replace the existing door, but it was too short and I had to abandon that project. Instead, I transformed the existing door with paint and trim so that it resembles the house’s other doors (all original). The trim creates an illusion of recessed panels that is quite convincing at first glance.

I love my “new” kitchen! I have to stop myself from going in to stare at it too often because the cats wrongly assume that I only go to the kitchen to get them “toon-toons” and follow me in to fix me with plaintive looks and meows. Or perhaps, they just can’t get enough of the new kitchen, either.

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47 Comments:

Blogger Gary said...

I see polished concrete in your future.....

7:25 AM  
Blogger Christine Boles said...

Very nice~ I keep using the word "acorn-y" in my head~ that autumnal, buttery rich gold color makes me think of that kind of word....

10:29 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I love the yellow with blue accents. You did it just right, not too kitschy.

8:11 AM  
Blogger "Óg" said...

It is a changed room - very beautiful and inviting and bright. I totally thought it was a paneled door! The countertops even look different now that the yellow is reflecting on them a bit. So envious that you are able to decorate your kitchen and paint. Us apartment dwellers can only dream and decorate with fridge magnets. On a side note to maintaining a stain-free countertop, I swear by Barkeeper's Friend to keep resin, porcelain, and formica clean (and it beats using bleach).

7:44 AM  
Blogger ~Corey said...

You did a great job! It looks so much better.

8:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great work with the renovation.
I should say hi. I have your WIWT blog on my RSS reader. :)

8:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm glad you left the exhaust fan - Our house doesn't have one; a house my mom once had had a fan just like that, and it was powerful! The whole thing looks great! When in the world did you have time to do all of that?

11:00 AM  
Blogger Kasmira said...

j - it took me a few weeks to get it done! In the meantime, I was living with the refrigerator and stove in the middle of the kitchen. The room seemed huge once I moved them back to the walls!

11:12 AM  
Blogger Kim said...

I feel your stencil pain - I just recently covered horrible blue sea shell stencils in our bathroom. It took three coats of primer before I even started painting.
I have that same Betty Crocker cookbook, as I'm sure most other people do too.
It looks amazing!

11:01 AM  
Blogger Londyn said...

WOW! Great job Kasmira!!!

4:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Informative post! On knowing a little better about how things can be shape up in the kitchen.

Regards,
Darcy

12:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this looks great you must be well pleased (like having new shoes).

3:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful renovation of your kitchen. It gives me hope that we can rehab our cabinets as cleanly. They are hideous mid-70s remnants.

Did it take an obscene number of coats to get them that beautiful?

5:35 PM  
Blogger Kasmira said...

Scott - the cabinet painting wasn't too bad. I posted details here:

http://cinticapecod.blogspot.com/2005/01/kitchen-cabinet-make-over.html

5:12 AM  
Blogger Sylvana said...

My favorite part is the way that the curve in the baker's rack is mimicked by the refrigerator door handle.

8:09 AM  
Blogger Jenn said...

FANTASTIC! I love what paint can do. And new appliances is a sweet, sweet thing. Savor it!

2:26 PM  
Blogger Jain said...

Kasmira, how fortuitous that I found your blog just now! My kitchen is dated, too, and this is exactly what I had in mind: white cabinets, yellow walls, blue accents. Now I have an idea how great it can look!
~Jain

5:09 PM  
Blogger Blooms And Berries Farm Market said...

Can't wait for your Spring garden posts! In the mean time, please check out my garden blog: www.BloomsAndBerriesFarmMarket.blogspot.com

7:43 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

What a gorgeous transformation!

2:44 PM  
Blogger meowmom said...

"After" _is_ beautiful, but I'd be happy if my enormous (the only good thing about it) kitchen looked like your "before!"

I wandered in on a google for images:foxglove; found your summer 2007 post (yea, Diana Gabaldon), and will be exploring further now. Happy Spring to you :)

2:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great ideas

ashu se poocho

2:16 AM  
Blogger Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

I just discovered your blog and love your kitchen makeover. It looks so crisp and clean and bright now! Hard to believe it's in the same house as the "before." Great job! :-)

4:44 AM  
Anonymous Sunsilk Fabric said...

Great job. Love your new kitchen especially the colors they flow very nicely and I am sure you will spend a lot of time in your kitchen.

3:54 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I like the kitchen. I would use laminate flooring for the floors. I got a good deal at http://www.floormall.com and I put it in myself. I really like the colors you chose. You inspired me to paint!

10:04 AM  
Anonymous Panel Clips said...

My oh my, the improvement is spectacular. Congratulations on a job well done. I like everything about it.

11:46 PM  
Anonymous Dirty Girl Gardening said...

I love yellow in kitchen... looks great.

1:51 PM  
Anonymous Home Fix ColoSpgs said...

What an awesome transformation! Looks fantastic! Good job. Thank you for sharing! Gave me some ideas.

1:42 PM  
Anonymous gardener said...

I enjoyed reading your earlier posts. I hope you pick up the blog again soon.

4:44 AM  
Anonymous Gevelrenovatie said...

The lighter colors make your kitchen look bigger. Well done!

1:11 AM  
Anonymous Remodeling said...

Your kitchen looks great now. How long did it take you to finish your project? We just wrapped up a home remodeling project of our own with RSU Contractors in Tennessee. We're so happy with the house renovation, and we're looking for more tips on home maintenance projects now.

9:15 AM  
Anonymous EPDM Coatings said...

WOW!

The final touch is looking awesome. You have done a great job. I hope you 'll do more. Good Luck....

12:42 AM  
Anonymous ali said...

Oh wow, what I wouldn't give for a new kitchen. Mine hasn't been updated since its inception in the 50s! Yours is beautiful, I love the rich buttery colours, and your cupboards are just divine. Lucky you!

12:18 AM  
Anonymous Amare said...

hey.. great stuff… looks really fantastic. your blog is too fine. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

4:53 AM  
Anonymous Kitchen Remodeling said...

I know my comment is too late but I just saw this blog today. Nevertheless, I still have to share my ideas about you kitchen and I can say this is perfect!

2:29 PM  
Anonymous Dave said...

Like what you did.. looks great.. really adds value too

7:23 PM  
Blogger Melanie {The Tiny Tudor} said...

Hi- Your kitchen is so cute! I am also fixing up a house in Ohio (Cleveland). I hope you'll stop by and visit:
http://thetinytudor.blogspot.com/

12:07 PM  
Blogger TheGardenCloche said...

Nice before and after pictures...huge difference...in a good way.

Jeff
TheGardenCloche.com | Protecting Plants From Frost

7:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Great Job!

I'm still having a hard time believing that's the same kitchen. I agree with "Garden" the yellow with blue accents look great!

I wish I had an eye for design like you. My wife and I were redoing our bathroom, we couldn't even decide on a color haha. We quickly realized we couldn't do it on our own, we decided to call restoration and premier painting company in Chicago.

They were good, we were just disappointing we didn't take the job on from start to finish

5:31 PM  
Anonymous Cindy Plantation said...

I love the golden cricket color. You did a great job. What a transformation!

5:23 AM  
Anonymous Liquid Roof said...

Nice work here, Crok flooring is good option, its naturally anti-static and hypoallergenic and is also incredibly durable.

5:02 AM  
Anonymous Plumbing fittings said...

I feel your stencil pain - I just recently covered horrible blue sea shell stencils in our bathroom. It took three coats of primer before I even started painting.
I have that same Betty Crocker cookbook, as I'm sure most other people do too.
It looks amazing!

12:00 AM  
Anonymous Electric Underfloor Heating said...

Very Nice post i wanna my kitchen change as your kitchen.
Thank you for post.

12:12 AM  
Anonymous plumbing said...

This is an kitchen impressive transformation. Very cool home improvement.

5:59 AM  
Anonymous Shop Fitters Brisbane said...

now i want a kitchen like that..i like the color painted in it..

9:36 PM  
Anonymous Bill said...

Great post! I'm a huge fan of before and after pics. Love the work!

2:48 PM  
Anonymous Hillary said...

OH MY GOODNESS!! Talk about a transformation!! WOW!

12:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very gorgeous kitchen. I like the renovations you made =)

12:19 AM  

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