J & A Kitchen/Family Room:: Let The Fun Begin!!
I have been so anxious to get started on John & Alice’s kitchen and family room, but there were a couple of things in particular that I was absolutely chomping at the bit to do.
First off, see this mantle?
I couldn’t stand to look at the thing for one more day. It’s gone…
I had been planning on replacing that mantle with a much simpler, wider mantle…more rustic, stained wood. But really, now that the mantle is off, I’m wondering if I even want to put another mantle up. I really like the look without a mantle! We’ll see.
Next up…the wallpaper. Oh my…that wallpaper!
I couldn’t get that stuff off the walls fast enough!! And what an amazing difference it made. As soon as it was gone, it was as if the room took a huge breath…like it was free!!
There are still some tricky places, like over the cabinets, that I couldn’t reach with my ladder. I’m gonna have to pull out the really tall (and kinda scary) ladder for those areas.
As I was working on these things, I kept peeking over at the paint sample I had painted on the wall (see it in the picture above, to the far left?), and I started having second thoughts. Was it too blue? Was the color too saturated? Did I want a softer color? Perhaps with a touch more gray?
Oh…why do I do this to myself?!
So off to Home Depot I went, in pursuit of a sample with 1/2 the color. Did you know they can mix the sample pots with 1/2 the color?! I didn’t! I knew they could mix the gallons and quarts with 1/2 the color, but figured with the sample pots, you were stuck with full color. Not so!
Anyway, I brought it back and painted a section on the wall, and then put the drapery fabric swatch up against it…
Ummmm…no. That light blue looks like it belongs in a baby boy’s nursery. So I’m going with the original color. I actually really like it now.
But all of those are little things, right? You want to see big changes, don’t you! Well, I’m not quite there yet, but I’m sooooo close. The kitchen cabinets that started out looking like this…
…now look more like this…
…only now, ALL of the doors have been removed, and they’ve all been sanded, cleaned, and deglossed.
Yep, all 30 doors…THIRTY…DOORS…are ready to be primed. I’m so anxious to start painting!! But perhaps I’ll have to wait until I get the feeling back in my hands. 🙂
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I CANNOT wait to see the painted kitchen cabinettes! I, too, have the 80's oak…WILL someday paint them but am currently working on redoing our masterbed,bath and nook so it may be a long time away. I sooo understand your comment of waiting until the feeling returns in your hand…mine goes numb just holding a paint brush! I am also anxious to see if you decide to add a mantel like you described. Keep up the AWESOME work!
Aweeee better already!! I say spray paint the mantel white and stick it back up!! I like that is brakes the bik up and adds a place for art!!
Aweeee better already!! I say spray paint the mantel white and stick it back up!! I like that is brakes the bik up and adds a place for art!!
I can't wait to see what you're going to do with the kitchen cabinets – I like the blue paint that you chose!
Oh wow, I know the hard work it takes to refinish kitchen cabinets, I did mine a couple years ago, and am ready to do it again, lol.
That wall paper was HIDEOUS!!!
That fireplace really needs to be painted, I think, he he.
Hugs,
Bella 🙂
I love your ideas! I have a very similar fireplace except for the brick encompasses the entire room! I have noticed a lot more painted brick walls lately, in white, and I think it looks great in the Ethan Allen catalog- but I can't shake the70's vibe it brings up. What are your feelings about painted brick?
I say if the color is outdated, by all means, paint it! I painted the brick fireplace in this room. I also painted the brick fireplace in my mom's house. I'm not opposed at all to painting brick.
I think I'll make that my Saturday project! Did you just use a flat paint? I think the shine is what reminds me of the 70's too. Even though I just read an article a couple months ago in House Beautiful about how high gloss paint is in, I'm not that hip!
I think I'll make that my Saturday project! Did you just use a flat paint? I think the shine is what reminds me of the 70's too. Even though I just read an article a couple months ago in House Beautiful about how high gloss paint is in, I'm not that hip!
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