The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

<center></center>If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in case you're in need of a catch up:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/DSC_0591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/valley-house-tour-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Kitchen Tour</a> (right after we closed on the house)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/getting-inspired-open-shelves-in-kitchen.html" target="_blank">Open Shelving Inspiration</a> (before I decided on the single shelf look)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/making-plans-for-kitchen-with-keepcom.html" target="_blank">The Rough Initial Plans</a> (only about 50% of this ended up happening!)<br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/02/lighter-brighter-kitchen-and-new-dining.html" target="_blank">After painting out the floors and the brick range surround</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/kitchen-mini-reno-cabinets.html" target="_blank">A big recap of thoughts and plans and details on the Shaker-style cabinet DIY</a><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/black-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">Black concrete counters DIY and single shelf inspiration</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 58.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/58.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I finally decided though that we would just work with the existing layout and cabinets and use my favorite <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/diy-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">concrete overlay technique</a> to make this kitchen work for us until we can do a big upgrade.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 51.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/51.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'm still hoping for a full kitchen reno sometime down the road, but at least for now, the space feels clean and bright! DIY wins again! :) Here's a little more on what we ended up doing and where I bought everything...<br /><a name="more"></a><br />One of the splurges of the reno was <a href="http://www.signaturehardware.com/kitchen/kitchen-sinks/30-risinger-fireclay-farmhouse-sink-smooth-apron-180964.html" target="_blank">this farmhouse sink</a> from Signature Hardware. We had some sort of funny dimensions to work with and this one was the least expensive of the options that would fit right. I love the clean lines! I also bought the faucet from Signature Hardware and had a local plating company (Papago Plating) strip off the lacquer finish. I love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The black concrete counters are holding up really well and I love the dramatic look. The waterfall edge is so pretty, and I think with the creamy white cabinet color and the lighter gray on the floors (Ben Moore's Galveston Gray), the black is not too dark for the space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 61.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/61.jpg" /></div><br />My favorite part though is the little shelf we built with pine boards that I covered in concrete too. I hung them with simple black gloss brackets from Home Deport with brass screws. I wanted the brackets to just sort of go away, which they do! The shelves are super sturdy though too. We have all sorts of heavy things on top (tons of plates on one side and a 20-lb cactus planter on the other!) and it's sturdy as can be.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 52.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/52.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 56.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/56.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You can see in this photo too that we beefed up the trim on the doors and added trim to the windows (there was nothing there before). I LOVE how the trim addition completely changed the space!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0595-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0595-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We made a few changes to the lighting too. Just getting those super frilly and outdated pieces out was a huge improvement! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0611.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0611.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took down the too-low ceiling fan and the chandelier over the table area and replaced them with <a href="http://instagram.com/p/X2nlpOQWxb/?modal=true" target="_blank">two of these lanterns</a> I picked up for a song in New Jersey before we moved. I painted the pink parts white and sprayed the sleeves gold.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 55.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/55.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think a little white paint and round bulbs can make any fixture prettier! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 57.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/57.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got three of these <a href="http://www.cedarandmoss.com/lighting/tilt-cone" target="_blank">brass tilt cone sconces from Cedar and Moss</a>. They are <i>beautiful. </i> I really love them and think they are a steal for the price!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 53.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/53.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite little details of the space ended up being the cabinet hardware! I really wanted something a little different. I searched high and low and finally, finally stumbled on these white <a href="http://store.restoration.com/depression-era-glass-bin-pull-four-colors-2d/dp/103591" target="_blank">milk glass bin pulls</a>. They are so perfect. They just sort of glow! We used brass screws to install them to the drawer fronts, so brass accent is there, but it's subtle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 63.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/63.jpg" /></div><br /></div><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 66.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/66.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's (clearly) not perfect. We did this project fast and furious, but the improvement to me is huge. We are loving it and are so happy we could make the room work for us for as long as it takes to save up for the kitchen of our dreams. :)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in cas...

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Cooking (in my NEW KITCHEN!) with Blue Apron

<center></center>I first heard about <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> when we lived in the city and some our friends would use the service. One of my good friends would always order a Blue Apron box when she was having house guests or if she knew it was going to be a particularly busy week at work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We are getting the house ready for that magazine shoot, so my mom offered to take my girls up to her house in the mountains for the week so we could focus on projects. It felt like perfect timing when <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a> reached out to see if I would like to try a box for myself this week - the last thing I have time for right now is grocery shopping! So last weekend I got my refrigerated box full of the exact proportions of ingredients I needed to make three meals for Michael and I (though you can order the box for either two, four or six servings).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_7415.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/vIMG_7415.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Meals are $9.99 per person - and they are DELICIOUS. These recipes are for sure keepers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We made the <a href="http://9nl.eu/fcyv" target="_blank">Fresh Beet Pasta</a> and it was so, so, so good! I pretty much love anything with beets, but the lemony tang and the fresh goat cheese and walnuts seriously put this recipe over the edge for me. Blue Apron uses only the freshest ingredients and they try to source local and artisan goods where possible. They were gorgeous.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I love that there's no commitments with Blue Apron. I can skip or cancel my delivery at any time for the weeks I have a little more bandwidth. But sometimes, like this week, where I feel like my brain might explode if I have to make a single more decision, it's nice to have a menu plan and all the ingredients sitting in front of me on my counter top at 5 pm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue3.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The meals are so easy to prepare, especially with the well-designed recipe sheets. All of them take less than 40 minutes to make, though it will look like you slaved away for hours! Michael is always a good sport, but he definitely has an opinion about food (so it's a good thing he's always willing to cook), but this dish was a total home run with him. I'm excited to make it again when the girls get home! Claire loves anything with goat cheese. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue4a.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue4a.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also, I was surprised at how generous the serving sizes were! We ended up sharing with friends who stopped over. It was fun to be like, "What? Oh, this? Yeah, I just threw it together. Just a regular old Wednesday night meal..." (as I'm quickly shoving the Blue Apron recipe sheets into a drawer) ;)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Blue5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda010/Blue5.jpg" /></div><br />Have you tried <a href="http://9nl.eu/ll9n" target="_blank">Blue Apron</a>? I am so excited to use it again and try some new recipes. They ship nearly everywhere in the US (there's a full map <a href="http://9nl.eu/gvtl" target="_blank">here</a>).<br /><br />And good news! Blue Apron is giving the first 250 readers two free meals with their first order! <a href="http://9nl.eu/vzsc" target="_blank">Here's where you can sign up</a>. Happy cooking!

Cooking (in my NEW KITCHEN!) with Blue Apron

I first heard about Blue Apron when we lived in the city and some our friends would use the service. One of my good friends would always or...

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Black Concrete Countertops

<center></center>I am pretty sure when we do the bigger kitchen reno in a year or two that we'll want to do soapstone for the main countertops. I love its look and how hard-wearing the stone is. Our little kitchen as it's currently laid out is a little dark though, so I thought I would try dark counters now to make sure that I'm comfortable with the look before we really commit.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MADE-Black-Soapstone-Counters-Sink-Remodelista_0.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/MADE-Black-Soapstone-Counters-Sink-Remodelista_0.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-soapstone-kitchen-countertop-pros-and-cons" target="_blank">Remodelista</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I thought Ardex made Feather Finish in black, but they actually only make it in gray and white. So I poked around a little online and then called the Ardex people to make sure I could use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TDQFQA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TDQFQA&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=5CFKHPLIWC2Z2A45" target="_blank">this powdered concrete tint</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4388.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4388.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We built countertops out of scrap plywood to the exact dimensions of the old granite. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4926.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4926.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5017.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5017.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We made the edges thicker by adding a little brick moulding beneath the plywood.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5026.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5026.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also added a waterfall edge on the peninsula and I LOVE how it turned out. The first coat of concrete though, I didn't quite use enough black powder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4348.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4348.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It turns out about a 1/4 cup to every two cups of concrete is just the right amount.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4380.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4380.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5042.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5042.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5037.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5037.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_5029.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_5029.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used the same exact approach that I used <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/diy-concrete-countertops.html" target="_blank">in my laundry room</a>, but this time I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009VJDIC8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009VJDIC8&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=7QQNAYXZ67N453MN" target="_blank">a more expensive food-safe sealer</a>. This stuff is pretty hard core. So far it's been worth every penny! I only needed about half of the bottle for several applications, so I think it's actually a pretty good value.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_4396.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/vIMG_4396.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At sort of the last minute I had a change of heart about the shelving. I had wanted to use <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/kitchen-inspiration-shelving-units-on.html" target="_blank">a taller series of three or four shelves</a>, but I couldn't get this image from Remodelista out of my mind. I think the single, lower sleek shelf is just perfect here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo anstruther-kitchen-remodelista-2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/anstruther-kitchen-remodelista-2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we built a little backsplash and I used a pine board to make a shelf that I also layered in concrete.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5030.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5030.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5044.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5044.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>It's not quite finished yet, but I was excited to share progress photos. I'm so happy with how everything is coming together! I especially love the black concrete - it's so pretty with the white cabinets. :) The cabinet hardware will finally be here tomorrow (five weeks late!) and we're finishing up the new window and door trim and then I'll take some more photos to share.

Black Concrete Countertops

I am pretty sure when we do the bigger kitchen reno in a year or two that we'll want to do soapstone for the main countertops. I love it...

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Modernizing Old Cabinet Fronts

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4012.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_4012.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Our house is full of these country-style 80's cabinets, but I didn't want to have to replace all of them, since they work fine, they just weren't pretty at all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dIMG_1543.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/dIMG_1543.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To start, I carefully measured the fronts of the doors at wherever was the thickest part of the door. The nice people at Home Depot cut down very thin, but super sturdy 1/8" hardboard to the exact sizes I needed. This is the same material I used to add <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-plank-walls-and-painted-mudroom.html" target="_blank">paneling to the mudroom</a>. It takes paint very well (on the brown side, not the slick white side) and is an easy product to work with because it's so lightweight.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3726.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3726.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used a bit of Liquid Nails Paneling to adhere the hardboard to the cabinet door. I didn't use too much because I wanted the hardboard to sit really flush and tight against the old door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3731.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3731.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought I might have to throw in a few finishing nails to keep everything together, but the Liquid Nails ended up being enough and there was a really tight seal on the edges. It worked surprisingly well!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3729.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3729.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After everything had dried for a full day, we caulked the edges and gave everything a coat of primer and two coats of paint before installing the doors again and adding the hardware from Anthropologie.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3999.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3999.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's not perfectly perfect, but it was like $10 of hardboard to update these cabinets and I like them a million times more now!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3776.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3776.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Some of you noticed that my <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/kitchen-mini-reno-cabinets.html" target="_blank">kitchen cabinet door fronts</a> had a similar old style. I used this exact process in our kitchen too before adding the corner moulding! It's so easy and cheap and really doesn't change the weight or the thickness of the doors in a major way.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_4937.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/cIMG_4937.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0431.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/aaDSC_0431.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm eyeing my <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-laundry-room-redo-and-5000-laundry.html" target="_blank">laundry room cabinets</a> now. :)</div>

Modernizing Old Cabinet Fronts

Our house is full of these country-style 80's cabinets, but I didn't want to have to replace all of them, since they work fine, they...

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Kitchen Mini-Reno - The Cabinets

<center></center><center></center>This week is a little crazy. Our church does a stay-away camp for hundreds of teenage girls in our area that I was asked to help with and that finally, after months and months of meetings and work, is happening this week. Balancing the end stage planning of that really fun project with all the recent house projects going on here has been a little tricky, but also so exciting! It feels like things are really starting to <i>happen</i> this week! The <a href="http://instagram.com/p/oyWueDQW-3/" target="_blank">bookshelf installers came yesterday</a> and they are a good halfway there and the other projects are ahead of or at least right on schedule. I only hope this pace continues until our big photo shoot deadline at the beginning of July (Knock on wood!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0583.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/DSC_0583.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo aDSC_0445.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0445.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So, the kitchen. Many of you have weighed in as I've bounced around different thoughts and plans. I've swung from wanting to do a full-blown-knock-down-tear-out kitchen remodel to "let's just leave it all as-is for another year or two and then renovate" - and every version of a remodel in between.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ssDSC_04481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/ssDSC_04481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_0815.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_0815.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><br />One of the first things I try to figure out about a new client before we start working together is their change tolerance. Some people need more time on decisions, some people move very, very quickly. Usually somewhere in between yields the best results. Unfortunately, I swing a little more on the side of "very quick" decision maker when it comes to my own house choices, which comes back to bite me sometimes. I've been trying to learn how to slow down and pace my decisions, but I am super comfortable with change. I'd love to move to a new house every year if I could! Or at least I'd love have a new kitchen every year if it wasn't so expensive and wasteful! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_08071.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_08071.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Anyway, what I'm getting at is that I spent a little more time thinking about what I wanted to do in this kitchen than I might normally spend, and I still waffled right up to the very end on how much money and effort we should put in here. This room is a head-scratcher for me. It really, really bothered me how much I didn't like the room we spent a huge amount of time in every day. But I think we've finally figured out a longer-term plan that makes sense for the house and for us.<br /><br />I'm sure you remember that we're going to need a new roof here in the next year or two. The roof (which is going to cost a ton) is higher priority than a fully brand new, re-worked kitchen. So we decided to spend the next 1-3 years putting our pennies away for a new roof and a new kitchen. And in the meantime, we'd do a Jenny style make-it-work remodel in the kitchen. Because of the photo shoot, I can't show you one or two angles, but I want to share a lot of the process with you over the course of a couple posts. We're about 90% done now and I can't believe how new the room feels! And it also feels bigger! A huge part of the change was removing the granite.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0500.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aaDSC_0500.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I really tried guys. I wanted to make this work, but it was a doomed relationship from the start. It's not you, Granite! It was me all along.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0508.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0508.jpg" /></div><br />Slowly and carefully we scored and pried, and the granite was removed. The cut out parts by the sink and cooktop ended up snapping, but all the other lengths were successfully salvaged and are being reworked for another family's bathrooms.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0490.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0490.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4931.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4931.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And we used plywood to build countertop bases for concrete. I was really tempted to go with stone, but it was a pretty obvious choice to go with the concrete overlay. It looks great and it's CHEAP. Like less than $100 for all the materials required here (concrete, plywood, concrete color additive). Actually scratch that. The sealer I bought this time was about $100 alone, but it was worth the splurge. It's really good and it's food-safe, which is so important for a kitchen space, obviously. I'm totally getting ahead of myself though. More on concrete later.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_5015.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5015.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After removing the granite, it seemed like a good time to have our handyman install a vent hood. There had been a downdraft vent at one point, so we just had to open up the drywall and connect the new overhead hood with the existing vent to the outside. It was so simple and I have been SO HAPPY to cook lately. :) No ventilation is bad, bad news, guys!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5026.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5026.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish the hood didn't show at all, but we only had a couple of inches to work with (the HVAC vents are right above this, so we couldn't get any more height - grrr) and this was the thinnest vent we could find for the money. It's worked out though - we ended up running concrete all the way up the back wall, so now it's a lot less noticeable. I'd rather have an inch or two of hood visible than no hood at all I guess.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5021.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5021.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5020.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5020.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You probably noticed the color change on the cabinets here. This is the primer coat, so it's brighter than the final color (Ben Moore's Swiss Coffee). We wanted to go with a really warm white to balance out the cool wall color (Titanium). The floors are probably going to get a change too. We had a few drips and spills while doing the cabinet frames and the concrete so we need to do touch ups anyway. Might as well go a little lighter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0431.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aaDSC_0431.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0423.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0423.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The cabinets were updated with some L-shaped corner moulding, cut with my miter saw and installed with a really cheap pinner gun I got on clearance at Lowes. It took a full day to get just the moulding on (sooooo many cuts), but I love the cleaner look of the shaker style fronts. We saved a ton of money by going this route and salvaging the cabinet doors, drawers and frames, so it ended up being worth the effort.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4766.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4766.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I bought a new spray gun with a wider spray radius than the Critter. I will defend <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-best-and-easiest-to-use-spray-gun.html" target="_blank">my undying love for the Critter</a> til the day I die, but it does spray a little slower and finer than the bigger guns. I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLWWQIO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CLWWQIO&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=FFVEH4LLV3RBWEP4" target="_blank">this Grace airless sprayer</a> at Lowes on clearance (they have the BEST deals on clearance tools!) and it's been pretty great. The airless feature means you don't need an air compressor. You just plug it in, fill the cup with paint and start spraying. I'm really happy with how fast it sprays and how smooth the finish is. This is the primer coat below, after we had sanded and caulked the new moulding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_4937.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/cIMG_4937.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After taking these photos, I sprayed a second coat and covered the drawer sides and glides on that pass, so everything is white now. It is such a clean look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4341.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4341.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The cabinet frames are not the best, but they function and now they're much prettier. I'm waiting for the hardware still and I'll show some afters soon and talk more about the counters. We went with black and I'm pretty much in heaven with the combo of the dark counters and the creamy white cabs. Good stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5029.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5029.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so happy we decided to just make the big stuff work for another year or two. To me, a few days of hard labor and a couple hundred bucks are work it to have a prettier kitchen, even if it is just a temporary fix.</div></div></div>

Kitchen Mini-Reno - The Cabinets

This week is a little crazy. Our church does a stay-away camp for hundreds of teenage girls in our area that I was asked to help with and th...

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