Kitchen Updates

Two years ago I started remodeling my kitchen.  Now, finally it is finished.  I repainted, laid a new kitchen floor, installed new counter top and sink, repainted the cabinet bases, but never put on new cabinet doors.  Two years, I went without cabinet doors.  I got used to it that way and loved being able to reach right in for anything. Talk about being lazy.  Then one day a few months ago, I saw with new eyes how bad it looked, and realized how tired I was of it not being finished. So . . . I called my brother-in-law and told him I was really serious about making the new cabinet doors (he had bought the wood at least 8 months earlier).  On New Year's Day we went to work in his work shop and cranked out all the doors.  I have a very small kitchen, so it wasn't that many doors, but by the end of the day, thanks to his expertise and fabulous array of tools, we had all the doors glued and clamped. These first pictures were taken right after I hung the doors when they were still unfinished.  There was an immediate difference.  

  I only have a few cabinets along one wall and a tall cabinet on the opposite wall.   

  Here is a photo of one door painted and one still unfinished.  I used Caromel Colors Reclaim paint on my cabinets and rolled it on.  I was so surprised how quickly I could apply 3 coats of paint.  

 

  I painted the fronts of the doors while they were still hanging and then removed them a couple at a time to paint the backs. Finally - all done. Like I said, my kitchen is small.  These are the cabinets on one side of the sink.  

  And this is the other side of the sink.  

  There is nothing extravagant or fancy about my kitchen like the spacious grand ones in all the new builds.  But, it suits my needs and I absolutely love it and how much brighter the room is now. I keep only a few things on the counter tops since there isn't much space.  I love having my silverware on the counter top where I can reach it easily.  

  Here is the tall cabinet across the room.

In between, under the window, is a green free-standing cupboard that I use for extra storage and for displaying fun vignettes.

 

  Over the stove I display two sets of a plain white frame with a canvas print in the center.  The canvas is covered with paper napkins that were torn and laid in place, applied with Mod Podge.  Every few months, I change out the canvas to match the season - an inexpensive way to change my artwork and the mood of the room.  I got the idea from Stone Gable and Yvonne gives wonderful instructions on her lovely blog.  

  Rounding out the room is the door leading to the utility room where I made the door into a large chalk board for doodling.  

  And off to the right of the "Dream" sign is a peek into the dining room.  I told you it was a small kitchen.  

  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new kitchen and it makes me smile every time I walk into it.