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Kitchen Renovation: Details

I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness + sweet thoughts for the new kitchen space.

It being called, A HAPPY KITCHEN, was by far my favorite comment because that just completely + perfectly sums up the new setting.  A happy space is exactly how I envisioned the new kitchen to look + feel.

As a whole, the kitchen from top to bottom is entirely new, and last weeks KITCHEN REVEAL post focused on the before + after, as well as the overall design & changes.  But there is still so much more to tell… a follow up post to share the nitty-gritty details + thought-process of WHY & HOW the design came to be, had to be told…

When the planning process of the kitchen renovation began, I started by focusing on the big picture; the space as a whole.  From there I put my efforts into spending time on the details + layers.  This attention to the smaller elements is what really makes a space complete and unique.

Upon making the decision to change the layout & have the new cabinetry be white, I set out to find inspiration.  Before putting together the mood board for the new space, I wanted to analyze + dissect other kitchens to see what elements I liked and didn’t like.  With this process, along with my past experience designing client kitchens, here is a list I created as to what details were important and needed extra focus + attention:

> tile backsplash

> open shelving

> outlets

> cabinet hardware

> lighting

> color

> storage

With attention to detail in these 7 areas, I knew my kitchen would be set apart from the norm.

Here’s How…

1. TILE BACKSPLASH

The white subway tile I chose is probably the most common + least expensive tile out there.  Yes, very ordinary. That’s okay though, because I was still going to set it apart from the others.

How? Grout and Layout.

Instead of choosing a grout color that coordinated with the tile (which would’ve been white), I chose to use a contrasting grout color.  Lowe’s has a display with all their grout colors and with a sample of the island color in hand – a dark grey called Greyloft by Kraftmaid – I chose a grout color that matched.  By choosing a like color to the island, this allowed the deep hue to carry through in other areas of the kitchen.  The dark island color wouldn’t be a stand-alone in one spot but instead a common thread throughout.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

The staggered / brick layout of the subway tile is Oh So Norm, BUT I set it apart by continuing the tile behind the hood, as well as up and around the window.  Instead of stopping the tile at the line of the upper cabinets, I continued it up to heighten the space.  Additionally, the tile was installed behind the open shelves, which makes the space feel larger.

>>> CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE TILE INSTALLATION

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

2. OPEN SHELVING

Since we’re on that subject, let’s jump right in…  Open Shelving.  Most of you would never think of open shelving in the kitchen.  Who would want to display plastic cups + mismatched dishes?!  Wrong my friends…  My kitchen doesn’t have all open shelving.  In actuality only a small portion of the space has open shelves.  Like you, I have cups, plates, and a lot of other things that I want hidden.  And those things are behind closed doors.  BUT, I do have some nice dishes, pretty glasses, and colorful bowls.  All perfect for display + easy access to grab.

Why open shelving? Shelves add depth, openness, and a way to introduce color.  Look through your cabinets and figure out how many ‘nice’ things you have to display, then figure out how much open shelving is appropriate for your kitchen.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

3. OUTLETS

Still on the subject of the backsplash, outlet locations are important to figure out during the design phase.  More often or not, outlets are typically every 18-24″ apart and are positioned half way between the counter and the upper cabinets.  So basically, they’re an eyesore smack in the center of the tile.  Outlet placement can be daunting, but avoid the eyesore mistake by giving thought to the outlet placement BEFORE you renovate.

Moving the outlets lower, about 3″ above the counter, and to a horizontal position, will help keep them out of sight and in line with your appliance plugs. As an alternative, try one horizontal outlet on the backsplash for the appliances / items that sit permanent on the counter – think beforehand about where they’ll be placed – then add outlets to the underside of the upper cabinet for the temporary plug-in / take-out items.

The outlets in my new backplash can barely be seen…

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

And please always use GFCI outlets above countertop level to avoid electrocution!

Outlets in the island is another area of focus.  You want + need outlets in the island (and they are required by building code), but it is important to place them in a pleasant looking place.  Have a recessed panel on the side of the island?  Be sure the outlet is centered and position it in the same orientation as the backsplash.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

Aside from the major appliances – refrig, micro, hood – it’s important to think about what will be going where when the kitchen is finished.  I knew I wanted to create a coffee station + charging station in the new pantry next to the refrigerator.  With the specs of the cabinet – showing the heights – in hand, the contractor and I layed out the outlets to provide electric for our needs.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

4. CABINET HARDWARE

Hardware (and lighting, which I’ll get to) is like the jewelry for an outfit.  A black shirt + jeans are nice, but the outfit is set apart by the layers that are added.  That is where hardware plays a huge part in a kitchen!  White cabinets + White backsplash in a kitchen are pretty norm, but it was the details that were added that set it apart from others.  I had this nutty idea about placing the cabinet hardware in the center of cabinet doors instead of at the side which is typical.  Because many of the doors lined up with the drawers below, I had a feeling it was going to look stellar as a whole.  In the end, it did!

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

I chose polished nickel for the modern cup pulls and they are bold.  Against the basic, minimal door, they shine.  Truly, the polished pulls shine and make a statement.

Doors are doors, make a statement with the hardware!

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

5. LIGHTING

I’m a lighting snob.  I like big lights and I can not lie! that was corny… sorry.

Seriously though, big or small, lighting is important.

I had a difficult time with the lighting because I knew it would make or break the new space.  I didn’t feel polished nickel lights (to match the cabinet hardware) would work well in our open concept home where the other lights are black / dark.  I found these gorgeous statement-worthy pendants from Rejuvenation and hit place order.  They took a few weeks to arrive and when they were installed, the kitchen looked truly complete.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white + gray cabinets, open shelves, subway backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

For the pendant over the sink, I chose something that was different but that coordinated well with the oversized island pendants.  This prism pentagon pendant was the right match.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

6. COLOR

I’m a color person.  I heart color. Yet everything was white. What? I knew when all was complete, the kitchen would come alive with the layers of color that I would add. From the dishes to glasses to artwork to food, this kitchen comes alive with the color that has been injected into it with all the layers.

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

KITCHEN MAKEOVER REVEAL: before and after kitchen renovation with white & gray cabinets, open shelving, subway tile backsplash, quartz countertops, and layers of color. This kitchen is gorgeous! Check out the entire renovation process @ www.JennaBurger.com

7. STORAGE

The insides of the cabinets are truly just as important as the exterior. The insides of the Kraftmaid cabinets are filled with savvy storage components.  Everything has a place.  There is no question of what goes where…

These are a few favorites…

Full depth cabinet above the refrigerator with Vertical Dividers, perfect for trays, cookies sheets, and more…

Full depth cabinet above the refrigerator with Vertical Dividers, perfect for trays, cookies sheets, and more!

Trash Bin + Recycling Pull Out… no more floating garbage can in the center of the kitchen.

Trash Bin + Recycling Pull Out... no more floating garbage can in the center of the kitchen

Tilt Tray at the sink front to hold sponges + clothes, which eliminates sitting on the counter.

Tilt Tray at the sink front to hold sponges + clothes

Full extension roll-out drawers in the base cabinets so from front to back, everything can be seen!

Roll-out drawers in the base cabinet

As you can see, the details are important and those details are what make up the whole to create something different.  The details are what make the kitchen stand out of the norm.  Most elements are typical and ‘most popular’ but it’s how they are mixed together that sets them apart.

One more post coming soon… the Resources of the kitchen.  I’m sharing all the scoop of where I shopped!

If you want to see all the posts documenting the kitchen renovation, here they are from start to finish:
Wonderful White Kitchen Inspiration
Kitchen Remodel: Before + Plan of Action
Demo Day: Steps for Demolishing the Kitchen
Kitchen Progress: Staining Hardwood Floors
The Cabinets Arrive + Get Installed
Natural Quartz Countertops in the Kitchen
10 Countertop Materials to Consider for the Kitchen
Subway Tile Installation + Choosing the RIGHT Subway
Kitchen Backsplash Tile Options + Inspiration
Choosing a Paint Color + Wallpaper for the Kitchen and Dining Room
Kitchen Renovation: The Appliances
Dissecting the Details
Kitchen Renovation: REVEAL + RESOURCES

DISCLAIMER: THIS KITCHEN RENOVATION IS A COLLABORATION WITH LOWE’S, KRAFTMAID, FRIGIDAIRE, AND HGTV HOME BY SHERWIN WILLIAMS.  ALL OPINIONS + SELECTIONS ARE MY OWN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LOWE’S DESIGN TEAM.

Kitchen Revamp: Before + After

Oh My, where are the days going?  I swear, I wake up and 5 minutes later it is night time.  I can not keep ahead, but thankfully all is good – NO complaints, except for the bitter cold temps.  Some fun news to share…  I was in NYC for a quick trip late last week and met up with some blogger pals – Diane, Kelly, and Denise – for a Better Homes and Gardens event.  BHG, along with BrandSpark, invited some local bloggers to the Best New Product Awards, where we got to mingle with representatives of some big brands.  It was so fun to “get out” and meet others who are just as passionate as I.  I’ll have more to come soon on the products and a chance for you to win some cool stuff.

While I should have my feet up resting (at 5 months prego, my body is definitely feeling aches + pains), I’ve been busy busy with a few client kitchens – all at different phases of construction.  One I just started and have a design meeting for later today, another is mid-install, and another I just finished.  I shared a peak of it the recently completed kitchen the other day, but now it’s time to show more + it’s evolution…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

This kitchen was really wonderful to work on, but a definite challenge. For privacy sake, I can’t show the floor plan, but there was a large area of the “kitchen area”, which I would say technically was the eating area, that was unused.  Then the space for the “kitchen” with the cabinets was very small + tight.  When the client brought me in, she really expressed the want + desire to reuse much of the existing cabinetry.  The challenge?  They were faux wood/stained cabinets from Ikea and to match them exactly isn’t the easiest objective!  My carpenter/cabinet fabricator was up for a challenge…  Could he do it??

Here are a few before pictures…

before pictures of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Once we discussed the scope of work + the clients needs + style, this was the Creative Vision Board that I created…

Creative Vision Board for Kitchen Remodel

The “known” of the space was the cabinetry.  The client wanted to match the new with the existing.  I spiced it up with the layers + details

>Lighting

>Fabric

>Tile

>Open shelving

These 4 elements brought the kitchen to the next level!

Lighting: The lighting before was very contemporary and did not fit the style of the house, which is old-world eclectic.  Yes, it has modern features, but certainly is not contemporary.  I wanted to bring in a sense of the handcrafted look and chose new fixtures for the space.

New Lighting for the Kitchen Remodel

Fabric: It’s often a challenge in a kitchen to bring in color, but fabric on a window can be the needed element to soften and liven a space.  The client and I looked at several options for window fabric and chose a modern pattern with colors of teal, mustard, and taupe.

Unfortunately, the window treatment is the only area of the space that is still incomplete.  We are awaiting the roman shade for the window.  Here are a few options we looked at before choosing #1…

Fabric Options for the Kitchen Remodel

Tile: Along with the cabinets, the countertop which is soapstone, was also staying.  To balance the darker hues of the cabinets and counter, I knew a lighter natural stone would be the perfect compliment.  The client and I visited a local tile shop and found this beautiful natural tile with light gray veining – the size: 2″ x 8″ – which was ideal.

 Natural TileTile for the Kitchen Remodel

Open Shelving: To break up the monotony of the stained cabinets, I wanted to bring in an opportunity of open shelving to give the space more openness.  We chose for the shelves to be minimal and painted them to match the crown moulding that was added around the room.  The backsplash tile was also continued behind the open shelves to give a cohesive look.

Open Shelving for the Kitchen Remodel

With a few more tweaks + tricks throughout the space, it came together amazingly.  My carpenter is incredible and not only did he match the new with the old, he also used a few of the existing doors and reworked them to fit in new spots.  For example, using one of the old doors, he used part of it to create a pull-out spice rack which now sits next to the new dishwasher.

New spice rack for the kicthen remodel

I love when clients want to work with what they have!  The outcome of this kitchen made me so happy.  Here are some more after pictures…

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Lastly some Before + Afters – sorry for them not being at the same angle…

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

Before & After of a Kitchen Remodel: Integrating / Reusing existing Ikea cabinets with new custom cabinets to match. Transformation is INCREDIBLE!

There you have it.  A few more details and the kitchen will be complete!  In the meantime, want some more ideas for upgrading a kitchen?  Check out this post of mine on 5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

5 Upgrades for a Killer Kitchen

more client kitchens coming soon…

A Simple Kitchen Window Upgrade

Do you ever feel with a little upgrade, a space in your home that you haven’t quite loved, will finally look exactly how you always hoped?  That little revamp which won’t take long, but the room doesn’t feel “right” without ?

Well, I’ve had that feeling in my kitchen for a while.  The part that needed a redo wasn’t horrible, but I was kind of tired of it.

It’s not the cabinets because I still love them 2 years later.

It’s not the hardware because I still love that too.

But instead it was actually the valance over the windows that I felt blah about.

So the kitchen window got a revamp!

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

I created the previous valance 2 years ago and I never felt it was just right (don’t tell the Mister.  He didn’t see anything wrong with it).  To others, the valance was fine, but for me, it just wasn’t exactly what I envisioned.  Here’s how it looked before (with the old oak cabinets too – crazy to look at)…

Kitchen Valance

Anyway, since I’ve been adding bamboo shades (which I got from favorite resource, Payless Decor) to many of the first floor windows after I painted the mouldings white, it seemed like the most appropriate choice to continue the look + I love the wood texture of the shades against the light yellow wall color and crisp, white mouldings!

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

This past weekend while the kids went out for breakfast with their grandparents, I found a few hours of free time to finally hang my new roman shades.  When does that ever happen – free time – huh??  I blasted the music – Katy Perry was my fav choice for this project 🙂 – and got to work.

You might have seen me post this pic on Instagram Saturday afternoon…Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

I removed the old valance + there was still a cellular shade from the old owners behind it.  Then in about an hour, I hung the new roman shades.  Usually I always choose inside mount shades because decorative treatments (long drapes) are on the outside, but because the moulding of the kitchen window hits the ceiling and I wanted to allow as much light in as possible, so I decided on an outside mount.  Now the new bamboo shades touch the ceiling.

What do you think?

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

Such a difference and the new shades go so well with the open cabinet.

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

O, and did you notice the new light?  That was an easy switch-aroo that we did a few weekends ago as well.  We changed the hi-hat to a hanging fixture.  I’ll share more on that later this week, so stay tuned…

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

It’s amazing how small things which only take a few hours (or a morning filled with good music), change the entire look of a room.  I am thrilled with the new look of this room.

If you love the look of these gorgeous bamboo shades, they’re from Payless Decor and the color is Tibet.

Kitchen Window Revamp - A simple upgrade for a large kitchen window via @Jenna_Burger, sasinteriors.net

Ahhh… Much Better – #happygirl

What small adjustments have you made in a room of your home to completely change the look? If nothing yet, what changes do you want / hope to make?

 

Kitchen Makeover Phase Three: Tiling Over Laminate & Adding Cabinet Brackets

Countertops done – check!

Cabinets complete – check!

Now I’m on to the details…

I’m always attracted to a custom tiled backsplash versus the typical plain 4″ high backsplash that matches the countertop surface.  Before embarking on the countertop transformation, my husband and I tried to remove the existing solid backsplash, but were unsuccessful.  We moved forward with our makeover, but I still had it in my head to do something. hmmm…

Once the countertop was complete, I thought, ‘how about tiling right over the laminate to create a custom look on the backsplash?’…why not?

From my many tiling projects – powder room backsplash, fireplace surround, and kids bathroom – you know how I love to tile.  Like paint, it truly changes and updates the overall look.  The process of tiling this kitchen backsplash was the same as {THIS TUTORIAL}, but I’ll give a quick run-down anyway….

1. After measuring the backsplash height, I cut the tile to the appropriate size. I love using small tile because it usually has a mesh back and it’s easy to work with.

2.  Apply the tile adhesive to the back surface.

3. Spread the grout on the back surface and using a grooved trowl, spread it out so the adhesive covers the entire tiled area.  You don’t want the surface to be overly covered with adhesive, but just enough so the tile can “grab” to the surface you want to cover.

4. Adhere the tile to the surface.  Continue with the remainder of the area.  Again, to see a more in depth tutorial, check out these two previous posts {here and here}.

5. Grout.  My trick to grouting small areas, is to use a Ziploc bag.  Cut off the tip and grout,  just as you would if icing a cake.

This is a picture of me tiling my fireplace surround using my ‘trick of the trade’.

TIP: Another important bit of advice that I’ve found SO HELPFUL is to use painter’s tape to cover the areas you don’t want grout to touch.  Grout is very gritty, and is sometimes difficult to get off a surface, especially when it hardens.  It also gives you a nice, clean line once it’s removed.

Tiling is fairly easy!  And fun (seriously)!  I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again…it truly is an inexpensive way to update a space.  To tile this backsplash was less than $50 for materials.

I wrapped the tile around the existing laminate surface to create a custom tile look.

Doesn’t the tile change the entire look of the kitchen?

Adding Cabinet Brackets

Another detail that I added to the kitchen, are faux brackets underneath the upper cabinets.  I’ve always loved the look of brackets and chose a profile that was fairly simple and in keeping with the modern sophistication I was trying to achieve for the kitchen.

The inspiration of the brackets came from Layla’s kitchen and it shows how adding details to a space, give it the true character and intrigue.

After painting them to match the cabinet color, they were ready to be hung.

These brackets are actually shelf brackets, and the hardware that they came with wasn’t going to work.  After giving some thought on how to install them, I decided to use an instant glue.  On second thought, I used this Epoxy Instant Mix that dries in 1 minute, giving me a few more seconds to make sure they were placed just right.

Apply a small amount to the back.

Then adhere to the wall.  Use a level to make sure that it is plumb. It dries fast, so don’t move.

It worked perfectly and they are never coming down (even if I wanted them to)!

Here is a before….

And here is how it looks now….

What do you think…what a change, right?  Small details make the world of difference!

And if you don’t remember what the kitchen looked like before…here’s a peak ~

And here is how it’s looking now ~

I am sure you are tired of me saying this, but I’m still not ready to share the entire reveal. I have a few more projects to complete, then I’ll show you the results of the whole space!  (I forgot to mention, we splurged on new appliances ~ SOOO excited).

I want to hear from you – What projects have you been working on this summer?

Kitchen Makeover Phase Three: Tiling Over Laminate & Adding Cabinet Brackets

Countertops done – check!

Cabinets complete – check!

Now I’m on to the details…

I’m always attracted to a custom tiled backsplash versus the typical plain 4″ high backsplash that matches the countertop surface.  Before embarking on the countertop transformation, my husband and I tried to remove the existing solid backsplash, but were unsuccessful.  We moved forward with our makeover, but I still had it in my head to do something. hmmm…

Once the countertop was complete, I thought, ‘how about tiling right over the laminate to create a custom look on the backsplash?’…why not?

From my many tiling projects – powder room backsplash, fireplace surround, and kids bathroom – you know how I love to tile.  Like paint, it truly changes and updates the overall look.  The process of tiling this kitchen backsplash was the same as {THIS TUTORIAL}, but I’ll give a quick run-down anyway….

1. After measuring the backsplash height, I cut the tile to the appropriate size. I love using small tile because it usually has a mesh back and it’s easy to work with.

2.  Apply the tile adhesive to the back surface.

3. Spread the grout on the back surface and using a grooved trowl, spread it out so the adhesive covers the entire tiled area.  You don’t want the surface to be overly covered with adhesive, but just enough so the tile can “grab” to the surface you want to cover.

4. Adhere the tile to the surface.  Continue with the remainder of the area.  Again, to see a more in depth tutorial, check out these two previous posts {here and here}.

5. Grout.  My trick to grouting small areas, is to use a Ziploc bag.  Cut off the tip and grout,  just as you would if icing a cake.

This is a picture of me tiling my fireplace surround using my ‘trick of the trade’.

TIP: Another important bit of advice that I’ve found SO HELPFUL is to use painter’s tape to cover the areas you don’t want grout to touch.  Grout is very gritty, and is sometimes difficult to get off a surface, especially when it hardens.  It also gives you a nice, clean line once it’s removed.

Tiling is fairly easy!  And fun (seriously)!  I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again…it truly is an inexpensive way to update a space.  To tile this backsplash was less than $50 for materials.

I wrapped the tile around the existing laminate surface to create a custom tile look.

Doesn’t the tile change the entire look of the kitchen?

Adding Cabinet Brackets

Another detail that I added to the kitchen, are faux brackets underneath the upper cabinets.  I’ve always loved the look of brackets and chose a profile that was fairly simple and in keeping with the modern sophistication I was trying to achieve for the kitchen.

The inspiration of the brackets came from Layla’s kitchen and it shows how adding details to a space, give it the true character and intrigue.

After painting them to match the cabinet color, they were ready to be hung.

These brackets are actually shelf brackets, and the hardware that they came with wasn’t going to work.  After giving some thought on how to install them, I decided to use an instant glue.  On second thought, I used this Epoxy Instant Mix that dries in 1 minute, giving me a few more seconds to make sure they were placed just right.

Apply a small amount to the back.

Then adhere to the wall.  Use a level to make sure that it is plumb. It dries fast, so don’t move.

It worked perfectly and they are never coming down (even if I wanted them to)!

Here is a before….

And here is how it looks now….

What do you think…what a change, right?  Small details make the world of difference!

And if you don’t remember what the kitchen looked like before…here’s a peak ~

And here is how it’s looking now ~

I am sure you are tired of me saying this, but I’m still not ready to share the entire reveal. I have a few more projects to complete, then I’ll show you the results of the whole space!  (I forgot to mention, we splurged on new appliances ~ SOOO excited).

I want to hear from you – What projects have you been working on this summer?

Kitchen Revamp is Underway

It’s been a long time waiting, but I’ve FINALLY made my decisions on what to do with my kitchen.  A few months ago…7 months to be exact (back in late December), I mentioned that on my to-do list for 2011 was to makeover my kitchen.  I’d love to do a complete overhaul with new cabinets and beautiful new countertops, but it’s not in the cards right now.  If you remember, I had decided to use stain on the cabinets to achieve a darker look, but was stuck on what to do with the countertops.   Well I changed my mind entirely…a girl can do that, right?!  No more stain, but instead ~ PAINT!

My other major dilemma at the moment was that it was wintertime and I was afraid of the possible smells and vapors from the paint or stain.   Not being able to open the windows is a big no-no with kids in the house.  So I waited and waited and thought and thought……

And now, it’s summer.  I made a decision, the windows are open, and I’m transforming!

Here is a before picture of the kitchen

After lots of thought, I decided to use the Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformation Kit (which I pictured in this post), and a taupe colored paint for the cabinets (I’ll share the specifics in a future post soon)!

Here’s a sneak peak of what we’ve been up to, which I also shared in Sunday’s post.

Tomorrow will be the big reveal…stay tuned!