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BHG Kitchen + Bath Makeovers COVER Feature: Year 2

I am so excited to share that for the second year in a row, a kitchen project that I designed is on the Spring cover of the Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publication, Kitchen + Bath Makeovers.

How is this possible?! Even though I’ve had over a dozen features in various BHG magazines, the thrill never diminishes. It truly is a pinch-me-moment ever time!

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

My last experience collaborating with BHG on a kitchen makeover was fantastic and to see the result on the cover was incredible. From having a project featured in that magnitude, so many doors + new opportunities opened for me. That magazine hit newsstands just about a year ago and shortly after that, I was asked back to do it all again, for this years Spring magazine – magazines work long in advance. If you remember back a year ago, I was about 5 months pregnant at the time. The editors new that and were overly accommodating. I said, as long as we can wrap it up by early June, I’m on board. They were on board too and the ball started rolling from there…

Upon finding the right kitchen that was in desperate need for a makeover, Donna Talley – stylist + producer for BHG – and I partnered to create a makeover that was not only beautiful, but also budget-friendly and had many strategic storage options + ‘look for less’ details.

I love seeing + sharing behind the scenes footage and what goes into the end result, so let’s dissect…

The ‘before’

The ‘before’ kitchen was cramped & completely not functional. The space was of an okay size but with very limited cabinet space, a refrigerator wrongly positioned, and traffic flow problems, a lot needed to change.  Here are a few before pictures…

Pictures of the 'before' kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Not only were the cabinets dated, but functionally there was a lot of unused space above the upper cabinets. The base cabinets weren’t much better. After working with an architect on a few structural questions, we decided to remove the walls @ the pantry and open up the pass through space to join the kitchen + dining space.

Here was the Creative Vision Board I created for the kitchen + dining room…

The mood board for the proposed kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The mood board for the proposed kitchen & dining room featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

In the end we went in a slightly different direction for the fabrics & layers, but the general aesthetic + style remained. Here are a few outtakes on the options discussed…

Kitchen Palette

Kitchen Palette

In the end, this is what was chosen & is what is seen in the magazine feature…

Kitchen Palette

At the same time as the materials + selections were being finalized, I was also working on the architectural drawings of the design, which included the floor plan and the various room elevations needed to execute the fabrication of the cabinetry. This is pretty much the same steps I take for all clients that I work with on a kitchen makeover.

Architectural Drawings…

Architectural drawings for the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Architectural drawings for the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Once the drawings were finished & everyone was on board, about 2 months later construction started and the makeover transformation was in process.

Progress pictures of the makeover…

Pictures during construction of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

In the end, this was the result captured through my lens.

The Result…

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The new cabinets were fabricated by MasterBrands – the island is a teal hue, while the upper + base cabinets are a soft gray, and the “pantry” is the same soft gray with a glaze overlay.

Here’s a detail of the “pantry” that we created using stock cabinets…

Pictures of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The island is quartz an I was pleasantly surprised by it’s beauty. Before seeing the overall slab, I was planning for it to be faux looking (a knock-off granite or marble), but it wasn’t at all. The veining & movement of the slab was gorgeous. It’s a material I will definitely use again, especially as an alternative to marble since that can be difficult in a kitchen.

Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

The transformation was incredible and I loved every step of the 1.5-month construction process leading up to photoshoot day which was in mid-June (and less than 2 weeks before I gave birth to baby #3 – thankfully we finished in the nick of time).

As always photoshoot day is typically mayhem, but Oh SO EXCITING. On the pages of the magazine, all looks calm & serene, but most of the nooks & crannies around the main shot are just the opposite.

Photoshoot day…

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

All the props + styling are credited to Donna Talley who produced & put the story together. Michael Partenio was the photographer for the shoot.

Behind the scenes of the Kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

As I mentioned last year when sharing behind the scenes details, I find it incredible how much work goes into creating each shot. The space is overall beautiful, but the added pop layered in through accessories makes the room on the pages of the magazine come alive.

My pictures don’t honestly do a justice. The magazine shares much more beautiful angles + details, along with more of the story about the homeowner & the space. It’s an issue you will absolutely want to pick up. Plus a few of my blogger friends are also featured including Rhoda of Southern Hospitality, Brittany of Pretty Handy Girl, and Marian of Miss Mustard Seed.

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

Last, but not at all least, I couldn’t design a kitchen without a central command center and this one does not fail!

From my CCC (that was featured in BHG), to last years kitchen with a CCC, and now this one – all of them are so different.

Also in the magazine, a few tips are shared on how to clear the clutter and how it’s stated, “Jenna is on a mission to replace those piles with command centers”…

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

So fun! I hope you enjoyed a bit of the behind the scenes details of a kitchen makeover for a magazine. Fingers crossed more opportunities will come about in the future!

Behind the Scenes + Details of the kitchen featured on the Spring 2015 cover of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine

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…

Kitchen Makeover Update: One Year Later

One of the biggest projects to date that I tackled was my kitchen makeover.  I can’t believe it’s been a year, but this time last Summer, I was finishing up the final details and sharing it with you.

Since that time, I’ve been flooded with questions (and many kind comments – thank you), and thought a One-Year-Followup post including answers + an update a year later would be interesting and helpful for those thinking of tackling something similar.

There were alot of details and updates that went into the entire Kitchen Makeover, resulting in quite a few posts to explain all the steps.
Here they are:

Since this is a followup post, let’s start with some of the reader questions that I received related to…

painting the cabinets

From Shani:
it is beautifully done! i painted my cabinets in my previous house, and found that if i hit the cabinets hard (with a pot handle etc) that the paint chipped..do you find that to be the case? great job!

From Kyra:
Did you use primer on all of the cabinets ? I would think you would want to use primer everywhere? DId you sand the cabinets first? You don’t mention it but I would think you’d want to.

From Julie:
Looks great!!! Did you not use a primer on these..or did you tint the primer? Also did you sand these first?How is the paint holding up?

I absolutely used Primer and wouldn’t do any project like this, without! Primer is key to a great finish and a long-lasting result.  To start off, I gave the cabinets a light sanding, then applied one coat of Kilz Primer. When using the Kilz Primer, sanding isn’t really needed, but I did it anyway to remove the sheen from the cabinet face.  Plus the Kilz Primer is great for blocking the wood grain and stain from showing through.

Once dry about 24 hours later (the paint can says wait 7 days for it to fully cure, but I didn’t), I applied 2 coats (in some areas 3 coats) of Benjamin Moore Aura Paint. Their Aura paint is a primer + paint in one, but I still felt that it was important to use the Kilz primer first.

 

From Stachia:
What color and brand of paint did you use for your kitchen cabinets?

The paint color that I used for the cabinets was Benjamin Moore Berkshire Beige in a semi-gloss finish using their Aura Paint line (primer and paint in one).  A semi-gloss finish is important to use on cabinetry and/or furniture so the surface can easily be cleaned and/or wiped off.

updating the countertops

From Amy:
Just one question, does the countertop have bumps, or does it just appear that way in the photo?

My Response:
With the Rust-Oleum kit, the countertop is slightly bumpy to imitate the look of a natural stone surface. It’s not overly bumpy, but also not completely smooth.

From sl:
I would love to do this to my kitchen countertop. Yours look GREAT!!! I am still trying to convince my hubby. Did you put the color chip on the backsplash and edges? Is so was it hard to get them in these spots? Is not, does it look odd without color chips? Thanks for any info you can share.

My Response:
Yes, I did put the chips on the countertop edge and backsplash. With the tool that is provided, it sprays the chips all over and will cover the vertical surfaces. If there are spots that don’t get covered, you can throw chips on them, which will adhere because the adhesive is very sticky. All surfaces of the counter, absolutely needed to be covered with the chips or you won’t achieve the quality needed to hold up.

From Marti:
Could you please elaborate on your comment that the chips must cover all areas or the quality needed to hold up won’t be achieved. Do you mean that the chips facilitate the hardening process, and without them, full hardening won’t occur? Also, did you notice any odor at any stage in the process? I have an allergy to paint. Many thanks.

My Response:
When you are at the point of adding the “chips”, you want cover the entire countertop surface – the more, the better. After the chips are added, the next day you put on the sealer (top protective coat). If the countertop is not covered enough with the chips, your old countertop color will show through. The chips DO NOT facilitate the hardening process, but the chips are essentially the color that changes the countertop. So the first coat is the glue, second is the chips a.k.a. “color”, and the last coat is the protective seal. There was very little odor throughout the process. I was very worried about this with having two young kids, but it really wasn’t an issue. Honestly, we ended up going out for meals during the process since the kitchen was OFF LIMITS!

From Kristin:
Hi there! You mentioned the peeling of the top coat when the tape isn’t properly removed. We just did these countertops this weekend and had one spot where it did that. What did you use to fix the area??? On another note I would totally agree that the difficulty level is at a 2. It was SO easy and the instructions were great. The scoring of the tape, though, really is vital.

My Response:
If part of the countertop peels after you’ve applied the “chips” and sealer,  the instructions say to go through the entire process again for that specific spot.

Overall the process of the Rustoleum Transformations Kit was not difficult and the instructions were very thorough.  Included is a comprehensive video that is a must to watch! We took the weekend to work on the project, but it didn’t take all day.  Also, thankfully there wasn’t ANY ODOR – big checkmark 😉

I received quite a few questions and comments about the Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations Kit.  I have not had the pleasure of using the product, so I really can’t comment, BUT some readers that used the white or lighter colors had a bad experience with it yellowing.  Has this happened to you?

tiling over laminate

I guess my tutorial on this part of the makeover was easy to follow (or no one liked it – hehe) because I didn’t receive one single question.  Anyway, with tiling over the 3″ high laminate backsplash, the kitchen really has a custom and unique look.  Often seen in typical kitchens, is a 3″ high backsplash to match the countertop which is sealed at the joint so no water or liquid will leak behind the base cabinets.  Great concept, but very ordinary and not really interesting.  Because we were “painting” over our existing countertops, there was no way to remove the laminate backsplash, so I just tiled right over it!  It was easy and there was nothing different or special than tiling any other surface.

adding decorative brackets

By introducing the decorative brackets, the kitchen has a sophisticated aesthetic with interesting architectural details.  Before, there was one long row of cabinets, but now the brackets add an unexpected element.

Update One Year Later

Now that I’ve highlighted a few of the popular questions from the makeover, it’s time for me to share some images and updates a year later.

Thankfully the cabinets have REALLY held up well over the past year.  We’re a family of four, with two young kids, so the kitchen is used ALOT!  It has received so much wear and tear, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the cabinets.

Unfortunately, I wish I could say that about the countertop.  Within the first few weeks of using the Transformations Kit, the newly “painted” surface started to scratch, show spots and wear.  That being said, I am still happy with the overall look and how much the kitchen changed by using the Rustoleum product.  I’m often asked, “Is the product worth it?  Is it more of a temporary fix?”… well that’s difficult to answer.  It comes down to your budget and how long you plan on living with the kitchen.  The product is around $250-$300 (the last time I saw it at HD or Lowes), which is pricey, but at the same time we didn’t want to invest in a more expensive countertop.  Honestly, looking back knowing the imperfections today, I’m still glad we chose this product.  A bigger, more $$$ kitchen makeover might be ahead of us in 3-5+ years and until then, the updates we made are just fine (and actually more than fine). So my roundabout answer is, if you have the money and plan on keeping the countertops for 5-10+ years, go with another surface, but if you’re on a budget and/or want a quick and on-budget solution, the Rustoleum Transformations Kit is a great idea.

Here are some images of the kitchen that I just took yesterday.

I’d like to stress that even though I’m an in-real-life designer, my home is not staged and looks like most everyone elses.  The kitchen is often the most messiest place in our home and before cleaning it up to shoot some pics, this is what it looked like…

You can see the multiple DIY projects that I’m in the midst of.

Does your kitchen look like this ever?

Thankfully a few minutes later I got it all cleaned up and this is what it looks like a year after the makeover…

These are some of the scratches and wear marks on the countertop.

And this is a stain (completely my fault) where I dropped super glue.

And like I said, the cabinets have held up GREAT, but there are touch-ups that will be needed here and there.  For instance, the shelves on the open cabinet get alot of wear multiple times a day when I take out and put back the baskets.

But there really is no reason to complain, because this Benjamin Moore paint was easy to apply and has held up SO well.

These pictures were just taken yesterday and I haven’t made any paint touch ups since the day they were painted a year ago.

And this quote – a favorite of mine -sits on the window sill by the kitchen sink and keeps me in check many moments throughout the day.

So that’s the makeover update one year later.

Are there questions that you have that I haven’t answered?  If so, Ask Me, and I’ll add them to the post.

Kitchen Makeover Reveal

FINALLY the day has come that I can officially say that the kitchen is complete! It feels wonderful to finally make the reveal – you’ve all been very patient and so kind with your comments!  After weeks of project posts and minimal pictures, here it is~

If you haven’t seen the kitchen before, here it is.  The cabinets were an orangey oak color with hunter green laminate on the countertop.  When we first moved into our house about a year ago, we quickly updated the cabinets with new hardware, but left everything else…until now!

Before

When originally sharing the pictures of the kitchen in this post, I was kind of embarrassed.  Now I’m glad to have them because this space has made a huge transformation and it feels so good to say I did it all myself (with a bit of help from my husband too).  With my new kitchen space, I hope to inspire you to know that you can do it too!

Here’s another before ~

Okay, enough of the before… let’s get to what you’ve been waiting for… 

The Process & The Reveal

The process of this kitchen makeover started several months ago.  After contemplating the color of the cabinets and what to do with the countertops (which took forever), I decided to use the Rust-Oleum Transformations Kit in the oynx color for the countertops.  This was the first step taken in transforming the space and that alone made a huge difference!

Then I moved on to painting the cabinets.  Again, it took quite awhile to decide on this color and I love it!  I’m not usually one who likes change and sometimes things have to grow on me, but NOT this color.  As soon as the cabinets were complete, I was in L-O-V-E!  The color is Benjamin Moore Berkshire Beige and the overall tone is a taupe / gray color.  Depending on the time of day though, other hues of blue and green can also be seen.  It’s just so unique and complements the many other colors throughout my home.

Next step? Adding a custom tile backsplash.  I wasn’t sure how tiling over laminate would be, but it worked and the look is fabulous!  The small 1″ x 1″ natural travertine tile has the same hues as the cabinet color and they complement each other beautifully.

Another detail that I added to the kitchen, are faux supported 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.

And there is one more change that I made…I took off the door to the side cabinet to create open shelving.  This space now holds baskets (for my kids plates & cups), as well as some of my cookbooks.

Lastly, to make this kitchen complete, I removed the ugly vinyl toekick (that was falling off anyway) and vent cover.  I replaced the toekick with new ceramic tile (leftover from the fireplace surround) and spray painted the old vent instead of buying a replacement.

You know my love for tiling… it was easy and if you need a step-by-step tutorial to tiling, check out {this} post.

And there you go… that’s it, in a nutshell!  (O, and obviously you saw that we got new appliances as well ~ those old white ones weren’t cutting it anymore).

This is the overall space NOW!

And some little details…

Do you recognize the vase, creamer, and scale?  If you’re a Facebook fan you would ~ check out how much I paid for those and more!

Now we’re ready to get down and finally enjoy this space (and the summer)!

And one more time (I can’t resist) ~

Before

Now

So what do you think?

What projects, transformations, and/or DIY projects have you been up to this summer?

I am sharing this post on:

Kitchen Makeover Phase Four: Creating an Open Cabinet

You’re probably saying to yourself…”Isn’t she done YET?”  Who takes this long to redo a kitchen.  Well, between work and summer activities with the kids, my kitchen makeover has definitely been dragging.  And being away this week, hasn’t help matters.  But I can promise you, the FINAL REVEAL will be very soon!  I pinky swear!!

Before I left, I made another change to the kitchen that I am very excited about.  In the ‘before’ kitchen, I had a baker’s rack with baskets that housed alot of misc things.  I didn’t think it meshed with the look of the ‘new’ kitchen, but I still needed a place to put the items that were in the baskets.

So I came up with this solution ~

Here is how the cabinet looked before~

Then I painted it~

After much thought, I decided to make the side cabinet open and removed the door (the previous home of all the cleaning supplies ~ hmmm…where am I going to house them now?).

I painted the interior~

And it was done!

I found the perfect baskets at Tar-Jay (I splurged ~ they were $12.99 each) for the two top shelves and designated the bottom shelf for some of my cookbooks (which add a pop of color to the space).

And here it is ~

Because this upper cabinet sits by itself, it seemed perfect for this type of transformation.  Of course, I wouldn’t throw out the door….I’ve got another project up my sleeve for that 🙂

So I promise, I will definitely be making the FINAL REVEAL very soon!  I hope you’re having a wonderful week!!

Kitchen Makeover Phase Four: Creating an Open Cabinet

You’re probably saying to yourself…”Isn’t she done YET?”  Who takes this long to redo a kitchen.  Well, between work and summer activities with the kids, my kitchen makeover has definitely been dragging.  And being away this week, hasn’t help matters.  But I can promise you, the FINAL REVEAL will be very soon!  I pinky swear!!

Before I left, I made another change to the kitchen that I am very excited about.  In the ‘before’ kitchen, I had a baker’s rack with baskets that housed alot of misc things.  I didn’t think it meshed with the look of the ‘new’ kitchen, but I still needed a place to put the items that were in the baskets.

So I came up with this solution ~

Here is how the cabinet looked before~

Then I painted it~

After much thought, I decided to make the side cabinet open and removed the door (the previous home of all the cleaning supplies ~ hmmm…where am I going to house them now?).

I painted the interior~

And it was done!

I found the perfect baskets at Tar-Jay (I splurged ~ they were $12.99 each) for the two top shelves and designated the bottom shelf for some of my cookbooks (which add a pop of color to the space).

And here it is ~

Because this upper cabinet sits by itself, it seemed perfect for this type of transformation.  Of course, I wouldn’t throw out the door….I’ve got another project up my sleeve for that 🙂

So I promise, I will definitely be making the FINAL REVEAL very soon!  I hope you’re having a wonderful week!!

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 Makeover Phase Two: Painting the Cabinets

The Kitchen Makeover is moving along….

It’s been quite the undertaking, especially since the space has had to remain in working order throughout the entire process.  To be honest though, it really hasn’t been too bad, but I am very thankful that it’s almost done.  After the completion of the countertops last week, this week’s task was to paint the cabinets.

What do you think??

After much thought (and a few sleepless nights), I decided on a color that is primarily taupe, but has undertones of blue, green, and gray.  The actual color is Benjamin Moore – Berkshire Beige.  I have used this color before and it is truly one of my favorites!

Thanks to my gracious friends at Benjamin Moore who kindly supplied the paint for this project, I was on my way to transform these beauties. 

Bye-Bye to oak and Hello to taupe!

For this project, I used the Benjamin Moore Aura paint in a semi-gloss finish – It’s an amazing product and gives complete coverage!

As you’ve seen a few times from other posts, the before cabinets were a stained oak finish.  I had updated the hardware last year (which I love), so that was the only element that was remaining.  After the countertops were transformed with the Rust-oleum Transformations Kit, I was ready to get painting.

If you haven’t seen the kitchen before, here it is…

I started off with the peninsula section of the kitchen. Using a latex based primer, I applied the paint with the ‘W’ technique. Note: Many DIYers like to use Oil based primers and paints for cabinets because it’s more durable and is easier to clean, but I felt comfortable enough that in this application, the latex paint would be fine and hold up over time.

After this part was done, I worked on the remainder of the kitchen in sections.  I first removed the upper cabinets, painted them and the face frame, then moved on to the base cabinets.  Because my kitchen had to be functioning at all times, it was best to break it up and work in “small doses” instead of removing every door at once.

Design Tip

The key to creating smooth brush and roller strokes is to use a paint additive, like Flood Floetrol.  This was the first time that I’ve ever used an additive when painting and it gave amazing factory finish results.  And the cost?  Less than $10 a bottle (depending on the size).

Once the doors were off, I was ready to paint.  I used a brush-and-roller-combination technique (fancy, huh?!).  I first used the brush to get into the recessed crevices of the door, then worked my way to the outside panel and sides, and finished the center area with the roller.  Once the cabinet face is covered with paint, it’s important to go back with the roller to smooth out any ridges or roller marks (very important to create a smooth finish).

Tip: Roll the roller in the same direction as the wood grain.

Moving on to the cabinet face.  Using the same brush-and-roller-combination technique, I painted the cabinet fronts. ( I can’t believe I’m letting you peak into my cabinets…they’re a mess!)

All the cabinets are complete…they’re done and you’re so excited.  BUT wait right there…it’s time to remove the painter’s tape.  For me, this is always the tricky part because I find the tape often pulls off the paint.  The solution to this is to use a sharp blade to score the line where the tape meets the painted surface.

If some paint does peel off, lightly sand the area, then use a small brush for touch-ups.  Take a look at my areas of oops, the paint peeled

After a few touch-ups, I really was finally done with the cabinets.  And here are the results~

I still am resisting to show you the entire space because there is still some more to do before this makeover is complete.  Did you happen to notice anything else in the kitchen that is new???

Check back next week for Phase Three of this kitchen makeover!

The product mentioned in this post was provided by Benjamin Moore, but the review and opinions provided are 100% my own.

Kitchen Makeover Phase Two: Painting the Cabinets

The Kitchen Makeover is moving along….

It’s been quite the undertaking, especially since the space has had to remain in working order throughout the entire process.  To be honest though, it really hasn’t been too bad, but I am very thankful that it’s almost done.  After the completion of the countertops last week, this week’s task was to paint the cabinets.

What do you think??

After much thought (and a few sleepless nights), I decided on a color that is primarily taupe, but has undertones of blue, green, and gray.  The actual color is Benjamin Moore – Berkshire Beige.  I have used this color before and it is truly one of my favorites!

Thanks to my gracious friends at Benjamin Moore who kindly supplied the paint for this project, I was on my way to transform these beauties. 

Bye-Bye to oak and Hello to taupe!

For this project, I used the Benjamin Moore Aura paint in a semi-gloss finish – It’s an amazing product and gives complete coverage!

As you’ve seen a few times from other posts, the before cabinets were a stained oak finish.  I had updated the hardware last year (which I love), so that was the only element that was remaining.  After the countertops were transformed with the Rust-oleum Transformations Kit, I was ready to get painting.

If you haven’t seen the kitchen before, here it is…

I started off with the peninsula section of the kitchen. Using a latex based primer, I applied the paint with the ‘W’ technique. Note: Many DIYers like to use Oil based primers and paints for cabinets because it’s more durable and is easier to clean, but I felt comfortable enough that in this application, the latex paint would be fine and hold up over time.

After this part was done, I worked on the remainder of the kitchen in sections.  I first removed the upper cabinets, painted them and the face frame, then moved on to the base cabinets.  Because my kitchen had to be functioning at all times, it was best to break it up and work in “small doses” instead of removing every door at once.

Design Tip

The key to creating smooth brush and roller strokes is to use a paint additive, like Flood Floetrol.  This was the first time that I’ve ever used an additive when painting and it gave amazing factory finish results.  And the cost?  Less than $10 a bottle (depending on the size).

Once the doors were off, I was ready to paint.  I used a brush-and-roller-combination technique (fancy, huh?!).  I first used the brush to get into the recessed crevices of the door, then worked my way to the outside panel and sides, and finished the center area with the roller.  Once the cabinet face is covered with paint, it’s important to go back with the roller to smooth out any ridges or roller marks (very important to create a smooth finish).

Tip: Roll the roller in the same direction as the wood grain.

Moving on to the cabinet face.  Using the same brush-and-roller-combination technique, I painted the cabinet fronts. ( I can’t believe I’m letting you peak into my cabinets…they’re a mess!)

All the cabinets are complete…they’re done and you’re so excited.  BUT wait right there…it’s time to remove the painter’s tape.  For me, this is always the tricky part because I find the tape often pulls off the paint.  The solution to this is to use a sharp blade to score the line where the tape meets the painted surface.

If some paint does peel off, lightly sand the area, then use a small brush for touch-ups.  Take a look at my areas of oops, the paint peeled

After a few touch-ups, I really was finally done with the cabinets.  And here are the results~

I still am resisting to show you the entire space because there is still some more to do before this makeover is complete.  Did you happen to notice anything else in the kitchen that is new???

Check back next week for Phase Three of this kitchen makeover!

The product mentioned in this post was provided by Benjamin Moore, but the review and opinions provided are 100% my own.