There are some things I love about my kitchen and some things I don’t like. But I guess that goes with any room in any house doesn’t it? I love that it’s a large eat in kitchen. I love the cedar wainscoting around the walls. My kitchen has 3 windows, 2 are south facing and one is east. Now you would think it would be a bright and cheery room? Nope! The wonderful pine bush next door that helps to keep the house shaded from the summer heat, also blocks most of the sunlight. This makes it especially dreary in the winter season. Or long rainy falls like this one!
The original kitchen cupboards. It's the only photo I could find on the pc!
1 AM and painting the kitchen. LOL!
Some time in the 1960′s this house was renovated and new cupboards installed. They run all the way to the ceiling and the doors are flat. There is a slight rounded edge along the side where the hinges attach, other then that no texture at all. They are simple plywood, birch I think. When we moved in, even after a good cleaning they were a brown/yellowish color. We thought we would paint them white to brighten the kitchen up. It sure did! But it wasn’t long that I realized having all white cupboards with a houseful of little children, was a bad idea! LOL Also I started not to like the bright white after a while as well. I like a bit of country charm or textures!
Next we tried painting them slate blue. This is the same slate blue we used in the wainscoting in the rest of the house. I like it, but it makes the kitchen look dark and cold. I think this is partly because the cupboards go all the way to the ceiling. If they had a white area at the top for decorations it would break it up a bit.
This past while hubby and I have been talking about repainting them again. I’ve had a few thoughts about what to try and searched the internet looking for similar ideas.
So the cupboards on the top are coming off! No I’m not getting new ones, just can’t do that right now. But I LOVE the look of open shelves. They are bright, easy to find things and get them down. Easy to keep decluttered as well! You don’t want to clutter them up as everyone will see it. lol
So I’m planning to take the doors off the tops, remove the strip of wood where the hinges attached the doors to the cupboards. The strips are decorative and not needed. I’m going to paint them a shade of cream, not sure what just yet. Then I want to antique them a bit. I found this post with lots of great kitchen shelves!
The bottoms I will leave as cupboards. Dh is going to use the table saw to put small groves in the doors. This will give it a old clapboard look. Or I think that’s what it’s called! Then I want to put trim around the edges of the doors. This would make look like their is a panel in the middle. I need some texture!
I’m thinking I’ll paint them cream like the tops, but put a wash of country blue over top. This kitchen decorating article has blue cupboards that I fell in love with! Then distress them a little by sanding the paint off here and there. There’s no need to add distressing dents to them, after so many years they are well marked already! LOL
I’m hoping to post photos as I go along. I would like to get started soon. But the first step is to declutter the cupboards! Oh yes, I think we are going to put that old farmhouse sink into the main kitchen. It had been in the old summer kitchen and I had planned to put it back in there when dh finished the renos. But it could be some time before the room is done and I think it would look great in the main kitchen with the changes I’m making!
How is your kitchen decorated? Anyone else love open shelves?
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Wow, what a reno job you have coming…LOL. But we are STILL in reno mood here as well. I think what you are planning is wonderful. Cannot wait to see the progress and then finished product.
Our cupboards were painted white when we moved in and the trim was black. Wanted to change that right away…but after we painted the walls…it all matches really nice. Most people think we did the cupboards…but NO…previous owners. The only thing I dislike VERY much are the handles…they are cheap Home Depot grey handles…who puts grey handles on white cupboards? Apparently THEY did…so the expense of replacing them is NOT in our budget…since we still need kitchen flooring.
Good luck…will check out your links.
blessings,
Connie
Connie recently posted..Away
LOL Oh yes renovations are fun aren’t they? I love the end product but it seems like we’ve been renovating since the day we walked in here!
What color did you paint the walls? A shade of red maybe? I wonder if you could paint the cupboard handles to make a better match!
The walls are almost like peanut butter but lighter. We mixed two colours together as we received a free 50 gallon bucket of paint…and we thought the colour was way too dark…so we added white and turned out really nice. Compliments the three fireplaces (bricks) that are in this house…plus my RED antique hutch:-)
Ken said the plastic door handles won’t hold the paint very well…and will just chip off.
Connie recently posted..Cozy Country Shawl Pattern
Oh you are going to love it! I LOVED my open shelves in our old place! I hope to have some again when we get a place of our own again. I liked looking for antique looking containers to keep my supplies in for added appeal!
Oh I love antique containers to! I’m on the hunt for some smallish crocks to keep my knives in as well.
Oh I miss that antique store in the old grain mill!! Did that ever open again? I was so sad when it closed. I miss Grumpy’s too!!!
Oh I haven’t been over there all summer!
No I think the Mill is still closed. I’m hoping to get over to Grumpy’s before the close for winter. There is always something good there!
Couldn’t you just take some cabinet doors off for a more open look, and paint inside the cabinets? I haven’t redone my kitchen yet that has no cabinets but one metal rusty 50s sink cabinet. I am going with white as it is a very dark gloomy space, but no cabinets over the stove. I will put in one shelf for a few spices to keep the clutter down. With six doorways -one double width- this kitchen will not have much for cabinets nor counter space. No doors or doorways can be done away with. Your kitchen seems like the dream kitchen if you ask me! I have a tiny 4foot pantry as the redeeming feature for my kitchen. That is where my open shelving is. It does get dirty so miss having cabinets. Some day this winter I may have my cabinets. Maybe.
Yup Karen, that’s what I’m going to do! But I want the strips that the doors attach to off as well. If I leave them on they will be in my way. The top shelves will be painted a cream or antique white. The bottom cupboards will be painted the same with a blue wash over top.
, I’ve had tiny tiny ones to in other places we’ve lived. I’m not sure how your pantry is laid out. But would it work to make a fabric curtain to cover the shelves? That might help with the dust and look pretty as well! I used to have a cabinet that was ruff but I needed the storage space. I use curtains that matched the kitchen to cover it and it worked great.
I am grateful for a large kitchen
Well our friend who is doing the work, tore out a 4 ft wall of the used to be pantry, put extra beam to support that little space which will be for table. A small wall built in front of bathroom so a 30 inch deep pantry built there with bi fold doors.- and then a small kitchen area for fridge and 36 counter/cabs so a bit more kitchen. : ) Like that. Cabinets are in(800$ unfinished Menards on sale so saved $100), counter in (crystal flint Formica) but tile and flooring yet. It is bought and paid for.
Friend works slowly so not sure when it will be done. We may run out of money to pay him so hope he is done soon. I can help lay floor tiles (fake wood, vinyl planks really) but floor needs holes filled … I am so ready for reno to be done. But need gutters, and things that may have to wait unless God has other plans.
DH needs to be able to work this one last summer driving a truck but a slightly botched cataract surgery has left us waiting on healing. Eye drops for this very expensive ($500 for four tiny bottles.) Docs say it will be okay in time but now driving is a problem as I do not drive at all. Pray a little please? Thanks.
I don’t want open cupboards and you won’t believe why. FLIES!! We live in the country and I think have stuff behind doors is great, because the flies don’t get in there to climb on your dishes you eat off of. Just a thought!
I agree, we have cluster flies here due to neighbor’s cattle nearby, and at some times of the year the flies are everywhere no matter how often I clear them out.
When it comes to cooking area renovating, most of the people begin by viewing regional cupboard store.
Custom Home Builder Austin Texas
I looked in old magazines and online, home improvement stores too far away.
Hello sister,I love your videos.I have learned a lot.For years
I grow my own organic veggies plus Intoo can.Will you ever make a video about pressure cooking?I got one but I m scared of using it,God bless you.Where are you located?.utah here.